If a music store opened near you, what would you want to find inside?

Right On, Sara! As an attempt to make my answer shorter, I will offer the web site, http://findersrecords.com/ as a clue to my favorite record store. The wealth of artists and genres in there are amazing. I have never walked out with less than a dozen or so CD's. And yes, hard copy is the holy grail for me as well. Word of caution, here: the place is pretty big, and that's just for the CD's, tapes, and affiliated stuff. If you want to include the recording gear, instruments, and the like, you should be looking at something the size of an abandoned department store, to be truthful! That's a lot of green. Throw in the cafe, and you have the department of health or whomever to deal with as well. Hassle City. I'm NOT trying to steer you away from this! Just want you to know what to expect on the ride. Look for staff members that honestly know what they're talking about when it comes to recording history, artists, and all. No customer likes the help to answer with, "I don't know!" If you have instruments, you had better have an in-house technician that can set them up and work on repairs, too. Any musician will give their eye teeth to just be able to bring in an amp or guitar in hopes of it being fixed on the premises, and quickly. If the cafe flies, think "coffee house" rather than anything close to full service. Good coffee drinks, pastries, cold sandwiches, and things like that will satisfy the clientelle without draining your resources and the help. If you make this a reality, I want to be one of the first to know where it's at; I already know you're where it's at.

The Used

Underoath

Korn

Slipknot

Good Charlotte

My Chemical Romance

The 69 Eyes

30 Seconds To Mars

Thursday

Taking Back Sunday

System of A Down

Sum 41

Street Drum Corps

Smashing Pumpkins

Slipknot Slayer

Silverstein

Shadows Fall

Senses Fail

Saosin

Rob Zombie

Powerman 5000

Paramore

Outkast

Nirvana

Neurosonic

Mudvayne

Metalicca

Matchbook Romance

Marilyn Manson

M.S.I.

Lostprophets

Linkin Park

Job For A Cowboy

HIM

Helmet

Hawthorne Heights

Hatebreed

Guns N' Roses

Godsmack

From First To Last

Foo Fighters

Flyleaf

Five Finger Death Punch

Evaline

Dying Fetus

Disturbed

The Distillers

Death Clock

Devil Driver

Danzig

Cryptopsy

Cobra Starship

CKY

Children of Bodom

Cannibal Corpse

Blink 182

The Bled

Black Sabbath

Between The Buried and Me

Avenged Sevenfold

Atreyu

As I Lay Dying

Arch Enemy

Angels & Airwaves

Alexisonfire

AFI

The Academy Is...

Aborted

Instruments

Good food

I think a good record store is the best idea. One of my favorite things to do is go to the local record stores (and CD stores) and look at what they're selling. Vinyls the way to get the serious nerds in (I'm one!).

Have a good selection of CDs, maybe even sell used CDs (I hate buying new CDs if I can get a perfectly good used one. They beat mp3s for Sound Quality, and actually having a thing you can hold).

Once business picks up, adding a cafe could be great! I'd love to sit down and listen to music; however, I'd be careful about letting customers bring food and drink around, esp. if you plan on selling expensive goods.

If you sell vinyl, sell record players as well.

For decor, I'd hang up some posters of bands, both classic and current, probably framed. Frame some of your favorite records to show off the album art, this looks really cool.

If you want to sell musical instruments, that could be a good way to also include a recording studio. I think its better if you chose one or two things to focus on rather than going overboard and stretching yourself too thin.

Best of luck with your business venture!

That's a pretty tall order...

My first suggestion would be FOCUS ON ONE THING FIRST.

You have about 5 stores packed in one in your description:

Music Instrument Store

Music CD store

Coffee Shop

Studio

Other...

I'd say focus on being a REALLY GOOD version of one of these things first. Probably go with the CD store because it has the most reliable business. Then, if things go well, add a coffee bar... if it works, make it bigger... keep expanding, but don't expect it all to be perfect on opening day.

in terms of CD store... hmmm...

Go with a big selection... try to have the hard to find albums and that will make your customers keep coming back.

Have a supply of Vinyl records... nothing says "I'm serious about selling music" like a vinyl section.

Decorate with posters of different bands... fill the place with paraphernalia...

But most importantly:

PLAY GOOD MUSIC!

I love it when i can walk into a vinyl shop and i hear an album that i didn't know existed. Then i can talk to the guy behind the counter and we'll talk about the band for a few minutes... usually, i'll end up buying a cd of that band if i like it enough... BUT THIS ONLY WORKS IF YOU PLAY MUSIC THAT IS BOTH GOOD AND NOT MAINSTREAM!

hope that helps...

I would probably want a lot less attitude from the staff (LOL).

Everybody knows vinyl records sound better than CDs or mp3s, and yes there are still people who only buy CD if they can't find it on vinyl (and who shun downloaded music) - not many, but they are out there (I'm one).

Selling rock posters might be nice (can't really download that - at least not poster size). Maybe stickers, spiked bracelets, T-shirts. And you definitely want to make sure there are people like you in your town, people who like lesser known or independent bands, that way you can sell music that is different from your competition (Wal*Mart and Target).

Also, if there is a way to let everyone know that your store exists, that would be a big help (maybe fliers, a website that comes up on a google search; hopefully word of mouth would eventually kick in, as that's free advertising).

Do be careful if opening up a store with CDs because the kids now a days would rather download and the CDs will become obsolete sadly it will happen, but if you sell other things besides CDs like you said other items that has to do with music is a good idea. Maybe your store can get kids to actually want to buy CDs, good luck!

1. You should not call it Michael Jackson anything because someone may sue. His name is pretty much a trademark. 2. If you put Michael Jackson's music on, you will have to pay the record label Michael was under during the time to use the song. 3. Hiring workers will cost money and it may cost more to find someone as skilled of dancer. 4. Have you considered what food you want to serve in your shop? Are you a good cook or will you hire anyone? 5. Will you make the MJ items or ship it in from others? Good luck.

I've thought about it too because I've thought of doing the same thing later in my life. I've figured I'd have to have plenty of mainstream stuff so you have enough business to keep you going, but then have plenty of classic stuff and then more obscure but criminally overlooked stuff that you like to get it out there and if you're the only place to get that music it ought to sell. Even if you specialize in a certain niche you need to appeal to everyone, but the people who like similar stuff as you will find you eventually, that's how I met my music guy, he sells terrible rap and modern pop and all sorts of other wastes of plastic but we've had long discussions about rock and punk and I've even watched some punk movies and live DVDs in the back of the store. He also keeps it up by being a very good salesmen and good customer service.

If you mean specifically, I'd like to see all of these guys and similar artists:

http://www.last.fm/user/DanC90

For Decoration I say put like the most random posters up for weird bands. Put a few slipknot posters up, maybe some britney spears, things that contradict each other.

For music I'd like to see, Killswitch Engage, Hawthorne Heights, anything around that. Mostly death metal and screamo. umm...

For the cafe, put like a starbucks type thing. Coffee and stuff. dont forget to add a slurpie machine though :) haha. umm have you ever been inside a Sam Goody? -sigh- i miss that place.

but yeahh those are my suggestions.

A wide range of rock/alternative rock CDs from Papa Roach to My Chemical Romance.

I'd like comfortable seats to sit, most definitely to be able to listen to the CD before purchasing and the lights turned down a little to create a relaxing atmosphere.