YOU'LL NEVER MAKE MONEY! Opening A Recording Studio
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 8 พ.ย. 2022
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In this video, I'm addressing the feedback some tend to give when I put out videos about opening a recording studio. Mainly that you can't make money in the music business. I think that's crap.
If you're thinking of opening a recording studio, be sure to watch this video! There is money to be made. I promise you. Your competition doesn't need to be your enemy. You can find customers and clients for your recording studio who are willing to travel. No, owning a recording studio is not easy. But neither is any job if you want to work for yourself. If you do good work. Treat people with humanity and humility... and who knows what can happen.
There is business out there. There has been a music revolution happening for some time. And more music is being made than ever before. The market isn't going away... it's changing.
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I am a retired senior citizen with a basement home studio where I record local songwriters and musicians for free. We are building a community of musicians that help each other get their songs recorded. Its about the love of music for me! Thanks for your videos!!!
I've owned a studio in some shape or form since 07'. My first studio was not even a real studio but more of a room that I recorded and created beats in. I hustled and was able to bring in a very liveable cash flow. Recessions happened and things changed but I never forgot the feeling of creating my own lane of income and never stopped. Fast forward to today and those skills have taken me into live audio, still owning a studio, broadcast and more. The dividends only come from the tenacity, drive and dedication. The thing I find about being involved in this music industry is that if you're not a millionaire from doing it, people write you off as unsuccessful. I argue that the fact that I've made a living in this industry since 09', worked with amazing artists, mainstream and indie, without being anywhere near as good in comparison to the likes of Jayson Joshua and others, is very telling. You can be successful as long as you're willing to do the footwork. And manage your expectations. If you're making a living doing what you love then it doesn't matter. The first step is to stop listening to others say that you can't. They are often the ones who give up and therefore will never be successful. You only fail once you've given up. Just my 2 cents.
Yeeeeeessss
If your making a living doing what you love that is all that matters
🙏💪
damn thats right!!
Absolutely! If it's something you want to do, then make it happen instead of waiting around for the right moment to magically pop up.
There is definitely a safe lack of competition between engineers working in the same arena. If one guy is swamped or unavailable they will pass their work on to a trusted friend. Just be warm, proactive and open and work will land in your lap. If you make excellent tracks you will find work.
This
I think you hit the nail on the head... Anyone who complains they're not making money is either not working hard enough or they don't know how to work hard enough. I was that person in my twenties, but figured it out in my 30s and now making a great living from the music industry in various ways in my 40s. Drive is the key word. Easy to say, super hard to do it. I'd say at least 75% of people don't have the drive needed and most of those will never figure it out.
I spent years being hyper competitive as I was with all things in life. The entire time I did that, I had to wait tables to make ends meet. At 25 I decided to chill out and just be a helpful, friendly guy to everyone. No more shilling myself to people, marketing, etc. I made friends with all the other local producers and collabed with them often. I've now been full time for 2 years and my business grew at a rate of 150% this year. You don't need to have a lot of clients to be financially comfortable, you just need to do quality work and retain the few you have. Now I'm getting one or two new inquiries a week from social media or word of mouth, and the occasional overflow referral from other engineers. For most of the year, I was booked a month+ in advance. None of this is a brag. I just hate when people say this industry is impossible to break into. Keep at it and it'll work out. I'm not special in any way.
I found this weird niche for me where I write/produce theme songs for pro wrestlers, but I still keep a day job and a guitar teacher gig to have both financial security and the ability to upgrade gear whenever I deem necessary. It’s a weird hybrid artist/working man life but I’m grateful for it. Amazing channel man, Subscribed!
Dude. That may be the coolest niche I’ve ever heard of.
Love that you do these man. I’m 2 years into starting a spare bedroom studio. Learning skills, practicing, and spending too much money on gear probably… 😂 not sure how I’m going to make enough money at it yet. But I’ve made some. I still have a day job, but regardless of the money, there’s nothing else I’d rather do with my time than make music and help other folks make their music sound good 👍 cheers dude 🍻
That is awesome! Keep at it man. Cheers
Same! KEEP GOING!
Uplifting video. I'm a semi pro Drummer and I had about to 40 gigs a year besides my day job. 2020 was all canceled due the Covid epidemic. I was always unhappy the way other people recorded and mixed my drums. So I took the time to build a remote recording space. I started from knowing nothing to become somebody who knows what to do to get the sounds that I want. Many trials and errors, lots of youtube tutorials and online courses. Wasted money for the wrong mics or preamps but now I'm getting somewhere and actually do some tracking for clients. Thanks buddy!
