The Sharon Academy

After graduating from The Institute of Audio Research in NYC, I had my mind set on living in NYC and either working at a recording studio or a live music venue.  For the next year I ended up being a freelance audio engineer and working with one of my professors from audio school.  I gained a lot of experience and knowledge while working with him.  After a year of that I decided it was time to move on and find a more stable job with a set income.  I interned at a few studios around NYC, none of which were doing very well.  It started to become clear that the studios could not afford to pay me and so I could not afford to keep living in NYC.  So in the summer of 2007 I moved back to Sharon, Vermont.

During my time in New York I became more and more interested in recording. I started collecting recording equipment, and with the knowledge I had from working in New York I realized that all I needed was the space and the clients.  So I made plans to renovate an old storage space above my garage in to a fully functional recording studio.  I spent the summer of 2007 designing the studio, putting together a business plan and choosing a name for the company.  After several name changes I was finally able to register the business with the state of Vermont as Northern Sound Recording Studios.  I started construction on the space at the end of that summer and one full year later in August 2008 I officially opened the studio.  Since then I have had a few clients but mostly working on advertising and getting to know more bands and musicians around Vermont and New Hampshire.

How did you come up with the idea and when did this begin to take shape?

The idea of staring my own business came right around the same time I decided to leave New York.

Why sound recording Todd?  When did you realize this interest?

When I moved to NYC to go to school I was interested in anything that had to do with audio and sound.  After learning about recording, that was all I wanted to do.  I kept my options open for a while, but about a year later I decided I was going to be a recording engineer.

What gets you most excited about the work?

I love the whole process of helping musicians transform an idea for a song into music. The engineer’s job is to manipulate and mix sounds together to create a feeling, the same way an artist paints a picture.

 

My main goal is to help the Vermont music scene grow and make sure talented bands and musicians that can't afford large studios in New York or LA still have the opportunity to make records and get their music out to their fans.

Where do you hope to go with the business?

Right now I'm keeping my options open.  There are many different ways I could take the company.  I hope to develop a strong client base and eventually move into a larger space.

What are the most enjoyable parts of your job?

I enjoy experimenting with different sounds and styles of music.  But I think I enjoy the mixing process the most because its where the art meets the technology.

What has been your biggest challenge in starting your own business?

I would say my biggest challenge is advertising and marketing, trying to market a recording studio in rural Vermont is not very easy, but I believe there are enough musicians in the area that the studio will be a success.

Any tips to someone wanting to start their own sound recording business?

I think if you’re motivated enough you can make anything happen, but the four things you must have to run a successful business are: knowledge, equipment, clients, and a building.

Why did you choose to come to TSA in the first place?

My grades were below average at Hartford, I felt like trying something different and that’s exactly what TSA was.

 

All the people who inspired me and helped me to become who I am now.

Did TSA fit your expectations?  How so, and how was TSA different than those expectations?
I really had no expectations for TSA, the school has come a long way from when I started there.  I guess I liked it becuase when I was there I didn't feel like I was at "school", even though I was learning new things everyday.  The school had a more positive attitude than Hartford and I think that made me more motivated to learn.

Is there one experience (or person) at TSA that had a lasting impact on your life?

Michael Livingston has motivated me since the first day I started at TSA and he continues to inspire me.

Describe the differences between life in the world and life at TSA - any goods or bads.

While TSA is a great school for learning, I don't think it gives a very accurate perspective of what the "real world" is like.  But then again the "real world" in Sharon, Vermont is not the "real world" in NYC.  So I guess it depends what kind of life you’re planning to lead after high school.  I think that TSA "protects" its students more than any other school and because of that, the students miss out on learning things they can't learn in the classroom.

What do you miss the most about TSA?

The relationships between the teachers and students.

What do you miss the least?

My attitude while I was there.

What is the most ridiculous item in your recording studio?

I would say my 3 foot orange tree.

Advice for current TSA students?
Don't worry so much about your future right now, just have fun while you still can.  Just make what you love to do, your future.

Last but not least, where do you see yourself in 5 years, Todd?

Well 5 years ago I didn't see myself here, so who knows where I could be in another 5 years.  I have a habit of exceeding my own expectations.  But it would be great to buy a house maybe closer to Burlington, turn the downstairs into a recording studio and the upstairs into an apartment, buy more instruments and equipment, have bands come from all over New England, and just be happy working and living under the same roof.