John McClain: Have Fun and Don't Be a D

He's a Grammy and Emmy winning post sound mixer and sound designer, a composer, a voice actor, a professor, a killer harmonica player, and all-around cool dude. He loves working on podcasts, but this time he gets to be the guest. Please enjoy the musings of John McClain. We're talking about the importance of having fun as a business owner, using your tools, and making sure you're working with people who are simpatico. He also shares the two rules he's given to his kid and applies to everything in life: 1- Have fun. 2 - Don't be a D.

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Connect with John

Website: Dog & Pony Studios

Instagram: @dnpsound

Facebook: DogAndPonyStudios

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00:51 "As an entrepreneur, I've had the bottom of the trough as well as the top of the trough. And you have to learn that it's going to be okay, no matter what."

02:10 "My expectation is not the audience's expectation."

03:04 "We cross a threshold where we're not making it any better. We're just trying to satisfy our need for perfection."

05:27 "I kind of suffer from shiny object syndrome."

07:29 "All the kids have grown up with these very simple rules, but we also apply those rules in the rest of our life. Don't be a d, and have fun. Because you only get one time around on the big blue marble, so go out there and enjoy it.

08:47 "Just like with the team, find clients you like working with, too."

10:35 "I don't need to be rich. I just need to be comfortable."

12:47 "No is by far the most powerful word that we need to learn in order to take control of our own lives."

15:53 "I don't think you become a proper businessperson without being a proper person in general."

17:10 "Learn your tools."

20:25 "We actually tend to jump around between a handful of different digital audio workstations, just depending on what is required for the job, as opposed to trying to take one tool and cram our work into somebody else's idea of how you're supposed to do sound."

22:57 "Spend a little more money up front because that gear lasts longer, so ultimately you end up spending less."

26:19 "I'm getting better at knowing what I like, and what suits me."

27:32 "I don't want to put something on social media unless it's something I find really interesting, something fascinating."

29:32 "The biggest thing that I miss is when everybody's at the studio and everybody's working on a project. That energy is palpable."

32:54 "I had a new employee contract I was supposed to sign, and I just ignored it and figured let's see what happens."

34:01 "Bad things happen. Turn it into something good."

34:42 Cooking paella

37:08 "Make sure you're having fun. Because if you're not having fun, why'd you start a business?"

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Connect with me through your favorite platform: https://pods.link/aardvarkgirl