Cool 😎👍
These videos give me hope and inspiration. As one of those who works behind a desk, slowly losing a piece of my soul day after day, I've yearned for the time when I can make a living with recording. In possibly the biggest blessing in disguise I could ever hope for at this point in my life I will soon be free from my soul-destroying day job and the severance will allow me to focus entirely on recording for the next year. Life is too short to not take this opportunity.
I definitely subscribe to the rising tide philosophy. The other recording engineers I know around here do great work too and although we might kinda be competing for some of the same clientele I don't see them as opponents. There's likely to be something one of them can do better than me and vice versa so there's no reason not to be supportive of each other.
As someone who is entering their fourth year of audio engineering school, it's really refreshing to hear this stuff. A lot of my professors worked in the 1970s-1990s, and so share the opinion that "the industry is dead". So to hear that there's not only potential, but also that this is the best time to make music, is beyond refreshing. Thanks for making this video
Just wanted to say that I am a high schooler and I think I want to go into music production and owning a studio, but everyone always says it won’t make you money but I always tell them it’s not about the money. Your video is just what I needed right now because your view on it is incredible. Thank you.
Four years in with my studio! Most of the time was during cvd. Working diligently to make things happen. What kept me from not giving up is the love for music, community, and art in general. I know that continuing and working daily I will reach my goal! Thank you for this inspiring video!
We enjoy your videos and we can relate to everything you've talked about first hand. It took us eight years to build my facility from the ground up. We even had Andrew Masters do a studio tour visit of our place and we also received some hate. Please keep up the good work and we always wish you continued success. 😃
Bro first video I saw from you. But I love it man! You made so many points that I’ve thought myself as well. And it helps to hear it so thank you!
Stoked you enjoyed! Cheers!
I love this. Thank you for this. I found this out over the past few years. Since then I’ve build my TH-cam channel sharing my knowledge. Since then, my work load has gone way up. Seems counterintuitive, but it works. It’s crazy haha. Thank you 🙏
Love this take! I'm putting all of my extra cash, time and soul into building a studio. I want it to be a place to help build up my local music community.
Thanks for this! a brick and mortar studio is something I am working towards so all of your videos have been a gold! ❤❤
Preach it, brother! Indeed, there's never been a better time in history
to write, produce and record music. I pinch myself every day because
of the modern DAW, ethernet, download speeds, free plugins and on and on.
It's un-be-lievable. And amen, gratitude is certainly a great place to work from...
This is great stuff. I'm working my day job as an engineering manager and using my nights and weekends to build a studio with a business partner. One of our best resources has been another studio owner who's not that far from us. Super encouraging, and has helped us to avoid some of the pitfalls of starting up. There's absolutely no reason why we can't work together to make the industry better!
Initially, one of our revenue streams will be just renting out the space for rehearsal. Until we get the reputation we need to keep the tape running, we'll just let people use the space to rehearse. Our overhead will be pretty low to start out, so we can make it work this way.
Regardless, I feel incredibly blessed to have the opportunity to live out a lifelong dream making music! Keep on, brother!
I'm on the same boat as you dream wise, i'm just now changing career paths to be able to keep affording my dream studio, and eventually buy a set place either at my future house or a different space, but at least I want to have a space where I can fully work 100% in music one day. Renting out a space for rehearsals could be a blessing in disguise since you never know who you might end up having there as well as having constant connections with musicians. Word of mouth will be your best bet earlier on
Being a rehearsal space is very sensible. It gives a safety net to keep the lights on while you rustle up recording business.
Preach dude, I am starting a studio, and you are right, it's all how you look at it, what your goals are, and if you truly love music or not🎉
Starting my own Sound Production/Home Studio next year, channels like yours are a blessing prepares me for everything to come . Awesome work!
Good to hear man. Best of luck!
@@RecordingStudioLoser 🙏
Great comments! I enjoy hearing the viewpoints you and others are willing to share. Myself, I'm here for the love of making music. I don't intend to make any money. But, maybe if I listen and work at it, a trickle might come my way. I'm a songwriter with few outside contacts. So, recording, producing, mixing them myself in my small studio is my challenge and, for the most part, I enjoy it. And it's from comments like you gave above that enforce the feeling of "Yah, that is why I do it." So, keep it coming, Jeremy!
