Justin Hergett: Paying Studio Dues With Marilyn Manson, Ronnie Wood
The Recording Arts grad is quickly moving up the ladder at Sage & Sound Recording Studios
Justin Hergett has been living in Los Angeles for less than a year, but it’s been an interesting (and occasionally surreal) experience so far. After graduating from Full Sail’s Recording Arts degree program, Justin was able to land an internship at Sage & Sound Recording Studios, a two-room facility in the heart of Hollywood that’s hosted artists from the likes of Black Eyed Peas and the Mars Volta to Smashing Pumpkins and Weezer. And now, with his position as Sage & Sound’s Head Runner, Justin is one step further in his journey into working in the recording industry.
“As Head Runner, I make sure that the studio is ready to go when a client comes in, and then during the session it’s also my responsibility to get whatever they need,” Justin says. “That can be anything from picking up food that the artist requests to running out at 3 a.m. to pick up a voice recorder, which is something that I did for Marilyn Manson.”
Shock-rocker Manson recently recorded his latest album The High End Of Low at Sage & Sound, and it was during these sessions that Justin earned his first assisting album credit. “It was weird, because when Manson was there no one was allowed in the room outside of the album’s producers (Chris Vrenna, Sean Beavan, and frequent Manson-collaborator/bandmate Twiggy Ramirez). But when it was just the producers and engineers, they sometimes let me and the other assistant come in there and help with things like placing microphones.
“I really hope to get more into assisting in the fall. That’s the next step for me to start doing what I had in mind when I first came to Full Sail,” Justin continues. “Sage & Sound gives me a lot of opportunities to succeed. It’s a smaller studio, and the chance to move up there is large, so that’s nice.”
Of course, aside from the opportunities to continue on his career path, working in the studio environment has also provided Justin with some notable encounters with some of his favorite artists and musicians.
“Liam Gallagher (from Oasis) was visiting the studio during the Manson sessions, and I had to give him a ride back to his hotel. Before we left the studio, he also wanted to listen to what Oasis’s single “I’m Outta Time” sounded like coming from my car,” Justin says. “Manson was leaning over my car’s hood, taking video of it, Twiggy was standing on the side, and Liam was sitting in my passenger’s seat.”
Sessions with Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood have also been a highlight during Justin’s time at Sage & Sound. “That’s probably been my favorite session; Ron is a great guy and fun to be around,” Justin says. “It was a crazy session because he kept bringing in tons of people to play on it, including Slash, Flea, and Billy Gibbons. I really don’t get starstruck, just because once you start meeting these people you find out that they’re just like normal people. But it can get a little surreal at times.
“Full Sail definitely prepared me for what I’m doing now, especially in terms of the kinds of hours that I work in the studio,” Justin says. “And going along with that, I also learned how important time management is in this business. Beyond all of that, I think that it’s just about drive and passion and not giving up – even in the times when it’s hard not to give up. I’m not where I want to be yet in this industry, but I’m definitely on my way.”
“As Head Runner, I make sure that the studio is ready to go when a client comes in, and then during the session it’s also my responsibility to get whatever they need,” Justin says. “That can be anything from picking up food that the artist requests to running out at 3 a.m. to pick up a voice recorder, which is something that I did for Marilyn Manson.”
Shock-rocker Manson recently recorded his latest album The High End Of Low at Sage & Sound, and it was during these sessions that Justin earned his first assisting album credit. “It was weird, because when Manson was there no one was allowed in the room outside of the album’s producers (Chris Vrenna, Sean Beavan, and frequent Manson-collaborator/bandmate Twiggy Ramirez). But when it was just the producers and engineers, they sometimes let me and the other assistant come in there and help with things like placing microphones.
“I really hope to get more into assisting in the fall. That’s the next step for me to start doing what I had in mind when I first came to Full Sail,” Justin continues. “Sage & Sound gives me a lot of opportunities to succeed. It’s a smaller studio, and the chance to move up there is large, so that’s nice.”
Of course, aside from the opportunities to continue on his career path, working in the studio environment has also provided Justin with some notable encounters with some of his favorite artists and musicians.
“Liam Gallagher (from Oasis) was visiting the studio during the Manson sessions, and I had to give him a ride back to his hotel. Before we left the studio, he also wanted to listen to what Oasis’s single “I’m Outta Time” sounded like coming from my car,” Justin says. “Manson was leaning over my car’s hood, taking video of it, Twiggy was standing on the side, and Liam was sitting in my passenger’s seat.”
Sessions with Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood have also been a highlight during Justin’s time at Sage & Sound. “That’s probably been my favorite session; Ron is a great guy and fun to be around,” Justin says. “It was a crazy session because he kept bringing in tons of people to play on it, including Slash, Flea, and Billy Gibbons. I really don’t get starstruck, just because once you start meeting these people you find out that they’re just like normal people. But it can get a little surreal at times.
“Full Sail definitely prepared me for what I’m doing now, especially in terms of the kinds of hours that I work in the studio,” Justin says. “And going along with that, I also learned how important time management is in this business. Beyond all of that, I think that it’s just about drive and passion and not giving up – even in the times when it’s hard not to give up. I’m not where I want to be yet in this industry, but I’m definitely on my way.”
