Keeping Busy - or CAS (Client Acquisition Syndrome)

There is more than one school of thought when it comes to client acquisition in the home-based recording studio game. The first is to get all the work you can. Be indiscriminate. We all have bills to pay, right? Well, some of us do. Others may be doing this for fun, or experience, or to impress their friends with all that cool-looking gear. I have a friend who suffers from GAS (Gear Appropriation Syndrome - or Guitar Acquisition Syndrome). At one point, he owned 56 guitars; I think he's getting help for it. It's incredibly easy to get sucked in to buying the next "thing" for your studio space. It might be that perfect vocal mic, or a heavy duty boom stand (oops, I recommended that in my last blog). How about a Hammond / Leslie combo? Got that. I saw a great deal on a Fender all-tube guitar amp yesterday. Just another $800 ... You get the picture. Now you have to pay for it. Tell everyone. Advertise. Take that all-accordian session. There's a group of derelicts who hang out at the mall. They have an emo band...

Um.. this is your home, right? Second school of thought... be a little more selective. I know it's tempting to be aggresive and pro-active in your Client Acquisition technique, but you need to know what sort of people you're allowing into your place of residence, where you sleep at night and (in some cases) where your family sleeps. I don't intend to scare you, but if your reputation precedes you, there's plenty of work to be had by good, old-fashioned word of mouth. Get involved with local productions - musical theater, scholarship pageants, school band and choir recordings, church choirs and bands, talent contests, radio work (tough to get).

I did a soundtrack for a local theater when their normal go-to guy was unavailable. Since then I have done nearly a dozen vocal demo CD's, karaoke track creations, and music transcriptions. These are all people I trust. More importantly, they are satisfied with the work I've done, will probably hire me again, AND they will recommend me to their friends. I also retain some control over the types of people and the styles of music (sometimes) that I am working on.

If you must perpetuate your GAS and CAS indiscriminately, might I recommend a good insurance agent for your gear?

Till Next Time.

DD