Thank you so much for this! I love your honesty and being open about all those aspects. Lot of truth in there and very well said! (and: subscribed you your channel right away!) Stay safe! ;-)
This was definitely inspiring! It makes me want to keep doing what I’m doing.
I live in pricey Southern California. I’m 53 and I’ve spend a live as a live, pro musician, drumming and singing. It’s how I’ve always made a living, barely scraping by, but I’m happy. Sometimes I feel like I’m close to retirement, other times performing life is very gratifying. But for the last nine years I’ve been putting in the hours every single day learning music production, mixing and mastering. If someday I can’t physically drum, sing anymore, or lug around all the heavy gear anymore, I hope I’ll be able to fall back on my music production skills I’ve been working so hard at.
My immediate challenge is trying to figure out what my next piece of studio gear should be. So far, my single most expensive piece of gear (other than my MacBook Pro) has been my SM 7B. My studio monitors are just Kali Audio LP6, and my audio interface is just a Focusrite Scarlett Solo. I’m not sure if I should save it for an Apollo Twin, or a Focusrite Clarett. I’m never tracking a full drum set or a full band. Mostly electronic stuff, or i’m mixing already recorded multi tracks for backing tracks for my live band.
My question is how do I pull the trigger on what I should buy next? I’m feeling kind of paralyzed at this point because anything I can think of is going to be closer to $1000, and that’s a lot of money to me right now to spend on any one piece of gear. Any advice?
Great as always man! 🤘
Hey man thank you!! Your last video was making me think about what I wanted to do. You gave some very positive encouragement and it was greatly appreciated. I got an opportunity to send a mix of a song to a producer/engineer/ mixer that I respect highly he originally recorded and mixed the song and he was willing to listen to my take on it and gave me some great feedback. Very inspiring indeed, I dig your attitude on the industry and it is infectious in a good way. Thanks again.
Raising tides raise all ships. I currently have a full time desk job that is paying bills while I build the studio business. I can't take every client that comes to me, and I'm happy to send them to someone else that I know and trust. I've met a few people here with the competition mindset, and don't care to entertain that. It's not productive and hurts everyone in the end.
Absolutely! and it comes back in spades.
That is an awesome perspective tbf I think there is enough space for everyone, if we all work for the same goal. If you're good you're good, and if you're that good sometimes it's not for everyone's pockets. There are so many guys out there with actual great ideas but have not enough money to pay for a proper producer so sometimes the guy that is starting out, and that is comited but has lower skills and is cheaper could be just what those people need
This gave me a lot of encouragement, thank you 🤘
I never comment on videos, but I really like this message and totally resonate with it. I genuinely needed to hear it. Keep doing your thing , and I’m looking forward to more videos!
I’m glad you decided to comment.
I appreciate that. Cheers!
Thank you!!!
I'm not really sure if I want to open my own studio necessarily, but I appreciate your perspective on being happy with making enough to live and that being your measure of success. My wife and I are realizing that more and more, and while more money would solve most of our problems, it isn't the magic secret to happiness and fulfillment. I do love making music, and want to do it in some capacity as my living. Just not sure what role I would prefer.
don't let the haters get in your head. They are just putting their own fears on to others. Keep doing your thing, keep running your business, keep making music!
I agree with what you said: if you are a negative person or just in the valley of your life, you bring this perspective everyday and everywhere you go despite of business and niche. Same with positive perspective. So don’t blame whole industry, just figure it out where you have a lack of clarity on it.
thanks do much ❤
Great video brother. I myself have been struggling with wanting to make $$ recording. I started few years ago on a laptop and an interface. I've had to teach myself everything I know so far, and I think that always gives me doubt if i'd be able to do this full time. Still have a day job, work on recordings and going through tutorials on my off time, in between also having a family and a band. I too have heard from other friends that I'll never make enough $$, and I should keep this as a hobby. I get inspired by watching videos like this, and some one will put the doubt that I can do this. Struggle is real.
