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Originally Posted by twwalsh  on top of that, they had great taste and everyone was so supportive. there are a lot of music venues and bunches of well-equipped recording studios available for $300-400 a day. |
As to the supportiveness, I'm with you; that's indeed the downfall of the Boston scene. It seems many would rather torpedo the whole scene if it means they can get in some digs at the competition. There's a certain belligerent attitude in parts the northeast that is counter-productive. Even L.A. was more helpful... OK, not everybody, but enough.
However, I have to tell you that Atlanta was one of the most cooperative scenes I've ever been in. That's a big part of why it's the #4 music biz city behind L.A., NYC, and Nashville. We could do it here in Boston too, but nobody seems willing to put in the effort.
As for well-equipped studios for $300-400/day, I don't see that as the positive sign that you do. That sounds more to me like the scene can't support professional infrastructure and let full-time engineers make a decent living. Living in this area with a wife and kid, I have trouble making ends meet if I sell my engineering services alone for that, separate from the studio. And considering what it costs to build, maintain, and run a room of the level I've become spoiled enough to be accustomed to (having logged hours in L.A., Nashville, and Atlanta), I realize that we have to pony up if we want pro rooms like that to stay in existence.
I guess it is partly culture shock from what I got used to, but $750/day for a real room (not just "all sizzle but no steak") sounds like a smokin' good deal. Just run the numbers on a million bucks to start it, hell, even half a million, plus monthlies. It's not charity, and if we don't support the scene, it won't support us.
As for labels, don't forget about Rounder, though they don't do much in town anymore. And studios, if you get out of the city limits, Longview is definitely the real deal for tracking, Blue Jay is certainly a real room (though why on earth did they put a VR in there and keep the 813s?), and the best mix room in New England is only an hour outside of Boston, but I'm admittedly prejudiced on that one (Metronome). Still, it's the only mix room that resembles anything I've used in L.A., Nashville etc.
Oh, and remember to go get that Chris McDermott album to give you a glimmer of hope.