Promoting you recording studio

[brian_i]

Hey everyone!
I just wanted to know what are some good ways to promote your recording studio.
I've recently posted up on Craig's List, text messages and telling people about our business.
Just wanted to see what other methods you all use to promote your business/studios.
Thanks!

[Darwin James]

A good website is a must. I wont book a studio with a amateur looking website. Also I want to see pics of the room and know who has recorded there.

[Jordan Jerkwad]

craigslist.... local websites passing business cards out... our website... anything we can do

[NorseHorse]

How do you get work / gigs?

getting more work?

How did you become a Remotester? (Or "Your First Eight Years")

How Do You Generate Business?

[HookedOnHardware]

Originally Posted by brian_i

Hey everyone!
I just wanted to know what are some good ways to promote your recording studio.
I've recently posted up on Craig's List, text messages and telling people about our business.
Just wanted to see what other methods you all use to promote your business/studios.
Thanks!

A good website is an absolute must

Other methods? You.
If what you are/have is a business. You must be commercial in terms of how you promote yourself. Networking is key. I'm heaviliy networking for the new place. By doing so, I have two albums lined up and the new place isn't even open yet .
If you talk to people and you seem very knowledgeable and very ethousiastic about what you do, that will stick in peoples minds.

I promote myself everywhere. I know not everybody is going to require/use my services but I also know that most people will likely known at least one other person who might be interested.

I've also given major (only known to that particular client) discounts to people who are either of a slightly larger pedigree or people who know many people in the general music industry. I don't care more about people who are better known but it is good promotion.
I've also given discount to people who aren't know but highly talented. Whatever makes you look good.

It comes down to this: You are the 'best' promotion you have. If people like you and you have the studio to back their needs up. People will want to be your client. If you have the best thing around but you are an ass.. Well good luck in this business.

I wish you well!

[Riv]

I'll add this - if you want to be taken professionally, then you'd better run your studio in a professional manner.

By this, I mean that I will NEVER book time in any studio that it being run "under the table." Have a business license and all the necessary licenses. Make sure that you're carrying insurance and paying taxes.

The last thing the world needs is another studio being run under the table out of someone's basement, undercutting everyone who's running a legitimate business.

-Riv

[T_R_S]

Have an employee or friend get a job with a ultra famous producer then you get to meet the really super famous producer or go do a job in his studio. Then you get to see all the cool stuff he has in his (the famous cool producers studio). Because you have now learned all the great super cool stuff. Then go and yourself and work with a famous band and produce a few records with them.
That will help you get some great gigs...

[maxpidge]

Originally Posted by T_R_S

Have an employee or friend get a job with a ultra famous producer then you get to meet the really super famous producer or go do a job in his studio. Then you get to see all the cool stuff he has in his (the famous cool producers studio). Because you have now learned all the great super cool stuff. Then go and yourself and work with a famous band and produce a few records with them.
That will help you get some great gigs...

yep, thats my method, only work with the best!!!!!

[HookedOnHardware]

Originally Posted by Riv

I'll add this - if you want to be taken professionally, then you'd better run your studio in a professional manner.

By this, I mean that I will NEVER book time in any studio that it being run "under the table." Have a business license and all the necessary licenses. Make sure that you're carrying insurance and paying taxes.

The last thing the world needs is another studio being run under the table out of someone's basement, undercutting everyone who's running a legitimate business.

-Riv

I'll reply to this as I used the words 'under the table' (post has been edited).

Obviously you should be a legit business. I used the wrong words to express myself as I didn't mean to say it in the sense that you shouldn’t pay taxes. By 'under the table' I meant a discount only known to that person in particular. Otherwise you'll get people on the phone all day saying "but you gave that person a discount. Why doesn't that apply to me?"
Owning a building is not quite the same as a basement.

Now that that is cleared up.

+1.

You should have your shit together: Taxes, licenses if necessary, chamber of commerce registration, business bank account (I keep everything separate) etc.

[HookedOnHardware]

Originally Posted by Fortman

Boy you sure have your priorities in line....



So you wouldn't work here? Welcome To Scream Studios

Because the website is shitty?

Listen OP, book Gigs, make the band sound amazing. A good product will attract more work than any of this BS they are talking about.

Sure print cards, sure make a webpage, sure network.

But all of that will be wasted trash if you don't make a good product.

And if you make a good product you will have more work then you know what to do with.

Bands love showing off their newest recordings.

That's the worse website I've ever seen. Then again. The client pics make up for that. Not quite a right comparison.

Still... so ugly..

[Makinithappen]

Originally Posted by NorseHorse

How do you get work / gigs?

getting more work?

How did you become a Remotester? (Or "Your First Eight Years")

How Do You Generate Business?

There are more there he didn't link to BTW.

Originally Posted by HookedOnHardware

That's the worse website I've ever seen. Then again. The client pics make up for that. Not quite a right comparison.

Still... so ugly..

