Then again, there are a lot of outsider music industry careers that don’t start with formal training. Home computing has gotten so powerful that it is easy for basically anyone with a good ear, a few thousand dollars, and some basic knowledge to start their own recording studio. If you have the connections to get good bands record with you and the instinct of a good record producer, you can start your own successful label. It is a long shot, but it does happen. Even just being known as the person who recorded the first song of a band who became successful with another label is often enough to get you in the door. The pay is lousy when you work for yourself, and the hours are irregular, but the potential payoffs are great.