STARTING A STUDIO in austin TX!?!?!?!?!
Patrick Turbiville
to open a studio...i have about 20,000 dollars worth of gear and 100,000
dollars to start the rest of my life with...
basically im asking...
for any advice anyone has or any information (especially financial info)
anyone has about opening up a studio...i know this is an extremely broad
subject...so i should probably get a better idea of what i want to ask...
but basically its my life dream (next to being a rock star) to open up a
studio for recording indie rock/punk bands
and im feeling very nervous about moving to a new town and spending all
sorts of money...because as you know...when you start buying recording
gear...the money dissapears quickley...and this is my life savings and
all...
sorry...respond if you want...ill post again when i can think of a more
specific question
any austin studio owners/engineers...id love an email from you
thanks...
Patrick Turbiville
MuSuck Productions
College Station, TX
OldBluesman
"Don't gimme' no grass and call it greens"
OldBluesman
Ron E. Marks
and played in a working band for 5 years. I don't want to sound too
discouraging but everyone and their mother has a studio in Austin. There are
"tons" of ads in the local music paper "The Chronicle" for everything from
home studios to big full facilities. Opening yet another studio there and it
being lucrative might prove to be a waste of your money. Good luck though,
like I said its a great town. The people there are nicer than any place I
have ever lived.
"Patrick Turbiville" <vxxp...@cox-internet.com> wrote in message
news:vxxpixxxv-020...@tl5-26-027.tca.net...
Fletcher
>
>
> but basically its my life dream (next to being a rock star) to open up a
> studio for recording indie rock/punk bands
Careful what you ask for...you might get it <grin>.
>
> and im feeling very nervous about moving to a new town and spending all
> sorts of money...because as you know...when you start buying recording
> gear...the money dissapears quickley...and this is my life savings and
> all...
That's a good instinct. $20,000 is a lot of money, but it's not alot of
gear. $100,000 is a lot of money, but not when you're trying to build a
recording studio. 'Build it and they will come' doesn't always fly in
this business. It seems that you haven't spent a whole lot of time in
Austin, so that probably means you have *no* existing client base.
Without a 'client base' you're pissing in the wind. May I humbly
suggest that you move to Austin, set up somewhere with the gear you
have, and treat it like a hobby/second job for a while. Go out, meet
the bands, artists, potential clients you're looking to court, and maybe
do a gig or two with them in your 'hobby' studio.
Get a real job until it looks like your 'studio' business can actually
be a 'profitable' event. Jumping into this 'half-assed' without a
'client base' is a really good way to lose your $100k. Hopefully, the
$100k isn't just sitting in a bank account somewhere...if it is, first
thing to do is move it into at very least a 'Certificate of Deposit' or
a 'Money Market' account...perhaps even a 'Mutual Fund'. I don't know
much about this shit, I'm no "financial advisor"...but I do know about
building studios...and have been around them long enough to know that
they're generally not the best investment to realize a return of that
investment.
With your $20k of gear, you can probably work out a deal with an
existing room [you get 'X' amount of time to park your gear
there]...then sell the time, get the income from selling the time, and
build your client base.
In a couple years time, you will either start to get a 'reputation'
around town, or you won't. Meanwhile, you still have the $100k. At the
$120k studio level, you're still *way* undercapitalized for a proper
business. As someone who's been running an 'undercapitalized business'
for well over a decade now, lemme tell ya, it ain't no fun. Every month
there is a 'struggle' to keep all your bills paid. You end up working
ridiculous hours, and often for insufficient return. You have a job,
but that's the best that can be said for it.
You should really get to know the studio scene down there. Meet as many
people in the local industry as you can. Meet the other studio owners,
get to know them, get to know their staff's and their businesses. Get
to know the musicians in the town, the bands, the clubs, the live
engineers, the instrument techs, the studio equipment techs, everyone
you can. Form 'networks' and 'friendships'.
There is a tendency in the "studio business" to be competative. This is
natural. The thing most folk don't realize is that these are all [for
the most part] 'undercapitalized' businesses. It is quite common,
especially here in the Boston market, for studios to look at "rate
cutting" as their solution to selling time. Rather than looking to
providing superior services, they offer the lowest rates possible. The
'rate war limbo' [how low can ya go] thing has been a staple of the
industry here for the last 20 or so years that I've been working around
here.
