Sound mixer in Fort Myers & Naples

What I record in Southwest Florida

Homes · ballparks · wildlife

• Reality & lifestyle television: I've spent weeks in Naples on house-hunting shows, working in real homes on a tight schedule with several people on wireless.
• Sports & broadcast: spring training features in Fort Myers and athlete interviews in Naples. ENG & broadcast sound →
• Documentary: interviews and field days, including wildlife documentary work in panther country east of Naples. Documentary sound →
• Commercial & corporate: tourism campaigns, hotel shoots and executive interviews, with the agency listening on IFB. Commercial sound → Corporate video sound →
• Credits and trailers: the credits page and watch the work.

What to plan for in Fort Myers and Naples

Season, aircraft and the outdoors

• Season: January through April is the busy time. Traffic on US 41 and I-75 slows down and hotels fill up, so book crew and rooms early.
• Aircraft: Naples Airport is a couple of miles from downtown and busy with private jets in season, and Page Field sits in the middle of Fort Myers. Expect to hold for aircraft at locations near either one.
• Outdoor and wildlife shoots: the preserves and the Everglades east of Naples are hot and humid, and summer afternoons bring storms. Gear gets time to acclimate before we roll, and exteriors go in the morning.
• Beaches: the Gulf is calmer in the morning. Wind protection goes on the boom and every lav. What Florida does to a shoot day →

The math on hiring Tampa-based sound

Mileage, not airfare

• Travel past 50 miles from Tampa is billed at the standard federal mileage rate. That is far cheaper than airfare, baggage fees on gear cases and a rental car for a mixer from out of state.
• Multi-day shoots are routine. I've worked full weeks in both Naples and Fort Myers.
• Same package as a Tampa job: Sound Devices 833, wireless lavs, boom mics, jam-synced timecode, IFB and redundant recording travel with me. Full gear list →

Common questions

What does it cost to bring you to Fort Myers or Naples?

Travel past 50 miles from Tampa is billed at the standard federal mileage rate. Text me your dates and location and I'll quote the whole job the same day.

Who can I hire for production sound in Fort Myers or Naples?

I'm Joe Giannotti (Florida Sound Man), a Tampa-based production sound mixer covering Fort Myers, Naples and Southwest Florida. Full-time since 2008, with thousands of broadcast productions for networks including ESPN, HBO, Discovery and HGTV. Text 813-716-8826.

Do you work multi-day shoots in Southwest Florida?

Yes. I've worked full weeks in both Naples and Fort Myers. Tell me the dates and I'll plan the travel.

Can you record outdoors in the summer heat and humidity?

Yes. Gear gets time to acclimate before we roll, lavs get mounted for sweat, and every job records redundantly. Exteriors go in the morning, before the afternoon storms.