Business Spotlight: Recording business is music to local artist's ears

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Many creative people don't like to delve into the technical aspects of their art. Gary Smith, who owns Nottingham Record-ing Studio in Springfield, is an exception.|ret||ret||tab|

Smith's decision to open his own recording studio didn't come as a surprise to those who knew him. |ret||ret||tab|

He had acquired a great deal of production, engineering and musical experience over the years, along with a fair amount of audio and recording equipment, which he quickly put to good use.|ret||ret||tab|

"It's not the building or the equipment that makes a recording studio good," said Smith. "It's the person behind the console. |ret||ret||tab|

"The best sound engineers are musicians. They have an ear and a natural musical sense. They know how to get the most out of a vocalist or artist."|ret||ret||tab|

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Road-tested rhythms|ret||ret||tab|

Smith began playing the guitar when he was just 7 years old. In 1965, when he was just 16, Atlantic Records signed his group Front Page News. The group's song "Thoughts and Afterthoughts" hit No. 19 on the Billboard charts in 1965.|ret||ret||tab|

During the 1970s, he toured with a number of different groups, and from 1980 to 1983, he was the lead guitarist for the Ozark Mountain Daredevils. Shortly after leaving the group, Smith moved to Branson where he played with a number of artists. |ret||ret||tab|

In November 2000, Smith decided to move to Springfield. The following month, he opened Nottingham Recording Studio. |ret||ret||tab|

Over the years, he has worked as a musician, engineer or producer with artists such as Ray Stevens, Bobby Vinton, Glen Campbell, Roy Clark, Pat Boone, Brewer and Shipley, Shoji Tabuchi, The Dillards, Jim Stafford, Doug Gabriel, Tommy Overstreet, The Platters, Dominick Allen of Foreigner, Rex Allen Jr., Mac Wiseman, Buck Trent and Jana Jae. |ret||ret||tab|

Smith's clientele includes out-of-state artists and songwriters, performers from Branson and local Springfield groups and acts such as jazz artist Kristi Merideth, the James River Choir and the alternative rock group Wake. |ret||ret||tab|

Some of his current and upcoming projects include compact discs for vocalist Stacey Conlan, Jenna Crispin of Branson's Country Tonite, and a re-mix of recordings by Granny's Bathwater, a popular Springfield group in the 1970s. |ret||ret||tab|

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Client services|ret||ret||tab|

To accommodate his clients' diverse needs, Nottingham offers various pricing packages and services. |ret||ret||tab|

Musicians can rent the studio by the hour, buy a block of time or pay by the project or song. Other services offered by Nottingham include tracking, mixing, digital mastering and editing and CD production. At a client's request, Smith can provide a producer, arranger or studio musicians. |ret||ret||tab|

"Most clients hire me to produce their material and help them fully realize their songwriting potential," said Smith. |ret||ret||tab|

To reduce his out-of-pocket expenses, Smith, who plays five instruments professionally, often serves as one or more of the studio musicians or as the engineer, producer, arranger and technician for a project. In addition, he maintains and repairs all of his own audio and recording equipment. |ret||ret||tab|

"It's taken me a lot of years to learn how to do this and be profitable," said Smith. "In the recording business, it's not what you earn, it's what you take home that counts."|ret||ret||tab|

Although Smith believes in keeping costs down, he said he doesn't cut corners when it comes to his equipment. Nottingham contains a state-of-the-art automated console with 56 available digital tracks, Smith said. |ret||ret||tab|

The studio also is home to a fully restored 1883 Steinway and Sons Model D Concert Grand piano, which has been voiced and regulated for recording, and a mint-condition 1958 Hammond C-3 with a model 147 Leslie. |ret||ret||tab|

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Paying the bills|ret||ret||tab|

When he isn't in the studio, Smith spends a great deal of time promoting and marketing his business. In fact, Smith said one of the bigger challenges he faces is evening out fluctuations in business. |ret||ret||tab|

"This is a funny, quirky business I'm in," he said. "Other than doing necessity-type projects for clients, the business sometimes thrives on people's disposable income, and when the economy is on a roller coaster like it has been, it affects me."|ret||ret||tab|

To even out the highs and lows, Smith began developing fishing videos for state record holders and professional tournament anglers. Smith said he produced three videos in their entirety, doing all of the video camera work, audio, music, editing and digital re-mastering. Two of the three videos currently are being sold through Bass Pro Shops. |ret||ret||tab|

In addition, Smith does studio design, equipment installation, architectural acoustics and diagnostics for recording facilities. However, he said his work in the studio as a producer, a musician and as an engineer will continue to be his main focus in the years to come. |ret||ret||tab|

"I want to be part of a hit record," he said. "I think that's the ultimate end goal for any recording artist or producer." |ret||ret||tab|

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