Keep Guelph's Royal City Studios Open!
Donation protected
Previously Donated (2022): $67,423
Urgent Need (2023): $68,000
Total Ask: $135,423
Hi! This is Jim Duffield, owner of Royal City Studios. I'm here to ask for your help to keep music alive in Guelph. We need the RCS facility to remain open as an accessible, supportive, and inclusive community environment for musicians and artists of all ages and skill levels to develop their craft.
So What's The Story?
Like many small businesses, we’ve had a challenging time over the past few years.
- Nine months before COVID arrived, we opened Royal City Studios, a high-end rehearsal, recording, and performance facility to support musicians in and around Guelph, Ont. Yet just as things began rolling, everything was shut down.
- We have continued to develop the business, but as communicated last year (2022) reaching our initial goal of $50,000 would only help us last 1 year. Here we are, 1.2 years later, and unfortunately right where we thought we would be financially.
We have done several things to improve the outlook for Royal City Studios between then and now:
- The city has approved our request to increase building capacity by more than 50%, from 48 to 75. This number is now limited by the size of air conditioning units that are currently installed. With larger units, this could increase to 150 in the future. We had an architect review the building and sign off on the change. We have now installed a smoke alarm and 2 emergency lights in the Hall to meet the requirement. Next steps are to get the installation inspected and approved by the city, then provide documentation to AGCO and have them increase the liquor license capacity accordingly. This will result in four main benefits to the business: Increase ticket sales for concerts and other events by 50%; attract more popular bands to our venue that will attract more attendees and increase awareness / popularity; allow pricing for private events to increase, and also enable us to handle larger events that currently have to go elsewhere due to the number of attendees; and increase bar and food sales to generate additional revenue.
- Firmly establish the Non-Profit company, Wholly aMUSed, to support needful musicians in getting involved and growing.
- Bring on a new Director of Recording, Trevor, who has been solidly building the recording aspect of our business. He has met all targets even through the slow summer and is on track to blow through them throughout the rest of the year.
- Fundraising concerts - the Pink Floyd ones and a few others - will generate good funding to keep things moving in the right direction.
- Our record label, RCS Records, needs a new leader as the old one stepped away. This is a longer-term project but can lead to a great source of revenue.
- Summer Camps will be developed and generate significant revenue to help us keep our revenues up during these slow months.
How Will Your Help Make A Difference?
In allowing RCS to keep operating, you'll be supporting musicians, artists, creators, restaurants and bars, and the overall wellness of the city. We will continue to provide:
- Open Jams
- Build-A-Band nights
- Open Mic nights
- Live concerts and performances
- Recording sessions
And MUCH more.
Check out the video tour:
Check out our YouTube channel for more recent videos of our events.
We would love your help to keep costs down for artists while helping the facility provide the services they need until the recovery is complete for this highly affected sector.
But Aren't You A For-Profit Company?
Yes, we are. However, we have all (including me, the owner) been working as volunteers until the company starts to make a profit. Now that we're starting down the Non-Profit road, we can continue with this approach and build a successful plan that incorporates both For-Profit and Non-Profit aspects.
Until we get there, we’re asking for your help, and we deeply appreciate your assistance!
Testimonials
Jaspreet
- We moved to Canada last year and had no music circle here. I was trying to reach out to lot of people to see if there is a way to form a band with serious and talented musicians. The chase was futile until one day I saw a social media post from Royal City Studios for Build a Band event. I was given a warm welcome by some smiling and kind faces and introduced to a bunch of musicians and I even performed on some of the songs that same day along with a complete band. The management and ownership of RCS is amazingly nice and professional, and as a musician you feel the support and encouragement to fulfill your dreams. RCS is truly a one-of-a-kind music studio and has my best wishes.
Steve W
- As a seasoned musician I must say that Royal City Studios is much more than “just a studio” I wish I had the opportunity in my early days to be able to go to a facility like RCS to work on my craft, meet other artists, record my songs and develop my skills, all in an environment that is supportive, non-judgemental, encouraging, and inclusive.
- During these tough times musicians need, more than ever, all the encouragement support and opportunity they can get.
