#990187 - 08/10/05 12:14 PM
Suggestion Box
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bdbklyn
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We've discussed most issues concerning running your studio or independant producer/engineer career as a business. Most of the FAQ's can be found in the archives.
Does anyone have any suggestions of topics for discussion that we have not touched on or perhaps a topic that needs clarification?
Bill Dooley
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#990188 - 08/12/05 12:27 AM
Re: Suggestion Box
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Dave Martin
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Well, without searching the archives (lazy, I know...), have you discussed the various legal issues (business licences, liability, etc.) that either do or do not impact 'home studio' owners? And at what point you have to break down and get legal?
How about the reality of amoritzation - when (and why) should you buy new gear from a sound business perspective?
Methods of distribution, or whether a studio/producer should go to the trouble of settin up an indie label?
ALternate revenue streams - ways to make money other than the classic 'recording bands'?
At what point you say 'this is good enough' as it relates to the physical studio you work at? (Examples - iso booths, tracking and control room size, house instruments (including, naturally, real pianos and organs)).
Workable methods for small studio owners to have clients sign off on projects as they go, so that projects (and clients) don't come back to bite you in the ass later?
Pros and cons of accepting credit cards, either in person or online?
Best choices for merchant banking services, so that you CAN accept credit cards in person or online?
How best to advertise?
Choosing whether your shop is actually a place that people should rent because of the space, or whether your shop is simply the place where you work, and you're the reason that clients come to the room?
Whether to do a demo reel, and if so, (A) what should one include, and (B) how do you get other clients to allow you to use their productions on your demo reel?
The viability, advantages and pitfalls of accepting 'all in' or turnkey projects as opposed to simply renting out the studio space.
How to know when to break down and hire an assistant? (And where to find a competent assistant).
'Partnering' with larger/smaller studios to allow clients with differing needs and budgets to get the talent and facilities that they need but might have trouble paying for?
Production agreements for clients who have no chance of being shopped (or accepted) in the world of major labels.
How you actually go about shopping a project?
I'm sure that I can come up with some other ideas, if all of these are well covered in the archives or the FAQ...
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#990189 - 08/12/05 01:42 PM
Re: Suggestion Box
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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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I'll try to take these one at a time.....and since you were "too lazy" to search the archives
Originally posted by Dave Martin:
Well, without searching the archives (lazy, I know...), have you discussed the various legal issues (business licences, liability, etc.) that either do or do not impact 'home studio' owners? And at what point you have to break down and get legal?
Originally posted by Dave Martin:
How about the reality of amoritzation - when (and why) should you buy new gear from a sound business perspective?
Originally posted by Dave Martin:
Methods of distribution, or whether a studio/producer should go to the trouble of settin up an indie label?
Originally posted by Dave Martin:
ALternate revenue streams - ways to make money other than the classic 'recording bands'?
Originally posted by Dave Martin:
At what point you say 'this is good enough' as it relates to the physical studio you work at? (Examples - iso booths, tracking and control room size, house instruments (including, naturally, real pianos and organs)).
Originally posted by Dave Martin:
Workable methods for small studio owners to have clients sign off on projects as they go, so that projects (and clients) don't come back to bite you in the ass later?
Originally posted by Dave Martin:
Pros and cons of accepting credit cards, either in person or online
Best choices for merchant banking services, so that you CAN accept credit cards in person or online?
It is best to imprint or swipe all credit cards and have the client sign the work orders and invoices.
The credit card company will always side with the cardholder in the event of a dispute. In the event the credit card can not be run through the machine PayPal has worked very well for me so far.
Originally posted by Dave Martin:
How best to advertise?
Originally posted by Dave Martin:
Choosing whether your shop is actually a place that people should rent because of the space, or whether your shop is simply the place where you work, and you're the reason that clients come to the room??
Originally posted by Dave Martin:
Whether to do a demo reel, and if so, (A) what should one include, and (B) how do you get other clients to allow you to use their productions on your demo reel?
Most of your client's would be flattered if you ask them their permission to use their productions.
Originally posted by Dave Martin:
The viability, advantages and pitfalls of accepting 'all in' or turnkey projects as opposed to simply renting out the studio space.?
Originally posted by Dave Martin:
How to know when to break down and hire an assistant? (And where to find a competent assistant).
Originally posted by Dave Martin:
Partnering' with larger/smaller studios to allow clients with differing needs and budgets to get the talent and facilities that they need but might have trouble paying for?
Originally posted by Dave Martin:
Production agreements for clients who have no chance of being shopped (or accepted) in the world of major labels.
Originally posted by Dave Martin:
How you actually go about shopping a project?
Labels don't accept unsolicited material.
You need to get that strategic alliance thing happening on thet level too......
Originally posted by Dave Martin:
I'm sure that I can come up with some other ideas, if all of these are well covered in the archives or the FAQ...
