Please fill out the following information, and RRFC Admissions will contact you to discuss our program offerings:
Issue #63 – Student Successes
by L. Swift and Jeff McQ
“The only way to make it is to do it 100 percent.”
Wise words from a guy who knows firsthand. Not long after completing his apprenticeship with mentor Dave Mikeal at StudioLive USA in Orlando, Florida, Recording Connection graduate Sebastian Lefeld relocated to Miami and jumped into the industry with both feet. Within 6 months of graduating, not only had he worked with the likes of Carlos Santana, but his dedication and work ethic had landed him a full-time position at one of Miami’s top studios!
As early as his second year in high school, Sebastian knew he wanted to work in audio engineering and began scoping out schools, including Full Sail in the Orlando area, and a number of others. He ultimately decided on the Recording Connection because of the hands-on experience that apprenticeship training offers.
“I really liked the fact that they put you to work while you’re learning,” he says. “I have a lot of friends that are in Full Sail, and they got experience, but it was still in the classroom. So now, when they are starting to intern at studios and all that, they really don’t know the dynamics of the business side of the studio, which I think is super important…My mentor, Dave Mikeal, he helped me out not just with like the audio parts, but also with how to run a studio: what it would take to pay the studio rent, how much energy a studio uses… It’s good to know everything, in case you want to build your own studio someday.”
Sebastian also mentions that apprenticing in the studio basically made him responsible for what he was learning. “Even though you have a mentor and everything, 90 percent of what you learn is up to you,” he says. “I really like that, because that’s how the real world is. Nobody is going to hand you anything.”
As for the “real world,” Sebastian says his time working with Dave was a wake-up call that put his work ethic into high gear. “I used to think that people come into the studio and it’s like a party,” says Sebastian. “No, it’s crazy…It’s all about how efficiently and how fast you can work, because when they say time is money, they are not joking. Time is money. These people are paying a lot of money to be there, so they want everything done super quick, and you have to be able to do it on the fly.”
After finishing up his apprenticeship, Sebastian decided he wanted to try his hand in a bigger city, so he relocated to Miami, Florida. From his experiences on-the-job with Dave Mikeal, he realized his best chance for getting his foot in the door was to take whatever opportunities he could get, paid or unpaid. He accepted an unpaid opportunity to work with Big Wall Studios (Freddy Vindver & John D. Thomas) and Miami Studio City District (John D. Thomas), and began working there 3-4 days a week while waiting tables on the side.
Within a couple of months, Sebastian’s efforts landed him a real opportunity to prove himself: a chance to assist on a project for music industry icon Carlos Santana, who brought his act into the studio to rehearse for a major tour. “There always has to be an in-house engineer in every session,” says Sebastian, “so that was me right there, when they needed help with the patch bay or when they needed to find a connection, get different cables or whatever.”
Sebastian describes meeting Carlos Santana as a surreal experience. “I was looking with his engineer at the new SSL 500, the Live console,” he says. “I kind of felt somebody like brush me on my shoulder, so I turned around and it was Santana, and I was like, ‘Oh, man! I’m in the same room with a guy that I have been listening to since I was born.'”
That was a Friday. The following Monday, John D. Thomas, one of the studio owners, called him in and sat him down. Sebastian recalls what happened:
“He was like, ‘Listen man, we are a good fit. If you want the full-time position, it’s yours.’ And the day after, I went into Outback [Steakhouse] where I used to work, and I said, ‘Look you guys, I’m done.'”
Sebastian hasn’t looked back since. Now working full-time in one of Miami’s most active studios, he’s able to be part of the action on everything, from developing smartphone ringtones to working with clients like Ricky Martin, Chayanne, Don Henley, Shawn Mendes and Jencarlos Canela, to name just a few.
But even so, he hasn’t forgotten the dedication and the work ethic that helped land him the job in the first place—nor does he forget the competitive nature of the business he’s in.
“If I could say one thing to somebody that’s thinking about getting into the industry,” he says, “it would be definitely get ready for long hours and a lot of days. I’m here at least six days a week, sometimes seven, and it’s never less than 10-11 hours. But if you’re going to get into this industry, it’s because you love it. When I used to work at a restaurant, 2 hours could feel like 10 hours but 10 hours in the studio feels like nothing…Time goes by quickly when you’re having fun.
“Whenever I take a break,” Sebastian adds, “I’m always thinking there’s someone else out there who’s doing what I do who’s not taking a break, and I get back to work.”
Hear work by Sebastian in our Apprentice Media section below!
or call (800) 755-7597
RRFC is education upgraded for the 21st century.
Get the latest career advice, insider production tips, and more!
Please fill out the following information, and RRFC Admissions will contact you to discuss our program offerings:
Stay in the Loop: Subscribe for RRFC news & updates!
© 2025 Recording Radio Film Connection & CASA Schools. All Rights Reserved.