On a CRAZY WHIM, I decided to start a studio... - by 37637598
37637598 on 30/10/2008 at 12:45
My girlfriend leaving me has gotten me thinking a lot lately about what the hell I'm doing with myself. I began keeping a journal so i may better sort through my life and all i have achieved, and it's really helped me see how much time I waste!
Last week I decided I am going to presue my dream and start my own studio. You all are going to think I'm nuts, more so than ever, but it needed to be done while I'm still young and stupid. I purchased most all of the equipment I need, and the physical part of it is almost complete. I am now facing the paper pen aspect of this ordeal. Business licensing, registering names, setting up accounts, making phone call after phone call... It's a lot of work, but I know it will pay off, AND I'm perfectly happy doing it! I guess the reason I'm posting is to perhaps get a third person prespective on my situation. I'll begin by explaining my background...
I worked in a Music Shop for about 5 years, from the ages of 13, to 18. During this time I also home-schooled, and in ALL of my free time, I made short videos and music, and really learned a lot about professional production. Now I know that none of this means ANYTHING to the consumer, and this is where I might require a bit of suggestion, but I'll return to that later. After leaving the music shop, I began creating ads for some local businesses. Free ones, just to build a background. After a while, the businesses came back to me and asked for more ads, and not only that, they were willing to pay for them! This sparked some ideas, long ago. now that I have some money and no obligations, I've decided to go for it. So far, I have purchased the following:
Sony HD HDD camera, $1000
Adobe Premier Pro CS4, $830
New Scanner, $130
Video Card, $280
Lighting, $800
Adobe Photoshop CS4, $700
Video Interface Card, $150
Studio Vocal Microphone, $500
Canon 10.0MP Camera, $400
8GB RAM Quad Core Computer, $1000
46" Flat Screen Monitor, $900
Wireless Tie Microphone System, $400
Green Screen, $200
Adobe After Effects CS4, $1000
Adobe Dream Weaver, $400
Adobe Flash Pro, $700
Pro Tools, $1200
Stienberg Hypersonic 2, $400
Business License, $60
Total: $11,050.00 Plus at least another $500 in accessories! (and I know there are some high dollar things I forgot to mention) And, I'm still looking to get some more software, and I have to register my business name! That said, equipment isn't even half the cost! I have to worry about paying rent and power, which believe me, powering 6000+ watts of lighting per day alone is enough to suck your money right down the drain before you can even order your first pizza!
My current goal is setting up my phone lines, creating the company web site, and finishing up on the paperwork end so i can get on with life, and focus 100% on production. This brings me to a question: Certification; I know it helps, but I honestly don't even know where to start, who to talk to, or what I should worry about being certified for! The following is a list of some services i and a few others will offer:
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Web design, photo restoration, photo enhancement, portrait shoots, modeling portfolio's start to finish, full HD video shoots, unlimited video effects and enhancements, green-screen shoots, audio production (mixing, touch-up, vocal recording, composition, and much more), stop-motion capture, cartoon creation, television and radio commercial shoots, newspaper and online ads, voice acting and overdubbing, consultation, etc.
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Also, if anyone has suggestion on software that may make my life easier, or any questions or general suggestions for me, please do not hesitate! I'm already going about this the wrong way, and from this point on I really want to try and straighten out my path so I'm not just on some stupid shopping spree! I know I can make this work, and I am aware of the sleepless nights that will come along with it all. In fact, it's 6:38AM right now and I was shooting to be in bed by 12:00AM. I know there are a lot of smart people here that will have plenty of criticism for me, and I really do need it! As well as helpful suggestions!
If you would all like, I can turn this thread into a 'Vinnie's Progress Form', and keep you all updated on how a business such as the one I am describing, can survive and expand in such an economy. It will be an interesting trial, and if I don't lose all of my hair before I make it successful, maybe I'll try out my single life! :D You all have really helped me in the past with many important things, but this one is by far the mother ship of stupid choices! And it's one I hope will do me good!
Thanks for the support and suggestion, and thank you all for being my e-buddies! Whether you know you are, or not. Cross your fingers for me!
Rogue Keeper on 30/10/2008 at 13:04
I think you went completely NUTS!
Which may actually turn out to be your advantage... :sly:
But fortune often smiles on the brave ones... good luck with the business, if you believe in it! ;)
37637598 on 30/10/2008 at 13:27
Thank you BR796164, I truely do! It's the only thing I'm good at, and with my experience of being at my dad's side 100% of the time when he started his music shop, I think I'm one step ahead of my luck on this one! I just remembered the most important part which will be the biggest headache... CONTRACTS! I'm not sure what to do. I know usually people pay lawyers to help make contracts, but I am really not sure if it's necessary. I may be able to get by with editing some pre-made contracts, or purchase something on the internet. I want to be safe, but at the same time, I really dont think I'm gonna get sued any time soon, simply because I'm going to document and record every word spoken by me and my customers, and any models or 3rd parties.
Thoughts?
Matthew on 30/10/2008 at 13:37
Seriously, think about a lawyer.
