May 8, 2017

Meet Peter Decker of Riot Space Rehearsal Studios in Decatur

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to Peter Decker.

Peter, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I first sat down on a drum kit when I was 13, and I immediately fell in love with drumming. I’ve been in many bands and always really appreciated how music allows you to escape from whatever the world throws at you. Over the years, I rehearsed in many of Atlanta’s rehearsal studios, and it’s important to me that Atlanta continues to have that type of space available to musicians. I’ve been involved in a few small business ventures, but this is one I have a lot of passion about.

The inspiration for Riot Space Rehearsal Studios came to me one day while I was driving to work. It all hit me at once. The name, the vibe, the logo…really a whole vision just hit me. I didn’t know what to make of it at first, but as it began solidifying in my mind, things just started happening. I pushed for it. Doors opened and I walked through.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
No. In my experience, nothing worthwhile is easy. There’s always a learning curve and simply putting yourself and your idea out there can be scary as hell. For me, the biggest struggle was coming to terms with some of the impracticalities of a rehearsal studio business. I wanted it to be in town. And I needed lots of space for little rent in an area where noise wasn’t an issue but was still safe enough for late nights. If it isn’t obvious, I can tell you there aren’t many buildings left in Atlanta that fit that description. So, it took a lot of searching, a lot of negotiating, and some serious luck to get it done. I do believe that with enough focused action towards an objective, a path will open. Even if people tell you it can’t be done. And lots of people did say just that to me.

Another struggle for me is that because I tend to be such an action oriented person, sometimes I do before I think. I’m willing to take risks, and that can be a major asset, but it’s also easy for me to get out over my skis at times. Through this process, I’ve had many moments of panic when I’ve crossed a bridge only to realize there’s no way back. As an example, I signed a five-year lease and spent thousands of dollars building out a space only to realize that when I was done, I had no customers. None. I had thought demand would be so strong that people would be lined up to get into my space. I was very wrong and I freaked. But those moments force you to get creative and to push through the resistance.

Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Riot Space Rehearsal Studios – what should we know?
The business is called Riot Space Rehearsal Studios. We provide rehearsal studio space for local Atlanta musicians. The business model is pretty basic–space for rent. Four walls and electricity. Simple things.

Having grown up in Atlanta, it’s been exciting seeing the in-town areas come alive over the last several years with all the new development. But I think with all this progress we have to make sure to preserve the edgier side of Atlanta. Already, a couple of the big rehearsal studios have closed due to redevelopments. And the grungy old buildings that would otherwise make perfect artist enclaves, are just too ripe for the picking for developers. Prices and rents have shot up. The places musicians could practice are now very scarce.

So in Riot Space we wanted to provide in town rehearsal space that’s affordable, convenient and safe. Space to get loud and escape. Our mission is to better Atlanta by providing its citizens space for artistic expression. I think that’s what we’ve created. And that’s what we’re most proud of at Riot Space.

Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
I think courage is a really important quality…. especially if you’re starting a business. There’s so many unknowns and a lot of risk involved. Financially and personally. It takes courage to keep pushing even when it seems like there’s no way through. But if you have a vision and stick to it, the rewards can be really great. For me, when I heard that first band playing in the space, I stopped to really savor that moment. I thought…crap, it’s taken a lot to get here, but making a vision become reality is a deeply rewarding experience.

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