From Chaos to Harmony: Mastering Business Operations in the Creative Industry

“How do you maintain artistic creativity while running a business efficiently?” At the onset of Double M Studios, this was the very question I had to ask myself. For me, the answer required a balance between fostering creativity and maintaining structure. Unlike a “traditional” business venture, a creative enterprise operates in its own unique ecosystem—one that thrives on individuality and emotional expression. At Double M Studios, we deal with unpredictable schedules, limited budgets, and the natural dynamics of type B personalities. Additionally, the creative industry often prioritizes comfort over productivity, which can present its own challenges. It’s important to remember that recording music is a creative outlet that requires space, freedom, and authenticity.

At Double M Studios, we guarantee a professional environment where artists feel liberated to express themselves. But make no mistake: behind that freedom lies a method to the madness. That’s where I come in. As COO, my role is to ensure that every aspect of our business operations supports the creative process. Through leadership/management, accountability, streamlined systems, and operations, I bring order to the chaos so that creativity can flourish.

My Responsibilities 

Leadership, Management, and Accountability

These areas work together to ensure both the creative and operational sides of the studio are in harmony. Here’s how I approach them:

1. Lead: A key part of my role is to inspire the team and set clear, actionable goals. This isn’t about micromanaging but empowering individuals to bring their best to every session. By fostering an environment where creativity is encouraged and goals are transparent, I’ve found that the team consistently rises to the challenge. For instance, I encourage collaborative brainstorming sessions, weekly checkups, and department audits in order to maintain clarity throughout the business.
2. Manage: Resource allocation is one of the most important, and often overlooked, aspects of running a studio. Scheduling sessions, ensuring we have the right tools on hand, and meeting project deadlines all fall under my purview. I’ve implemented systems that track studio availability, inventory usage, and session progress in real-time.
3. Accountability: Creativity thrives on freedom, but freedom without accountability leads to chaos. I track progress on projects using collaborative platforms like Notion and Trello, which allow everyone to stay on the same page. Clear expectations are set for team members, and regular check-ins ensure that everyone is meeting their goals.
4. Systems: Tools and processes are the backbone of our operations. Our Notion workspace serves as a “hub” for project management and documentation. Similarly, Trello helps us manage tasks across projects, and Discord facilitates quick communication for both the team and clients. These platforms allow us to focus more on what we do best—creating—while automating or simplifying administrative tasks.
5. Operations: Streamlining workflows is essential in any business, but even more so in a creative one. Overbooking sessions, late payments, or miscommunication between team members can disrupt the studio’s flow. To combat this, I’ve created structured workflows that ensure every project moves smoothly from start to finish.

Key Challenges and Solutions

Running a creative business has its fair share of challenges. Here are some common ones and how we’ve addressed them:

• Challenge #1: Managing Client ExpectationsSolution: Clear communication is non-negotiable. Clients are informed about timelines, deliverables, and what to expect during their sessions upfront to avoid misunderstandings. In fact, the entire process has been automated and no longer requires a team member to be on-site during sessions.
• Challenge #2: Team ProductivitySolution: The weekly session goal keeps our engineers on track and ensures that studio time is being used effectively.
• Challenge #3: Budget ConstraintsSolution: By restructuring services—such as bundling songwriting and creative direction into a package offered with sessions—we’ve made our offerings more affordable while maintaining profitability.

Tips for Managing a Creative Business

For anyone managing a creative business, here are three tips I’ve found invaluable:

1. Prioritize Systems Over Improvisation While creativity thrives on flexibility, having robust systems in place provides the foundation that allows that flexibility to shine.
2. Embrace Flexibility Without Losing Sight of GoalsCreative work rarely adheres to a strict timeline. Build in buffer zones for unexpected delays while still keeping your eyes on the end goal.
3. Leverage Technology to Simplify OperationsFrom scheduling tools like Acuity to finance management software like QuickBooks, technology can help you reduce time spent on administrative tasks and focus on growth.

At Double M Studios, our mission isn’t just to create music but to build a system that lets creativity thrive

“Want to learn how our systems can help bring your vision to life? Let’s talk!”

Email me directly here 📩