What it does is keeps the entire industry down. If the studios worked
*with* each other, instead of *against* each other...everyone in the
'local industry' would benefit. Unfortunately, it only takes one or two
people that lack the longterm vision to drag the entire industry down.
From what I understand of the Austin market, this is indeed the case
there as well.
So...before you blow your life savings...here are a few things you might
want to try to answer...'Why would anyone want to book my studio instead
of someone elses?". 'What will it cost per hour to keep my doors open?'
[staff, phones, lights, insurance, maintenance, *taxes*, employee
benefits...is there a "booker" you should try to hire...,etc.]. 'What
will I have to charge per hour to meet these expenses, as well as profit
for future capital expansion?' 'Is that rate obtainable in this
market?, with what equipment?, and what services are mostly in demand?'
I'll bet you dollars to donuts that there are already 20-30 $100k
studios all competing for the same $30-40/hr. What on earth will be the
benefit to you of opening yet another? If you can find one, go for
it...if you can't...find another tact.
There's a perceived 'romance' of opening a studio...it wears off
quickly. It's a business, no different than a 'dry cleaner'...just a
smaller potential client base. More people need dry cleaning than
'indie/punk' records. You're talking about money here, so think like a
'money guy' before you blow your load.
If you can develop a client base, earn an income from recording, see
that you have enough work where it will be feasable for you to build a
studio for you to work in...that will be maintained, and
profitable...then build one. If you're looking at building one in the
hope of "buying yourself a job"...you're in for a long, slow, painful
ride from hell.
--
Fletcher
Mercenary Audio
TEL: 508-543-0069
FAX: 508-543-9670
http://www.mercenary.com
poboy
The key for this town is to establish a niche and build your
equipment up around that. I have a good hold on the local roots
corner- but thats mainly because the last band I was in did
really
well in this crowd and I built up lots of personal relationships
with others in the alt- country (or whatever you call it) scene.
The other thing is to know what your niche can pay- don't price
your self out of range of the people you're gonna work with. But
the best way to get started in Austin's insular scene is to make
a
name as a musicain- or at least get hooked up with a band on the
rise- or else I fear there will be alot of down time in your
studio. Good Luck, Peter Stiles
* Sent from RemarQ http://www.remarq.com The Internet's Discussion Network *
The fastest and easiest way to search and participate in Usenet - Free!
DpthInc
Solid ! - listen up, very very solid advice.
______________
Jeff Deeth
Depth Recording
Chicago, IL
Dpt...@aol.com
Bob Smith
>
> Patrick Turbiville wrote:
> >
> > but basically its my life dream (next to being a rock star) to open up a
> > studio for recording indie rock/punk bands
>
> Careful what you ask for...you might get it <grin>.
>
This excellent post ought to go into the FAQ.
bobs
we organize chaos
--
Bob Smith - BS Studios
rsm...@bsstudios.com
http://www.bsstudios.com
jim andrews
Patrick Turbiville wrote:
>
> well im about to move to a newer bigger town (austin TX)
Patrick . . . welcome to Austin! As others have said, it's not
much gear, and it's not much capital, so be careful. Austin DOES
have a zillion and one little studios (like mine), but Austin also
has a zillion and one bands to record. The biggest (smallest?)
problem is the rates here seem to be pretty low compared to some
other "music towns". (I could be wrong about that, as it's been
a while since I really compared rates.)
I know of one studio space for sale (Lone Star) and another that's
for lease (downstairs from One World Music, one door north of the
Continental Club). I checked that space out for myself a couple
of weekends ago, and decided to pass -- the total square footage
was bigger than my current space, but it was broken up into more
rooms than I really cared for. You might feel differently. It's
actually fairly nice, and the rates didn't seem too extreme. (I
won't quote it here, but it was less than $2000 a month.) It needs
some acoustic treatment, though, and the patch panels were all
yanked by the last client. I'd guess it needs $5K - $10K to get
it up and running at a decent level.
Give me a shout and I'll be happy to sit down over beer or coffee
and give you some names of folks you might want to call. This is
a pretty noncompetitive town, at least among the studio owners that
*I* know, and I don't think it will be that difficult to meet a few
key people and get some work. As Peter Stiles suggested, it can
only help to go out and meet bands, maybe record a demo at their
rehearsal space or something, just to get things going. (The very
first thing I recorded I did exactly that way -- took delivery of
the gear on a Saturday afternoon, was recording in a living room
that night, we ended up with an EP that was distributed by Matador
Records, and they ended up on Matador and subsequently Elektra.
