#990145 - 07/11/05 11:42 PM
What are you doing to make your studio a full-time business?
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gaotu
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Registered: 01/10/04
Posts: 211
Loc: Indianapolis
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I'd really like to quit my job and make my studio my full-time business. And I'd like to do this sooner than later. I'm concerned that recording bands isn't enough. What else can I get into to assist in the income department? What are you guys doing?
I know there's things like commercials and books-on-tape and such, but I really don't know much about that side of the industry or those markets. Can anyone point me to somewhere or something (such as a book) that will shed some light on this topic.
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#990146 - 07/12/05 09:21 AM
Re: What are you doing to make your studio a full-time business?
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jackcheez
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Registered: 06/27/05
Posts: 36
Loc: Long Beach CA
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I too would like to go full time. I was recently offered work making karaoke CDs. I thought about it. I'm still at my day job.
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#990147 - 07/12/05 01:56 PM
Re: What are you doing to make your studio a full-time business?
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AudioMaverick
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Registered: 05/19/01
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Loc: Outskirts of Big Bear, CA,UNIT...
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There was a similar post bouncing around a few years ago. The small project-like studios seemed to be doing well with transfering analog multitracks to digital and remastering. It would be more contract work. I would prefer that over dealing with the smaller local bands. The few I've worked with went through a harsh learning curve. They realized their act wasn't together. Some of them snapped together real fast, and things went well. A couple of them just fell apart. One was pretty scary, to me. But, not as bad as others have shared with me. I have to say the few that were professional from the start really made it all worth the effort.
Things I will be considering...
- Local talent demos (depends on quality of the talent).
- Beating the scene and dropping cards when I hear talent that sounds mature (and not already labeled).
- Doing various analog to digital stuff (don't have the analog hardware for this -- big startup cost).
- Surround recording & conversion (really am hooked on this).
Right now, I'm about 4 months out getting my garage conversion done. And, that might slip, if I don't get far enough before the snow.
So,...:
- What do you two think your strong points are?
- Do you think they will be marketable?
- What kind of return do you think you'll get for your efforts?
. I don't expect that much, myself. I've been working to cut my overhead & expenses, so I can afford the switch over. And, I have a second income area to help out, that isn't expected to conflict with the time I want to put into the audio part.
Things to think about from a fellow dreamer...
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"It's all about the... um-m-m, uh-h-h..."
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#990148 - 07/12/05 09:01 PM
Re: What are you doing to make your studio a full-time business?
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bdbklyn
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Registered: 04/04/01
Posts: 1035
Loc: Los Angeles,CA,UNITED STATES
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Originally posted by jackcheez:
I too would like to go full time. I was recently offered work making karaoke CDs. I thought about it. I'm still at my day job.
It was a day job, but a fun day job.
Bill Dooley
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#990149 - 07/20/05 11:48 PM
Re: What are you doing to make your studio a full-time business?
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recordist
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Registered: 07/20/05
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In addition to the usual "local talent" thing:
I've done Sound Design for dozens of theater productions, some of which were gratis, but led to many other well-paying theater gigs: too many shows suffer from poor audio, and the really good directors realize that quality audio work can move their productions up a full letter grade (most of us know what kind of a difference the score can make in a motion picture!)
Audio transfer and remastering of old program material is always good - nice to turn someone's "antique" amateur masters into a more listenable product.
I'm not the most religious guy, myself, but church recordings have also been a nice source - several musical programs thoughout the year, and they enjoy being able to offer them to the congregation. Plus there's often a nice budget to allow for recording and duplication of small runs.
I groove to BARTERING big time - I've done lots of little recording favors for a friend of mine, he lets me in to the theater during off hours to record on the grand piano (an instrument which I have neither the budget nor space for, but which sets me apart nicely from the other project studios!)
Plenty of people are trying to get into the "voice talent" market (a much tougher market than it might seem at first!), they all need to have quality audition recordings...
...Just a few ideas...
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#990150 - 07/22/05 04:53 PM
Re: What are you doing to make your studio a full-time business?
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jackcheez
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Registered: 06/27/05
Posts: 36
Loc: Long Beach CA
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Making karaoke CD's is a blast. I spent a very short time making instrumental tracks of popular songs...  Also, for what some people will pay, you need to produce quickly or you're working for cheap. I don't see allot of time for the kind of experimentation that would make it rewarding.
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#990151 - 07/25/05 05:22 PM
Re: What are you doing to make your studio a full-time business?
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bdbklyn
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Registered: 04/04/01
Posts: 1035
Loc: Los Angeles,CA,UNITED STATES
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Originally posted by jackcheez: Making karaoke CD's is a blast. I spent a very short time making instrumental tracks of popular songs...
A good friend of mine, Howard Schwartz of Howard Schwartz Recording in NYC, recalls the key to his success being the moment he decided to specialize in doing the work no one else wanted to do. He specializes in jingles, voice overs and ADR. His studios are always booked and they go out for an average of $375/hour.
Bill Dooley
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