I first started working with other artists in 2016. Since then, I've been a full time audio engineer. It turned out to be the best thing I have ever done. It is the only thing I could ever see myself doing. I find that other people who are looking to get in the field or even grow always have a lot of skepticism about it. It is understandable. It is honestly a scary decision to make. I cannot speak for anyone else other than myself when I say that if you really want it, you can make it happen. I am now on my 4th facility and have grown beyond my imagination. Putting yourself out there goes a long way in this business when paired with determination and simply being willing to study what it is that you do. The 10,000 hour theory is vital. Master the craft and you will be well on your way!
Thanks for saying the thing that maybe should go without saying. Your point about other engineers being friends/colleagues, not competitors is key. And your food court analogy is right on.
Hey great video I work as a sound engineer at my local TV station and I mix and record songs with my friends and also I play with some bands
When I committed to the craft in 2016, I went into it eyes open. I knew I might fail, I knew that I may had to struggle financially for a long time. But I also knew that I loved music and that I can't live without being involved with it in some shape or form. Today I have a bachelors degree in sounddesign, I'm in the process of opening a studio, I have a gig composing for theater, and I teach to make the ends meet. It's not for everyone AT ALL! Like, I'm pretty lazy when it all comes down to it. YOU HAVE to want to struggle to do this job. And it's confusing at times too, if you forget to be thankful that you're doing something that you love, it can burn you out. You have to thrive in work where it's really obvious, that there's no real knowing what comes next in life.
And you have to be lucky. At least that's what I've experienced.
Great vibes and thank you for the optimism .. I’m in Detroit currently switching gears from doing live
P/a sets and djing but as a multi instrumentalist i found myself missing being in a band and being around others creatively in that space so I’m pivoting and putting together a mobile recording rig so that I can do recordings for people in their spaces. Figured it’s a cool way to connect and work on recording techniques. I’m looking forward to the climb. Thanks for the good words
313 Whatupdoe
Hey thanks for the video. Im moving down to Tampa to open a professional studio with little experience and your videos are eye opening. Im happy i have a big budget and salary but I’m scared haha. I personally would love a “what kind of important and nice to have equipment do you have” would be super cool.
I run a studio in Gothenburg, Sweden where I do mixing, mastering and session drumming, almost entirely for remote clients, the majority of them being from the US. The music industry is a weird and unpredictable animal, but also incredibly rewarding to work in. Videos like this one is equally comforting and inspiring. Thank you.
I fully agree on the mindset that other people in the industry are colleagues rather than competition, I see only benefits in helping each other out. Also, I love the phrase "you're gonna roll with the punches, because they're not really punches".
how are you bro, I'm from Uganda I have too much passion for music and I would like to create my home studio just for my music. I would need some ideas in this. currently I'm a portrait photographer
It's call falling in love with the process
Great words❤
Thanks for this ❤️❤️❤️
Been doing this for a while and transitioned into it as my full time thing this past year; LLC and all. Just starting out getting into the businessy aspect of it and trying to maintain that work life balance to not become a studio goblin (though I kinda already am and can be 😂).
It’s scary feeling like I might not make it, and not even anything big. But doing what I love and making a living off of it. And I’m extra careful to not become a workaholic again because the unhealthy hustle mentality ate me alive and it’s something I’ve only recently overcome.
But I do wanna make that dream happen, but not at the cost of my mental sanity again.
This is awesome man. And a very healthy view. When you become successful with these views in place your career will be that much sustainable. Good on you!
I help create music recordings projects, money is 2nd thought. I feel blessed to be able to not only teach instrumental music at a high school, but I also teach the after school Recording Arts Club (soon to be a class in the 23-24 school year). I get to be paid to do music full time! What's the old adage, Do what you love and you'll never work and be unhappy) I love that there are others like you that don't feel it's a competition, that's how I feel as well. Community building is so much more rewarding 🤘😎🤘
I agree. I’ve always believed that success is all in one’s own mind. If you’re happy with whatever you are doing and content, no matter what kind of income you’re at… you are 100% successful.
Food court analogy was good. I'm hungry now.
I feel as though that if you think there's no money in it, then you won't make anything. Personal opinion: I think that if you get into a friendly or healthy competitive mindset with other's or even yourself, you'll be in abundance and continue to strive for better (whatever that is to you). Also, you have to LOVE it. Be passionate about whatever it is you're doing and the $ will come.
THIS!
