9A

Testing the opportunity part 9A

My idea for starting a business was to make a low-budget audio production company, using very simple, minimalist audio production equipment. The primary market for this service would be people with a very low budget hoping to prepare demo tracks that sound high-quality. This works for some people seeking audio production, but for many groups it is not suitable. These interviews are meant to determine where that boundary lies.

Subject 1: A 58 year old musician who owns his own professional recording studio, which is soundproof and treated. He has access to an array of professional microphones, setups, and many instruments as well as expensive professional software. He regularly has clients with a budget high enough for professional quality, such as audiobook voice artists and professional singers. These people tend to be signed to local and/or national and even international labels. This means they have the budget provided to pay for professional quality, equipment, etc.

Subject 2: A 59 year old father of two kids who has recorded two albums in a professional studio. He plays instruments like guitar, piano, etc and is currently a piano tuner. By the time he recorded his first album, he was married and had a steady job. He and his wife had the budget to have the album professionally produced, and at the time still had savings. If given the option to record at a cheaper rate, he replied that he would but only if there were still access to analog instruments.

Subject 3: A 55 year old woman, married to above 59 year old man, who also recorded a professional album. She also says she would like to have spent less on the album, but at the time it was recorded studio equipment was much more expensive. More analog-centered recording methods made recording much more expensive.

Subject 4: A 19 year old male musician currently looking for a studio to record a demo track and possibly an album. He is not sure what his plan is currently. While he would like for a label to find him, he is not confident in that happening at the moment. He currently works as a line cook at a local Gainesville restaurant, and is interested in finding a way to make a high-quality recordings for a low price point. He does not play any instruments besides the keyboard.

Subject 5: A 21 year old amateur record producer with a garage full of professional equipment, mainly for recreational use however he has had friends record there. He owns and plays instruments such as guitar, drums, keyboards, and operates live sampling machines. He strongly believes that it is much better of an investment to buy studio equipment and teach yourself to produce rather than spend lots of money on a professional studio. While paying for a professional satisfies the need to create music at the time, in the long-term and short-term it can be very expensive.

Inside the boundary	Outside the boundary
Who is In: People with little money looking to put together a demo or musical track.	Who is Not: People signed to labels, working to create a highly analog album with real instruments and people who have a high budget.
What the Need Is: Putting together a very low- budget piece of music.	What the Need Is Not: A way to create and record large bands/orchestras, make high-budget collab- orative efforts, and record using high-end equipment.
Why the Need Exists: Because recording studios are very expensive and many feel it is not worth it.	Alternative Explanations: People willing to spend lots of money on recording sessions expect a large studio space with lots of instruments and a comprehensive microphone setup.