Some Practical Advice when Starting a Recording Studio
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- Опубликовано: 4 окт 2024
- Full Article: creativesoundla...
Starting a recording studio is no easy task. It's important that you approach running a studio with a clear head, and open mind. This is not the time to fantasize about what could happen in the future for your studio. This is the time to look at things objectively and ask yourself many tough questions. The more you ask now about starting a recording studio, the best shape you'll be in.
The three key ingredients to running your own recording studio are:
Symbiotic Relationships. How to find studio space, get more gear, have repairs made, and have a powerful advertizing network - All without cash.
Establishing Your Value. How to get the most payment from your clients, their commitment, and navigate the personalities of crazy-artsy musicians.
Gear Buying Strategy that Will Save Thousands. How to buy gear so you never waste money upgrading your equipment as you grow.
Choosing Partners when Starting a Recording Studio
For starters, you need to find people that you are interested in getting involved with. Don't engage with people that you don't think are dependable, or don't act fairly. You need a certain amount of trust and believe that a potential partner would be good to work with.
This prospective partner also needs to have some valuable ideas, resources, or ambitions. If they mostly spend their time gaming on a computer, or going to sports games, then there's not a lot to work with. You don't want a person that's coasting through the week, but someone that's looking for something new to try. The attitude of the person is going to either fuel ideas, or slow them down.
It's important to note that all of my relationships are this way. I never know if a big idea will emerge, but I always am open for the discussion to naturally happen.
Meeting with Partners
You really need to set up situations where ideas can simmer. I often choose to meet over lunch, as it is expected that ordering food and eating your meal is at least a 45 minute activity.
I've also noticed that guys are not accessible at dinner time because they are just in a different head space. Lunch or mid-morning is where it's at to get them in a clear head space.
You need to get to know people when they aren't rushed, during a slow day, and nothing else is on their mind except for how good the coffee is. Talking with someone at a noisy bar isn't going to let ideas simmer, and flourish into something new.
thanx for the knowledge. a lot of ppl are super stingy with sharing knowledge.
+brooks anderson Sure thing! Good entrepreneurship should be shared.
Great video. I love flipping on craigslist and accepting trades as a payment is a wonderful idea. Honestly, I am a salvager, and my entire home studio is worth $3000 and I got it for about $1500 from sellers on craigslist. I hope to open a full time studio in the near future, thanks for the advice.
The trade idea just blew my mind... I can't thank you enough man!
+Joshua Pettinger Thanks, and sure thing. Really glad I could help you out.
Such a wise dude and just overall cool guy, awesome videos every time. Thanks so much for taking the time to make this.
Wise words my friend. Very wise words.
Thanks man!
Thank you thank you 4 these tips; Relationships, $-value & watch GAS ... got it👍
Genius man, Genius. Definately Subscribed!
thanks so much for the advice!
+Steven Johnson Sure!
The trade tip is a great idea! thanks
Whoa, this setup is rad! I'm building a pro solar-powered studio in the back of a box truck..... it's coming together, but space is a bit of an issue. Hopefully I can make mine as awesome as yours! Thanks for the video 🤘
Wow very cool.
Seems to be a currency of trust between artists. And thx for explaining the importance of valuing my work. I've been underpricing my videography work like craaaazy. Looking forward to the new attitude and holding my skills to their true value!
I dont want to have an studio but you said a lot of helpful things for me. Wish your chanel could be more popular. It shloud be!!! Greetins from argentina!!
Thanks for saying hello and I'm glad I could help!
It's funny, I am here, indulging in "back-issues" to distract me from stuff that sucks, and I always catch something I missed the first time around. So on the debt-free, don't buy anything you can't afford to pay in full right now, well......I had nothing but my Peavey Classic 30, an old BK Butler "TubeWorks" head (it's like a "Tube Driver" preamp and the "MOSVALVE" power amp in a head), a couple old Hammond organ amps that were modified to be like various types of 18 watt type circuits, and an Ampeg Reverberocket. I had nothing that could do modern high-gain, and the band I was planning to record was kind of a crust punk almost-grindcore band. EVERY SONG was high-gain chugging.
At first, I intended to just have the guitarist bring his Peavey Bandit and his Digitech distortion pedal, or just the pedal and have him use the Ampeg as a clean amp, but then I thought it through. These kids, young-angry-and-poor crust punks as they were, were actually paying me. I mean, the rate I charged for tracking was absurdly low, but I only had a small one-room studio based around a Fostex R8, so 8 tracks, and grindcore bands track live and get it on the first take consistently. Anyway, I decided I was GOING TO get a real headbanger amp for this, and I called up the guitarist and made him go to Guitar Center with me.