We opened a small recording studio in a small city in Florida, Brooksville. On top of that we are even crazier and opened a "Live tracking" studio, we have a 1,000 sq ft live room and a small isolation booth. After 18 months in business, we are finally getting recognition and we are beginning to make money, not a lot, but enough to know that it's working. We have adapted and evolved to related areas, podcasts, spoken word, intimate live performances, collaborations with other studios, and lessons and consulting at times. The one thing is that you have to go BOLD or go home. There is no plan B.
I’ve been doing it in South Bend Indiana for many years!
At the end of the day I think it is about perspective. I have run across so many that have that attitude that the only reason they are in the music business is to make that million dollars. I have been fortunate to make my living for the last 22+ years doing audio. I work a corporate post production audio job (that does deal with music from time to time) and then run a mastering and mixing service from my house. But I feel very fortunate that my sole living has been in audio. I am not rich. My side hustle allows for my gear acquisition syndrome. While the stable corporate audio day job keeps food on the table etc... One day I would love to transition. But I am just happy to be able to do what I do.
The music business can be tough. But it is also beautiful. Again perspective. I love being part of the creative process and seeing things come to life. Feeling the excitement of something new. That is why I will always find a way to keep a foot in the music side of the business.
I'm just starting a network with two separate band projects and have been doing weekly recording sessions this year starting with 1 mic and working my way up. Soon I will have more channels than I will ever need on an interface and a decent drum mic setup. Mentioning that I just want to record demos for bands to help them find an audience and that I don't want to make money off other people's work I was told that I am definitely in the right industry. Maybe someday that will transition to an income but right now I just want to make music and help others do the same.
Mann the song you're playing at 2;33 is LITERALLY one of my favorites. Salt Lamp by jobii; as usually I love your style dude. Must be an IN thing ha (although I’m pretty sure I'm a couple hours north)
I love jobii's tracks. I try to use them when i find them
hey also an engineer here, and I totally agree
its not a competition. you will make probably amazing music, but an entirely different way than I will
if the same artist worked with you and me separately. i bet the album at the end would be completely different, probably both awesome but hey... you know how it goes hahaha
love the channel bro!
I too appreciate these videos. I started this musical journey during lockdown (wife bought daw and equipment for me to make music in 2018, I bought protools in 2009 while I was in college) since hours got reduced at my job (ended up leaving in October 2020). As of right now I’m not making much from it, mostly learning how to properly mix and I can hear a huge difference between my stuff that’s out on TH-cam now vs when I first started. I’m grateful for the learning and achievements I’ve made. I’m hoping to start promoting myself and skills soon but a little nervous since I don’t have a dedicated room in my house for it (I have a good area but prefer to keep it separate from my family).
Years ago my old home studio was a nice side gig. Between 2010 and 2012. Then I got divorced and into the trucking industry. I’ve remained somewhat active but get almost no profit. Some small mixing and mastering gigs for cheap. Some friends projects for a share of streaming.
I’m building my studio as we speak and I’m about 90% there and I like the fact that I’m not trying to be the next super star because I’ve been in that position (tryna be) and we signed a horrible contract with a independent label and had a few songs that did really well and I would see boxes of records come in and out several times so I know the company made some money and I think the company should’ve at least gave us $100 each now and then but nope! And he was also our manager so he’d book a show 8, 10, 12, hours away and for some reason I always had to drive the RV and opened for some top notch acts and never came home with more than $50 in my pocket so after a year and a half I had enough and joined a cover band and in one month I made more money than being in a band with a record deal doing big venues from Texas to New York so I walked away from music for a long time but I want to help people get from where they are to where they want to be and I just want to get payed for what I do which is recording people to the best of my ability and help with the music so they stand a chance of getting noticed, I don’t need to be rich but it would be nice to be able to afford my modest home in small town USA 🇺🇸
I run a small community studio. I’ve never advertised it and I have more work coming in than I possibly could do. People, who say that this ain’t proper job are just lowering the IQ of the whole room with their ignorance.
Spot on
Thanks bro
Any time
I'm full time job and all my available other waking hours are music.
Not going well 😂 would love to own a studio one day, but it's tricky stuff. My finances are up from last year from music which is exciting, but still working on a lot fewer projects than I'd like.
Amen bro
You're absolutely right with "you have to love...". The music side is the easy bit even when it's hard work. The bit I don't love enough is the hustle, the business side. So it's a hobby for me. My specialist skill is mastering and I do projects for my friends but because mastering is done to death on TH-cam I'm taking my channel in a different direction.
