Tom Dobrzanski and Monarch Studios
by jtugman
Source: http://www.macleans.ca/work/jobs/tom-dobrzanski-30-owns-recording-studios/
After Class 18: Sauder Alumni, I developed a better understanding of entrepreneurship. Of the three speakers however, Tom Dobrzanski’s Monarch Studios business really connected with me. Below are my thoughts on an interview with him conducted by Macleans.com regarding his studio and his business experiences.
What I found most inspiring about this interview, is Tom pursuing his passion for music and business simultaneously, by monetizing his musical talents. It is a situation that all the guest speakers were in, and seems like the ideal position to be in as an entrepreneur.
I think that it is safe to say that Tom used innovative disruption to let lower budget bands have recording facility access, through charging a modest price for modest facilities. The financial success of Monarch Studios really shows how timing really matters especially when entering a market. Had he entered later when more advanced recording software was being developed for households (e.g Logic, Ableton or FL Studio), he would have lost a substantial customer segment.
From this article, it is also evident that Tom was able to operate a successful business by advancing his interests and improving himself. His BComm from Sauder cemented a strong understanding of accounting and finance while his one year program at The Art Institute of Vancouver improved his audio engineering abilities. By doing these two educational programs, he is and his business were able to establish a strong comparative advantage over other producers.
Class 18 and this article really showed me why entrepreneurs take the initial leap of faith into the business world; because they are confident in their ideas and they truly love what they do. It really inspired me to find what I love and make it a reality everyday.