My studio is finally for real... ! advice?

[ironsheik]

So I haven't posted here in a while now. I've been mainly working with my band and getting my engineering jobs going which is finally happening. I am almost done with my new rooms measuring 26 x 15' with 10' ceiling (band room) and a 12.5 x 15' with 11' ceiling control room. I just bought a 32 channel Sony MXP3036 with ALL the tuchels and wiring for the huge patchbay for $7500!!! and an Otari MX5050 8 track 1/2" machine with remote for $700. I'm really psyched to get back into analog.

I'm a little nervous because of course I'm spending a boat load to get this business going. I think I'm headed down the right track though because everything I'm buying I can sell again for more or equal value. My rent @ $500 a month is paid for by subletting my old apartment/studio which is also a bit help. I'm in NYC where the market is saturated with morons who claim to have studios so tell me what you think about my abreviated business plan.

I'm charging $20 an hour for digital and $25 for analog to start and drum up business and this Winter if all goes well, I'll up the rates by $5. I can easily afford to work this cheaply and the sounds I get already rival any $500 a day studio. I think most studios in jeopardy these days are just overloaded with expensive assets. Agree? I'm much more versatile with a small amount of quality gear and cheaper prices. The only other big gear I want is a 2" 16 track. What are you all doing these days to compete with crappy no-studio studios? I've already done OK with my old tiny room so I assume I'll only do better...

Josh
http://www.seasidelounge.com

 

[sosayu2]

what i do to compete is not really a business plan but it works for me. i have very low overhead as well. i compete with the big studios by offering the same or better quality at less cost. i compete with the no studio/studios by offering a nice room with great warmth as well as vintage gear, good mic selection and reasonable prices. yes i'm more expensive, but once they've been here, they always come back. they hem and haw at the price but i work faster than most and they wind up spending less here then they did on the 30.00 per hour room and took four times longer to get the sounds and in the end they were not happy with the end result. repeat business will keep you going. just develop a solid rep and don't rip anyone off. word of mouth spreads really fast in this business of ours. good luck with your room man and i hope you do extremely well.

frank

 

[didzejzefir]

Where in NYC are you located and when will you open because maybe ill record there .. (hip hop vocals)

 

[missilanious]

Otari 5050mkIII with remote for $700 is a very good price, hows the working condition? I just picked up one about 3 months ago and I'm really glad I bought it. Have you used it yet?

 

[ironsheik]

That's why I bought it! They are incredible machines for the money these days. I think they were about $14000 brand new! I've got the equivalent of a $50,000 studio for about $8000 right now. My friend just calibrated it and we've been recording my band's demo at his space with it. He's got the same machine and has made some incredible recordings. So yes, everything is in perfect working order. Good luck with yours...

didzejzefir: I sent a Private Message but maybe you didn't see it. Email me at jc@seasidelounge.com if you want to set something up. I'll be open by next week.

Josh