Red Revenge is a Bellville hub for DJs and music producers, with a recording studio, retail store and training courses
Red Revenge is the go-to place for specialised music services in Bellville, with a multimedia production studio and a retail music shop catering to DJs and producers. Owner Johan Schreuder, who performs as Conscious Chaos, tells us more about the business and the training courses offered.
How did your business start?
I was the DJ for all school gatherings back in the day. After school I went to Israel where I DJed at the kibbutz nightclub until I moved to London. There I worked for Channel 4 who were producing a programme called The Big Breakfast. Planet 24 Studios were owned by Sir Bob Geldof (who acted in the Pink Floyd: The Wall movie), and my then obsession with Pink Floyd, seeing the sound guys work in the studio, along with my love for DJing urged me to study sound engineering and music production.
The experience of getting my diploma shaped our Red Revenge Certified Courses now. There was huge confusion with new students and parents about sound engineering and music production. So we launched our Steinberg Certified Courses: eight weeks of hands-on intimate lessons with accomplished DJs and producers. We don’t do boring at Red Revenge. The aim is for the students to immediately start producing beats and make music, even from the first lesson.
Why did you choose this area for your business?
Bellville is known as Bellville Rock-City, having produced bands like Fokofpolisiekar, Aking, Springbok Nude Girls, Jack Parow and many more. There’s a great need for old school vinyl DJs on this side of the world to further their skills, meet like-minded people and have the proper support and services for their equipment.
How did you find your premises?
We came across the premises while driving around the neighborhood.
Why are the premises ideally suited to your business?
Our retail shop faces a very busy main road, Durban Road, and below that is Cape Town’s best-kept secret, our 170m2 bunker studio and training facilities where we can make as much noise as we want.
Who are your neighbours?
My good friends ORMS Bellville, and Bidvest Security.
What are the rentals like in this area?
On par with the CBD, but you do find some really good deals per square metre. Bellville is one of the fastest-growing suburbs, so lots of new, fresh space is available.
How many people go through your store each day?
Our services are very specialised; it’s not your typical walk-in shop. Our bunker studio, due to the training, receives about 50 students and walk-ins per week. The retail shop is about the same.
Do you have any expansion plans?
We’re busy expanding the bunker studio from 170m2 to 250m2 and we also merged with one of South Africa’s largest music retailers who’ll run the top shop from now on.
Do you operate online as well?
Yes, we have an online store and we’re visible on social media.
What’s your most popular item?
We sell more turntables than guitar strings. The vinyl revival has been very good to us, and being the only Technics SL1200 service centre in South Africa, we have an overflow of turntables streaming into the shop.
See for yourself:
Red Revenge
021 910 4355
redrevenge.co.za
Words: Kit Heathcock | Images: Supplied
