I Paid My Father $250 in Rent Every Month for Five Years. After His Funeral, His Best Friend Gave Me a Key and a Box.

Meanwhile, keeping the studio sustainable meant making compromises.

I recorded corporate narration projects that weren’t exciting.

I edited wedding speeches.

I did sound cleanup for a community-history podcast.

Each assignment taught me a skill, and the income helped pay for the Saturdays when students came in without much money.

Sometimes I’d stay late after a session and play Dad’s old guitar.