We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Tamika Johnson a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Tamika, appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to hear the story of how you went from this being just an idea to making it into something real.

In 2019, I started my own podcast and have since produced other video shows on various platforms. However, after going through those experiences, I discovered that the primary issues I had with audio and video recording were lousy backgrounds, erratic internet, and poor sound quality from both me and my guests. I also observed how challenging editing audio or video recordings was for the average person. Most people lack the highly technical skills of post-production and editing. Honestly, if it weren’t for my partner and spouse Darryl, who has over thirty years of expertise producing and recording music, I never would have released a single album or podcast episode. Simply put, editing is difficult!

In any case, fast-forward to the summer of 2023, when I spoke with several entrepreneurs who desired to introduce their podcasts in a professional, designated setting. At that moment, something occurred to me. Darryl and I maintained and owned an office suite that we were renting to multiple tenants. But the upstairs of the office suite was just a junk room, sitting there. I asked Darryl if he would be interested in converting the upstairs area of the office space into a podcast studio. He immediately said “yes,” so our studio journey began.

Tamika, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Most new businesses never have an easy path ahead of them, and ours was no different. There were definitely unanticipated remodeling setbacks when it came to cleaning, de-junking, carpet removal, installing new flooring, painting, furnishing, and most importantly, buying top-notch recording equipment. And we did it ourselves, balancing our families, small children, and our careers and jobs.

My original intention was to open in the fall, but in September, I contracted COVID-19 and the flu, which forced me to postpone the studio renovations for the whole months of September and October. If nothing else, I am a determined person, so in the middle of December, I planned a luncheon and tour of the podcast studio for a small group of entrepreneurs, and that ended up being our first formal announcement of Total Play Podcasting Studio.

At the end of the day, the purpose of Total Play Studio is to deliver our clients a top-notch podcasting experience. We offer a variety of backgrounds and sets with our cutting-edge audio recording and editing equipment to ensure exceptional sound quality for each episode. Clients can select from a range of top-notch microphones and professional recording gear to meet their specific needs. We provide more than simply the actual area. We have skilled sound engineers and videographers on staff to offer guidance and experience all along the way.

Our ultimate goal is to provide our clients with the resources and assistance they require to produce quality podcasts, whether it be technical guidance, monetization, social media reel assistance, consultation, or post-production editing. We are more than just a studio; we are skilled and knowledgeable creative partners who assist podcast hosts in bringing their ideas to life.

What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?

For me, utilizing Facebook and Facebook Groups has proven to be an excellent place to connect with other amazing professionals and entrepreneurs and has been the best source of clients for me and our podcast studio. Facebook provides a massive audience to tap into, allowing me to increase visibility and reach a diverse set of individuals. I also publish a magazine called “Platinum Magazine,” which allows me to highlight entrepreneurs, a subject I find incredibly inspiring to me and others. Through personally reaching out to my online network via direct messages I have connected with some amazing people and those relationships have grown to be mutually respected and beneficial.

Engaging in relevant Facebook Groups within my industry has been instrumental in building relationships and establishing credibility with other professionals, coaches, authors, and creatives. By actively participating in these communities, I’ve been able to connect with individuals both personally and professionally. Sharing valuable content on my Facebook page and groups has not only showcased my expertise but also helped potential clients, creating a positive impression.

Ultimately, Facebook and Facebook Groups unbeknownst to me have become integral tools for my businesses, offering a dynamic space to connect and engage with others who can utilize our services.

How’d you meet your business partner?

For those familiar with me know that my cofounder and business partner is also my husband Darryl. We originally met in 2003, 2 weeks before I was temporarily moving to Louisiana to finish law school for a couple of years. Although Darryl believed our encounter to be brief, I continued to communicate with him whenever I returned to Atlanta during the school breaks in the following years. We casually dated for some years until I became involved in another long-term relationship. However, when that relationship ended 10 years later, Darryl and I started dating again shortly before I turned 40 years old. Less than 2 years later we married and have had 2 children afterwards. Darryl and I are undoubtedly really good friends above all and are supportive of each other’s ventures. However, opening Total Play Podcasting Studio is our first official business venture together, whereby we can combine his technical engineering skills with my creative talents to bring clients an amazing audio and video recording experience.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.totalplaystudio.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/totalplaystudio/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/totalplaystudio