Ben’s education had been a good one – his teachers made every effort to ensure that their students understood the fundamentals.

But Ben was even more excited about mixing. He knew that the experience he’d gained by working on everything from that recording project with the reggae band to being an assistant system tech at the Spring Fling festival at his community college had perfectly prepared him to “mix the big time.”

And this is where Ben saw himself – up on the big platform at the big show with the big artist. “The Big Time” Ben said as a few drops of peanut butter-tainted milk dribbled down his chin and visions of thousands of screaming fans echoed in his head.

He was ready to take on the world as he grabbed his resume and CD, heading down the staircase at his apartment complex to his car, starting out on his way to Frank’s Sound Company. It was only a few miles away – just enough time to hear IGY again in the car.

“I wonder what this CD sounds like on Frank’s best sound system. Probably a line array,” thought Ben as he pulled into the parking lot at the sound company. It was 9:54 a.m., right on time for the interview at 10.

As he stepped out of his car and readied himself to enter the realm of the audio gods, Ben tucked his black EV t-shirt into his black Levis and looked down at his black Reeboks.

“I’m as ready as I’m ever gonna be,” he muttered under his breath as he strode purposefully toward the big double doors at the front of the building. He paused at the door, took a deep breath to still the twinge in his stomach, and then reached for the handle. He gave it a manly tug before entering the lobby with his head held high and walked straight to the reception desk.

“I’m here to see Frank,” he said with the most mature but casual voice he could muster for someone of a mere 20 years of age.

“And you are?” asked the receptionist, with just a faint trace of haughtiness, as if Ben could clearly not really be someone that Frank would know.

“Ben Davis” he said, again with the calm, mature and casual voice he had already used seconds before. “I’m here for an interview.” He could not see that she had rolled her eyes while looking down at the appointment book.

“Please have a seat,” she uttered. “I’ll let him know you’re here.”

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