Anyone here with a Personal/Private Studio?

[chris carter]

For me it was just a natural progression. Started off as a miniscule setup in my bedroom. Went from there to occupying a small sun room that was 5' x 10'. Then in a new house I took over an entire bedroom and did some good acoustic treatment and had a pretty decent space. The new studio involved a small amount of demo and little construction, acoustics built into the space, etc. In other words, as I became more and more successful, the studio got nicer and nicer.

My space is private in that the general public can't use it. Only records I'm mixing and artists I produce use it. Since I mostly mix and only produce a small handful of records a year, there's generally nobody but me in my studio. As for getting enough work to sustain things.... you just have to work your way up.

As for having enough interest for the studio to sustain me.... The studio growth has always followed the work; it has never led the work. In other words, I never did a "if I build it, they will come" thing. It was more like, "they are here, I'd better build it."

[DesmondA]

Originally Posted by chris carter

For me it was just a natural progression. Started off as a miniscule setup in my bedroom. Went from there to occupying a small sun room that was 5' x 10'. Then in a new house I took over an entire bedroom and did some good acoustic treatment and had a pretty decent space. This studio involved a small amount of demo and little construction, acoustics built into the space, etc. In other words, as I became more and more successful, the studio got nicer and nicer.

My space is private in that the general public can't use it. Only records I'm mixing and artists I produce use it. Since I mostly mix and only produce a small handful of records a year, there's generally nobody but me in my studio. As for getting enough work to sustain things.... you just have to work your way up.

As for having enough interest for the studio to sustain me.... The studio growth has always followed the work; it has never led the work. In other words, I never did a "if I build it, they will come" thing. It was more like, "they are here, I'd better build it."

[JoRillo]

^ A picture says a thousand words.

I'm a personal/private studio, but I'm sure your talking to the ones who are living off of it, so i'll stay quiet.

[Stackx]

Yea I basically went from doing cheap mixing work until I got enough clientele to boost my rates then got more equipment along with more clients then added Internet work as well and now I have my studio fully treatment with tons of gear and my studio is open to only a few public artist. Ones I know are serious about music and come in a focus on music and have no problems paying for time! My Internet clientele keeps building though which is great. I think as a home engineer you just have to keep building and know when you have to much work on ur plate it's time to raise ur price.

[jrides]

Its just about building relationships and proper planning. Knowing your client base and having a clear understanding of where the potential lies. If you build relationships with people who are making records, well...they will continue to make records, until they stop. There are other sources of revenue than just being a produscha. Many other ones. I make music for all kinds of ish.. I had one lady recently solicit me to do music for an audio book. She wants to record, and wants a musical bed for her project. I gave her the numbers and she cut the check. Working on a cartoon you say? You need? Im with it. There are so many ways to get paid. You just have to hustle, hustle, hustle.

I will only say this...

Corporate dollars spend well. Some of the checks are just silly.
"Diverdify yo bonds...." (c) GZA via Dave Chapelle

[LeoLeoLeo]

For me, I collect gear & such. Worked at commerical studios & brought what I wanted in, which was little & rarely. My stuff was at 3 different buddies home studios & my house & my folks house. A spot popped up already built & not too expensive. And here we are. I use it. I let a few engineers use it. No random joes.

[Ken Lewis]

For me it was a simple gradual transition from bringing my work to big studios then steadily moving that clientel to my private studio. Gonna be really damn hard for you to make it work if you dont already have a clientel, that is, if you want this to be your living.

[Stackx]

Agreed! I think no matter how you do it. Where you do it. As long as you do it good and you keep building clientele. You have to make new artist want to come to you and make existing artist keep coming to u.

[azrael kennedy]

Originally Posted by chris carter

The studio growth has always followed the work; it has never led the work. In other words, I never did a "if I build it, they will come" thing. It was more like, "they are here, I'd better build it."

this.....

[PettyCash]

Originally Posted by chris carter

In other words, I never did a "if I build it, they will come" thing.

From what I hear, that only works for attracting dead baseball players. So it's a good thing you didn't.

[azrael kennedy]

Originally Posted by PettyCash

From what I hear, that only works for attracting dead baseball players. So it's a good thing you didn't.

that, and aerosmith