Bill Dooley
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Studio Guru
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#990190 - 08/12/05 11:47 PM
Re: Suggestion Box
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Dave Martin
Gold Member
Registered: 03/17/03
Posts: 959
Loc: Nashville
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Actually, these were more in the line of 'subjects that might be worthy of clarification' (and 'lazy' has more to do with typing that response after another 18 hour studio day, where I knew I only had about 15 minutes of consiousness remaining - I spent it typing in your forum).
Sorry for the inconvenience. Have fun.
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#990191 - 08/13/05 01:33 PM
Re: Suggestion Box
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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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Mr. Martin,
Sometimes an attempt at humour can be percieved as curtness which wasn't my intention.
Your questions are all valid and important questions regarding the operation of a studio business. I re-edited my response as the pagination process on this site is a little time cunsuming to get right and awkward. Your 15 minute question took me over two hours to respond to.
If there are any points that you require clarity on I 'd be happy to elaborate where I can, or, start a thread and maybe the collective braintrust of the membership can help you out.
Bill Dooley
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#990192 - 08/15/05 01:09 AM
Re: Suggestion Box
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AudioMaverick
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Registered: 05/19/01
Posts: 1790
Loc: Outskirts of Big Bear, CA,UNIT...
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Hey, Bill... How about a sticky for some general form templates? I know legal requirements vary almost from state to state. But, I was thinking more on the lines of formats to get people started. The typical *consult your local attorney/chamber* applies. I periodically search the archives for some offerings that were made here over the last few years. I think I've saved a lot of them. But, I always seem to not be able to find one I think I saved.
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#990193 - 08/15/05 07:53 PM
Re: Suggestion Box
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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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Mav,
There is a reason that I have to deal in generalities on a lot of specific questions. That is besides the ones I am just totally ignorant of.
If your lawyer gives you incorrect advice, you can sue him or have him disbarred. If your tax guy is a CPA and gives you incorrect advice you can do the same.
I am neither, and never claimed to be.
Despite that, my giving someone incorect advice could result in litigation, which I am not interested in.
I just try to point people in the right directions. The form you are specifically referring to was a simple "spec deal" letter of agreement that was done with an attorney at my expense and while it doesn't protect you 100%, will cover most situations.
As I am not involved in studio managment at this time I don't have a lot of archived forms for running a studio but most are available through online sources and I heartily reccommend using Filemaker as a database and either coming up with your own templates or purchasing Studio Suite from Alter Media. Which is what I would do if I had to start managing a studio again.
I even use Filmaker to do my CD labels. It keeps me straight against my invoicing and since I had to type I only have to enter a project once and can create CD :abels, jewel box labels, DAT labels, cassette, videotape,....and anything else I might need.
To run a studio you need:
1. A client contact list. Filemaker. The template files are easy to cutomize and modify.
You can create lists for printing evelopes, mailers, dayTimer phone lists rolodex cards or as simple as just names and phones 3 sorted alphabetically to keep in your car. Outlook can work for you....just not as easily searchable.
2. A letter of session confirmation. Easy to create a template yourself. I don't have one on this computer. I did it in Filemaker so it would be easily searchable....but I can't find it.
3. Session Work Orders.
4. Invoices.
These will look similar, but one the work order is generally filled in by had and the information transferred to the invoice. Checks and balances,
Get it?
Using Filemaker.....you can have interacyive databases that you can customize. Type in the clints name or the band's name and get the address, phone number and contact name put on your invoice.....
5. Equpment control forms. Inventory...set up fields for date purchased , from whom, how much you ppid for it, serial number...even a picture, which is good to have for insurance purposes.
6. Purchase orders
7. Payroll... I found a little Filemaker trick and I solved it by thinking like a kid. There is no payroll or time calc program in the world that lets you calculate time worked past midnight as part of a day. Most work shifts in the studio always seem to start on one side of midnight and end on the other. If a session starts at 2:00pm and ends at 1:00am the calculation it will give you is -1 hours worked, when in reality it is 11. To solve this I thought of the broken clock (what happens when it's 13 o'clock?....it's time to fix the clock. By using military time and making 1:00am at the end of the session 25:00....the calcs work flawlessly. 25:00 is 1:00am 26:00 is 2:00am.....
8:00am is 32:00, get it?
Anyways got to get back to the moneymakingpart of my life.
I'll try to find the session confirmation....it might have been posted here before.
Bill Dooley
p.s. Custom software is available from me at great cost. I have written custon data bases, project traking programs. I have found it to be a lifetime commitment to something I've made a couple of hundred dollars on.
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#990194 - 08/16/05 08:14 AM
Re: Suggestion Box
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AudioMaverick
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Registered: 05/19/01
Posts: 1790
Loc: Outskirts of Big Bear, CA,UNIT...
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Thanks, Bill... Understood.
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#990195 - 08/16/05 05:34 PM
Re: Suggestion Box
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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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LOL....sometimes it just takes the simplest of replies to realize what an ass I am.
bill
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