Please help our studio

Hi everyone. I regret to inform you that our studio isn't do so well at the moment. A perfect storm of Covid, exponential price rises and educational budget cuts have hit us like a freight train. Possibly our biggest loss was that of MAS Records. An educational scheme which supported bands of all ages and abilities through mentoring, professional guidance and studio resources. This accounted for over half of our business and was a great source of fulfillment and joy for all involved.

Sadly, without warning, the funds for this course which we've been successfully running for 6 years were pulled, putting our studio and many others around the UK at risk. We were heartbroken to have to pass this news on to the many bands and artists who were currently on the scheme. I made the decision to continue supporting these bands out of my own pocket so they could at least benefit from another two months of free studio time. We were also very fortunate that the William Cross Foundation stepped in and offered to provide some additional funds to enable all these bands to use our recording facilities.

Working alongside the William Cross Foundation has been a blessing for us. It was set up in the memory of Will Cross by his parents when he sadly passed away some years ago. Will was a popular fixture at the studio for many years since he was a small boy and indeed, we even named our new live room in his honour.

But, sadly, we're still a long way from safety. With the ongoing uncertainty with Covid, our normal bookings have taken a huge hit. December saw me taking a slight knock to my pride and returning to retail for the first time in 20 years to do some Xmas temp work due to the studio being almost completely dead.

And yes, we tried to get grants off the Arts Council, many times. We were refused.

I am an optimist by nature, but i'll be honest, i'm starting to worry for our beautiful studio. I started Stage 2 Studios in 2009 after I was made redundant from an office job in Bath. I have continually reinvested and improved the facilities to the point we're at today, where we're now home to a superb roster of acts who have recorded and rehearsed here. From the likes of Phoxjaw, Seven Crowns, Yard Arms, Sergeant Thunderhoof, Mother Vulture, Sail, Noir, Meekers, Fangs of the Dodo, Setbacks, Kenisia, Hacksaw, Onslaught and so many more. Stage 2 Studios is a creative centre point for a hugely diverse range of individuals and groups throughout the South West region.

As those who know me may be aware, I am very reluctant to beg for money. My preference has always been to work for my supper. Last year I did a fundraising cd to raise money purely for my freelance staff, I kept none myself. Our other fundraiser was to replace the equipment which had been stolen or damaged. Again, I kept none for the business itself.

So I am asking you now. Would you please consider donating something to our studio to help see us through this incredibly rocky period? I'm hopeful that if I can survive the next few months and things improve politically/economically, that I won't have to do this kind of thing again and the studio will be back to its normal system of paying for itself. Even if you can only afford a quid, every penny will be vital. Stage 2 Studios isn't just my livelihood. Many people, engineers and freelancers rely on us for work. But most importantly, we are here as a vital facility for the musical arts community in and around Bath.

Thank you.

Dan

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Please visit our website to see what we do:

www.stage2studios.co.uk

And please also pay the William Cross Foundation a visit below:

www.williamcrossfoundation.org