5 Game Industry Networking Oopsies (and How To Avoid Them)

To help you succeed in game audio, Ryan Ike shares some of his hard-earned lessons on what not to do when networking in the game industry (and what to do instead). As a bonus, we've also added 50+ guides for succeeding in sound, as well as a selection of essential game audio resources:

Written by Ryan Ike

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OOPS! Don’t ask for work:

When meeting someone who might have the power to hire you, it can be tempting to steer the conversation towards landing a gig. If you’re meeting new people at an event or convention, focus instead on just making genuine connections with folks. You’ll leave most events without a job offer, and that’s ok! The work comes later.

OOPS! Don’t come unprepared:

You should have a website where it’s incredibly easy for potential clients to see/hear your best work with as little friction as possible. Have business cards ready, but know that just as often you can trade Twitter or Instagram @’s, or even just write down the names of people you met so you can Google their contact info later.

OOPS! Don’t be fake:

Networking in games is less formal than in other industries. People want to work with people they know and like, so your goal is literally to make friends. No need to spend time on people who rub you the wrong way; you wouldn’t want to work with them anyhow.

OOPS! Don’t hyperfocus:

Your networking will be way less effective if you only focus on meeting people who can hire you. Anyone you can meet and get along with in the game industry is a valuable connection, from QA testers to environmental artists, to people who do the same job you do. You never know where your next referral will come from!

OOPS! Don’t be inconsistent:
One of the most important things you can do as you network in games? Be a regular. You don’t have to (and shouldn’t!) go to every event, but picking a few local and national ones you can make it to on a regular basis is a huge way to improve your results. If you’re a face people keep seeing, they’re more likely to think of you when they need your skills!

A big thanks to Ryan Ike for letting us share his networking tips! Got some thoughts, tips or insights on how to succeed in game audio networking? Please share them in the comments setion.

About Ryan Ike:
Ryan Ike is a composer and sound designer based in Seattle, WA, with work spanning games like West of Loathing, Where the Water Tastes Like Wine, and Wizard With A Gun. Outside of making audio, he spends his time trying to help newcomers find their place in the game industry, and is passionate about making sure that game audio pros (and creatives in general) are getting the pay and respect they deserve. You can listen to his work here

Bonus: Extra resources to help you succeed in sound:

Explore the Game Audio Power List:

Click below to jump straight to your desired topic:

Game audio stories & resources:

Newest game audio stories • Essential game audio interviews • Game audio guides & resources • Essential sound design guides

Game sound effects:

More game audio resources:

Books about game audio • Podcasts about game audio • Game Audio Groups • Audio events • Game audio jobs • Find game audio pros • Showcase your audio skills • Game audio on social media • Branching out: Free 60+ page guide: How to succeed in 18 types of audio jobs

Browse the full Game Audio Power List here

Further reading on how to succeed in sound (click to collapse)

Power Lists - essential audio resources and insights:

• The Sound Design Power List

• The Game Audio Power List

• The Film Sound Power List

Succeed in sound:

• How to Set (and Get) the Right Price for Your Audio Work

• 10 Essential Tips for Game Audio Freelancers

• How to be a successful sound designer – with Scott Gershin

• How To Actually Live as an Audio Freelancer – by Melissa Pons

• How to set your sonic creativity free & overcome creative inhibitions – by Mark Kilborn

• 5 Useful Tips for Upcoming Sound Designers and Sound Editors

• Sound Opinions: How to get game audio pricing right

• Building a successful audio post studio – with Kate Finan and Jeff Shiffman

• Rebuilding your studio: Goals, tips and lessons learned

• Creating audio for games – with Martin Stig Andersen

• A life in sound: How to foster creativity and protect yourself from burning out – with Chance Thomas

• Better audio work habits: How a Wacom Tablet can help reduce the risk of Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI)

• Better audio work habits: How a sit & standing desk can reduce your sedentary studio life

• Tips and thoughts on running your own audio post production house – with William McGuigan

