It's not for securing finance, but it is for research purposes to assess the feasibility of starting such a business and to find out what is important to customers, yah.

IDGE, thats what I look for in a rehersal space.

I nice free room/studio because friends work there.

I'm pretty happy with how the formatting worked out, whoo.

Yeah, Idge, soundpark, excellent. But what if you live on the other side of melbs or summat?

No worries:

1. A - 3, B - 1, C - 2, D - 5, E - 4, F - 6

2. Easy parking and load in, helpful staff, coffee machine, pub / bottleshop close by.

3. C

4. C

5. Soundpark

6. A - 4, B - 1, C - 5, D - 3, E - 6, F - 2

7. None

8. A - 4, B - 1, C - 3, D - 2

9. Friends' and other bands' recommendations

Thanks heaps frankie! You just made yourself eligible for mates rates!

Idge at Soundpark is really good. He leaves you alone and is really casual. Soundpark is in a great location (for us). My only problem is the PA's aren't loud enough and the rooms are a bit expensive. I understand that he has to cover costs etc, so we are happy to pay.

HitTheCity said 1 minute ago:

Thanks heaps frankie! You just made yourself eligible for mates rates!

Woohoo!

If I were to use a recording studio. I would only be comfortable with a fixed rate. I don't like the idea of paying by the hour.

PART 1

REHEARSAL STUDIOS

1. Please rank the following in terms of importance to you and your band when considering rehearsal studios: (1 = most important, 6 = least important)

A.) A sufficiently loud PA system and pleasant room acoustics 1

B.) The quality and condition of mics, cables and other equipment 1

C) Convenience of location of rehearsal studios for you and your band 3

D.) The size of the rehearsal room 4 E.) The cost of hiring the room 2

F.) The environment of the room including decor, couches and other comforts 1

1. Please list any other factors that influence your decision on rehearsal studios friendly staff who are understanding of various needs, not cunts, clean, dont smell like dude, gear storage,

2. On average, how often do you and your band use a commercial rehearsal studio? im in one at leat 3 times a week w/various things

3. What do you consider a reasonable price to pay to hire a rehearsal room for 6 hours?

C.) $50

1. What rehearsal studio(s) (if any) do you and your band use most regularly? bakehouse richmond

PART 2

RECORDING STUDIOS

1. Please rank the following in terms of importance to you and your band when considering recording studios: (1 = most important, 6 = least important)

A.) The experience or reputation of the recording staff at the studio 1 B.) The quality, amount and type of gear and instruments available at the studio 1

C.) Your opinion on the quality or style of the sound of previous material recorded at the studio 3

D.) The cost of the studio 4

E.) The artists who have previously recorded at the studio 4

F.) How well you believe the people you will be working with at the studio understand your vision for your project. 5 7. Please list any other factors that influence your decision on where to record

PART 3

SERVICE DISCOVERY

1. When looking for a rehearsal or recording studio, where are you most likely to search? (1 = most likely, 4 = least likely)

A.) Yellow Pages, White pages or similar 4 B.) Local street press (Beat, Inpress etc) 4 C.) Online community websties (Messandnoise, melband etc) 4 D.) Online search (Google etc) 4

1. Please list any other ways you search for a rehearsal or recording studio. recommendations from dudes i trust who have half a clue

Thanks midnight, they're very useful insights. Still, if you could just jot down some answers to the questionnaire that'd be most awesome cuz it'll let me compile a coherent set of results.

Please list any other factors that influence your decision on rehearsal studios friendly staff who are understanding of various needs, not cunts, clean, dont smell like dude, gear storage,

Haha, cheers dudewolf! I'm worried that catering to your 'don't smell like dude' request is gonna blow out my operating costs though.

god i was thinking about this last night, HitTheCity

its important!! bakehouse put oil burnerz in the rooms so they smell pleasant more often than not. access to good food is handy too, esp. veg/vegan stuff for poofo lezzo types

bakehouse still smells like wee though

god i was thinking about this last night, HitTheCity

You mean the questions posed by this questionnaire, or the starting of such a business littlerach?

both, HitTheCity, i was thinking that if i had the money it would be a perfect thing to start up

littlearch said 6 minutes ago:

god i was thinking about this last night, HitTheCity

Smelling like dude?

little multitrack hire, cables of every description

Agreed, Casiopias.
Many bands would love to be able to record their jams. Even if you bring your own 4-track, it'd be great to have adapters for mic leads etc available.

Equipment cages HTC, heaps of them. Sell melbourne stubbies for $3. Have good P.A's and put cases on them so people can't fuck with them, but still have them set loud enough. Good load in with no stairs and parking that isn't a complete cunt. Don't make it anything like revolver and you should be rolling in it. Or at least have enough money to sit around your rehearsal studio all day listening to peoples shit bands.

Fo' shizzle percy!

Adam, yeah, parking at midian is a joke. Then when you've finally managed to load in you're rewarded with a room that smells and looks like a junkie just ODed in their 5 minutes prior to your arrival. Good times!

Thanks thehighlife. I might look into getting a liquor license eventually, but I think it might prove too much of a pain in the arse to have in place for opening day.

But gee, I always thought you liked revolver! Especially the thai beef salad upstairs.

Selling grog onsite is usually done illegally. Went to one place that had tins of VB in the coke machine if you pressed the bottom button. Wouldn't risk it though.

Went to one place that had tins of VB in the coke machine if you pressed the bottom button.

Haha, that's classic.

a huge number of places do a nice sideline on on-the-sly VB tinnies at the $3 mark. that's a big profit on a case, and people are inclined to drink at those low, low prices.

i reckon good, cheap food is also a definite, especially if you're doing 6 hour blocks. my preferred studios are the ones that make practice seem fun and social, rather than a rack of crisps and a driveway to sit in.

i've often gone to troy horse over other studios if the option is there, purely for the free crumpets, coffee and tea.

I like the courtyard at bakehouse with tables and chairs. Doesn't take much to create a friendly atmosphere.

A female friend just reminded me how cool it also is for rehearsal studios to employ some female staff rather than just your run-of-the-mill metalhead dudes.

i've often gone to troy horse over other studios if the option is there, purely for the free crumpets, coffee and tea.

agreed!

and a communal beer to keep the fridge cold. no, wait...i mean...

I can't guarantee female staff, but I'm happy to put a dress and some lippy on if it helps the vibe.

HitTheCity said 9 seconds ago:

I'm happy to put a dress and some lippy on if it helps the vibe.

Sure would! I'm certain liamsnice would book his band in every day.

Don't go overboard with licensing and tucker, I say. Get the rooms and gear right first. If the location is close to a bottle-o and pizza shop the customers can sort themselves out.

Communal fridge would be good columbo, although I'd worry about constant complaints of bands having their beer stolen etc. Hmm...might be ways around that though.

does anyone remember the fauves' ''shred'' fanzine and coxy's ''ultimate venue'' piece?

hahaha! oh man, i've got to dig that out, my input is heading very much in that direction.

collection of takeaway/delivery menus for the area?

Do dig that out TR, I'm a big fan of coxy's dry humour.

I'm still after some more replies to the questionnaire if anyone reading this hasn't done it yet!

collection of takeaway/delivery menus for the area?

Nice touch de.foxus.

Have had problems (more than once) with beverages going missing from 'communal fridge'. That's why I like the fridge in each room option like Zen used to do.

i like it when pubs do it, it makes sense for a studio as well.

Thanks again to those who filled in the questionnaire yesterday and to those who offered such helpful suggestions and ideas!

I could still use a few more responses if there's anybody online now who can spare a minute or two...