So...my first post...well here it goes. Whenever my wife or a friend introduces me to other people, there is always the customary state your name, right? For me, hopefully it ends there and I can quickly find wherever the food is. However, there is always that dreadful moment (again, it is probably just me) where someone will ask, "So what do you do for a living?"
I am a producer and own a recording studio...
The usual response is "Oh...that sounds cool..." To be honest, telling people that I am a music producer or that I own a recording studio has always been awkward for me, especially when it comes to explaining to people that are not musicians or not in a creative business or inevitably has a friend who has a studio in their spare bedroom (no disrespect).
Now that that is all out of the way...Hello. I'm Jonathan Gautier and I am a producer and owner of Sound House Studios, which is located in Downtown Lakeland. I actually never wanted to own a studio in the sense that I produce for clients. I really just wanted to have a studio to work on my music and shop it to record labels. However, what started as a small setup in my dorm room at UCF, snowballed into recording friends all the way up to producing for clients who are doing incredible things in music.
Honestly, this is only part of what I wanted to talk to you about. I often get asked, "What is it like to do what you do full time?" This is an incredibly loaded question. Every day that I walk into the studio, I am like I can't believe I get to do this. I literally get paid to write and play music for others. I make my own hours and can be in and out of the studio as I please. I spend my mornings in coffee shops prepping for the day and can walk around downtown where I get stopped multiple time by people saying hi. Seems super glamorous, right...?
Then, there is the other side. I am constantly feeling the need to prove that what I do is a viable career and not a hobby. That statement feels the most evident when it comes to the studios schedule. My schedule is in a constant state of flux and flow, which makes it a rollercoaster for finances and in turn sanity. The studio is located in a building that is 107 years old and we have many quirks that can be the butt of many jokes. In conversations with my wife, I have stated numerous times that my job can be SOUL CRUSHING!
With all that, I wouldn't want it to be any other way. I have learned so much and continue to have the desire to grow in every way possible. So, I just want you to know that if you made it to the bottom of this, I really appreciate you. Whether you get to walk into my studio or not my goal and desire is to connect and stay connected. Be on the lookout for more news about Sound House as well as The CULTURE. Thanks!