The first of a new series by Compressor
I’m a humble studio owner somewhere in Europe, it could be in a town, a village or a City. However, I wouldn’t want you to focus too much on my whereabouts, or my identity. Rather, just read and enjoy the pain and suffering we owners go through to ensure that history is made every day! I felt that it would be self-serving for me to offload some of my hopes and fears onto your broad shoulders.
Another day, another cv! I worry about the kids of today. How many kids are studying for degrees in either Music Tech, Popular Music, Music Composition, Recording Architecture or some other BA? What hope have they got of getting a job in a studio? Historically, you made the tea if you were lucky…then after 2 years changed the tapes. Then maybe…just maybe you got to talk to a Producer! Pay??? Forget it. Years of slave labour…for the love. There were no degrees..so I guess there has been a change to the better…but you can learn in 3 months in a studio what they take 4 years to teach in a College.
With the explosion of home recording…an LE and a MAC….loads of kids can now combine creativity with technology. Ping-ponging my Fostex 4 track was my highest achievement! Forget comping, cutting and pasting and auto tune…..we are talking bouncing in of the lowest quality on a TDK 90!! Now, they leave college….they’re in debt…they’re in a hurry..they want to be a Producer! I had some kid in recently….out of college….I’m in the Control Room with a client listening back….he walks in…leans over and turns the fucking volume up!! He’s no longer with us!
Here’s my concern: hundreds of kids leave College with their degree. They hope to work in a studio. Guess what? There aren’t enough studios anymore…they’re closing faster than pubs. Everyone wants a deal….but you know what…you keep blasting us below the waterline….and we’ll sink.
Did you hear this one? ‘Hi….sorry we haven’t called you in a few months….we’re looking for a few days for one of our producers….sorry..the budget’s zero…but we really like you guys….and we love your set up…we love you…not enough to give you a proper booking…just the shite that no other studio wants…but we thought that you might be able to help us…blah fucking blah….my kids are HUNGRY!!
The studios that are open….they have a team already with a hundred more waiting in the wings. It’s tough. I reckon there are 1 or 2 jobs, today in my country in a studio. That’s untenable. What to do?
How about this for the theory of the week from the Compressor:
How about they buy a slice of my studio? They just bought the Dome for Christ’s sake! I would be happy to tie up with a top College….they buy 10% of my studio…and I’ll have a new student every year! They buy 20%….I’ll take 2!
In fact, buy the whole thing….and I’ll just run it for you for a salary….you get a proper training ground for your students…I get paid…now you can’t get fairer than that.
TTFN…. Compressor
