Audio engineering and gear 1. The room design and the monitors are everything, it’s the #1 most important thing no matter what I tried to tell myself. Everything you do relies on how you hear it. It’s been a long journey of different studio builds and rooms, different monitors, and acoustic treatment… nothing I have ever done, or gear I have used, made a difference as much as the right monitors in the right position in a professional designed room. 2. If a piece of gear sits and has not been used in a year, think about selling it and put the money into something that will be used and make you money. This is a for profit business, not a hobby. 3. There is a thing called “gear pear-pressure” at least that’s my name for it. Use your ears and test gear and see if it fits your workflow and how you hear things. There are so many products out there that are trendy but in truth, are very mediocre.  Besides, in business, you need to only get equipment that will fill a need, not a want, and/or by owning it brings in business. 4. I cannot believe what I come across on super popular YouTube channels for music and audio production, so much information that is just plain wrong. Most of them are just product pushers and are paid to do so. Paid with gear, money, or simply doing click bait to run their views up to get paid by YouTube. There is always an agenda. 5. Learn as many instruments as possible. You do not need to be great at them all, you just need to know how to play a few notes and make sound, this will help you greatly in capturing it for recording. 6. Learn basic music theory. And do ear training if you have not played an instrument for most of your life. 7. If you are not currently working on a client’s project, practice! Find an old project and remix it or try a new technique, mic up something in a way you have not tried, try that mic on things it never has been tried on before... Always be working on and with audio. Business 1. God is my business manager and I do all things through prayer and His guidance! I work and try to be a good steward of what He has given me. 2. A Support system, having a wife who partners with me, prays for me and the business has been everything! What an awesome support system. 3. Work agreements. Everything must be done under contract, everything in writing. 4. Don’t set your price too low, you will attract the bottom feeders, and I guarantee you they will also ask for a discount.  Raise your rates, you will get better and more professional clients, and your business will grow. 5. Don't tell people what you do for a living who are not potential clients. Never say "I own a studio", you will receive responses that often are meant to tear you down. Example: A man at a function asked me what I do for a living, his response “Oh! My son has a recording studio in his bedroom on his iMac”  6. For music production, the only advertising that works is word of mouth. 7. Never do music projects on spec. SPEC=Sucker pays every cent 8. Seasons change, you must adapt to the changing business. 9. Other people who have studios or work in this industry will tear you down. Many are bitter and jaded. People who tell you negative things that start with “well I…” stay clear of these toxic people. 10. Do not listen to other business owners and engineers about their business climate... Only pay attention to your own experiences and what your own books say about business trends. 11. Beware of new clients wanting a “rush job”. 99% don't need a rush, they just want to make you jump. Nothing like sending a download link to the client who needs it “today!" and the download is not downloaded for 3 days... happen too many times to count. Even if you charged more for the rush, seeing it just sit there for days will really dig at you. 12. Beware of debt, don't overextend to buy gear. 13. Back up your work and system, and make backups to the backup and keep them in a fireproof safe.... And buy a Battery backup for your system.  I learn about backups my first year in business the hard way. 14. The grass is always greener, "I made 100k in 1 month owning a recording studio, find out how!" Just stay on target and ignore the noise. They are just trying to: 1. sell something, 2. make you feel bad and tear you down, 3. "they sit on a thrown of lies". 15. Branding: Stop trying to compete. There will always be a bigger studio with bigger rooms and more gear. But there is only one you. I changed my business brand focus and .com over to “Timdolbear.com” in about 2015 and started pushing myself as the brand and not the studio. It completely changed my business for the better. 16. Don’t say bad things about people. Just stay quiet, don’t be a mouth piece for the devil.   Working with clients 1. Always relay to your client that you both are now on the same team. You are not in competition and you both want the project to turn out the very best it can be. 2. Some Clients just like the process, and don't ever actually want to finish. Identify them quickly so it does not drive you insane, and make sure they are charged hourly.  3. If you are an artist, it can be very difficult working with other artists. As you fall in love with what you are working on and then the client wants to, in your eyes, destroy it...But ask yourself, will anyone ever hear this? Is it worth stressing over?  The answer may be yes, but most likely is no. 4. 95% of clients are wonderful and a huge blessing to work with!  The other 5% of clients will steal your will to live, your energy... Watch out for them and cut them off quickly as it will affect how you treat the other 95% 5. Its ok to say no or turn down a project. If there are red flags, well, know that you've been warned. 6. Educate clients, give as much advice and information as possible. 7. Some clients will say things to tear you down while working in your studio. We call this pissing in the corners. We notice that clients that wish they could do what you do will say things to try to cut you down to their level. I've dealt with these comments for 25years... it never gets easier.