Do You Make Money off ur Studios?? Hop In

  • Thread starter Thread starter young_digital
  • Start date Start date
Y

young_digital

New member
I'm trying to setup a home studio and begin charging artists to record....I'm in Toronto, Canada....just want a few tips of advice...like things i need to watch out for...how to get started and keep attracting customers to come back to record...just setting up a small place for now and as the business grows....i invest in a larger place..with more mics, plugins, and accessories.
 
I normally consider someone asking these types of questions to be way too early in the process to even consider charging clients. Statments such as "trying to set up a home studio" and "how to get started" don't really inspire large amounts of confidence that you are qualified to charge for studio time.

That being said - Some fundamentals:

1. Never let any master recording leave your studio without payment in full

2. Never let any preliminary mix leave your studio without at least partial payment

3. Never start a project without a down payment

4. Never charge more than you are worth or more than comparible competition (unless you are real sure you can produce great results) - bad word of mouth can kill a new studio

5. Be very selective about who enters your studio and which projects you accept - unless you have very godd security features (steel doors, bars on windows, etc)

6. Never trust anyone! Many (perhaps most) musicians are not dependable, are under financed and in general are flakes.

7. Always budget for more time than you think -recording projects rarely if ever are completed as quickly as planned.

If you are really serious about opening a for hire studio - there are many threads on this site about attracting customers (offer free recording, sponser an open mic at a venue and offer a block of time for 1st prize, etc). There are any number of books, magazine articles and web sites that provide ample information. Perhaps, you would serve your ambitions much better by conducting real research, versus hoping someone gives you magic answers.

I'm not trying to be a jerk - and I have provided serious and valid suggestions - I simply think people who want to open a "for hire" studio (which is a real competitive business) should have a plan - long before "trying to set up a home studio"
 
Well I started at a low rate like $15 per hour.

Other places were charging $35 to $60.

Once I got consitent at making good demos, I upped the price to $20 and then $25.

I dont have the fancy studio building, super outboard gear or Pro Tools HD, so I dont expect to be charging $50-$60 an hour even though my demos have been consistently better than a local studio that is.

Just means more business for me and people keep coming back and eventually I will raise rates to accomodate the service I am providing.

Right now its about building a reputation and slowly raising to what I feel I am worth.

I know right now there is a studio charging $35 and they have done an Album for a few signed bands and have excellent results.

So I am not charging what they charge yet because I am just below their level of product.

Otherwise my clients would pay the extra $10 per hour and drive an hour away to get the better sound.

But right now its very good and the price is great.

I would say compare other rates around you and compare your skills to theirs.

Make your recording service a deal that will attract people.

You will definately need product to sell yourself.

So I would say record a band and take the best demo and pass out some free copies at any rehearsal building if there are any.

Put up flyers wherever you can, and hit up Myspace.

Half my business comes from people finding me on Myspace.

The rest is local word of mouth.

I dont advertise at all.

But if I had more time to record I would.

I targeted a good local band and offered a discounted rate $15 per hour. Showed them a copy of what I had recorded for my band.

They compared it to their demo that they just spend $60 per hour recording and were blown away.

So they have been back 3 times.

Then it just snowballed.

Other people heard their demo and contacted me.

Try something like that.

And make your setup look as professional as possible.

I built my own recording desk for my mixer and rack equipment.

Built a simple Vocal Booth out of 2x4's and Sheetrock with carpeted lining inside with a roof and three walls open in the front. Kinda like a phone booth with no door.

Simple things that people look at and think your not just some Joe Blow with a computer and a couple mics in his garage or something.

Hope any of that was helpfull.
 
mikeh said:
I normally consider someone asking these types of questions to be way too early in the process to even consider charging clients. Statments such as "trying to set up a home studio" and "how to get started" don't really inspire large amounts of confidence that you are qualified to charge for studio time.

That being said - Some fundamentals:

1. Never let any master recording leave your studio without payment in full

2. Never let any preliminary mix leave your studio without at least partial payment

3. Never start a project without a down payment

4. Never charge more than you are worth or more than comparible competition (unless you are real sure you can produce great results) - bad word of mouth can kill a new studio

5. Be very selective about who enters your studio and which projects you accept - unless you have very godd security features (steel doors, bars on windows, etc)

6. Never trust anyone! Many (perhaps most) musicians are not dependable, are under financed and in general are flakes.

7. Always budget for more time than you think -recording projects rarely if ever are completed as quickly as planned.

If you are really serious about opening a for hire studio - there are many threads on this site about attracting customers (offer free recording, sponser an open mic at a venue and offer a block of time for 1st prize, etc). There are any number of books, magazine articles and web sites that provide ample information. Perhaps, you would serve your ambitions much better by conducting real research, versus hoping someone gives you magic answers.

