Studio Owner Found Dead

[garymusic]

All, this guy was on the local Detroit news program a couple of weeks ago. He was selling his studio (not the gear) on ebay. He was robbed and shot. I think what might have happened is someone saw his cool studio on the news and looked to rob him. Maybe he got in the way. Who knows for sure. Guys, you just have to be careful who you let know what gear you have.

http://www.freep.com/news/locoak/studio5e_20050105.htm


Take care,
Gary

[djui5]

That's sad.

[DAS]

It could have been the eBay ad, but in this case it could have been a number of things. We have quite a few customers up in that neck of the woods, and some of them run in some pretty scary circles...if you know what I mean...

Nevertheless it is prudent to be careful about advertising gear for sale. Of course one could also say that you have to be careful about advertising a location where lots of expensive gear is stored (even if it isn't for sale). i.e. a studio....of course it's kind of hard to run a studio without any advertising.

We hear from customers all around the country that report things like this from time to time. And make no mistake - some of these guys are pros. Some of the stories include large trucks backed up to a studio, wires cut with chain saws, and forklifts used to pull out SSL desks (that are sold on black market in South America), etc. while the engineer is tied to a chair somewhere. It is one of the risks of having a studio.

Since keeping your studio (and the gear in it) a secret isn't much of an option I recommend some type of surveillance system, a good alarm (obviously) that can be triggered manually from inside if necessary, and never be there alone, ever. Every single one of these cases I have ever heard about in my 25 years (25 YEARS?! CRAP!) in the business has happened when someone was in the studio alone. (Of course, most of the time there is nobody there, and it's "just" a robbery.)

[michaelhoddy]

The "travel to your studio to pick up a gear purchase" robbery thing is almost legendary on the West Coast.

If you sell gear online and someone local volunteers to come to your place to pick it up, either try to move the meeting to a neutral location, or don't be alone for the meeting!

[djui5]

Originally posted by DAS
Some of the stories include large trucks backed up to a studio, wires cut with chain saws, and forklifts used to pull out SSL desks (that are sold on black market in South America), etc. while the engineer is tied to a chair somewhere.


WOW....that's insane.......it's almost like Oceans 11 or The Italian Job....jimminey christmas

[panhead]

almost makes me want to be a recluse and not even let anyone in.
oh!
i already am!
SAD i hate to hear of such things to bad people can't just have a little respect
:(

[flattop100]

Other solution:

Big mixer.

Little doors.

[garymusic]

Thanks for your responses everyone.... I didn't know this guy but I did see him on TV before he died. It was very sad to me.

I know for myself I do not let my friends know know just how much my gear costs. Sometimes the gear doesn't look like much but you and I know how much a good mic costs or that tube mic pre. I don't even like to think about how much I have in cable alone.

At Christmas, I had a party at my house and all the gear was out of sight and locked up. And this was my family and close friends.

Just be careful. Be safe. And have a great 2005.

Gary

[Brandon Hook]

I haven't had any problems like this before...Should I be cautious of everyone? Or is there more of a concern with certain styles of music? Is there any good way to screen clientel without offending them?

[DAS]

Originally posted by flattop100
Other solution:

Big mixer.

Little doors.

Sounds good in theory, but in some of the cases I know about walls were taken out. There's no way to easily get a big desk out of most studios without disassembly anyway (which can take hours). But with the right tools an outside wall can be compromised pretty quickly. I'm serious about this. This type of thing really has happened...more than a couple of times.


I haven't had any problems like this before...Should I be cautious of everyone? Or is there more of a concern with certain styles of music? Is there any good way to screen clientel without offending them?


I think it's pretty clear that certain styles of music (really, the individuals involved) are going to tend more or less towards a variety of behaviors that have plagued studios since there have been studios. But there are also so many exceptions you really can't rely on these types of generalizations.

While it is appropriate to do some common sense screening of clients before they come in this really can't be looked at as a reliable way to prevent all problems (not that it won't help). The real answer lies in the list of precautions I outlined above + I forgot to mention good insurance.

One of the things on my list that's easy to overlook is the value of cameras. Where there are cameras there is the potential (at least) to have recorders. This type of thing also helps keep the honest people honest (fewer mics and DI's disappear, etc.).

[SongCzar]

He probably died trying to get a perfectly good credit card to work with Pay Pal! javascript:smilie(':scared:')

[promisespro]

That's sad and very BADDDDDDDDD :angry: