Moving the Studio to Nashville TN. Help starting over.

prslespaul · 6th February 2010

I was recently forced to move the studio to Nashville, not so much a bad thing.. But i was in St. Louis and the music scene there is amazing. Not only that.. There's almost no competition. If you google recording studio, you get 1450 studios that show up. Good Lord... Really, the basic question is, whats the best way to get my client rate back up to what it used to be? I used to be in a pretty popular band in St. Louis and i got to know a lot of people in the area in high places. In Nashville, I know noone or nothing. Anyone know of any venues with good local bands? I know, there are a lot of people from Nashville on this website and I am sure they dont want to lose clients, but id really appreciate a foot in the door. Maybe a chance to free lance somewhere in the area? Check out my page and tell me if theres anything i should do to it to attract clients in the area. Thanks in advance guys.

Avery Record Studios on MySpace Music - Free Streaming MP3s, Pictures & Music Videos

shaneoconnor · 6th February 2010

well you did it once in another city, so ideally it should be easier the second time around .

I freelance but recently moved from Boston to NYC. I had to look at artists just starting out and work from there. I go to a TON of shows. Seriously 4 a week. I am constantly checking out the calendars, and back calendars of clubs and listening to every artist. Every day I don't have a session I am setting up meetings with new artists.

Don't try to undercut the competition on price. That is proven not to work. You cannot buy the industry, specifically in a town like Nashville.

I am not sure if I am being over obvious. If so, I am sorry. It looks like you had something good going on in St Louis.

Why not join a band that is playing a lot of shows?

prslespaul · 7th February 2010

Thanks for your input. Ive really wanted to Join a band, but i spent more time promoting the band than i did actually promoting the studio. THats the only drawback is promoting. I guess i could try to join an already well known band with a decent fanbase. Its been over a year since ive been in the whole playing out scene and it takes so much time and effort. Id really just love to dedicate all that time and effort into the studio. Im curious how you set up the meetings, do you just say. Hey i am an engineer and im really digging your stuff maybe we can work something out? OR what? Im not the best at making myself stick out over these million dollar studios around here. Im actually quite intimidated by a lot of studios around here because of their client lists. I cant really compare with a lot of multi platinum studios. Any other advice?

shaneoconnor · 15th February 2010

studio a with have better clients. studio b will have better gear.... whatever.

There will always be something "better" but that is a terrible reason to stop trying. Instead, I think of it as what I have which no one else has which is my personal touch.

If I offer to a client a personal experience involving my musical aesthetic and inspired direction the gear/ client issue goes out the window. If they want better gear I can rent them a room with better gear... it will just cost them. Reason #3 that I freelance.

In regards to what I offer them it is usually something like this.

I look through show listings in my area (in Brooklyn that is very expansive).

I find an artist who I dig and listen to everything I can find by them online. I read their blog, check out who else they have worked with, when and where they are touring and who they know.

If it looks like someone who would be a good fit, I send them a message saying that I like what they are doing. I include what it is I do, and that I would be interested in TALKING ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY of working with them. This way, I am not putting them in a position where they feel like I am trying to sell them something. All I want to do is talk with them about their music. Musicians love talking about themselves.

So I set up a meeting at the studio where I mix. We sit down, crack a beer sometimes and listen to their music, some of my previous would and shoot the shit about how I make records, the music scene, bands we dig. If they like my vibe, we might talk a bit about money and their goals.

Usually it takes 2 weeks to a month for this to turn into an artist interested in booking with me. I keep in touch, go to their shows, maybe even offer them a spot on one of the shows that I am promoting.

It sounds like a lot of work for one client, but if you think of one client as someone who may be working with you for five years, it is worth it.

My mantra, is always offer more value through each step. I never lower prices, just offer more value.

TheChariot · 15th February 2010

I like a lot of what Shane has to say. It's less about the gear and more about the guy. There has to be things that you offer than narrow down your competition... ie, you aren't competing with ALL of Nashville. There's got to be something that makes you special. Try to highlight it.

shaneoconnor · 27th February 2010

in contrast to what i already posted, if you are going to pimp the gear as well... focus on instruments. weird, oddball and big instruments (drums, pianos, organs, timpanis) sell studios.

ESP · 19th March 2010

Listen to shane. He knows whats up. Hell, if I was in a band i'd hire that guy in a second.

I live about 2 hours away from Nashvegas in a small town called Paducah, KY. you wouldnt think we have a music "scene" here but we do and its incredible. There are at least 5-6 studios in the area and we ALL have business All the time.

Investing time and gaining personal relationships with bands is the best thing you can do to gain clientele. Going to shows, getting your name out and making yourself known cant hurt either.

If your good at what you do and love what you do people will line up to work with you.