THAT never happened again! Dammit.) Take it easy,
jim andrews
basset sound
austin, tejas
(512) 443-6086
Eli Crane
soon, and will probably check some studios and clubs out, since I've heard so
much good stuff about Austin. (it was rated in the top 5 of the best cities in
the country to live in) Maybe I'll see ya roaming the streets looking for
studios?
<g>
Take Care,
Eli
>>
>> well im about to move to a newer bigger town (austin TX)
>
-----------
"Treat every person with kindness and respect, even those
who are rude to you. Remember that you show compassion
to others not because of who they are but because of who
you are."
--Andrew T. Somers
Patrick Turbiville
> Fletcher wrote:
> >
> > Patrick Turbiville wrote:
> > >
> > > but basically its my life dream (next to being a rock star) to open up a
> > > studio for recording indie rock/punk bands
> >
> > Careful what you ask for...you might get it <grin>.
> >
>
> This excellent post ought to go into the FAQ.
>
> bobs
> we organize chaos
im new around here....i didnt even know there was a FAQ...but that posting
from fletcher was amazing and belongs in a FAQ
Patrick Turbiville
MuSuck Production
College Station, TX
Mark McQuilken
>
(snip)
>
> I know of one studio space for sale (Lone Star) and another that's
> for lease (downstairs from One World Music, one door north of the
> Continental Club). I checked that space out for myself a couple
> of weekends ago, and decided to pass -- the total square footage
> was bigger than my current space, but it was broken up into more
> rooms than I really cared for.
Isn't that Jeff's place? What's up with that?? Wha' happened?
(snip)
>
> Give me a shout and I'll be happy to sit down over beer or coffee
> and give you some names of folks you might want to call. This is
> a pretty noncompetitive town, at least among the studio owners that
> *I* know, and I don't think it will be that difficult to meet a few
> key people and get some work.
Noncompetitive? You daft prick! My Multitrack is bigger than *YOUR*
multitrack!!! :>)
(snip)
>
> jim andrews
With serious equipment envy in Austin,
McQ
__
Mark McQuilken
FMR Audio
www.fmraudio.com
(800)343-9976 - US Only
(512)280-6557 Voice
(512)280-8627 Fax
Mark McQuilken
>
>
> im new around here....i didnt even know there was a FAQ...but that posting
> from fletcher was amazing and belongs in a FAQ
>
> Patrick Turbiville
Like Jim Andrews said, if you need a hand...give me a call! Either Jim
or I can also introduce you to some other folks. It may not answer your
question, but it will give you more to consider and have some fun with
some other *REALLY* nice folks in the interim!
Mark McQuilken
>
(snip)
>
> jim andrews
What about that console, Jim? Any word yet?
jim andrews
>
> jim andrews wrote:
> >
> (snip)
> >
> > jim andrews
>
> What about that console, Jim? Any word yet?
No, I'm in "negotiations", if you get my drift.
jim andrews
>
> jim andrews wrote:
> >
> (snip)
> >
> > for lease (downstairs from One World Music, one door north of the
> > Continental Club). I checked that space out for myself a couple
> > of weekends ago, and decided to pass -- the total square footage
> > was bigger than my current space, but it was broken up into more
> > rooms than I really cared for.
>
> Isn't that Jeff's place? What's up with that?? Wha' happened?
I didn't know the original lessee (lessor? whatever).
According to the guys upstairs, whoever it was figured
out he wasn't making much money because he was "too nice",
and kept cutting bands a deal. I think it was called
Audio Arts, but I might be mistaken on that one.
> > Give me a shout and I'll be happy to sit down over beer or coffee
> > and give you some names of folks you might want to call. This is
> > a pretty noncompetitive town, at least among the studio owners that
> > *I* know, and I don't think it will be that difficult to meet a few
> > key people and get some work.
>
> Noncompetitive? You daft prick! My Multitrack is bigger than *YOUR*
> multitrack!!! :>)
Well, uh . . . size isn't everything?
Mark McQuilken
>
> Mark McQuilken wrote:
> >
> > jim andrews wrote:
> > >
> > (snip)
> > >
> >
> > What about that console, Jim? Any word yet?
>
> No, I'm in "negotiations", if you get my drift.
