Moving along!!!

Black Seal · 8th September 2009

I've decided to be more selective about who my clientele are! I've given up doing rush projects to detriment of my sanity and sonics. I'm raising my rates and my time allownaces for recording anything. I'm finished with dumbing things down anymore for people. I might come across as a snob to some, but if it's my rep on the line then so be it. I'm tired of the instant gratification crowd expecting miracles to happen on my end when most things on their end haven't been covered. I know there is a certain amount grief within the first few years to be established, but enough is enough. My time has to be worth a certain amount of reward. So my plan is to work extra at my day job to pay off my debt and be more selctive about my projects. I know a lot of people mentioned that around here, but I know get it. I have the luxury of being to blend my day job with my studio work and radio show. But, I'd rather just do the radio show for now if it means bringing in better clients in the future. I just started the radio show recently, and I hope this will payoff for both my studio and exposure to TALENTED local artists. Just another long vent about the studio gig. Any other thoughts?

Perry

surflounge · 8th September 2009

"fire the client" -> Google Search

SANDS · 8th September 2009

I had this same problem a few years back. I owned and operated a small studio for about 8 years or so. I started out small and did it only as a hobby from my house, then about the time Nelly hit it big (big rapper in my area in St. Louis-- just in case you have no clue who he is) everybody and their brother wanted to be the next big rapper. It was pretty amusing at first, everyone claimed they knew him and were playing at some party he was throwing that weekend. This went on and on for a good five years. The business was going well. I bought a nice building and remodeled it exactly the way a wanted. The location was perfect and I had a big control room, nice gear, great rooms etc...
The bad part was it was killing me. I recorded the same song for about 8 years. Never practiced, never on time, brought tons of people in, drug use, etc... and... Every time things were never right for the customer, wasn't as loud as the other guys cd, not enough bass, etc.....People would demand mixes by a certain date but never have anything ready until the night before etc.....many horrible things I'm sure you know all about. This was always the bad projects of course too, horrible beats if they didn't buy from our beat writers, many times off a scratched cd or a horrible mp3 they got off the internet. The good well planned talented guys I never had problems with, it was always the people who had no talent and no clue, but wanted the best thing ever for nothing, and after they got you for nothing they would want and expect more for an even cheaper price the next time.

Toward the end I lost one of my best engineers because of this. One day he got up and walked out in the middle of a session. Soon after that I lost my best engineer to ESPN, can't blame him on that though, he gets paid bank to write horrible intros for sports segments.

One day I too had had it, and met with my two other owners. At the end of the meeting I left and never looked back. I lost from jumping out early, the corp. paperwork with the lawyer was expensive, but I still to this day think it was the best thing I have ever done.

Here in the last year I have started to love music again. I'm slowly buying a few things here and there for myself and friends. Eventually I'm sure I will engineer for others again, but only if it is something that I want to do. I went back to school since the studio and finished my bachelors. I work a 9-5 now at a job I don't like, but it's different, I can walk away from that at the end of the day and come home and play my guitar and feel great. Having my love/hobby of music was fun at first, but making it a job killed everything for me. Dealing with people that aren't muscians and think you are a magician is for the birds.

I think you are right in doing what you have to do. If it helps your head, that is the most important. If you can get by without it being your full time job then do it. I think it will be a big stress of your back to only do stuff you want to do, leaving the problem customers out in the rain.

good luck, wish you the best.

Black Seal · 9th September 2009

Thanks.

I'm just trying to recharge my batteries and remind myself why I got into this business in the first place.

8th September 2009	#1
Black Seal Lives for gear Joined: Oct 2004 Location: Indianapolis, IN Posts: 544 Thread Starter	Moving along!!! I've decided to be more selective about who my clientele are! I've given up doing rush projects to detriment of my sanity and sonics. I'm raising my rates and my time allownaces for recording anything. I'm finished with dumbing things down anymore for people. I might come across as a snob to some, but if it's my rep on the line then so be it. I'm tired of the instant gratification crowd expecting miracles to happen on my end when most things on their end haven't been covered. I know there is a certain amount grief within the first few years to be established, but enough is enough. My time has to be worth a certain amount of reward. So my plan is to work extra at my day job to pay off my debt and be more selctive about my projects. I know a lot of people mentioned that around here, but I know get it. I have the luxury of being to blend my day job with my studio work and radio show. But, I'd rather just do the radio show for now if it means bringing in better clients in the future. I just started the radio show recently, and I hope this will payoff for both my studio and exposure to TALENTED local artists. Just another long vent about the studio gig. Any other thoughts? Perry __________________ www.snapjoint.com

8th September 2009	#3
SANDS Lives for gear Joined: Jan 2009 Location: St. Louis, MO. USA Posts: 630	I had this same problem a few years back. I owned and operated a small studio for about 8 years or so. I started out small and did it only as a hobby from my house, then about the time Nelly hit it big (big rapper in my area in St. Louis-- just in case you have no clue who he is) everybody and their brother wanted to be the next big rapper. It was pretty amusing at first, everyone claimed they knew him and were playing at some party he was throwing that weekend. This went on and on for a good five years. The business was going well. I bought a nice building and remodeled it exactly the way a wanted. The location was perfect and I had a big control room, nice gear, great rooms etc... The bad part was it was killing me. I recorded the same song for about 8 years. Never practiced, never on time, brought tons of people in, drug use, etc... and... Every time things were never right for the customer, wasn't as loud as the other guys cd, not enough bass, etc.....People would demand mixes by a certain date but never have anything ready until the night before etc.....many horrible things I'm sure you know all about. This was always the bad projects of course too, horrible beats if they didn't buy from our beat writers, many times off a scratched cd or a horrible mp3 they got off the internet. The good well planned talented guys I never had problems with, it was always the people who had no talent and no clue, but wanted the best thing ever for nothing, and after they got you for nothing they would want and expect more for an even cheaper price the next time. Toward the end I lost one of my best engineers because of this. One day he got up and walked out in the middle of a session. Soon after that I lost my best engineer to ESPN, can't blame him on that though, he gets paid bank to write horrible intros for sports segments. One day I too had had it, and met with my two other owners. At the end of the meeting I left and never looked back. I lost from jumping out early, the corp. paperwork with the lawyer was expensive, but I still to this day think it was the best thing I have ever done. Here in the last year I have started to love music again. I'm slowly buying a few things here and there for myself and friends. Eventually I'm sure I will engineer for others again, but only if it is something that I want to do. I went back to school since the studio and finished my bachelors. I work a 9-5 now at a job I don't like, but it's different, I can walk away from that at the end of the day and come home and play my guitar and feel great. Having my love/hobby of music was fun at first, but making it a job killed everything for me. Dealing with people that aren't muscians and think you are a magician is for the birds. I think you are right in doing what you have to do. If it helps your head, that is the most important. If you can get by without it being your full time job then do it. I think it will be a big stress of your back to only do stuff you want to do, leaving the problem customers out in the rain. good luck, wish you the best. __________________ It's just fun. "OH! There's air in my Hi Hat! I like that very much!

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8th September 2009	#2
surflounge Lives for gear Joined: Jul 2006 Location: Cayucos California Posts: 1,249	"fire the client" -> Google Search

9th September 2009	#4
Black Seal Lives for gear Joined: Oct 2004 Location: Indianapolis, IN Posts: 544 Thread Starter	Thanks. I'm just trying to recharge my batteries and remind myself why I got into this business in the first place.