Rogue Keeper on 30/10/2008 at 13:42
Well as it often is with opening a new businesses, your good name spreads from satisfied customers to more people. Nothing's a better medium for spreading your reputation than satisfied customer who recommend you to somebody else. But consider you should start advertising in local print media a bit, nothing big, just something. You may even print 500 stickers advertising your firm and stick them on walls in public places.
And keep an eye on the balance, always. Don't rely too much on future incomes to cover your investiments into superb hardware, this way you can easily fall into terrible debts. Focus on 2-4 activities from the list you made, and when your firm gets some attention and profit, buy better equipment and then offer more services. Then you can even hire some promising geeks to help you. Perhaps even a cute secretary! It is usually better to make one thing really good than five things in mediocre quality.
To put it short, draw yourself a serious firm development plan, set yourself goals, timelines, long-period strategies and short-period tactics.
You can have great visions mixing in your head, but you should know how to realistically organize them and reach them step by step.
37637598 on 30/10/2008 at 13:59
Quote Posted by Matthew
Seriously, think about a lawyer.
I know I know... I just wanted to avoid having to get a loan! but I do need to protect myself, because as we all know, all it takes is someone spilling hot coffee on their lap, and I'm screwed for years! Thanks!
Quote Posted by BR796164
Well as it often is with opening a new businesses, your good name spreads from satisfied...
I know exactly what you mean! I've been trying as best I can to keep everything sorted out on paper, but my problem is not knowing what else to take care of that I haven't even thought of yet... Like contracts! Oh god, if I didn't think of contracts and I started working for people, I would be screwed out of some money, guarenteed!
As far as equipment, I already purchased the stuff on that list, and $8000 of it is paid for, the remaining $3050+ is credit. In my opinion, that's hella good, for now anyway. I will have some under-the-table help with the work part of it, and pay people to do it, so that will be a relief on the list of services... bu I see what you mean, and I'll really try to not get ahead of myself. I don't even feel overwhelmed. i feel like this is all so do-able, and I know exactly what needs to be done, and my only obstical is time! I'm sure you all know the feeling though.
Stitch on 30/10/2008 at 14:42
I was going to ask "what kind of studio" but then I looked at the gear list and it appears the answer is "EVERY KIND."
I'd suggest picking one area of specialization and returning everything not related to it. Christ, ten grand is barely enough to get the gear needed to record a drum kit properly, I can't even imagine the full cost of trying to set up a full recording/AV/editing studio decent enough to merit renting. What you've currently purchased is only enough to technically squeak through to a more or less finished product, but if you're actually selling your services you've got a lot more shit to buy.
Having said that, I've heard your music and you've definitely got some talent behind a mixing board, and that talent is a service you can sell. Just about anyone can get a serviceable home studio set up for a couple grand and a PC, but few have the knowledge and skill needed to wring the most out of their gear and produce polished songs. As such, I think there will always be a market for decent recording studios staffed with skilled people.
Best of luck!
37637598 on 30/10/2008 at 15:10
Hahah you got me there! Yes, it is a little bit of everything, but I really have all of the equipment I need to do what I do.
I'll explain a bit better...
Me personally, I'll only be handling a little bit of everything, but mostly music composition. I do however have a list of people who specialze in, and have the appropriate equipment for professional production in the areas i don't really want to touch. For instance, I have a friend currently living in Canada who works in a video editing studio, and he has every tool a video editor would need to create a professional finished product, SO, i would call my buddy with a canon XL2, he'd shoot the film, I'd then send it to canada, my guy there edit's it, and I do whatever I need to finish it up and get it in the customers hands. Most of the work will be done outside of the studio. The only recording I will be doing, is single-track, vocal, or vocal and acoustic guitar solo artists, so that's not much of an issue. The reason for the long list of equipment, Commercials. Local TV commercials is something I can do with the equipment I purchased, and it's really all I need to do what I do and make enough to support myself and the business. Any web design, I'll pass on. Photogrophy, I'll pass on. I realize buying into all of that equipment would be very stupid of me, so I'm starting out relying on others, and in the event they're not available, I'll go to the next on the list. I have a plan written out in a draft form, and once I get an organized website explaining the proceedures, I'll link you all to it. I think it's a pretty good idea. And if there's something I'm not capable of doing, there's no reason I can't refuse them for the time being.
In short, that's a basic look at my pathetic plan. The internet really enables me to do this, without it, I would surely be out of luck. I also have a lot more previously owned equipment that's not on the list. The list is just stuff I had to buy in order to make up for what i don't have. I'l really only be doing a little bit of work outside of composition... Well, at first I'm gonna have to work my ass off on everything!
Thanks for your good wishes!
henke on 30/10/2008 at 15:16
Quote Posted by Stitch
I'd suggest picking one area of specialization and returning everything not related to it.
Seconded. Try to see if you can get the wheels turning on a small-scale business that'll hopefully keep you fed for the day before going ahead with any huge ambitious plans like all that stuff you listed. :erg:
Good luck anyway. :)
37637598 on 30/10/2008 at 15:31
Perhaps that is my best bet then, but if I was to really only focus on the things I do, then I don't think it would be too much heart ache. Other than contracts... But I don't think I need to return the other stuff anyway considering most of it is necessary to make the little ammount of commercials I will be making anyway, which is where most of the money is...