He picked a Dual Rectifier, and I bought it. We tracked 13 songs through it, being very careful not to smoke (anything!) near it or put drinks on it. Then I returned it and voluntarily paid a 15% restocking fee, and basically told them that I would have rented it if they had guitar amps for rent (even today, the rental department is all PA stuff and DJ stuff and fancy lighting, no guitar stuff at all), and the manager - looking a bit embarrassed - told me "That's basically what you did I guess." I nodded sheepishly, and then went out front and had a smoke. One of the sales associates came out and told me from then on to just come to him if I wanted to "rent" something by buying/returning it. THAT was a relationship that has saved my ass on numerous occasions!
Amazing video!!! Thanks for posting this.
MrKellii Sure thing!
“I’ll record you, give me a canoe” haha lmao love the video.
I LOVE your channel man - such great advice - I still haven't made it through all of your videos. . . . I've had a question no one really "hits" on. . . . I run a ton of live sound (I multitrack it - synch it to video) - and sort of double dip (being paid for the original show - I give each artist about 3 tracks - and charge for the whole thing if they want it). . . . It's evolved - I've gotten better at it. . . .My question is - "is it worth it to go legit" - pay taxes, stop taking money under the table so to speak. . . . If I do pay some taxes - can I claim a total loss for a few years - and buy some better equipment?
Very helpful. Thanks for sharing.
Glad I could help! Some of these ideas are what made my studio Lumen Audio possible.
How much did it cost for you to get in the studio, construction, and equipment, when you first started? Really interested in opening my own studio.
Hi there. Are you still active in productions? Have a thing I would love some feedback about. From a guy like you... :)
Great advice!
+Dave Cahill Thanks!
Good, practical advice, straight from the horse's mouth! A good video.
+Jamie Gallacher Thanks!
hi - i'm looking for the buying strategy PDF - please help?
Clients try to burn me all the time but i tell them if you like the song and you walk out that door dont try to come back for a refund and try to rip me off but if you really have confidence in your craft you wont let these clients try to burn you for money that and a good clientele to back you up that some clients can be cons and you got to watch out for that its bad enough you got to watchout for people who can rob you and my studio is in my house so its dangerous but of you got street smarts and confidence a good clientele that you trust than your all good
my thing is i take forever mixing... and i mean forever. i charge 200 per song and i have someone master for 50, so for each song i am left with 150 for each track. i still find it hard for people to pay this, then they start getting ansty about getting their track because it takes me 15 hours to mix. the quality is there, but its frustrating being rushed on something im not paid for on an hourly basis.... how do i get clients to calm down on recieving their tracks? i have tried telling them its just part of it and i tell them before they even come in that i am kind of slow. thanks
+Bret Bunton There's gotta be some expectations that it takes some time. Depending on the quality of the tracks, there will need to be some editing which can take a lot of time. If the tracks sound good as is, then it will take much less time to mix. I don't let clients come to mixing sessions. I tell them it'll be a couple days and I'll have them a first mix. Have them right changes down in a list and after you've had time to make those changes, let them come in to hear it to make sure you got the changes right. Then I offer to help find someone to master, but that is up to them to pay, not you. The more you can stack your portfolio with great mixes, the more you can just tell them what you need to do a job well done, rather than them ride your back. They have to trust you based on your previous work you can show, and remind them of that.
+creativesoundlab really great advice. the only reason i offer mastering is because all of my "competitors" offer it, in house. so i offer professional mastering and just added the expense into my price. it works put because the guy mastering my work is an old friend and he has been recording for nearly 15 years... much smarter than i am, and he pushes me for better mixes. its really kind of sad everyone in my area low-balls recordings. They sound decent, but not exceptional. i offer better quality for not much more, but bands really dont seem to care lol. im doing OK. but this area is killing me. thats why my buddy moved to nashville lol
+Bret Bunton Yeah, I would just offer less if people want to pay less. Scale it down. Offer no editing, or no vocal tuning. Mixing and basic automation only. For recording, you can do more live recording meaning you can record 5 songs in an afternoon with vocal overdubs. I would pitch it in the positive, so say everything you will do, and if they ask about something you don't have time for like tons of editing, then tack it on as an additional cost. No sense doing a process that people don't even value. This isn't really an artistic way of looking at it or what is best for the art, this is the business side that keeps you going.
+Bret Bunton Where are you located? I'm about 6 hrs from Nashville, in NC
+creativesoundlab once again, spot on. thats what im gonna end up doing. thanks for all the advice+!!! im, im in peoria IL.