WCA #610 with Stephen Shirk – Bloomington, New York, Chicago, and Twenty Years of SHIRK Studios

For episode 610, Matt talks with Stephen Shirk — engineer, producer, guitarist, and owner of SHIRK Studios in Chicago's West Town neighborhood. Stephen grew up in Bloomington, Illinois, studied business at Miami University, moved to New York in 1998 with a friend's couch as his launch pad, and worked his way through the Hit Factory and a jingle house where he built Pro Tools systems, got his SAG card, and learned from Jay Messina. In 2004 he moved to Chicago, rented studio spaces for a decade, and in 2013 bought the building he now runs as a semi-commercial studio with a Sphere console, instruments on every wall, and a deliberately un-sterile feel. They talk about the HearYa live sessions that built his early reputation, word-of-mouth marketing and what comes next, Steve Albini and Electrical Audio, owning vs. renting in Chicago's studio ecosystem, and getting back out to shows. In This Episode, We Discuss: - Growing Up in Bloomington, Illinois - Church Choir, Guitar at Fourth Grade, and Early Bands - A Business Degree at Miami University and Playing in Bands - Moving to New York in 1998 With a Friend's Couch as a Launch Pad - Learning Pro Tools Version 4 on the Fly - Starting at the Hit Factory as a General Assistant - The Culture Shock of New York Speed — and Learning to Shut Up - Moving to a Jingle House: More Engineering, More Money, a Synclavier - Building Pro Tools Systems and Getting a Pager From the Boss - Learning From Jay Messina (Early Aerosmith, Jack Douglas) - Getting His SAG Card and Discovering Mailbox Money - Moving to Chicago in 2004 and Renting Studio Spaces - Buying the Building in 2013 and the History Behind It - SHIRK Studios: Semi-Commercial, Instruments on Every Wall - Avoiding the Sterile Studio — Guilford of Maine Walls and Why He Hates Them - Word of Mouth Marketing and Wondering What's Next - Chicago's Studio Scene: Narwhal, Brian Deck, and the DIY Wave - Steve Albini and Electrical Audio - Owning the Building vs. Renting — Lessons From Chicago Studios - Live-Work Lofts as an Option for Engineer-Owners - Getting Back Out to Shows and Reconnecting With the Scene - The Red Room: Chicago's Fifty-Cap DIY Listening Venue - Dana Nielsen Listening to the Episode and the Buttoned-Up Business Matt's RANT!: Getting the Job Done Part 2 Links and Show Notes: - SHIRK Studios - WCA #363 with Chaz Root - WCA #137 with Anthony Gravino - WCA #607 with Dana Nielsen -WCA #164 with Steve Albini Credits: - Guest: Stephen Shirk - Host/Engineer/Producer: Matt Boudreau - WCA Theme Music: Cliff Truesdell - The Voice: Chuck Smith