Charlotte Bibby

This week to celebrate Small City, Big Personality’s 5th birthday we featured an article on the 5 best music tuition services in the city.  One of our absolute favourites is the up-and-coming The Echo Lab Music Studios, which was set up by Charlotte Bibby and her business partner Kerr. 

As the director and resident drum tutor at Echo Lab, Charlotte has recently overseen a move of premises to a brand new location on the Shore Road.  This has allowed the fledgeling company to add a recording and rehearsal studio to their business. 

The move has necessitated Charlotte to get stuck in with a bit of decorating and renovating.  Over the last few months, she could often be found with a paintbrush in one hand and a mobile phone in the other as she simultaneously gave the place a lick of paint while seeking out new business opportunities. 

Charlottes working hours are usually 11am-11pm.  At the moment and she admits that with The Echo Lab growing at such an exponential rate she sometimes struggles to strike a At the end of the day, my job is fun and I love doing it, so it doesn’t feel like work.  As the studio grows though I’m going to make sure I get more downtime.work/life balance. 

'At the end of the day, my job is fun and I love doing it, so it doesn’t feel like work.  As the studio grows though I’m going to make sure I get more downtime.'  

Like a lot of musicians in Perth, Charlotte, originally from Falkirk, was drawn to Perth by the world-class music department at Perth UHI. 

She has lived in Perth for the last 6 years and couldn’t imagine living anywhere else.  On her days off she loves to check out the merchandise at the Disney Store, grab a coffee at Chesters Coffee house or a tasty burger at Perth institution Paco’s. 

When I spoke to Charlotte it was just a day before the launch of The Echo Lab Music Studios at the new premises, yet somehow she still managed to find a couple of minutes to answer my questions.  Charlotte's time-management skills are totally on fleek! 

Tell us the weirdest / funniest thing that has ever happened to you at work?  

Not sure how funny this is, but it’s quite difficult teaching students who are very young and have junior sized drum kits. Imagine 5ft 8 me, sitting on a 6-year-old’s drum seat trying to bend my leg in to kick the bass drum. 

What signals the start of your days off? 

With all the preparations going on at the moment, days off are on hold for the time being. However, any opportunity to work on my personal drumming and just put my music on shuffle and play along and ‘jam’.  

What might people be surprised to know about you? 

I’m partially deaf in one ear and have been from a very young age.  Not sure that playing the drums so much helps!!  

What is at the top of your bucket list? 

I honestly always wanted to own my own music studio so that I could play my drums at any time and any volume that I want.  It’s amazing to be able to tick that off the list! 

What is the worst job you’ve ever had?  

I haven’t really had any ‘bad’ jobs.  I’ve worked in various retail roles, that helped me finance college and gave me the skills and experience that I now use in my own business. 

Who or what inspires you? 

Seeing live music really encourages me and motivates me to play my drums and to improve. Several of these occasions have been this year; Meeting Clem Burke (Blondie drummer) and playing on his kit whilst in Kinross in January was pretty special. And also drummer Victoria Smith (Miles Kane/Soulwax), who we invited up for our first Drum Spotlight Event. Her energy whilst performing is insane, but she’s also one of the most lovely, down to earth, people I know.  

Tell us about the day you’d love to live again? 

I met Clem and Victoria on the same day this year in January, making these connections has allowed me the inspiration to push through barriers and allowed me to have more confidence in myself. 

What’s the best part about your job? 

That it doesn’t feel like a job. Playing my drums and teaching young people new skills and giving them more confidence to play whether for fun or to help with their school work, that makes it all worthwhile.  

Complete this sentence; the best things in life are… the product of hard work.