South Main Studios offers a vibrant, creative, and collaborative environment. Our aestetic is eclectic and inviting urban loft meets the fine art gallery of South Main Studios owner and artist, Nicki Black. To describe our mission would be to say that we are strategic and purposed toward excellence in helping people, giving great service, pursuing real relationship, and exploring the new sound in the creative arts. We are passionate, always growing and learning, and we love what we do!
Our facility affords our clients the amenities of having a kitchen, a lounge area, a songwriting/soaking nook, internet access, a coffee and tea bar, a full bath, a custom vocal booth, a live room perfect for medium or intimate recordings, professional Gel Pro Comfort® mats in the recording room, and a control room large enough to accommodate our times of sound engineering mentoring.
Our lounge area has comfortable leather seating, and is well-suited for small groups for other training and instruction purposes. The lounge is conveniently situated next to the kitchen, and offers a large digital flat screen for presentations, in addition to, several custom free-standing laptop desks and a podium upon request.
Our Mindwatering office space is also shared within the studio, so branding and promotional design work on music projects is within easy access for questions and collaboration of ideas between our staff and clients.
Mindwatering and South Main Studios is a non-smoking establishment, both on the inside, and also on the grounds. Clients may not bring any alcoholic beverages or controlled substances into the studio, or onto the property.
REQUESTING A NON-CLIENT/FAMILY VISIT PRIOR/DURING RECORDING:
If children under the age of 13 are the Client or part of the ensemble being recorded, we do require that they bring mature supervision while they are onsite. That may be in the form of another ensemble member, or a separate adult caregiver that they bring with them.
To that, we understand that a client's family may wish to visit South Main Studios and meet the people who are working with their loved ones on their project. The actual planning sessions are for the client(s) and those closely vested in their project, such as a parent or spouse. Prearranging to visit the SMS facility with family is only done when the studio is not in an active session. So while we require all children to have mature supervision while at South Main Studios, we also love to engage the youth, and want to stir their interest of music, design, and sound engineering. We welcome and encourage any questions they might have during their prearranged visit.
Please do not hesitate to ask us if you have any questions regarding our policies.
DINING & RECREATION:
We do not provide childcare or outdoor on-site play facilities, but there are several nice parks with play equipment within a short walk of the studio. There are on-demand childcare facilities within a few minutes of South Main Studios. There are also several nearby recreational/entertainment establishments that are indoors for children and caregivers to enjoy during the winter months or in bad weather.
If an artist would like to break for a meal, they are welcome to bring in their own refreshments and store them during their session in our studio refrigerator. We have a microwave oven for reheating items. Utensils, plates, and cups are provided by South Main Studios, as a courtesy. Please note that if bringing in personal drink containers, we request that those containers and all beverages in the SMS/MW facilities have tight lids and/or screw tops at all times.
We are within a short walk to downtown Wake Forest. Numerous unique downtown restaurants and cafes await you, as well as, retail shops, art galleries, coffee shops, a bowling alley, an ice cream shop, antique stores, a public library, the Wake Forest Farmer's Market, nature trails, parks, and the new Wake Forest Renaissance Centre, a 10,000 ft cultural arts venue in the hub of downtown.
Within a 5-10 minute drive of our studio there are many mainstream restaurants, retail shopping areas, a larger regional library, more coffee cafes, hotels, grocery stores, golf courses, a YMCA, movie theaters, ice skating, go-carts, and other fun activities. Nearby Falls Lake and Falls Lake Dam also offer trails and recreational areas for hiking, picnicking, fishing, or kayaking.
SOUTH MAIN STUDIOS IS CONVENIENTLY LOCATED:
SMS is within a 20-30 minute drive to downtown Raleigh, 40 minutes to RDU airport, 3.5 hours from Charlotte, N.C., 2.5 hours from Richmond, 8 hours from Atlanta, and conveniently located to major highways US 1 and I 540 (off of I 85 and I 40 respectively).
PARKING AT SOUTH MAIN STUDIOS:
SMS has free direct on-street parking and limited pad parking.