Studio Manager Bulletin

Studio Manager 9 is Designed to be Customized

When you are out shopping for the mission critical softare that will be at the heart of your creative services business, think about this. Will you get a one-size-fits-all black box system or a modifiable database that you can shape and control? Black box systems are those that are programmed with such intricate complexity that the developers don't let the customer under the hood. Period.

The set it and forget it nature of a black box system might seem appealing, but most firms make sure they can modify their own mission critical software. They want their most important business software to closely fit their needs and mirror hard won business practices. They want to be able to modify the software over time as their needs change and evolve.

The software you pick may be web-based involving PHP, Javascript, Java or other web-oriented languages. If so, it will not be easy or quick to modify or extend. Maybe the software underneath the surface will be a regular programming language like Real Basic. Again, forget customization. Forget modifying or extending it in any significant way.

Studio Manager is based on FileMaker Pro, an incredibly easy-to-use database development environment. Databases are a lot easier to customize than traditional programmed software. FileMaker is the easiest database tool out there. This sounds a little crass, but it is a lot cheaper to develop with FileMaker.

Cheap translates to affordable customizing. Using a tool like FileMaker as the basis of your mission critical software gives you a level of control and flexibility that is remarkable in the software world. For example, you can easily add or modify reports. You can add, resequence or delete tabs that your don't need.

When you compare features between different pieces of software, don’t forget to think about the platform you have signed up for. Group your options by platform. For example, you could have groups for web-based, programmed, FileMaker-based, Other database.

Open vs. Closed. One last thing, most vertical market software is closed even if based on FileMaker. They may offer customization services. But you won't be able to choose your own consultant or do it yourself. Studio Manager is in the open category with 99.9% customizability - not just a few user-modifiable options. We strongly believe that FileMaker, an end-user-oriented development tool, is meant to be open.

Studio Manager Support Packages Available

As we discussed in our recent post about creating Studio Manager support packages, we think support packages are a good idea as long as (1) they are optional and (2) you get a better deal than you would buying support ad hoc. We spent some time working over the numbers and here's what we can offer:

AD HOC SUPPORT::
You can buy time in as small as 10-minute increments. The truth is the majority of our support requests are handled in 10 minutes. Keep in mind that most phone support is done by Janet with Sally handling more routine questions when Janet isn't available.

Janet $180/hour or $30 for 10 minutes. UC Berkeley MBA, 20-year speciallst in providing FileMaker-based systems to creative services businesses. Architect and chief developer of Studio Manager. Working full-time on Studio Manager, Janet delivers phone, email and remote access support to our customer base. She also does upgrades and customization projects.

Scout $90/hour. Scout spent 2 years as the product manager for Studio Manager and has been working with Janet since 1989. Before that Scout worked in printing and as a production graphic artist. She has written most of Studio Manager's technical documentation and participates in product planning, design and development. Works mostly on Studio Manager testing, documentation and customization projects.

Sally $60/hour. The newest member of the Studio Manager team, Sally does admin, customer support, testing, documentation and beginner level Studio Manager training. She has a Masters degree in education and is helping us beef up all of our documentation and training. As she masters Studio Manager and FileMaker, Sally will be doing more and more of our customer training.

SUPPORT PACKAGES::
You are going to want to purchase support packages for four reasons: (1) to have it budgeted for, (2) to make a commitment to use Studio Manager to its fullest, (3) to pay for upgrade and customization projects that will take several hours to complete and (4) to get a discount.

The blocks of support hours below are quoted at Janet's hourly rate because she does the bulk of customer support. However, since we structure our rates to be easily calculated, you can divide by two to see the rate you will pay for Scout's contributions and divide by three to see what you'll pay for Sally's time.