Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Gilbert Carrasco, Owner of Serenity Records Studios LLC., located in Allentown, PA, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Serenity Records Studios is a record label/recording studio that works with artists, producers, and other musicians/entrepreneurs. We offer everything from studio time to recording, professional song mixing/mastering, and production to video shoots, photoshoots, and paid advertising.
Tell us about yourself
I dropped out of college during my senior year to live my dream life of working with music. I’m an artist myself and have artist friends, so when I first created the studio using my college refund check, I was mainly doing it for us so that we would have a place to record. However, as time went on, other people would reach out to me for sessions or mixing services because they had heard our music. We ended up making Serenity Records Studios an official business that is open to the public. What motivates me every day is remembering the days when I could only dream of having my own studio. I would’ve never thought I’d learn how to record myself (let alone other people) and be getting paid for doing something I love. Seeing other artists’ faces and feeling their energy when they hear their finished songs is an amazing feeling.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
One of my biggest accomplishments was acquiring all of our equipment. We are now fully equipped with top-notch recording equipment, including the Manley Reference Cardioid Mic (~$2700), the Tube-Tech CL 1B (~$3000), and a $3000+ custom computer to handle all the processing along with a $2500+ camera set up to record music videos and take high-quality pictures. These things were not easy to get, but through our sheer determination and will, we have managed to consistently upgrade the studio to provide more value to our customers.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
One of the hardest things that come with being a business owner is making sure the business can continue operating. Those that come to the studio often tell me they would come more often if it wasn’t for the money situation. I wish I could just record people for free since it is something I love to do, but if I did that, then the studio would no longer be in business. Not to mention there were times when I didn’t know where my next meal would come from or if I’d have enough to pay my bills, but I still had to move forward positively.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
The top 3 tips I’d give to anyone looking to start a business today are as follows:
- Start as soon as possible. Don’t delay the process by overthinking. Once you decide what your passion is, start an LLC for it.
- Do it out of love and not for the money; otherwise, you won’t make it through the hard times.
- Follow your intuition and let the Universe work for you as well. Synchronicities and serendipities are common when you’re following your heart.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://serenityrecordsstudios.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dieresponsibly
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dieresponsibly/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/dieresponsibly
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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