I'm not trying to be a jerk - and I have provided serious and valid suggestions - I simply think people who want to open a "for hire" studio (which is a real competitive business) should have a plan - long before "trying to set up a home studio"
Click to expand...

Very good points!

Definately look into reputations and such.

I avoid certain bands that I know start fights at shows and steal gear.

I watch my Mics, Cables, etc like a hawk.

I dont force downpayments, but definately don't give a product until they pay.

And be strict from the start about payments after service.

Sometimes bands will become your friends and then they start pulling crap like saying they only have half the money or someone didnt bring it and will pay you next time etc.....

I have also heard about Hip Hop bands asking if they can record samples of their hand guns......

Im glad I only do Metal bands.

Definately get some sort of security also.

Once people know you have certain gear etc, well, you can become a target for burglary if you dont have a security system in place that is clearly evident.

Perhaps in Canada its not as big a concern.

But too many musicians are shady and you never know what they are capable of.
 
As others have said, its probably going to be a while before you have developed the recording chops to start charging people... I've been doing pro bono work for about a year now, and even that was after my own many attempts for a few years before THAT in developing said technique. I've charged a few people now for the processing after the fact for the mixing/"mastering" time I took after the live show, but that's it.

I mostly record people live, since I don't have much security in my apartment, and I don't want people coming in, seeing all the fun toys, and then coming back later on to help themselves. Anyone who has come to my apartment to work with me has been a friend that I wasn't charging anyway...
 
I have a studio and always have people contacting me wanting to pay me to record them, but I always refuse. My studio is in my house and a majority of the people that contact me are so called "gangsta" rappers that I don't feel comfortable knowing where I live. Some of them are known with shady activity and the last thing I need is one of them to steal my equipment. Eventually when I have a studio outside of my house I'm gunna have it running 24/7 at full capacity.
 
I always pick up clients at a neutral location and have them blindfolded on the way to the studio.
 
UGMastermind said:
I have a studio and always have people contacting me wanting to pay me to record them, but I always refuse. My studio is in my house and a majority of the people that contact me are so called "gangsta" rappers that I don't feel comfortable knowing where I live. Some of them are known with shady activity and the last thing I need is one of them to steal my equipment. Eventually when I have a studio outside of my house I'm gunna have it running 24/7 at full capacity.
Click to expand...

I know how you feel... That's why I'm known to keep an AK in the house, and a S&W pistol in plain site. ;) Works like a charm.
 
The only money I make (to speak of) from my studio is from teaching guitar. My set up is mostly for my band (and an occasional demo) and I also use it as my classroom. A back room is also used as a workshop where I make repairs and do set ups on guitars. So yes, I make money from my studio, but not much from recording.
 
I'm not quite busy enough to make any significant money..

I have been recording the odd band for fairly cheap until I'm completely set up. (i'm still constructing the studio...well it's built but i still have to make it look pretty)

I've definately delt with the bands that come in so often they think you're their friend then they pull the "this guy didn't bring in their money" bs. Don't fall for it.

I'm also in the beginings of going from a hobbiest to a proffesional working in the field...

All I can say is your reputation will mean everything.... Since my skill level isn't that of some of the other studios in town I usualy charge a flat rate for a pre determined amount of songs (with some time restrictions i'm not gonna work for 2 weeks straight for 100$ or anything)

This works out really well in my situation.. my clients always feel like they got more than their money's worth and return for more sessions and I get that valuble experience that will help me move up to the next level.
 
we don't make much $$ off bands. This is mostly because we try to be kind to young bands because we were once where they are. But we make a killing off coporate clients.

We do audio seminar cd's, training CD's, in-store over-the-loadspeaker audio clips, commercials stuff. And because it's corporate, we charge a nice fat rate (although i've been told, very competitive with other houses).

but bands & singer/songwriters are the fun stuff.

Basically, if you have a business brain, the question "do you make money off your studio" shouldn't even come up, you'll know because you've run budget scenarios, have a good feel for the market you're attempting to appeal to, and have a solid understanding of business cash flows.

You should first be able to answer all these questions "yes":

1. Am i a good engineer with a solid understanding of the fundamentals of recording audio, and delivering a high quality product.

2. can i deliver said product within the deadlines agreed upon with the client (read: is this "just in my spare time thing" or are you willing to bust your ass?)

3. Do I have enough business sense to be organized, keep books, pay taxes, meet with an accountant & lawyer

4. Am i driven and ambitious and unwilling to settle for less than my best?

5. (and maybe most important) am I good with people. Everyone from a high school band, to the owner of a label. People skills are invaluable


All those things are pretty important traits for a business/studio owner
 
I have the same attitude with young bands.. I was there I know how it is...

with my business I'm comboing graphic design and engineering but i'm thinking i'll be in the same boat.. the bands will be the fun part but the money will come from the corporate work (identity- ads- radio jingles etc etc)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top