6th February 2010	#1
prslespaul Gear maniac Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: St. Louis Posts: 189 Thread Starter	Moving the Studio to Nashville TN. Help starting over. I was recently forced to move the studio to Nashville, not so much a bad thing.. But i was in St. Louis and the music scene there is amazing. Not only that.. There's almost no competition. If you google recording studio, you get 1450 studios that show up. Good Lord... Really, the basic question is, whats the best way to get my client rate back up to what it used to be? I used to be in a pretty popular band in St. Louis and i got to know a lot of people in the area in high places. In Nashville, I know noone or nothing. Anyone know of any venues with good local bands? I know, there are a lot of people from Nashville on this website and I am sure they dont want to lose clients, but id really appreciate a foot in the door. Maybe a chance to free lance somewhere in the area? Check out my page and tell me if theres anything i should do to it to attract clients in the area. Thanks in advance guys. Avery Record Studios on MySpace Music - Free Streaming MP3s, Pictures & Music Videos __________________ www.averyrecordstudio.com

6th February 2010	#2
shaneoconnor Lives for gear Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: NYC/ Boston Posts: 799	well you did it once in another city, so ideally it should be easier the second time around . I freelance but recently moved from Boston to NYC. I had to look at artists just starting out and work from there. I go to a TON of shows. Seriously 4 a week. I am constantly checking out the calendars, and back calendars of clubs and listening to every artist. Every day I don't have a session I am setting up meetings with new artists. Don't try to undercut the competition on price. That is proven not to work. You cannot buy the industry, specifically in a town like Nashville. I am not sure if I am being over obvious. If so, I am sorry. It looks like you had something good going on in St Louis. Why not join a band that is playing a lot of shows? __________________ Shane O'Connor Recording: rock engineer/ producer www.shanemix.com shane@shanemix.com

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7th February 2010	#3
prslespaul Gear maniac Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: St. Louis Posts: 189 Thread Starter	Thanks for your input. Ive really wanted to Join a band, but i spent more time promoting the band than i did actually promoting the studio. THats the only drawback is promoting. I guess i could try to join an already well known band with a decent fanbase. Its been over a year since ive been in the whole playing out scene and it takes so much time and effort. Id really just love to dedicate all that time and effort into the studio. Im curious how you set up the meetings, do you just say. Hey i am an engineer and im really digging your stuff maybe we can work something out? OR what? Im not the best at making myself stick out over these million dollar studios around here. Im actually quite intimidated by a lot of studios around here because of their client lists. I cant really compare with a lot of multi platinum studios. Any other advice?

15th February 2010	#4
shaneoconnor Lives for gear Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: NYC/ Boston Posts: 799	studio a with have better clients. studio b will have better gear.... whatever. There will always be something "better" but that is a terrible reason to stop trying. Instead, I think of it as what I have which no one else has which is my personal touch. If I offer to a client a personal experience involving my musical aesthetic and inspired direction the gear/ client issue goes out the window. If they want better gear I can rent them a room with better gear... it will just cost them. Reason #3 that I freelance. In regards to what I offer them it is usually something like this. I look through show listings in my area (in Brooklyn that is very expansive). I find an artist who I dig and listen to everything I can find by them online. I read their blog, check out who else they have worked with, when and where they are touring and who they know. If it looks like someone who would be a good fit, I send them a message saying that I like what they are doing. I include what it is I do, and that I would be interested in TALKING ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY of working with them. This way, I am not putting them in a position where they feel like I am trying to sell them something. All I want to do is talk with them about their music. Musicians love talking about themselves. So I set up a meeting at the studio where I mix. We sit down, crack a beer sometimes and listen to their music, some of my previous would and shoot the shit about how I make records, the music scene, bands we dig. If they like my vibe, we might talk a bit about money and their goals. Usually it takes 2 weeks to a month for this to turn into an artist interested in booking with me. I keep in touch, go to their shows, maybe even offer them a spot on one of the shows that I am promoting. It sounds like a lot of work for one client, but if you think of one client as someone who may be working with you for five years, it is worth it. My mantra, is always offer more value through each step. I never lower prices, just offer more value.

15th February 2010	#5
TheChariot Gear nut Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Waltham, MA Posts: 146	I like a lot of what Shane has to say. It's less about the gear and more about the guy. There has to be things that you offer than narrow down your competition... ie, you aren't competing with ALL of Nashville. There's got to be something that makes you special. Try to highlight it.

27th February 2010	#6
shaneoconnor Lives for gear Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: NYC/ Boston Posts: 799	in contrast to what i already posted, if you are going to pimp the gear as well... focus on instruments. weird, oddball and big instruments (drums, pianos, organs, timpanis) sell studios.

19th March 2010	#7
ESP Gear nut Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Paducah KY Posts: 100	Listen to shane. He knows whats up. Hell, if I was in a band i'd hire that guy in a second. I live about 2 hours away from Nashvegas in a small town called Paducah, KY. you wouldnt think we have a music "scene" here but we do and its incredible. There are at least 5-6 studios in the area and we ALL have business All the time. Investing time and gaining personal relationships with bands is the best thing you can do to gain clientele. Going to shows, getting your name out and making yourself known cant hurt either. If your good at what you do and love what you do people will line up to work with you.