Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Bob Irving, owner of Online Drum Studio, located in Glasgow, Scotland.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Online Drum Studio provides musicians, songwriters, and producers with professional drum recordings. Drums can be a difficult thing to record (and play!), and that's why we're here to help.
Tell us about yourself
Up until COVID, I was working as a drummer on cruise ships. I worked on ships for about five years, but I had always wanted to start a remote drum studio since I attended Berklee College of Music. In 2020 I used my savings to invest in the gear I needed, and combined with funding I received from Creative Scotland, Online Drum Studio was born! Many artists are struggling to use MIDI drums and don't realise it's their back. I love first chatting with new artists about their music and vision. It can be challenging getting on the same wavelength, but once we are, it's so rewarding to hear the excitement when their music finally comes alive with real drums!
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
My biggest accomplishment is helping artists to release their music on distribution platforms. It can be an intimidating thing to release music, and many times artists haven't shown it to anyone else when they send me over a demo. This first step leads to many artists gaining the confidence to release their music on streaming platforms, and for me, that's what it's all about. My biggest accomplishment is probably the playlist I have on Apple Music & Spotify featuring all the released tracks I've played drums on.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
Staying consistent. There are months where the work is dry, and there are months where it all seems to come flooding in! That's just how it goes at first, and it has the determination to keep writing those blogs, keep creating those YouTube videos and get yourself out there for people to find.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Plan how you are going to advertise yourself. It doesn't have to be paid ads. I don't use Google or Facebook ads, but I do use platforms like YouTube to share my knowledge and get on Apple or Google Maps to get a boost in the search results.
- Have a growth mindset. Learn as much as you can because it's going to be just you for a while, and you're going to have to do a bit of everything. Read books, articles, and blogs (like this one!) to soak up as much info as you can.
- Play the long game. You won't know everything at the start. A year later, you might think it's embarrassing what you posted on a blog, but that's a good sign. Keep going, keep learning, and know it's a long game. Don't burn out. Take a break if you need one. It's not all about "the hustle." It's about building a long-term, sustainable business.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.onlinedrumstudio.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/onlinedrumstudio
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@OnlineDrumStudio/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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