Neil Kesterson: Push the Right Buttons (book)

With the subtitle "A Practical Guide to Becoming and Succeeding as an Audio Engineer and Producer," the goal of this book should be obvious. But where many books of this ilk usually fail, this book excels. Why is that? Because Neil Kesterson (owner of Dynamix Productions, Inc. in Lexington, Kentucky) brings his 40 years of real-world experiences into the different sections here, we get true stories of getting jobs done, and what to do better next time. The worst books of this type simply rattle off a list of different pro audio jobs and schools, like something a lazy high school career counselor would offer up. This book dives so much deeper than that.

When I began reading, the personalized tales initially made me wonder, "Why didn't this guy just write an autobiography instead?" But as I read more, it reminded me of Tape Op interviews and how I try to learn how people think about their work more than simply how they work. With references to the learning processes depicted in Karate Kid, Neil pulls the same stunt, and soon, the reader is understanding the fine points of many audio jobs, and how to carry oneself in this career.

Push the Right Buttons covers quite a bit of pro audio beyond music-based recording studios like mine. We learn about all sorts of sound for film and television, sports broadcast, post production, music production, live sound, and advertising. Although Neil and I are likely working on very different types of audio jobs most of the time, all the advice in this book is entirely in line with how I run my business and studio, how I interact with clients, how my studio manages bookings, and even how I dress. Neil's little Tech Tip sidebars are all worth reading on their own, as each one is a chunk of needed knowledge.

Don't think for a minute that this book doesn't also cover the nuts and bolts of recording. The basics of acoustics, capturing sound, EQ, digital editing, mixing, etc., are all covered in depth. Seriously, if I think back to the early '90s when I was reading everything I could get my hands on about recording, I am almost angry that this book didn't exist then. Chapter 21, A Sound Education, is a good example of this, as it contains over 100 pages of the history of recording, radio, and more. It should be required reading for anyone interested in an audio career or hobby.

Here's an example of how real and perfect this book's advice is: "When someone is nervous, time speeds up for them. They will read, sing, or play too fast." Right? How many times have I asked a band or group of musicians to slow down? It'd be in the thousands, and it took me a few solid years behind the desk to become hyper-aware of this.

The next time someone asks me for advice on a career in pro audio, I will immediately recommend this book, but with a few instructions: Do not skim through it. Read every one of its 585 pages, and then read it again. Take notes. Take more notes. Follow every single suggestion about how to behave in professional situations. Learn how to dress properly for the job, and how to take care of your body when the long days occur (and they will) – and do all of this with a smile on your face and a positive attitude.