MITA Membership

[creatorlars]

I ran across the MITA website the other day...
Electronic Repair Services for the Entire Music Industry | MITA International

I was wondering if any of you were members or found this useful?

[Enzo]

I am not sure just what-all the MITA folks are doing these days, but in the past, they were about keyboards, and mainly organs at that. SO if your business was servicing organs in churches and homes, then it might have some relevance. I know they had at least some interest in electronic keyboards, meaning things like synths, combo organs, electronic pianos. But I never got the impression that was their main interest.

As far as I know, all it takes to join is to send them $165 and your address.

My own opinion is that if I were hiring a technician, and found MITA on his resume, it wouldn;t mean much to me. About all it might say to me was that the guy probably had been working in this industry for at least a little while, a rank novice would not have joined. But it wouldn;t mean to me he had any particular skill or experience.

I probably would put a little more weight on a CET ticket, but not a lot even there. What matters FAR more to me is a guy's attitude and experience. I am not too interested in certificates.

That is just a personal opinion.

[jrfrond]

I agree with Enzo, it's a waste of time. Professionally, MITA does nothing for street cred or business assistance, and STILL concentrates mainly on keyboards. It's not like the TESA organization for consumer electronics that, among other things, standardized warranty claim filing with the NARDA form.

The pro audio/MI electronics industry is sorely in need of a similar organization. A unified industry would be great.

[creatorlars]

Thanks very much for the info guys.

I guess right now what I'm really looking for is network or community I can access online, get help and receive help from fellow techs working on similar stuff. I'm in a position where I'm definitely a junior tech, but in a lead position at my workplace, and on salary. I'm good at figuring things out -- set me in front of an analogue synth or pedal with decent documentation and I can make it work -- eventually, which has been my saving grace so far. But my efficiency level isn't NEAR what it needs to be for this business to be making the money off of my employment that it needs to be.

All I'm aware of at the moment is this forum, and while there are a few of you that are always extremely helpful and active here, I'm a little reluctant to be posting "here's what I got on the bench that's stumping me right now" type posts all the time, especially when not many people here are posting about synths, etc (so I don't have much advice to give in return.) Or would that be OK?

Are there any mailing lists or forums that I'm missing out on?

Cheers,
Lars

[Enzo]

It is the internet, there are a bazillion forums, most of which I have never heard of. I know there are active boards for synth guys, but don;t recall the URLs. This forum is oriented towards guitar amps, but we discuss most anything, and don't mind doing so.

Many many web sites have forums attached. Check them out. SOme will be tiny and not so useful or largely duplicating what goes on here, while others may be great and just what you need. And some just disappear one night never to be seen again. I went off to visit the SWR forum one day and it was gone.

There are forums at places you might not even think of - like at Peterson, there is a strobe tuner forum, and they even have a section in it for old Conn strobe tuners. Who knew?

And there are forums at places that sell stuff. I have not been there in a long while, but for example there was a forum at Ted Weber's site. I have seen them at other places selling parts to this industry.

Go to any manufacturer web site you might find yourself servicing their gear, and see if there is a forum. Then cruise it for a few days to see if there is any volume of information and if the technical discussions ever get beyond "How can I get Green Day from my Crate GX15?"

Are you servicing on your own, well you said you were an employee, but is your shop an independent, or are you working from a music store? SOme may disagree with me, but having relations with the OEMs I find very rewarding, and it gains me access to a lot of stuff I;d have to get second hand otherwise.