Question 1

What is the single biggest suggestion you would give to someone wanting to get into this career?

Tim D. Lloyd · Accepted Answer

Lloyd states, “Prepare yourself for what the life of a beginning Boom Operator is really like.”
That means a lot of time devoted to the profession without necessarily making a lot of money doing it. It takes a great deal of patience to build a resume that will translate into better hours and income. Until then, aspiring Boom Operators will likely have to make sacrifices to their social and financial lives. Show business is a bit like running off to join the circus.
“You may not ever have the security of a typical nine-to-five job, but you won’t often be bored!”

Question 2

What’s the #1 mistake people make when trying to get into this career?

Tim D. Lloyd · Accepted Answer

“They think they’re immediately going to work on a hit television show or blockbuster film,” answers Lloyd. The reality is that student films and micro-budget films will likely be the majority of the productions that a beginner Boom Operator will work on. But again, with time and patience will come more high-profile opportunities. He cautions, though, that it could be several years before those projects become steady job options.

Question 3

What is the question people should ask about this career but rarely do?

Tim D. Lloyd · Accepted Answer

Lloyd offers, “Is this kind of time-consuming career what I really want?”
The life of a Boom Operator often means getting up at four or five in the morning to get to set on time, working a very physical 12-hour day, coming home and then doing it all over again the next day. He compares this profession to life in the military, as both demand adhering to a precise schedule and executing the role well. But for him, it’s also a hugely fascinating and rewarding profession.

Question 4

If you could describe in one word what makes you successful, what would it be?

Tim D. Lloyd · Accepted Answer

“Persistence.”

Question 5

How much do Boom Operators get paid?

Anna Keizer · Accepted Answer

There is a wide range when it comes to salary for a Boom Operator. Someone just starting out in this position who is working generally on smaller films with smaller budgets might earn close to $40,000 in a single year – if they’re working on a consistent basis. But with enough experience, acceptance into the union, and the ability to work on higher-profile jobs with better budgets, that number can increase to well over $100,000 in a year.

Question 6

Is Boom Operator a good job?

Anna Keizer · Accepted Answer

Like most other jobs, it can be. Do you like being on a film set? Are you interested in sound technology? Can you withstand the physical demands of boom operating on a multi-day project? Most importantly, can you afford to withstand the inevitable lulls between jobs that is so common in the film industry? If you can answer yes to all of these questions, becoming a Boom Operator might just be the right profession for you.

Question 7

Who is a famous Boom Operator?

Anna Keizer · Accepted Answer

Very, very rarely is a Boom Operator known to anyone outside the film industry. One notable exception is Ken Nightingall, who gained fame for wearing pink shorts while booming on the original Star Wars film.

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