Today we’d like to introduce you to Greg White.
Hi Greg, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Hi, I’m Greg White, I am a sound engineer and the owner and founder of my production company Nysys Audio!
Music has always been a big part of my life. Both of my parents listened to a lot of music when I was a child, so that is likely where my interest, and love of music started.
The very first instrument I attempted was drums around age 6. I didn’t keep up with it for very long because I didn’t really understand rhythm at the time. My parents are not musicians, so whatever I did end up learning was left up to me and the teachers I had.
I picked up the saxophone a few years later at the age of 9 and stuck with it to this day. I don’t get to play as much as I used to because most of my time is spent on sound engineering now.
The second instrument I picked up was piano/keyboard at age 11, because I was persuaded by one of my teachers.
Other instruments I’ve played briefly would be the clarinet, and cello.
I attended Syracuse University and studied the music industry.
During my final years in college is where I say my career really began, I had internships that turned into jobs at a local recording studio; Subcat Studios, Radio Stations 95X, 93Q, and 105.9 ‘The Rebel’, and mixing live shows at local venue Funk ‘n Waffles.
Some time later I moved away from my hometown of Syracuse, New York to Atlanta, Georgia. That is where my work in the live entertainment space really began. I worked my way up from the bottom as a stagehand working events at venues like the Georgia Dome; before it was demolished to make room for the Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Phillips Arena; now the State Farm Arena, and the Verizon Amphitheater, now the Ameris Bank Amphitheater.
I was then hired by a live entertainment vendor in Nashville, Tennessee where I spent the next 8 years of my life gaining real-world experience working on the touring side of the music industry. I’ve worked for a variety of artists like Kendrick Lamar, Brooks & Dunn, and Gary Clark Jr. to name a few. Also during that time I worked on a variety of different types of events, from music festivals, government events, corporate events, churches, private events, large events, and small events, the list goes on.
As I’ve progressed through my career I was simultaneously building my business Nysys Audio. Taking my knowledge and experiences and applying them to my business model.
I, along with my business, am now based in Washington, DC, but I still find myself traveling for work all of the time, a good portion of that being to Baltimore, Maryland. It comes with the territory, and I enjoy traveling for work and new opportunities.
At the next event you attend, look to see who is over at the tech table or the sound booth, you might see me there. And don’t be afraid to say “Hi!”.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has not been a smooth road. Unfortunately the entertainment/music industry requires you to be lucky, sometimes very lucky. A topic that people really do not talk about enough these days. I really wish that was not the case, but it is true. You either need to know somebody, be in the right place at the right time, or be lucky enough for someone to give you a chance, even though you didn’t have the previous two requirements.
I still remember the day where I was in the right place at the right time, but after that I still had to advocate for myself to be given a chance.
Feeling overlooked and underrated. I cannot tell you how many times I’ve witnessed someone receive a position that they were barely qualified for, struggle the entire time, and just barely squeak by, for the team to end up with mediocre results, if not failure. All because the person that selected them felt “They knew the person” or “They’re always around, so they were the first person I thought of.” These events often times have hundreds-of-thousands to millions of dollars riding on them. And those types of decisions just ignore the studying, training, practicing, experience and dedication some of us sound engineers and other production professionals are doing behind the scenes to ensure we are ready when we get the call.
Often if I hear about an event that sounds like a dream show or gig, and I didn’t get to work on it, I need to constantly remind myself that “I wasn’t in the right place at the right time, and it is out of my control.”
Other struggles…
Learning to advocate for myself, people have actively and intentionally held me back from achieving my goals for whatever reasons they had.
Learning myself, being aware of things that upset me, trigger me. I’m passionate about what I do and I have to remind myself “No one is going to care about this as much as you do.”
Dealing with things like nepotism, racism, bias, and imposter syndrome.
And learning others, like what things I do and do not like about working with others and not letting it bother me. Don’t get me wrong, I am a team player, but some people can still be annoying at times no matter how hard you try.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Nysys Audio is a production company specializing in audio/sound.
We like to support our clients from start to finish.
We can do everything related to sound from recording, studio mixing, live mixing, studio mastering, on-location sound recording and capture for film and TV, post-production mixing for film, sound design for film and theater, podcast recording and production.
We’ve already supported all types of clientele from high-profile music artists, early-career music artists, corporate events, comedians, music festival organizations, churches & houses of worship. And we’re always looking forward to what is coming next.
We believe with the capabilities of today’s technology that there is no excuse for anything to sound bad. And we do our best every time to ensure that any project we’re given sounds the best it possibly can.
Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
We are best reached by email or appointment. Both can be accessed easily by clicking the buttons from the top of our homepage on our website. (nysysaudio.com)
We make project estimates based on what the client requests and needs. We make an effort to be as reasonable as possible with our prices.
If anyone would like to know more about us, or is interested in working with us, feel free to reach out.
Pricing:
- Contact us for a quote.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://nysysaudio.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nysysaudio/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nysysaudio/
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@nysysaudio