>
> jim andrews
Wink, wink, nudge, nudge! Say no more!!
Ron Ellis
Q. How do you make $1,000,000 in the studio business?
A. Spend $5,000,000
Ron Ellis
Top Hat Recording
Austin, TX
www.tophatrecording.com
Mark McQuilken wrote in message <391087...@fmraudio.com>...
Joe Schottman
> well im about to move to a newer bigger town (austin TX) and i would like
> to open a studio...i have about 20,000 dollars worth of gear and 100,000
> dollars to start the rest of my life with...
As everyone else has noted, in the bargin bin (and any other bin..) studio
business, you have to find a nitch for yourself, and figure out how to get a
stream of customers coming through the door.
One way that you might do that is by working in the live scene down there. I
understand there are quite a few clubs down there so you could try to find a
place/company that needs some help. It would give you some money to live
with, and let you meet and work with the area bands. I do SR for a living,
and have quiet a few bands express an interest in working with me in the
studio. If you find a company to work with, you may even be able to set up
your $20K studio in some warehouse space, and use that to make demos when
there aren't any shows going on.
Joe Schottman
jim andrews
>
> Reminds me of a joke...
>
> Q. How do you make $1,000,000 in the studio business?
>
> A. Spend $5,000,000
>
> Ron Ellis
> Top Hat Recording
> Austin, TX
> www.tophatrecording.com
Hey Ron . . . what's the name (and number?) of
the DA88 repair facility you use in Nashville?
I still haven't gotten my busted deck fixed . . .
craig downing
<jand...@activepower.com> wrote:
Jim:
I tried to respond via email, but it didn't seem to work. Here is the
message:
I am a lurker who runs a small private
studio here in Austin. I am interested in gaining more experience
working
with analog decks, wiring and so forth. I was wondering if you knew
of any
studios looking for an intern. I am a teacher so my summer would be
completely free for being a studio slave.
Let me know,
craig
512 458 7874
P.S. I used to work with Norm over at Underground VW. He brags about
your
studio all the time.
><sent to r.a.pro & via email>
>
>Patrick Turbiville wrote:
>>
>> well im about to move to a newer bigger town (austin TX)
>
>
>Patrick . . . welcome to Austin! As others have said, it's not
>much gear, and it's not much capital, so be careful. Austin DOES
>have a zillion and one little studios (like mine), but Austin also
>has a zillion and one bands to record. The biggest (smallest?)
>problem is the rates here seem to be pretty low compared to some
>other "music towns". (I could be wrong about that, as it's been
>a while since I really compared rates.)
>
>I know of one studio space for sale (Lone Star) and another that's
>for lease (downstairs from One World Music, one door north of the
>Continental Club). I checked that space out for myself a couple
>of weekends ago, and decided to pass -- the total square footage
>was bigger than my current space, but it was broken up into more
>rooms than I really cared for. You might feel differently. It's
>actually fairly nice, and the rates didn't seem too extreme. (I
>won't quote it here, but it was less than $2000 a month.) It needs
>some acoustic treatment, though, and the patch panels were all
>yanked by the last client. I'd guess it needs $5K - $10K to get
>it up and running at a decent level.
>
>Give me a shout and I'll be happy to sit down over beer or coffee
>and give you some names of folks you might want to call. This is
>a pretty noncompetitive town, at least among the studio owners that
>*I* know, and I don't think it will be that difficult to meet a few
>key people and get some work. As Peter Stiles suggested, it can
>only help to go out and meet bands, maybe record a demo at their
>rehearsal space or something, just to get things going. (The very
>first thing I recorded I did exactly that way -- took delivery of
>the gear on a Saturday afternoon, was recording in a living room
>that night, we ended up with an EP that was distributed by Matador
>Records, and they ended up on Matador and subsequently Elektra.
>THAT never happened again! Dammit.) Take it easy,
>
>jim andrews
>basset sound
>austin, tejas
jim andrews
email, I'm leaving this up here in case one of the
Austin regulars knows who Craig can contact>
craig downing wrote:
>
> On Wed, 03 May 2000 12:46:57 -0500, jim andrews
> <jand...@activepower.com> wrote:
>
> Jim:
>
> I tried to respond via email, but it didn't seem to work.
Well, THAT'S not good. Check the address. I don't
think we're having server problems, but you never know.
