When Ohio University senior Mike Petruccelli decided to record his latest album, he knew financing it would take a lot, including his resident assistant paycheck.
Like many student musicians in Athens, Petruccelli, who performs as Arthur Killroad, realized music does not pay for itself. Often, he and other students are forced to pay out of pocket, or else take up side jobs, for the sake of their bands.
I spent about two grand out of pocket (for the album) and have so far made $70 back
Petruccelli said. It's a labor of love.
The punk band Amish Electric Chair has been together for nearly five years, but the current lineup was formed less than a year ago. Made up of OU junior John Sava, senior Neil Tuuri and his brother Scott, the band will often play two or three times a week earning around $40 for each performance. The band's tickets prices are usually $5, unless they play with a national touring band, said Neil Tuuri, the guitarist and lead singer of the band.
Neil Tuuri, who studied music production, operates his own recording studio, AEC, in Athens, where Amish Electric Chair can record for free. The band only had to pay $2,000 for CD duplication. Sava works at Pita Pit and the Flip Side skate shop during the day and Scott Tuuri works at the Court Street Diner and O'Betty's. Along with Neil Tuuri's recording job, the three were able to cover the CD costs, but touring has its drawbacks.
It's been tough to play out of town Neil Tuuri said. If all three of us have to take off work for a day we don't get paid at our day jobs and we still lose the gas.
Other bands have saved money by self-recording. Mister Got Heat, a local band made up of seniors Matt Slater, Patrick Miner, Daniel Boyer, Jon Slater and Matt Dobie, has three music production majors in its ranks. Like Amish Electric Chair, the cost was in CD duplication, which cost the group $1,000. To cover it, the band culled investments from parents. This support, along with their jobs at local establishments like The Union, Pizza Hut and Cold Stone, allows the members to buy new equipment, too.
Newer bands, like The Ghost of Asa Phelps, face more startup costs than those of longer established acts. Formed last April by sophomore Ben Gibbs, senior Tim Carlson and junior Ryan Ford, most of their recording expenses have been out of pocket, Ford said.
Their first recordings were made in the bedroom of a friend and paid for with a case of beer, but their new EP cost them about $550, which was funded from playing shows where the band typically earns $60, he said.
The band is trying to play as many shows as possible to make its name, including some in Cleveland over winter break.
Because their drummer owns a station wagon, any money they make will most likely go toward gas, Ford said.
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John Sava, bassist for Amish Electric Chair, plays during a concert at Beaver House on Friday , Oct. 24. The band plays two or three times a week, earning about $40 for each performance.
Dedication to performing outweighs other costs
