www.tomskillman.ca

You know, having a website used to feel as unique and special as having a band…

Of course, we all grow up, learn that the world is going to end on Dec 12, 2012 (due to magnetic pole shifts) and suddenly having a website that “exists” on some server located in Mississauga doesn’t seem so special anymore.

But you know what’s rare to have? You’re own goddamn recording studio in your back yard, that’s what. I’m not talking computer-sound card-cracked software studio. I’m talking foot thick walls, green glue, 2 leaf construction, weird angles and room dimensions (or at least those achievable in the space I have) that best suit playing and recording music. Cool lighting, soffit mounted speakers, the works. Sure, my space is smaller than ideal, but compromise is what makes the world special.
I’ve been dreaming of turning our 24×26 foot workshop into a studio for years. This winter, after saving my pennies, I bought all the drywall, green glue, wood and rock wool insulation I would need.

I got my electrical supplies, I got power tools and air hammers.

See, I know one of the secrets to defeating the aforementioned procrastination is to ensure you have the materials and tools to realize your goals. Otherwise people sit around saying “can’t do that next step til we get the drywall”. Seriously, how many times have you heard THAT before? EXACTLY my point.

Of course, it’s not just as simple as buying materials. A lot of my friends keep saying “why isn’t it done? Just put up some walls, let’s go!”

Silly friends. This is a project, not a job. The funny thing is, I have learned that building things is all about the planning and the cleanup. The actual building part is quick and fairly easy, especially with some of the tools I’m packing. (Yes. I just did that. I went there. Deal.)  Interestingly (to me anyway) this isn’t much different than making music when you think about it.

You have to learn the techniques. You have to decide what you want to achieve. You have to get the right tools, the right materials, you have to know what it’s going to be before you start; and even when you do, strange, sometimes awful, sometimes wonderful things occur to keep the project interesting.

I remember hearing a story about Michelangelo. He was commissioned to carve a statue. Each morning, he would head up a hill ( I’m probably distorting this story with made up detail…just go with me to the point of it kay!)… anyway, up the hill he goes, and he plunks down and stares at a big piece of marble. People ask him, “what are you doing” and he says “working”. This goes on for days, then for weeks. People start to get pissed off. He then, one day, busts out the chisel and carves one of the greatest statues ever.

Is this a true story? Look it up smart ass. The point of the story is what is important however. Great art requires talent, hard work, planning, inspiration… maybe some good PR too.  I found that story very inspiring as I tend to do my best work if I’m allowed to sit and think about it for what can sometimes seem like a loooooooong time.
When you are done, there will be those who only see the product, and just can’t find it in there hearts to relate to what you had to do to get where you are. Often those are the people who don’t’ realize their goals… funny how that works.

Sometimes, the better work you do, the harder it is for others to even appreciate how well done it is. This is more often true if those people haven’t mastered their own skills, or don’t have an open enough ego to see the comparison. When I was a kid, I really wanted to be regarded as a great drummer. Truthfully, I’m pretty average. While that in itself is a good accomplishment in the grand scheme of comparisons; the thing that pulled me out of any ego tripping with non musicians was my ineptitude with cars. I might be able to play music, but I couldn’t fix a car to save my life. That new found respect for people who I had previously disregarded (to protect my own ego of course) lead to two great turning points in my life. Getting my head out of my ass, and learning to do things I couldn’t do. Like build stuff. Fix my studio, etc.
I have completed some steps. I removed the existing garage door and sold it on Craigslist.

I removed the existing drywall. I’ve cut most of the studs for the walls.I have made my floor plan.
I still need to finish engineering the dropped ceiling. I’m going to use 2×4’s, 12 inches O.C. with a few of them ponied together to form 4×4’s. It’s a 12 foot span, so I’m pushing it a bit, but as this dropped ceiling will have only a dead load and no live load, I’m confident that this will support the two layers of green glue, the few lights, the weight of the wood in the ceiling itself and the rock wool insulation.

I have stalled out a bit in my plans though. I want pocket doors, and I’ve realized that the pocket door openings will not allow for a sturdy enough header to support the ceiling at that point!! I realize now, I have to build my own pocket frames instead of buying them. This way I can put 2×6’s on edge on the sill plate (instead of perpendicular) to support the top sill plate at the door opening. I believe this, with a 4×4 header will do the trick. I’m not an engineer, so this means research and reading until I KNOW I have a safe plan. No point in building something that will collapse over time.

So, tricky stuff… once I nail down the final plans on wood placement,  I need to finalize my ventilation plans, then start the actual work… harder than you think.  Last night I nailed down the path that my audio and Ethernet conduits will run… I am SO CLOSE to the building stage!!

So. There you have it. I’m building a studio. I hope my planning is done by the end of this week. I want the walls up and the first layers of drywall on those walls by the third week of August. Good luck to me!