If you're ready to step up to the plate and start offering professional services, you need some sort of plan. All businesses operate with a business plan that lays out the goals and objectives and, most important, how they intend to make a profit. For you, the studio owner, the goal is pretty simple: Earn money by recording music for clients. If you're ready to take the jump to the next level and open up a pro or semipro recording facility, there are a few things to keep in mind.

Opening Up Your Studio

It's time to open your doors to the public. But don't do it until you have a good understanding of what kinds of projects you can and can't handle. Space usually dictates this. Do you really have enough space for a full band to record without getting squished together? How about isolation booths and separation between instruments? How's your monitoring setup? Can you provide headphone mixes to each player? These are just a few of the things you'll be expected to offer your clients and customers.

A truly professional studio won't have many limitations. If you have doubts as to your ability to take on certain projects, be up-front and honest with prospective clients. You might rework your pricing to accommodate the unusual session. Most artists and clients won't mind a financial break to work out some issues, especially if the environment they work in (your studio) is a low-pressure environment. More and more people are recording in project studios like these because of the flexibility that the setup affords them.

Working with Clients

When you start operating a studio, there's an immediate paradigm shift: Instead of working for yourself and making your own rules, you now work for someone else. The client is the boss. While you might have expertise in the area of the technology and the art of recording, when it comes to the sessions, the client is in charge — it's the client's money. This is not to say that you're a slave! There are plenty of times when you can contribute your point of view and advice. For example, it's not uncommon for clients to come in expecting to work a certain way, and your experience can teach them that it won't work the way they thought. Just remember your role — you're there to ensure that whatever music they play is re-created in a flattering way. It's your job to set up all the equipment for optimal sound quality. What a client wants most in a facility is a trouble-free, low-stress environment. Be cool and calm, even if they go back and retrack the bass solo fifty-six times. Working well with others will spread your reputation quickly around town. The combination of high-quality sound, a relaxed environment, and flexibility will entice clients to come your way.

Compatibility

What do you record on? What do the “real” studios record on? Compatibility is a major issue these days. If you want to be a full-range studio, compatibility should be a concern of yours, too. It's really common to have a client come into the studio to track parts but not expect you to mix it. Is your software compatible with the client's? Or the client might have worked on a session at another facility and wants to add or rework parts at yours. Can you do it? Being able to interact with other studios and their equipment is another component of the services you can offer.

More studios use Pro Tools than anything else, but that doesn't mean it's the only thing anymore. Logic, Cubase, Sonar, and Digital Performer are found in studios all over. If you want to ensure the most compatibility with other studios, call every studio in your area and find out what they record with. You'll find that many of the older studios still offer good old analog tape, which you'll most likely never afford on top of digital recording systems. Some argue that analog sounds better than digital. For many now, it's a matter of price. Analog is more expensive to run and maintain. Even with all that, many still use analog for its distinct sound.

If you feel confident in keeping things in-house and not interacting or collaborating with other studios, feel free to use whatever recording system you are most used to.