Studio sessions
What to bring to your first studio session
A short checklist to help you walk into your first recording prepared, relaxed and ready to make something good.
The short version
- Come with a loose run sheet, not a full script
- Brief your guests before the day
- We handle the technical setup, so you can focus on the show
- A cafe and coworking space are right upstairs
- Arrive a little early to settle in
Your first time in a recording studio can feel daunting, but the studio side is handled for you. Your job is to turn up prepared to have a good conversation. Here is what to bring and how to set yourself up for a smooth session.
A loose plan, not a script
Bring a run sheet: the topics you want to cover, any questions for a guest, and a rough sense of the order. Resist the urge to script every word. The best episodes sound like real conversations, and a tight script tends to make people stiff. A single page of bullet points is usually plenty.
Your guest details, sorted in advance
If you have a guest, brief them before the day: what the show is, roughly how long you will record, and the kind of conversation you are after. A guest who knows what to expect is a relaxed guest, and relaxed guests are better guests.
The practical bits
- Your phone on silent, or handed over, so notifications do not interrupt the take.
- Notes on paper or a tablet rather than a noisy laptop, if you can.
- Login details for your podcast host if you want to publish on the day.
Food, drinks and a base for the day
You do not need to bring much to keep yourself going, because there is a cafe and coworking space right upstairs from the studio. It is a handy spot to settle in before a session, work between takes, or grab a coffee with a guest. If you would rather not think about it at all, we offer an add-on for unlimited drinks and refreshments through your session, so the water, coffee and tea are simply taken care of.
What you do not need to bring
You do not need to bring microphones, cameras, headphones, or any technical kit. The studio is set up and ready, and the team handles levels, framing and recording so you never have to think about it. If anything goes wrong technically, that is our problem to solve, not yours.
Arrive a little early
Give yourself ten or fifteen minutes before you start. It lets you settle in, get a quick sound check done, grab a drink and shake off the nerves before recording. The difference between a rushed start and a calm one is audible in the first few minutes of an episode.
Ready to book a session? See studio hire options or get in touch and we will help you plan it.