[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/brown_jerry_web.jpg” caption=”DeGroote student Jerry Brown in his recording studio that he refurbished thanks in part to a grant from the Ontario government.”]

It all started with a quest for a good drum sound recording.

When DeGroote School of Business student Jerry Brown started looking for a summer job, he didn't search the want ads or make a list of companies he was interested in. In fact, he didn't even update his resume. Instead, he typed up an application for the Ontario government's Summer Company program.

Summer Company provides hands-on business training and mentoring — together with awards of up to $3,000 — to help enterprising young people start up and run their own summer business.

Budding entrepreneur Brown put in an application to found First In Audio Production. With his grant, Brown converted his garage to a recording studio and topped off an already extensive investment in recording equipment and software.

Brown knew what type of sound he wanted. He had done amateur recording as a hobby for several years. At the heart of it, was the quest for a professional sounding drum recording. Now, thanks in part to Summer Company, he makes professional sounding recordings and has a thriving business.

First In offers a recording studio, on-location recording, mastering, sound design and corporate audio solutions.

Brown says his background in music–he plays piano, drums and guitar–combined with his commerce studies at McMaster have helped him to make First In a success. “Music has been my passion for years. When I was choosing my program for University, a business degree seemed like a broad degree that can be combined with many things.”

As a result, Brown has worked to merge music with his business degree taking as many courses through McMaster's School of the Arts as he can. And he says it's been a good fit and that his business courses have helped him in building First In.

“The ability to put down a marketing plan and give yourself a serious understanding of where your business is going is really important. I'm really drawing on all of the different concepts we learn in the core business courses. They provided a good background,” he says.

Now entering his last year at McMaster, Brown hopes that after his graduation he can combine what he's learned into a career in the music industry. “Hopefully I'll be working for myself doing something related to business and music, if not rocking out every night in front of thousands.”