> I am a lurker who runs a small private
> studio here in Austin. I am interested in gaining more experience
> working with analog decks, wiring and so forth. I was wondering if
> you knew of any studios looking for an intern. I am a teacher so my
> summer would be completely free for being a studio slave.
I'm pretty sure this won't be too difficult to find,
but I honestly don't know of anyone looking for such
a thing. If you're willing to do the unpaid thing,
I can't imagine not being able to find work. Of course,
most of the budget places are digital multitrack studios
like mine. Still, there's a lot of folks with analog
decks that are working at the higher end. Give me a
call and I'll help you figure out who you might want
to speak with . . .
> P.S. I used to work with Norm over at Underground VW. He brags about
> your studio all the time.
Heh . . . come on by anytime. Norm and I are working
on two CDs right now. We could use the random outside
opinion!
jim andrews
basset sound
austin, tejas
(512) 443-6086 (leave message)
hank alrich
> > Noncompetitive? You daft prick! My Multitrack is bigger than *YOUR*
> > multitrack!!! :>)
>
> Well, uh . . . size isn't everything?
No shit, Shurelock; just look at the size of his RNC!
--
hank - secret mountain
Note: the rec.audio.pro FAQ is at http://recordist.com/rap-faq/current
Read it and reap!
hank alrich
Is Nashville closer to Austin than is San Rafael? There's this guy named
Stan Jacox what has a place named "Studio Maintenance Center" in San
Rafael and I can state firsthand that they do good work there.
http://www.studio-maint.com
1-800-918-3300
Studio Maintenance Center
655 DuBois St
San Rafael, CA 94901
--
hank sez "You got to get it while you can!"
To order the seven-CD set of "Bohemian R.A.P CD"
see http://www.hoohahrecords.com/rap
A Public Service Announcement from secret mountain
Tonebarge
will be. <g>
TB
Anthony B. Kitson
Tonebarge wrote:
>
> Hmmm. I wonder if this will have any impact on how big Mark's next unit
> will be. <g>
>
> TB
>
> >
> > No shit, Shurelock; just look at the size of his RNC!
> >
--
Anthony B. Kitson BSEE AES
http://www.pinnaclestudio.com - Recently Updated!
Dave Martin
> > Hey Ron . . . what's the name (and number?) of
> > the DA88 repair facility you use in Nashville?
> > I still haven't gotten my busted deck fixed . . .
>
> Is Nashville closer to Austin than is San Rafael? There's this guy named
> Stan Jacox what has a place named "Studio Maintenance Center" in San
> Rafael and I can state firsthand that they do good work there.
>
> http://www.studio-maint.com
> 1-800-918-3300
> Studio Maintenance Center
> 655 DuBois St
> San Rafael, CA 94901
>
you - I've sent both my Panasonic DAT machines to Stan) For Nashville DA-88
repairs, I highly recommend Don Kruse at Music Row Technology. (615)
385-1613.
--
Dave Martin
DMA, Inc.
Nashville, TN
Jay Kadis
SMC often looks like a UPS warehouse, so plenty of folks ship their stuff to
him for repairs. One can hardly walk in sometimes...
-Jay
--
x------- Jay Kadis ------- x---- Jay's Garage Studio ----x
x CCRMA/Music x Dexter Records x
x Stanford University x http://www.offbeats.com/ x
x-------- http://ccrma-www.stanford.edu/~jay/ ----------x
hank alrich
> SMC often looks like a UPS warehouse, so plenty of folks ship their stuff to
> him for repairs. One can hardly walk in sometimes...
I try to go there when Priscilla isn't there so that I'll be able to
concentrate...on audio stuff. Some shops have all the management.
Julian Standen
if there is a studio hire company in the Austin area. Do a deal with them to
hire your equip out when you aren't using it. Take care to purchase gear that
fills 'gaps" in their inventory. If say, you bought a pro Tools Mix + system
and had it flight cased. And got a 2nd baby system 001 then you might earn bucks
with it out on hire via them and still be able to continue with work at home
when it was out. Ok so it will all have all their stickers on it and may get a
little scuffed but;
A) it justifies a gear habit if you cant stop!
B) it can be a better return than a bank
c) you get the use of it on your productions.
My top 'earners' via my local hire co (split 50/50)
flight cased Pro Tools Mix + rig
Apogee AD8000
SSL compressor
Distressor
Jules