AirGigs.com is an online marketplace that focuses on providing recording, mixing, and mastering services to musicians, songwriters, and engineers all over the world.
We had the opportunity to interview Co-Founder David Blacker, and of course, we seized the day. Below we discuss the background, the mission, and the future of AirGigs.com.
Press about AirGigs:
- 3 Ideas On How To Make Money with AirGigs
- Will the Recording Studio Go Virtual With AirGigs.com?
- AirGigs marketplace for online recording, mixing, and mastering projects
Let’s start with the basics. Tell us who you are and give us a brief bit about AirGigs and its’ mission.
My partner Angela Blacker and I first started thinking about the concept of a “virtual studio” back in late 90’s early 2000’s. At the time I had just opened up my first recording studio on west 26th street in NYC. We were recording / producing local bands, writing jingles for commercials and doing some audio work for independent filmmakers. At the time, the internet as we know it today was still really just forming, but even then you could sense the potential for online collaboration. Many of the players we were working with had decent home studio setups (even back then) and it seemed like this kind of thing could really take off. We floated the idea around, started to talk to some web designers / developers but ended up shelving the idea as it was too much of a distraction at the time.
Over the next 10 years, through a strange set of circumstances, we found ourselves project managing several large web development projects in the music sphere. This brought us into close proximity with some extremely talented web designers and developers, and gave us a solid understanding of how to launch and market a music startup. Cut to 2011, we were tracking an original album and went way over budget with still a lot more work to be done. In between sessions we were talking with some of the players, and it dawned on us that they all had excellent home studio setups. We were still seeking textures like pedal steel and hammond organ to finish the album, but the cost of hiring players on a day rate was out of reach at that point. This is totally understandable as players have to travel, carry heavy gear, etc. Then it kind of hit us over the head like a lightening bolt…if we could take out the travel and lugging of gear, and work with the musicians from the comfort of their own studios, it might just be a win / win for everyone. At that moment we realized that, just as much as anyone else, we needed an AirGigs like platform but none existed. I think when you realize that you are perfect the customer for a business that doesn’t yet exist, you know you’re on to something.
We launched AirGigs in a really no frills kind of way. We wanted the idea to prove itself on it’s own merits (without a lot of bells and whistles) and if it failed, so be it. To our pleasant surprise it took off almost immediately. From the start the mission has been to create a new revenue stream for session musicians and recording engineers, and to open up new music production possibilities for DIY artists and producers.
Tell us a bit more about your background and What motivated and inspired you to build this platform?
I think the thing that motivated us the most was just going through the ordinary struggles that any musician goes through trying to put out great sounding music. You have some ideas in your head, but you’re limited by gear, location, finances, talent, etc. Sometimes those limitations force you to be more creative, but sometimes you have a specific sound or part that you just need to realize, and you’ll do whatever it takes to put it down. So for that reason I think the immediacy and variety of a platform like AirGigs really appealed to me. It’s not that I think that AirGigs can ever replace the magic that happens when you capture live musicians playing together, but it’s not really meant for that. It’s just meant to provide new options and resources for people.
Do you feel that AirGigs levels the playing field between studio professionals, beginners/students, and the creative types searching for these services?
I think that every case is different. Different people use AirGigs for different purposes. We see some people using it to create song sketches that they will later record with a live band. Some are using it to get their songs mixed and mastered by people that they couldn’t afford to work with in a local setting. And others are using it for overdubs and textures to enhance their existing tracks / songs. As far as leveling the playing field, I guess you could make the analogy to something like Pro Tools. Anyone can buy and use Pro Tools, but it’s not the software that makes the music sound good or bad. It’s the music and the ears of the artist, engineer & producer. In fact, the software can really screw it up sometimes! Same goes for AirGigs. If you don’t know what you’re looking to hear, and you’re not experienced at giving musical direction, you will likely have a bit of a learning curve on your hands. That is not to say that you can’t strike gold your first time out. We are also there to help our members who need guidance. It’s all about experimenting with new talent and instrumentation. I think AirGigs members feel re-assured that they can experiment with new talent and know that we are there to ensure that their money is secure until the job is completed.
Everything I have read seems to focus on production and mixing/ mastering services. Does AirGigs include other categories related to the music business?
Thus far the strongest categories have been in the areas of session musicians for hire (particularly vocalists for hire) and mixing / mastering services. The other categories such as tips and tutorials and music promotion have not been as strong. However, it’s still pretty early to say for sure how things will turn out. We will continue to monitor what performs best and we welcome any and all feedback and suggestions.
What other types of gigs can one purchase/offer on the site?
The other categories include arrangements, transcriptions, technical advice, music marketing and promotional services
What’s one thing do you want to express to the music community about AirGigs, its services, and your future direction?
I think more than anything else, we’d like to express that AirGigs is meant to really empower and serve it’s members. We didn’t create this site to become the newest in the long list of online music services that benefit only a small percentage of users. I’ve always felt that such services have a sort of built-in conflict of interest, in that they need to make their money off of the artists they serve. And while they may provide some nifty tools and gizmos, they have thousands and thousands of members vying for the same opportunities. What percentage of their members can honestly be benefiting in a significant way? It was important to us to create a more egalitarian platform where we only make money when our members make money. We chose a marketplace model because in some ways it cuts through all the BS. The only thing preventing members from getting more bookings is the quality of the services and listings they post. The more effort our members put into their AirGigs profiles, the more we get behind them and promote them. The more invested they are in making ArGigs work for them, the more invested we are in them. It’s a symbiotic relationship. We celebrate the artists that are working hard, being creative and trying new things, and gradually filter out those that are putting in a halfhearted effort.
AirGigs is a platform for anyone who is willing to work hard. It’s cool that people have great credits and an amazing resume, but that doesn’t mean that they are any more talented, serious or dedicated to their craft then someone who hasn’t had those experiences. What really interests us at AirGigs is the artists that don’t need to “say it”, but instead demonstrate it. It’s obvious from their attention to detail and the way they communicate that their heart and soul is in every once of what they do. It’s those folks in my opinion that will change the music business for the better. As for the future of AirGigs – it’s looking bright as far as we can tell.
Where can we connect with you online? Is there an AirGigs blog we can follow for news and updates?
Sure. we have a blog at http://www.airgigs.com/blog/ and we’re also on the following: https://www.facebook.com/AirGigs https://twitter.com/airgigs http://www.pinterest.com/airgigs/
Any last words of wisdom or any shout outs?
In many ways AirGigs a living / breathing thing. I mean, we don’t know ahead of time what types of services are going to do better than others. Obviously having a great soundreel, cool images and a clear service description is the right way to start. But beyond that it’s about an individual really knowing their craft, and knowing how they can deliver value to potential clients. The sky is really the limit as far as what services users can offer, but knowing how to communicate them clearly and compellingly is another thing. It’s a necessary skill these days and AirGigs in some ways provides a kind of barometer for what is and isn’t working.
David Blacker // Co-Founder AirGigs.com
