WCA #611 with Scott McDowell – Berklee, California vs New York, Getting Fired, Becoming a Studio Partner, and Getting Hit by a Car

Scott McDowell is a producer, engineer, and co-owner of Wally's Hydeout at Hyde Street Studios in San Francisco. In episode 611 they talk about getting fired from his first SF internship, becoming a studio partner at Wally’s Hydeout, surviving COVID, getting hit by a car in March 2026, recovering from a TBI, and why every freelancer in California needs to sign up for state disability insurance before something happens. In This Episode, We Discuss: Co-owning a Studio, Making Records, and Working in Game Audio Growing Up in Novato — North Marin County A Broadcast Engineer Dad Working Niners Games on the Sideline Heading to Berklee for Trumpet A Hernia That Ended the Trumpet Career and Started the Recording One City College SF, SF Soundworks, and Getting Fired John Vanderslice, Tiny Telephone, and the Referral to Justin Phelps Interning at Hyde Street Studios With Justin Phelps and Jaimeson Durr Filling the Calendar for Six Months to Avoid Being Replaced — Then Getting Made a Partner The CDR Run That He Thought Was a Firing Eight Years of Game Audio COVID Survival Getting Hit by a Car in Northridge The TBI, the Wheelchair, and Coming Back California Disability Insurance Elective Coverage — Why Every Freelancer Should Sign Up Matt's RANT!: Accumulation Links and Show Notes: Fader Solo: https://fadersolo.com/ California Disability Insurance Elective Coverage (EDD): https://edd.ca.gov/en/payroll_taxes/Disability_Insurance_Elective_Coverage/ WCA #082 with Justin Phelps: https://www.workingclassaudio.com/wca-082-justin-phelps/ WCA #211 with Jaimeson Durr: https://www.workingclassaudio.com/wca-211-with-jaimeson-durr/ WCA #047 with John Vanderslice: https://www.workingclassaudio.com/wca-047-with-john-vanderslice/ Credits: Guest: Scott McDowell Host/Engineer/Producer: Matt Boudreau WCA Theme Music: Cliff Truesdell The Voice: Chuck Smith