I got ripped off, studio visitor protocol

[BUTCH]

I have a one room studio built on the side of my home. Lately I've been holding auditions for a new band I'm putting together. I also go through a lot of equipment and have people come to the studio to buy gear that I am selling. Well, a couple weeks ago, someone kicked in my front door and robbed us. They tried to get into the studio, but couldn't. One week later, they came back again, this time with a crowbar. They left the house alone, but tried the studio again and were still unable to get into the studio. My questions are: What do all of you do for security? Who do you let into your studio? How can I hold auditions and sell gear without letting people know what I've got? I feel like taking driver's licenses and finger prints before I let anyone into my studio again. Any suggestions?

Thanks,
Butch

[gmeister]

Security cameras with video and a alarm system. A big dog wouldn't hurt either. I don't let anyone in my studio unless I know them or interviewed them at a coffee house. This isn't always possible, but in my situation I just have a pesrsonal studio in my house so am able to.

[Audioholic]

I am so sorry about your unfortunate dilima! Yeah, I also try to be very cautioius who sees my stuff. Since I do mostly composing work, I don't have to many other people coming through, but If I do, I usually lean on the cautious side. but certainly some sort of security system would help, its worth it isn't it. I think that would be better then a dog, cause there could be proof of who it is then, plus i would hate to see an animal get hurt, never know how shady people are.

[djui5]

Maybe don't sell gear out of your house unless you know the person? Broker it through someone else...

Cameras are perfect for crap like this too. With a camera you might have known who broke in the first time, and could have caught them before they came back.

Alarms are necessary. More important than a new compressor for sure.

[BUTCH]

Thanks for the responses everyone. When I had the studio built, I told the carpenter that the room needed to be strong, and he did a good job, but I'm sure a professional could get in if he wanted to. I am replacing the kicked in door with a better, more fortified one. I now have a camera on my front porch, and another camera for the driveway on the way. I ordered a security system that will call four numbers when set off, and I got a bunch of warning signs and stickers. We are also looking into putting a gate on the drive to keep people from being able to drive up to the house, (we are about 250' from the road). I'm hoping this will do it

Butch

[Justin]

If you're using computer connected cameras for security, most Closed Circuit DVR software can post images to a remote computer or web folder.

It's a good idea to get the evidence posted on a computer that isn't on the premesis so that if they take the recorder or computer, you still have pictures or video for the police.

[djui5]

Be careful with cameras that "call people". Don't have it call the police, unless it's actually inside the studio itself. Cats/dogs like to set those things off and can get you in trouble with the city and police

[EC_Beast]

Good job, Butch. But I would limit, or take away the stickers and signs. When you get "good" theives, the ones who are carreer and know security systems and how their triggered from brand to brand, stickers and signs can help ID the brand and what not. And off site is always great...you can't steal the evidence of your break in if it's not there, can you? Or a bolted down and/or hidden DVR is good too.

[SaltyDawg]

I worry about this too.

I have a pit bull, and an 8 camera security system. The system records both audio and video, saves it locally, and emails me a picture of whatever set off the motion detector. I have the email going to both my wife and my cell phone as a picture mail so it comes thru without me having to check email (as well as an email address).

I also hardly ever take anyone to my studio. I have a portable studio that I will take with me to another location whenever I don't know someone. My portable studio consists of a laptop, Novation X-Station, Cubase (and a bunch of plugins), and small studio monitors. There are a few more pieces to it too, but those are the main things.

So with that, I can go wherever and meet with people. They only make it to my home studio (where I have all my main gear) if I know them pretty well. And I have the pit bull and the cameras at home...

[Gloryland Productions]

Get an alarm and insurance. My studio is very public so I have an alarm and of course business insurance. If it is in your home, you might consider a rider on your home owner's insurance. Regardless, an alarm is necessary and worth the small monthly fee.

[MusicJunky]

I added a dialer to my security system that operated a cell phone. If the alarm was triggered I would receive a phone call. The phone call would tell me if it was a fire alarm or a burglar alarm (radio shack stuff). I would then call in to my phone system and monitor room sounds (standard answering machine with monitor ability). Burglars are noisy. Keep the local police number with you (not 911).
My studio was in the San Francisco Bay Area and one time I was traveling in Washington DC. I received an alarm around 11 pm (DC time) and could hear the front door being pounded down. The police will come immediately if you tell them you are currently monitoring the breakin by sound or video---they love the action. They were there in 1 minute and busted this guy trying to break in. With the system running on batteries, cutting phone lines and power would only affect a land line monitoring system, so get one that runs through the cell phone and you're covered.

[kupgas@aeneas.net]

I'm sure there's alot of people out there who have lost equipment due to quick thieves or leaving stuff in a car after a gig. I moved a fair amount of equipment to a friend's jam in his finished basement for a party. When we were through playing, we went up to his place on the third floor for a while. When we returned, they took all the good stuff....mixer, mics, amps.

I was so lucky when I called every music store in the area and gave them descriptions of the equipment, and got it ALL back. That was nearly a very expensive mistake. I now have a security system for the house and the studio and I try to be selective in who I bring in.

Best of luck to you all.

Kupgas:banana:

[rwmstudios]

Get an alarm and insurance. My studio is very public so I have an alarm and of course business insurance. If it is in your home, you might consider a rider on your home owner's insurance. Regardless, an alarm is necessary and worth the small monthly fee.

Hello there,
I'm new to this forum, but I have some relevant advice regarding insurance.
I had house insurance and paid a little over $500 a year for a "rider" of $50000 on my gear. This rider wouldn't replace everything, but enough to get me up and going again if something happened. I decided to add a little more to my "rider" after paying it for five years already, and my Broker says to me: "oh, this rider is for MUSICAL equipment, well, we don't cover that kind of thing!!"
This Broker was the same guy that SOLD me the policy!!!
Anyway, long story short, I now have house insurance AND business insurance (which costs me big$$ :( )

Moral of the story, if you have a "residential" insurance policy, get a second (or third) opinion on wether it'll actually cover your equipment!!!

[Justin]

I've heard the same warnings about renter's insurance. Some policies will cover personal gear, but not anything business related...so talk to whomever is issuing the policy and make sure you know what's going to be covered.

Another little trick I picked up in college. Every time you buy a new piece of gear, take a picture of it from the front, and then a picture of the serial number on the back, and file it somewhere. It'll help on insurance claims or police reports if you are robbed.

[onebigmusic]

If you are an ASCAP member, you can get covereage with musicpro insurance, dealing specifically with the needs of music professionals...it is also affordable...but, I also have an alarm, gate, fence etc...