What roles does one play as a studio owner?

[youngmain]

My first post so bear with me fellow gear slutz. I am opening up a recording studio very soon and Id appreciate some general pointers from you veterans out there who can help a newbie out.

[Jake Dempsey]

What is your market like? How long have you been at it? When you say "opening a studio" what scale are we talking about? Commercial facility or home studio?

[James Meeker]

Man, if you have to ask that question I'm not sure you should be opening a studio!

From what I've seen (I've never owned a studio, wouldn't want to right now):

1.) Financier
2.) Marketing Agent
3.) Salesman
4.) Baby Sitter
5.) Lawyer/Contract Negotiator
6.) Accountant
7.) "Good Guy"
8.) "Bad Guy"
9.) Repairman
10.) Janitor
11.) Psychologist
12.) Audio Engineer
13.) Coach
14.) Counselor
15.) Talent Scout
16.) Recruiter/Head Hunter
17.) Smart Shopper
18.) A&R
19.) Promoter
20.) Bill Collector
21.) Drug Dealer
22.) Human Resources Specialist

The list could probably go on and on and on. That's why so many studios fail... there's a high bill for what you need to do to run a studio. A lot of guys probably start a studio thinking about all the cool records they'll be making, and instead they are doing everything but... struggling to get clients in the studio and pay the bills.

God help you if you can't make a good sounding record before you open your doors. Because you're not going to have the time to get it right before you are closing your doors.

[youngmain]

I am simply transferring my home studio to a business location. I have my set of clients (friends) that I have worked with for many years and I need more privacy. It was a very, very general question and probably should never have been asked. I appreciate the list, but I am a small timer and they do not relate for the most part. Although the contract and drug dealer part, I should investigate.