Topic: how do you earn moneey using your gear?

[Doozer]

I've got a very basic question, I've got a very basic question, how do you earn money using your gear? I have been recording for 8 or 9 years now, at first it was all in my home studio but for the past few years I have tried to expand by going remote also. I have quality gear and good results in the field and at home but haven't been able to acquire enough work to abandon my regular job and focus completely on recording. What I enjoy the most is live symphony or choirs but if I can jump into the club seen to acquire enough work to drop my regular job I will, but I need some ideas or feedback on what you people are doing. The field gear I have to work with is, 744T, 2 schoeps mk 41s, 2 schoeps mk 21s, rode nt4, 2 dpa 4006 and a 4 channel earthworks preamp, mackie 1202 and 1604. I mixdown in a daw using samplitude v10 pro which sounds far better than anything else I have heard.  I have been recording for 8 or 9 years now, at first it was all in my home studio but for the past few years I have tried to expand by going remote also. I have quality gear and good results in the field and at home but haven't been able to acquire enough work to abandon my regular job and focus completely on recording. What I enjoy the most is live symphony or choirs but if I can jump into the club seen to acquire enough work to drop my regular job I will, but I need some ideas or feedback on what you people are doing. The field gear I have to work with is, 744T, 2 schoeps mk 41s, 2 schoeps mk 21s, rode nt4, 2 dpa 4006 and a 4 channel earthworks preamp, mackie 1202 and 1604. I mixdown in a daw using samplitude v10 pro which sounds far better than anything else I have heard.

[boojum]

Let me know when you have found out.     

OK, you've invested in some first class gear.  You can cover classical performances well.  You need to get you name out there.  I have been recording a local chorale (788T + Schoeps CMC64's + DPA 4006 TL's) and got a good pull.  I mixed it down in SAM 10.1 Master (four track) mastered it and passed it on.  They offered to pay me but I do it pro bono for this group as 1) they have no money, 2) I can use the goodwill, and 3) someone will hear it and ask for a paying deal.  There is not much around.

It is like baseball and music: lots of really good players, not a lot in the top, employed, league.  I would say that if you are enjoying it, and learning, hang in there, put your name out in the music arena and something will show up.  In the meantime you are earning your chops.

You can also check at gearslutz.com.  They are more pro oriented.  The worst can happen to you on that board is that you will learn something.

Cheers

[TNJazz]

You have good quality gear listed, and you might have enough to do choir and orchestral work, but IMO you don't have anywhere near enough to properly do the "club scene", assuming you're talking about indie/rock/alternative band type stuff.  You will need at least 16 track recording capability, if not 24 or even 32 (or possibly even more, who knows?)

I roll 24 channels in a typical night, and even then we have to cram stuff in or drop redundant channels  sometimes.  That's because the folks paying the bill aren't willing to pay for 32 or 48 track recording most of the time due to the extra cost.

As for making money, I'd say if you're making ANY money recording you're doing OK.  If you haven't noticed, the music industry is changing dramatically - studios are closing and more and more artists are going the DIY route with their music.  Add to that the unfortunate reality that every jackass with an M-Box and a cracked copy of Waves thinks they're an "engineer" and is more than willing to record bands for pennies (or even for free!)  That hurts the business potential as well if you're a pro who's trying to make a living.  I'm not really talking about tapers here - I'm referring primarily to THAT GUY on Craigslist who will give you 4 hours of studio time in his "apartment studio" for $10.  They're everywhere, because home studio recording gear is cheap nowadays and everyone who likes music thinks they can do it...

It may sound harsh, but it's not meant to be anything more than a reality check.  Keep your day job, because you'll need a tremendous amount of luck to be able to turn it into a career.  Not saying it can't happen, just saying you might not want to hold your breath.

Good luck!

[rokpunk]

Why not put some of that stuff to use doing some ENG work, or film/TV work? I know in this area, at least, there is a lot of freelance work like this to be had.
Forget about recording bands if you wanna make money. Stick with corporate gigs.

Trust me...my obsession became so bad that I bought a sound company.
When I want to have fun, we do rock shows. When I want to make money, we do corporate events.

[TNJazz]

When I want to have fun, we do rock shows. When I want to make money, we do corporate events.

Words to live by (quite literally, in fact!)

[Doozer]

rokpunk,
Could you give me some examples of what you are thinking of when you say ENG work? Also if I wanted to pursue film and TV then I would need to invest in video equipment which I'm sure is expensive. I’m not saying I don't like your suggestion but I'm asking for more detail in personal experience and equipment describing your success in earning money.
Thanks to all for taking the time to respond!

[Javier Cinakowski]

Also if I wanted to pursue film and TV then I would need to invest in video equipment which I'm sure is expensive

For film and TV the video and sound guy are separate.  You wouldn't need any video equipment of expereince....

[Lil Kim Jong-Il]

Another option is to post on Craigslist that you do ambient recording and mild post processing for demo discs.  I was recording a demo for a friend of a friend's band (working for beer) and someone in the club came up to ask me how much I would charge to do a location recording in their home of a piano and vocal duet.

While the thought of recording those two made me shudder, it did raise my awareness that there are people who want small recording jobs done. 

edit to add: you should search some other posts on this board where it is discussed that making any money puts your gear in a different class of insurance and your homeowners insurance may not cover you anymore.

[Matt Quinn]

How do you earn money?


Get a cracked copy of Waves & put an ad on Craigslist?

[rastasean]

Why not put some of that stuff to use doing some ENG work, or film/TV work? I know in this area, at least, there is a lot of freelance work like this to be had.
Forget about recording bands if you wanna make money. Stick with corporate gigs.

Trust me...my obsession became so bad that I bought a sound company.
When I want to have fun, we do rock shows. When I want to make money, we do corporate events.

So are you hiring?