Bmbch wrote on Wed, 28 December 2005 03:28 |
The common "small business" (though, I doubt one could classify Electrical as such) |
ivan40 wrote on Wed, 28 December 2005 14:10 |
Do you have some $$$$ coming in from past productions? And, dose this allow you to operate? |
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Also, do you only take certain things through the door? I mean, if a rockin' soul band came in from Cinci or something, would you record it even if it wasn't your bag |
electrical wrote on Thu, 29 December 2005 00:34 |
I will record any swinging dick whose checks don't bounce. I think it would be both rude and counter-productive to vet clients along aesthetic lines. |
Jules wrote on Wed, 28 December 2005 21:16 |
Do you have a stock answer for a band working with you that might hope that you like their music, but you don't |
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How do you "approve takes"? Do the band have to decide or do you help them with that.. |
billdooley wrote on Wed, 28 December 2005 21:30 |
Obviously, it's not "all about the money." It's never about the money, but it's usually about the amount of money. Bill Dooley |
Jason Goz wrote on Thu, 29 December 2005 06:35 |
What about the work life balance?,I worked six days a week for five years(about 70 hours) trying to get things off of the ground,After wihich time i trimmed things back to five days a week but i still struggle with the work/life balance. |
electrical wrote on Thu, 29 December 2005 11:34 |
This business essentially is my life, and I don't make a distinction between the two. |
electrical wrote on Wed, 28 December 2005 10:28 |
Running a studio in such desperate conditions is only worth doing if you enjoy it for its own sake, and have a stable client base, low expenses and low expectations. |
jfrigo wrote on Thu, 29 December 2005 11:15 |
Even if you aren't using the plan to secure startup or expansion capital, it still can be a very useful exercise that really will help you understand your business and develop strategies for success. You learn a lot about your business and are forced to think rationally about things you may have just been taking on faith previously. Writing the plan usually turns out to be modifiying the plan, but in the end you have a much better grasp on the whole thing and the numbers are more likely to work out. Give it a try! |
jfrigo wrote on Thu, 29 December 2005 12:15 |
4.Competitive analysis (who is your competition and how will you compete?)... |
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8. Risk analysis (what could go wrong and how are you preparing for it?)... |
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10. Financial projections (out several years - show how both income and expenses will grow (more on the income hopefully) and demonstrate an understanding of running a business and all your financial responsibilities) |
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This is the kind of plan you can take to a bank, investor, or potential partner. |
electrical wrote on Thu, 29 December 2005 12:06 |
Still, I am extremely happy that I've never had to answer to anyone regarding my sometimes-contrary business ideas. I have been right, and we've survived through very difficult times because of it, but I don't know that I could convince anyone else it would happen this way. |
electrical wrote on Thu, 29 December 2005 15:06 |
Making a bsiness plan is important, and the outline above is a good one. Be careful that your business plan is not simply a list of pipe dreams though, as it can serve to cement your dreams into a kind of "but I had it all worked out..." kind of trap. |
Bob Olhsson wrote on Fri, 30 December 2005 08:50 |
4. one of the first things Wally Heider told me as he explained the difference between working for a record label and for an independent studio was that the studio business is the real estate business and not the music business. |
Bob Olhsson wrote on Fri, 30 December 2005 11:50 |
2. the overhead of a one room facility is just about the same as that of a three room facility. |
electrical wrote on Wed, 28 December 2005 18:34 |
I will record any swinging dick whose checks don't bounce. I think it would be both rude and counter-productive to vet clients along aesthetic lines. |
Bob Olhsson wrote on Fri, 30 December 2005 16:50 |
I've watched many many people build studios that lost money from the very beginning and finally went under because of there wasn't enough coming in to keep the gear running. Some of these rooms were very busy right up to the end. It's an unfortunate fact of life that we all have to compete with people who think they can afford to lose money. The lesson in this is to concentrate on selling service rather than gear. |
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I think engineers need to have a similarly-distinct relationship with the music their clients bring to the studio. |
chris haines wrote on Wed, 04 January 2006 04:32 |
Steve, could you comment on how you handle down time? Does the studio do spec deals with promising local bands/does the staff get to record their stuff for free? |
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Also, could you comment on what percentage of your business is booked locally/regionally 'cause Electrical is competitive with regard to price/quality vs. the percentage of studio time booked for your reputation...ie...'studio A with Steve Albini' |
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My job is to do a good job on whatever walks in the door, not just those bands of which I happen to be a fan. My taste in music is pretty fucked-up, and it would be a mistake to even allow my tastes to enter into the process, or I would have bands bring their normal music in here only for me to fuck it up to suit my tastes. I think it is a matter of professional obligation for me to suspend my tastes while I'm working for someone else, so that I can come to learn what it is they like and want out of their music. My tastes don't (or shouldn't) mean a damn thing. |
chris haines wrote on Wed, 04 January 2006 04:32 | ||
I have no idea what you're asking here. |
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electrical wrote on Thu, 29 December 2005 13:34 As an experiment, I have tried to give myself one day off a week for the first six months of 2006, and this has proven really difficult. <snip> I have not been able to manage the bookings to give me every Tuesday off, but I am trying to lighten my schedule slightly. We'll see how it goes. |