• 30+ year audio veteran Andy Greenberg, on building client relationships in the advertising industry

• 7 Sound Alternatives to Working For Free

• Audio Outsourcing Success: Essential Tips, Thoughts and Working Practices from Adele Cutting

The sound success series:
• How to succeed in UI/UX Sound Design, ADR Recording, & Audio Programming

• How to succeed in sound design for Film, Documentaries, and Trailers

• How to succeed in sound design for Games, Animation, and Television

• How to succeed in Field Recording, Foley, and Teaching Sound

• How to succeed in Audio Branding, Music Editing, and sound for VR

• How to succeed in Theater Sound Design, Podcast Sound Design, and Podcast Production

• How to succeed in Sound Editing, Sound for Advertising, and Production Sound

• How to succeed in Sound Editing, Sound for Advertising, and Production Sound

• The Composer Success Series: Composing for Film – ft. Pinar Toprak, Nainita Desai, & Jonathan Snipes

• The Composer Success Series: Composing for TV – ft. Charlie Clouser, Sherri Chung, & Cindy O’Connor

• The Composer Success Series: Composing for Theatre – ft. Elyssa Samsel, Kate Anderson, and Daniel Kluger

• The Composer Success Series: Composing for Games – ft. Inon Zur

Breaking into audio – guides and resources:
• The ‘Quit Aspiring’ book – by Adam Croft

• How to get hired in game audio – thoughts and insights from your potential employer’s perspective

• Why gear is not the ticket to entry in the game audio community

• 4 Effective Ways to Break into Game Audio

• Tips for Creating a Perfect Resume for Audio Industry Jobs

• Yet Another Game Audio Hiring Article – by Ariel Gross

• 5 Tips for Getting a Job in the Audio Industry

• Applying for a job in game audio – by Matthew Florianz

• Freelance Game Audio: Getting Started and finding work – by Ashton Morris

• How to get started (and make it) in game audio – 10+ fundamental questions answered by Akash Thakkar

• Courses: How to network and get paid for your work in the game industry – by Akash Thakkar

• How to Craft a Perfect Cover Letter for Audio Industry Jobs

Finding those audio jobs:
• Get the weekly Audio Jobs newsletter

• Join the Audio Jobs Facebook group

Showcasing your work:
• Get a free profile on Soundlister

• Upload your demos to Soundcloud

• Upload your demos to ReelCrafter

Networking:
• Find game audio community groups around the world

• Find interesting audio events around the world

• Find other audio pros around the world

Coping with a layoff - and how to bounce back:
• How to prepare for – and power through – a layoff in the game audio industry, with Brian Schmidt:

• How to Survive a Game Audio Layoff – insights from Damian Kastbauer

• What it’s like to be laid off from your video game studio

• What To Do Before and After Being Laid Off

• Facebook Group: Survival Skills for Creatives

Education and knowledge:
• Get an audio mentor at the Audio Mentoring Project

• How To Learn Game Audio Online – A talk with Game Audio Educator Leonard Paul

• Hear the very best podcasts about sound

• Read the 100s of sound stories and guides on the A Sound Effect blog (search for stories here)

• Browse Industry Data: Game Music and Sound Design Salary Survey Results

• Browse 100+ Sound Design Guides

• Find essential books about sound – for film, games and audio post production

• Get tips and ideas for making your own sound effects

• Use the Audio Events Calendar to find audio-related events around the globe

• Get a steady stream of great sound stories from the community

• Discover 1000s of sound libraries from the independent sound community

• Take online courses in Wwise, FMOD Studio, Unity, Pure Data & Unreal at the School of Video Game Audio

Getting into independent sound effects:
• DIY SFX libraries - Your guide to your first sound effects library

• Sound effects survey results: Here are 90+ ideas for new SFX libraries

• How to create an indie sound bundle

• The quick-start guide to adding sound FX library metadata

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THE WORLD’S EASIEST WAY TO GET INDEPENDENT SOUND EFFECTS:

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