I also agree that the industry isn't at all dead despite the whiny old farts in the comments section of Rick Beato's channel dissing genres of music that offend their delicate sensibilities. Those guys put too much energy into wishing to have the good old days back instead of looking forwards in order to create tomorrow's good old days. Hendrix etc weren't looking backwards, they were pushing forwards saying stuff with guitars that hadn't been said before.
I’ve been making music and engineering since 2019. I run a home studio right now and I like it a lot. I’m going to school to get my masters in psychology. My tentative plan is to invest in an office building to start a professional recording studio after I pay off my student loan debt and save for a bit. Do you think I could run a studio and get it off the ground while working full time as a psychologist? How much help would I need?
I am really Insterested in music producing but in same time scared, what if I can't do it. I am now 23 years old, and I am in music from my 6. year. from middle to high school and now music college I never had producing expirience. Also I have feeling that there is a lot of things that I have to know before starting producing/recording. maybe advice, what should I do In early begining? what to focuse on and dedicate time.
So accurate, i also think that people that think you cant make money just dont know how to move money around to work for them and not be a liability, if you earn enough money to keep the buisness running and slowly branch out to aquirin money making assets of some sort you will make more money. Not because you are in the music industry you are a slave to it and can’t distribute income to other financially beneficial “strategies” that will help you in the long run
Sounds like you did everything right. I wrote a book on the subject that never got published, but it seems like you figured out the formula for success.
Oh heavens no. I screwed up every way possible.
@@RecordingStudioLoser You seem to be doing pretty well to me. Many of the big music center studios did not fare as well.
YES !!
Oh man... This video found me in a crossroads in my life. I'm 43, live in Spain, and love music with all my heart. I'm in the process of transforming a bedroom into my home studio. My intention is not to record music as my main activity in the studio, but to mix and master. I'm a software engineer and this would be a hobby/side gig. Sometimes my analytic brain starts to question whether the amount of money I have to spend to get to where I want to be is worth it or if I ever going to even get my investment back. I cannot stress enough the inner conflict that this creates in my head. However... My heart says "Go on, you idiot!!", and I keep going, simply because my love for the music and all things sound. Having said this, than you for your words. They have really helped me. 🤩
man rock on! I came back to music after 10+ years of leaving it..just changed my small office room to a studio...best feeling ever. Chase your dreams and don't live in regret.
@@AdzAdverse thanks, mate! Words like that really make a difference. 🤜🤛
I don't care about the millions as long as there is food on the table, as you said.
I started my mixing journey a couple of months back. I was always in bands trying to get out there and make records. But I have never found the right people to do it with, sadly. I still play music but with a different perspective now.
I bought a 2nd generation focusrite solo, got a decent pc and the cheapest vocal-booth money can buy. Because of space issues I only use plugins and my trusty little kemper. BUT I'M MAKING MUSIC! The first thing that I think about in the morning is how I'm gonna get rid of some noise in the guitar tracks, how to tighten up the low end, how to incorporate fx and synths into my metal tracks. I found that passion out of another passion, which is making music in the first place. I have no clients, I work a 9-5 and the guy who I am recording is my singer and myself. None other! And it's the best fun O have ever had.
My first studio was out of my moms condo using 2 10x10 rooms and a 2 car garage and I slept on the studio couch at age 18 in Rancho Cucamonga CA! I had adats, an audiomedia 2 card doing 4 trk digital recorder and two promix's 01. I made on average over 55k a year in 1992-95 doing rap, electronic music and speed metal. Speed metal out of a 2 car garage in a condo. My hours were between 9am to 5pm the hours my mom worked. A kid in a condo recording punk and speed metal bands, If you want it bad enough you will find a way. If your making excuses of why you cant do it, remember I did this in the stupidest circumstances.
Loved the vid, bro! It's interesting you brought hedge fund management as an alternative to the music industry for making money. The thing about it is that a hedge fund is meant to "hedge risks"" inherent in making an investment through alternative investement vehicles. That's something I think we could talk more about in the music industry. What are some of the things we could do, within our control, to minimize risks inherent in the music industry? Make sense?
You took an off handed comment and came up with some good insight.
That’s a great point and good question that may be another video.
I’m about to jump in full time in the recording studio. I would love to hear some tips and hints for a beginner manager of it. Would you mind to talk sometime soon about it? We can even do a podcast about it
I can speak just from my own personal experience. I have been a working musician for about 18 years. I have never had another job except music.
