How I Started My Studio Business
A lot of recording studios are popping up as the price of high
quality recording gear gets cheaper and cheaper. While many guys
know they want to record other bands and would like to even get
paid for it, many are not sure how to get started.
I remember back when I decided I was ready to start recording
bands. I went to a local "metalfest", setup a table, told
everyone I charged $20 an hour, and nothing happened. I mean
NOTHING happened. It was a total waste of time. So I went back
to the drawing board and had to rethink my strategy.
I'm a firm believer that you must give someone something if you
want something in return. Take the approach of your potential
customers. "What's in it for me?". Well, in the case of me with
the brand new studio in my house, I had a few problems. My demo
I was handing out simply wasn't that good. It was about the
typical quality of a local studio at that time. Most bands
didn't feel comfortable working with a guy for $20 an hour who
they didn't even know and had never heard of.
I decided that I would do an album for free. Actually, at that
time, I had not done an album. Just little 3 song this and 4
song thats. I found that recording a 10-12 song cd was quite a
bit more work than I had imagined. Either way, I went to a few
local shows to scout out the band that I wanted to offer free
recording too. Eventually, I found the band. They had pro gear
and sounded good live. They had a decent crowd and I thought
they would make a great candidate. I approached them after the
show to do a few record. I got them to go for it. Most bands
won't turn down free recording.
I busted my tale on the project, and in the end it sounded
pretty decent. It was better than most the local productions,
but nothing to be too excited about it. It was enough for the my
new friends in the band to tell more of their friends. Since
they were a gigging band, other bands would ask where they
recorded. Other bands were excited that I didn't force
electronic drums onto their record. That in itself was actually
a selling point.
It wasn't long after finishing the first project that I can I
did another free record. Once again, it was a gigging local
band. I did that project for free too. It turned out to be a
decent sounding recording in the end. I was very pleased at the
time. I kept improving. It turned out that I did about 5 records
for free. This took me a lot of work and a lot of time. I was
just happy to have real bands to record.
At that time a local music forum exploded. After recording 5 or
so records I knew a number of bands. I hit the forum very hard.
I was the leading poster for a long time. I posted each and
every day on every post that I had any business posting. I had
my recording studio's website up the whole time and always
offered samples of my work.
I emailed a number of bands and told them that I had recorded
this band and that band. Soon, I found myself charging an
enormous $50 per day. It certainly wasn't great money, but it
was a start. I recorded more and more bands to gain experience.
Every time I finished a project, I would invite all the guys on
the local forum to visit my site and download it. I got better
and better and better.
I became overbooked and overworked, so I raised my prices to
$100 per day. By this time, just about everyone in the local
band world knew who I was. From that point I didn't have to do
much marketing. It sort of took care of itself.
Now, I'm pushing it the next step. I grabbed the band with the
best singer in town. It just so happens that everyone in his
band could play as well. They had experience making serious
money as a band. I knew it was worth my time to put something
great into their project.
Once again, I find myself recording for free, sort of. I'm
working on spec. That means that they owe me some money. If the
record sells well, I get a nice paycheck. If it doesn't, I'm
still eating ramon noodles. We've actually put quite a bit of
work into this project. We've spent the past 9 months writing
songs as that is, by far, the most important factor. Since, I'm
not charging for any of my services, there were a few
stipulations. One, we could go to Nashville or some equivalent
mega pro studio to do the drums in. Two, they would print up
10,000 sample cds. Three, they would print up 1,000 real cds
that would be sold. Four, I had to help them with the marketing
end.
With this project, we are doing everything as write as we
possibly can. We are trying not to compromise at all. Even if
the the record is a total flop (which it won't be), the studio
will get a tremendous amount of exposure. I expect to be able to
raise my rates after doing this project.
So if you are looking to record more bands, give them a reason
to come to you. What's in it for them? If you are willing to
work for free for a little while, you'll make great money in the
end.