In addition to simply holding the boom, a boom operator has a number of technical responsibilities.
You must position microphones for picking up sound in the clearest way. This involves knowing the specifics of the range and type of microphones being used. Preventing the production crew from having to re-record dialogue or other sound after the initial production can save a great deal of money, according to Media-Match.com.
You will also be responsible for the moving, setup and repair of all sound equipment. Your boss, the production sound mixer, will likely ask you to take care of many of the minor repairs on equipment, so you cannot function without a good working knowledge of it.
You must learn about the equipment being used on the production as well as the content of the production itself. You will be expected to know camera lenses well to keep the microphone out of the shot. Knowing the difference between the shot composition of a wide-angle lens and a telephoto lens will help you in understanding how close you'll be able to get to the sound source.
Learn the lines that actors or on-air personalities will be delivering during the shot. In film production, boom operators are given "sides" each day. Sides are small booklets with the parts of the script that will be shot that day. In the event of an exchange of dialogue, you'll need to know when to move the mic toward the other person and when the camera might move, according to Media-Match.com.
Get in good physical shape. You will be standing for long periods of time, and you will have to hold equipment above your head. This requires more strength than you realize.
Workdays during some productions may last 12 to 16 hours, and you will have to be able to hold up to it.
Be prepared to be away from home for extended periods of time for "on location" shoots. This will mean you live in a hotel sometimes and may not get the amount of rest you are accustomed to.
Get into this career field by gaining experience through volunteer projects. Find nonunion, low-budget productions that will allow you to come in and learn the ropes for free, according to StateUniversity.com.
Be an assistant to the boom operator, and learn what she does. During breaks, ask if you can practice with the boom. If you give a good effort, you may find that the same people will work with you again later for money.