- It would be much more than a real shame if this facility ceases to operate which will force musicians to look outside of Guelph for a place to develop, rehearse, record and perhaps even force some to abandon their dreams.
- Please consider offering your financial support for this very deserving cause.
Maelle
- I’ve been to RCS Thursdays open mic nights, motorcycle night and the build a band jam nights.
- My band played at one of their motorcycle nights it was a great experience getting to learn some of the set up and meet the organizers who invited me to build a band jam nights. Which are great and a lot of fun all the musicians are fun, friendly and understanding and willing to help each other learn and grow, and work our way out of our comfort zones.
- I’ve been looking for a place full of positivity fun and judgment free like the music club at my school from 2 years ago and Royal City Studios is definitely the place I’ve been looking for.
Kevin
- You guys are awesome & the reason I finally fulfilled my dream performing on stage for the first time ever during your musicians meetups. It’s truly beautiful that you have created this community!
Zoe
- This place really helped me find a love for writing and recording music, and helped me make some amazing friends. RCS closing would be an absolute tragedy
Steve A
- Over the past many years, I have added music and guitar playing to my enjoyment of life. In this regard, Royal City Studios has been good to me. In late 2021, I started a regular Sunday afternoon music jam at RCS. Jim, the owner helped out with promotion and in a few weeks, we had several new and returning musicians coming out to perform their songs. I stayed on as the host of the Sunday jam for several months. During this time and in early 2022, an initiative was started up by others to start an RCS House Band. Needed were musicians (instrumentalists and singers) willing to commit for weekly performances on Thursday evenings. I was invited to be a guitarist for this gig and jumped right in. Turns out that the other four invited musicians also had roots from the Sunday afternoon jams the year before. Coincidence or the magic of RCS to see the evolution of a regular Guelph musical event – definitely the latter! Over the past six months the Thursday event at RCS has become a staple open mic show. I have personally played with, played for and listened to; hundreds of people who want to be musically engaged. Thank you Royal City Studios – you have something pretty special to me!
Jake
- I recall the first time I went to the studios and it was an event known as the build a band networking jam. The purpose of this jam is to connect musicians from different skill levels and see if they can work in a band together. Usually there are two rounds, and the host, Yuri Collesso gives bands 30-45 minutes to practice before it is time to perform on the event stage.
- I had a bunch of fun when I attended that first event. I spotted nothing but sweet, admirable, great quality people who shared the communal love of music.
- I have used the facilities to practice and perform, and it has been the best of times.
- Jim is a person who has a heart of a diamond as he cares for his community and wants to make a musical impact.
- Yuri is the man who makes [things] happen! He usually never takes no for an answer and he will find a way to get stuff done. I admire Yuri for his humility, passion, organic kindness and his unique jive. I am grateful to Yuri and will always be there for him as he helped create SS Full Throttle, a south rocking blues band with a unified goal of putting RCS on the map.
Henry
- It is a shame that the culture, and the opportunities to access and enrich ourselves with it, are affected and not protected, as is the case with the Royal City Studios and the selfless hard work of Jim Duffield, who is providing opportunities to develop and share music to new and old generations. Unfortunately, if we do not remedy this, we will lose a great opportunity for social and cultural development in the area and it will become one more victim of the COVID that we have allowed to die. We don't give up the fight for culture, because people without culture is like a tree without roots.
Janet
- When the pandemic-related restrictions eased, I attended a free open jam for my first visit to Royal City Studios. Not considering myself a musician, I was hesitant and nervous, but I was welcomed, inspired to participate, and had an amazing experience. I have continued my visits to RCS over the past many months, using the well-equipped rehearsal studios and performing in the event hall. This magical space provided me the opportunity to explore my potential as a musician and transformed me from a shy and quiet onlooker to a confident front-and-centre performer.
Musician's Wife
- Thank you so much for being a creative haven for my husband during COVID. Your generosity and support that offered him a practice space kept us both sane and I'm sure saved our marriage. It was tough for musicians (and their partners), as you know.
Organizer
Jim Duffield
Organizer
Guelph, ON