Well.. I think they are kinda famous for their terrible site.... They wouljld be dumb to change it at this point.

[Storyville]

That website is AWESOME. But if I didn't see their client list, I would hit the back button as fast as possible.

My interest in a studio comes from talking to an engineer. I can usually tell if an engineer is going to be good or not within about one minute of conversation. The number one most important thing is that the engineer is willing to invest her/his self into my music. If the music doesn't sound right, I want that engineer to feel it - and to make her/him sad inside. If the music is kickin', I want the engineer to pop a couple of beers with me. On the flip side, I'll walk out on a session if I don't like the engineer's attitude, just as fast as I'll walk away from a GC sales rep that thinks she/he knows everything about everything.

The trick to selling anything is to sell yourself.

I'm in the process of building up a client base now, so I feel your pain. Business is hard cause musicians are broke, and generally scared of engineers. Which is understandable. But just keep going out there and meeting people. Seems to be working for me, slowly but surely.

[HookedOnHardware]

Originally Posted by Makinithappen

Well.. I think they are kinda famous for their terrible site.... They wouljld be dumb to change it at this point.

That is true. It's like Tay Zonday. Absolutely horrible but some people can't get enough of him.

Hmm perhaps not such a good comparison, I just really don't Like Tay Zonday .

[jeremy.c.]

Originally Posted by HookedOnHardware

That's the worse website I've ever seen. Then again. The client pics make up for that. Not quite a right comparison.

Still... so ugly..

I think that kinda proves his point.

Originally Posted by HookedOnHardware

That is true. It's like Tay Zonday. Absolutely horrible but some people can't get enough of him.

Hmm perhaps not such a good comparison, I just really don't Like Tay Zonday .

That dude is STILL around?!

Originally Posted by Riv

I'll add this - if you want to be taken professionally, then you'd better run your studio in a professional manner.

By this, I mean that I will NEVER book time in any studio that it being run "under the table." Have a business license and all the necessary licenses. Make sure that you're carrying insurance and paying taxes.

The last thing the world needs is another studio being run under the table out of someone's basement, undercutting everyone who's running a legitimate business.

-Riv

Yeah, that's killing studios. And I got my start in studios.

[Riv]

Me too. I think a lot of us did.

IMHO, that's one of the biggest problems in the recording industry. It wouldn't be so bad if real studios only had to compete with the other real studios, but now everyone's trying to promote their bedroom/basement/dormroom as a "studio," and then they're not actually paying any of the legally required costs involved.

It's a bullshit way to try to take business away from people who are running things legitimately.

-Riv

[Makinithappen]

Originally Posted by Riv

t wouldn't be so bad if real studios only had to compete with the other real studios, but now everyone's trying to promote their bedroom/basement/dormroom as a "studio," and then they're not actually paying any of the legally required costs involved.

I wish I could open my own tax-free McDonalds.

[Riv]

Absolutely.

I've run my own business before. Besides taxes there's a lot of other things required of you, if you're running it on the up and up.

Fire inspections, adherence to building codes (if you're having clients to your business) Social Security, Business Licenses, etc.

I personally am sick of seeing local ads for someone wanting to sell studio time that you KNOW aren't paying the legitimate legal expenses. Meanwhile, there are legitimate, tax paying businesses that are being run OUT of business.

There are a hell of a lot more expenses than just buying gear.

-Riv

[HookedOnHardware]

Originally Posted by olivia_nb

I think that kinda proves his point.

That dude is STILL around?!

I was reminded by him again through the youtube clip of worst song ever (share yours!) thread.

I went to his youtube page and automatically a 'song' started playing. I though ah **** this. I've heard this too often and looked for a newer one... It turns out the 'old' song was his most recent... All his shit sounds the same. Vocalist my ass fuuck.

Back to topic .

[fabricaudio]

So far most of the bands i have seen recording in basement studios they only had complains and the final result was that in order to release an album they had to do the recording from the start in a professional studio. I believe in the long term a professional studio can support its name. Also it is only recording a professional studio can do to promote its business, there tons of stuff, like rehearsals, backline, photo shoots, videos.


Nikolas

[akai96]

Originally Posted by Fortman

Man you really have an obsession.

I agree

[sanddigger1]

Me too...

[Riv]

Originally Posted by Fortman

Man you really have an obsession.

I was about to say the same thing about you.

-Riv

[HookedOnHardware]

Originally Posted by Fortman

It is ok to have some OCD compulsions, I've just never ran into anyone that is OCD about businesses being properly run...

In honor of your dedication to the subject I have filed Bankruptcy on my studio LLC and dissolved my business licenses.

I am now 100% under the table, Cash Only, and trades.

Business operations OCD? I have some of that.

Separate business accounts, chamber of commerce, tax & legal stuff all sorted out. Why wouldn't you? Tax evasion?

Doesn't sound like a business at all .
No offense though. Beep beep.

[lb9000j]

i just dont like small rooms