(Im 32 at the moment not young lol but not old either lol) With the money I had earned gigging I had invested into the other industries primarily trucking companies and the oil industry. After a few rough encounters with those industries I decided about 2 years to start a recording studio.
I engineer record and produce at my studio and well I fell blessed. I only work in music and well I make a decent living doing what I absolutely love. I could not NOT do music. I can't see myself doing anything else. It would kill me to do so lol
In many videos about this topic I know some people tend to not really input numbers for safety but maybe a reference can help. I can't complain I have a pretty nice house, my own vehicles and some extra to go on pretty decent vacations. I can't complain. Being in the recording business has doubled what I used to earn and I would have never thought that TBH!
I know alot of what I consider "success" is the years I've had behind me as a musician and have met quite a bit of musicians along the way and have earned their trust and respect as a human and musician that goes along way. You are totally right about the being in a people business. You have to know to how to talk to people and make them feel good and confident...genuinely!
Everyone's story is different I do know that......
The point is that anything is definitely possible if you try hard enough and really put the work in.
I’d be happy to just mix n master things someday and be able to pay my bills. That’s the dream.
been struggling to get my studio built this year, needed a video like this to help remind me why im doing it. couldent be more right about the industry today either.
p.s any info on those pre amp kits you mentioned?
CAPI! So good I use the VP 28s
@@RecordingStudioLoser oh im gunna have alot of fun browsing that site. gear addiction sucks lol
I work a day job, go to school for Music Production, & have a wife and kids. I'm working towards a career in music. The day I quit this job will be glorious
Keep going!
I've spent the last two and a half years building my new studio which is now operational since feb. '21. The pandemic was rather a bummer in getting up and running, but business is slowly picking up. I stil need to do my day job on the side to cover bill's etc, but hope to make the transition in the next year or so to full time.
What I am running up against here in the Netherlands is the following, and wondering how that is going elsewhere: most artists here are extremely strapped for cash, live gigs are hard to come by and pay less and less. For many a studio hire + mixing etc is an investment that's hard to make. And when they make it, it's usually bare minimum. Those artists with more cash on hand usually record at the more established studios, and I seem to be spending more and more time trying to get artists in.
What's your experience when it comes to promoting your studio and keeping a steady supply of work coming in? Thanks in advance!
Music is not dying... it's just super-competitive.
As a lead engineer of an analog recording studio I immediately stopped wanting a lot of the "bespoke" gear since about 70% of my job is maintenance. Lost a lot of interest in plugins as well. Just keeping things simple and interesting goes a very long way. Putting the investments into things that help you grow is far more important than having more compressors or preamps of x quality.
Could you name a few tools which you can rely on, and/or always find yourself going back to?
Like, top5/10 plugins you would recommend to a beginner, top 5 hardware (best all-round mic, preamp, etc) for a hobby studio to start out with, which give the best bang for the buck?
You could also tell if you are aware of any 'hidden gems' which are affordable and can help beginners grow. (I'm in the process of looking for a mic for example. )
@@galgogergo Of course! Luckily the list has gotten shorter with time! For plugins, I'm a big fan of the free Valhalla bundle for FX; Softube Console 1 is sometimes the only plugin in a mix; a good bus compressor (I like my bx-townhouse!); and above all, the most versatile digital eq you can afford. I started with Waves F6, now it's Pro Q3. Anything else would just be to taste since there's so much variety. Not to mention any stock plugins in the DAW. I'm on Reaper and the world of JS plugins is its own rabbit hole.
@@galgogergo Cont (on hardware): my mentor always told me the best mic for the job was the closest one at the moment. I once got a seemingly destroyed RE20 for $50 only to find out the capsule was fine and just needed refoaming and a paint job. Some gems just show up with enough patience. Although I use a lot of vintage and irreplaceable gear, the stuff I do own is self built. IE got a jensen transformer and turned it into a DI box, built a 3 band eq with the schematics from the mci console I work on, and I'm currently looking into making a diode bridge type compressor. Still quite new at actually owning hardware but making it is just as fun as using it imo.
This video is the best video
It’s possible you have got to make systems to ensure your making money ! And grow at your own rate not what others think you should be growing at !
