Today we’d like to introduce you to Michael Mikulka.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I was a touring /studio guitarist based in Southern California. I enjoyed the recording process so much as a guitarist that I decided to get into the studio business. No schools at that time so I bought gear and taught myself. After a successful “home studio”, I moved to an industrial complex . . . . Starting with one studio, I created a large music complex in Southern California (4 studios, Mastering, Rehearsal Studios, Sound and Lighting, etc)
I ran that for over 25 years before selling my facility and moving to Houston (to get married). I built an amazing studio from the ground up in the Katy / Richmond area. Had a great run with the studio, but sadly the marriage did not last. Left the building behind, and took all the equipment. About a year and a half ago, thru a friend, I found a studio in Spring Branch. The lease was about to end, so I stepped up and took over the lease. I came in with all the equipment from my other studio and we proceeded to make major improvements to the facility.
Currently, we are one of the nicest, and most versatile facilities here in Houston. We have 3 independent studios that all inter-connect, enabling us to record everything from a single vocalist to a large musical ensemble (22 piece band, even a 35 voice choir)
There are now 4 producers working out of the facility and there is music going on here all the time. Most recently one of our clients SOLANGE (Beyoncé’s sister) received a Grammy for her latest recording. We were also fortunate enough to do most of the pre-recorded music segments for Lady Gaga’s show at Super Bowl 51.
We have hosted networking event for the Houston music community (NARIP, WEGET, and NSAI) and continue to do seminars and workshops with writers and producers we bring in from LA.
Has it been a smooth road?
The music business, although glamorous and exciting from the outside, is a very difficult business to be successful in. I was fortunate enough to be successful in the highly competitive Southern California music scene and brought that knowledge and professionalism here to Houston.
I learned from the best in LA, how a studio should be run . . . . About how it should look, how it should function and how to treat the clients, to keep them coming back!
Of course, losing my studio in the divorce was a huge setback for me both professionally and personally, but I knew I had to keep moving forward and something would turn up . . . . And it did.
With a lot a lot of patience, and hard work, and good networking, I now have one of the nicest and most versatile commercial studios here in Houston
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the LUCKY RUN STUDIO story. Tell us more about the business.
We are a recording studio complex in that we have 3 studios under one roof. The studios are interconnected so we can take on large and complex projects. One of the things that makes us unique here in Houston is that we are able to record full bands with everyone playing and singing at the same time. Everyone can see and hear each other, but the sound from one person, doesn’t leak into another person’s mic. This means that we can go back and fix any little mistake. It also means the artist saves time and money with everyone recording all at once.
Also, we are primarily a music studio, but we do other types of projects as well. Voice overs, audio books, restoring old recordings and transferring them to CD. We work with absolute beginners to music industry veterans . . . . . and help make them all feel comfortable, and productive.
We recently have started doing something very unique . . . . We do “live” in the studio recordings with an audience present. Artist can have their fans attend a concert/recording session and in a matter of weeks, purchase a CD of the concert.
In addition, we have a mobile recording rig where we go to the venue to record the artist live in front of an audience. We have, in fact, recorded close to 200 different artist “live”.
We are fortunate to draw tremendously talented people, doing most all styles of music to our facility. There is a constant influx of singers and musicians coming in and out of our facility . . . . . proving that Houston is definitely an artist town, with an incredible amount of talent residing here.
As I mentioned earlier, the first quarter of 2017, we had a Grammy winner (Solange) and got to work with Lady Gaga’s band and participate in the 51st Super Bowl
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
One of the biggest trends is how music is being presented on the Internet. Unfortunately, the public has so many ways to get “free music” that many musicians can’t compete unless they give their music away for free. As a result, they have to tour to make money.
Also, directly affecting our business is the proliferation of “home recording studios” It is now possible to do on a lap top what used to require equipment costing thousands of dollars to do. (I.e. my old analog 24 track tape machine cost about $70,000)
As a commercial studio, we need to offer services that the artist simply can’t do at home, and if they can, it won’t be of the same professional quality.
Also, it is becoming more common for an artist , who wants a particular instrument or a specific player, to send a copy of their song to the musician (wherever they are based ), and the musician will add the part(s) that the artist wants and send it back to them, to be placed into the master recording. You could be a Houston based songwriter and have a sax player from Los Angeles and a guitarist from London play on your recording.
Contact Info:
- Address: 4480 Blalock Road
Houston 77041 - Website: www.luckyrunstudio.com
- Phone: 281.232.8382 (studio) 832.338.6589 (cell)
- Email: luckyluckyrun@gmail.com
- Facebook: Lucky Run Studio
Getting in touch: VoyageHouston is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
