To build or NOT to build - THAT is the question

[Franktierno]

I am at a crossroads and need some sound advice (pun intended)

I am a weekend musician and have been all my life. Had a few small recording studios as well over the
years. I still have the bug. I'm tired of the IT business and if I don't get out of it soon the stress will
probably kill me. So......I'm thinking "recording business" again. My friends and famiily say "Oh no not again"....but I've narrowed down my choices to three possibilites:

1) Convert my garage into a studio and work from there.
2) Get a commercial place(had 2 of them)
3) Get a shared place in Manhattan (expensive)

1) My garage would need a sizeable investment but it's detached and pretty big (15x34) and of course
there's no rent.

2) A commercial space if cheap enough could work too and I could supplement the recording revenue
by offering rehearsal space.

3) A shared Manhattan studio is also doable. Will I get business? Commuting is tough? Competition?


Is a small studio properly equipped (or should I say decently equipped) still a viable business these days? Or should I run like hell? I am in the Central New Jersey area which is about 40 miles to mid town Manhattan. I know a lot of musicians naturally.....

Ideas? Suggestions on getting started?

I should also add that whenever I'm in a recording studio I get this feeling that this
is what I was born to do. Nothing....and I mean NOTHING ELSE ever makes me feel like that......

[bigtree]

You and 10,000 others have the same questions. I don't think the economy has hit the bottom but I do think music has ( sound wise that is). Its starting to sound better and I think musicianship is on the increase so that means better ears are listening and will expect better recordings.

But I also think more virtual studios will grow and more and more home studio will be as good as " Pro Studio"; to a certain point. We are all gaining knowledge in acoustics which has been one thing that has seperated the pro's for the amatures. Get room acoustics right and a nice sound... what more do you need?

I wouldn't invest a dime in this business to make money but I would invest everything I have left in me, to do it for the rest of my life. I was born to be in this business but so sadly, I do other things to make money now. I am investing in vintage gear and planning to build my dream studio on a lake shore property I hope to own free and clear one day.

I don't care if my family comes with me or not, thats where I going to end up if it kills me. But I'm doing it for me. If I'm happy, I will hopfully live longer and be a better person.

Good luck!

[djmukilteo]

If you have the money (without loans or debt) and the time (24/7) and can take the hit when it doesn't make much money or last for 5 years then I say go for it!
It's a huge risky "business" with little room for sucess in this environment.
A job in IT at least exists and has jobs!
Sorry but I would say that to someone who had all the permits in hand and 10mil to spend on construction and equipment!
So yeah the garage is obviously your cheapest and easiest venture, but I'm sure it's not zoned for commercial use. So keep that in mind.
You will need to be ready and willing to record anything and anybody that walks in your door at any hour (and that would include your garage)!...so that might create or involve family and neighbors and all the drama and issues that will ensue.
You've done this before so you probably already know some of the pitfalls (because apparently neither of them were successful) the type of people you might have to deal with the hours involved etc.etc... But if you like the "feel" of being in a studio and recording other people for a living, well then you must have dug deep into your being and soul and asked yourself seriously a lot of these questions already. Why not get a job in a working studio?!...having your own business is still a job after all.
Unlike working for someone else though it's all hands on deck 24/7...eat sleep and worry...
Maybe you really just want your own space to lay down music in...which is something entirely different than trying to run a business or make money and a living....as far as garage studios go...think about it...I don't think that ever makes a business....a hobby maybe but not a business or living.
It's something you need to think about. Business isn't about emotional feelings it's about getting the money out of somebody's pocket into yours....

[Thomas W. Bethel]

Do some serious thinking and make up a good business plan. If things don't look good on paper then do some more thinking. Today most home studios are not making any money. Most smaller commercial studios are not making any money and many larger studios are closing up or scaling down. Best of luck but really think things through before spending ANY money.

[Franktierno]

One of the problems I had in the past was that the studio was always part of my music store(s). The last one that I had in South River,NJ almost worked. I've always had the nagging feeling that had I put more time into the place I may not even be questioning this now. But I was running a music store,teaching music,running a repair shop, rehearsals....but times (and technology) have changed a lot in the 20 years since then. There are smaller studios here that are making money from what I can tell - but the question again is how much???? No matter how I look at it there doesn't seem to be enough of a revenue stream with just charging an hourly rate and some of the equipment costs seem out of proportion to what I can earn in a reasonable amount of time i.e. I can teach guitar and earn about $40 an hr with no investment at all in equipment so why throw 50 Grand into gear to earn... what??? $35 an hr??? $50???? I see some pretty big studios in Manhattan charging less than that......I dunno....I still love to produce music...just wish there was a way to make a decent living at it.....maybe I should just stick to songwriting and producing my own stuff...

[Franktierno]

Then again the devil on the other shoulder is saying that I'm currently only earning $40 an hour in my IT job!!!!!!

[Franktierno]

I think when all is said and done I still have to try this or I will always regret not trying again....

[BobRogers]

I think when all is said and done I still have to try this or I will always regret not trying again....

Not as much as you would regret blowing your life savings.

[Franktierno]

LOL Can't Bob. The wife controls that. I just have my weekly paycheck to blow!!!

[Franktierno]

They say when you get to the end of your life you will regret the things you didn't do rather than the things you did.