I know this sounds cliché, it's easy to remember your failures and the negative things people have told you rather than the successes and positive things. I have to constantly remind myself of that and focus on the positive. To have people who want to come in and work with you is a great feeling. If I could boil this industry down to one transcendent truth, there will always be ups and downs.
Note: While looking into the logistics of getting a studio started, I was for some reason actually surprised by how many channels and individuals I am hearing from are also based in and around Nashville.
I made a lot of money w my studio but the fact is times change and people like home studios
I totally agree with you. You found a good balance with your family as you already mentionned. You are pationnated. You have the chance to make business in a field where you are pationnated. Nice studio and you put always the satisfaction of the client first....and don't need 1 million dollars to be happy 😀 Take care 😀
I laugh when people say i wont make any money. Uh I wouldn't be doing it if I didn't KNOW I would make money.
The secret is know what do you want your studio to specialize in. I wanted to make music the main thing but sadly in my area thats not a reality. BUT Podcasts? oh baby i cant keep up with them and justified getting a studio to me!
I'm thinking of opening a food court... ;)
I closed my professional recording studio, which I have had for 25 years because the "pandemic generated home studio crazes" moved all my clients to a home studio set up and you can't make a living from no clients. How do you compete with free, you can't. The cost of equipment, utilities, rent, income tax, and the hundreds of professional home studio setups are killing the professional recording studio. I have sold most of my equipment and am getting out of the music industry. I got a job at Walmart and I work part-time at a small coffee shop for extra cash. As much as I loved working with bands and producing great artists and songs, there is no real money to be made, it is a disaster. I wish anyone that tries to start a Recording studio Good Luck, you are going to need it.
I hear you and try to be optimistic, but as someone who went to school for jazz guitar and somewhere down the line, decided to start working on more studio stuff, it’s been a challenge to stay positive.
A lot of projects that I’ve worked on have been with colleagues, some of whom I’ve played with, and I’ve had a hard time getting work because the lack of clear return on investment with recorded music. I myself have put out two albums within the last year and did most of the work myself/got friend discounts, and I’m still very much in the negative.
The issue I’m seeing is a lot of funding for projects are coming from places outside of the music industry: wealthy family, outside jobs, etc. This may have always been the case, but especially with the real lack of incentive to pay for music, I feel like the music industry might not be able to stand on its own in the coming years, and it potentially already can’t.
That being said, I’m pretty young (27) so I can’t speak of what was once before, and it could also be the growing pains of navigating a career in music, but yeah I definitely go back and forth about these things
That being said, love this video and all your videos! I guess I’m trying to be able to sort of embody your optimism, if that even makes sense.
Back in the 80s and 90s most small studios made their money from recording demos financed by day jobs and families. The difference is these days we can go direct to releasable quality.
Lmao I love the "dislike it if you didn't like it... but hit it twice"
Overhead is a big deal. My area is south of Seattle which is stupid expensive. I bought my building 10 years ago, paid cash for all my gear and construction costs. Today my studio only needs to work 1 day per month to cover all of its own overhead. Keep you expenses low. Save your money to buy GREAT gear…not the cheap stuff. Save your money to buy all legacy gear. Nobody ever booked studio time because I owned a plug in, or a Warm Audio pile of junk. But most serious people will book time because you have a Neumann, a Neve, Avalon, LA2a, 1176, PCM42, Eventide DSP4000…etc….
True story. I use a product from Izotope similar to True Balance on my live mixes to see where I could be better.
Tonal balance control? Super useful. But I don’t think you can buy it on its own anymore
@@RecordingStudioLoser yes. Using tools like that help train your ear and provide feedback on how you’re doing even for us live guys. Always trying to be better, right?
If people really like your product and it’s rare amongst the rest… the real ones will see value and they will come. It’s comes down to value!
Are you open to underground musician. Like recording and areanging 3 more mudicuans.
Overall after 22 years of this hobby with some gigs here n there and over $60k invested. I find barely any camaraderie in Indiana. Most have has some kind of support system and people to learn from. I’ve done a whole lot more teaching and helping people I know than the other way around. I do what I do because I can’t imagine life not doing it. A lot of self absorbed people in this hobby though.
"...There's no music to be made in the music industry..." 🤣- It's unfortunate how often that is true, and how much money a few of them (seem to) make.
These ppl keep saying there knows money is discouraging, I wanted to go to school but , I don’t wanna take a loan out for school and still be in same position but I love music
I have a friend doing very well.