how much would you ask for this work?

bosone · Post by **bosone** » Tue Jan 14, 2003 11:43 am

if you were NOT a pro-rec-engineer, and you were asked to do a studio recording session for a band, how much would you ask?

in particular, what i did and probably will finish in future:
bring all my setup (PC, adat converter for 8 input, monitor, etc...) to the band's room.
the total time passed in recording will probably be 15-20 hours (divided in two days)
arrived at home, i do a pre-mix (let's say 5 hours of work) and clean all the tracks
then, i spend 3 o 4 saturday afternoon (5-6 hour each) with all band's member altogether in order to match their ideas (effects, audio editing, etc).
the result will NOT be a pro one, but it will suit perfectly the band's demanding.

thank you for your suggestion!

_________________
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<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: bosone on 2003-01-15 02:35 ]</font>

borg · Post by **borg** » Tue Jan 14, 2003 12:09 pm

i'd do it for free if they're friends. if these folks are people you just know, at least be sure they provide you with everything you 'consume' (food, drinks, whatever else your body or car takes in) and your 'costs'.
but as you will be busy for a lot of hours, a little extra wouldn't be too much to ask for.

if you don't know these people, i'd for sure ask some cash. how much? i don't know... maybe try and keep track of the total of hours you worked on it. think about a fair price, per hour (how high do you value your own skills? how much would a pro ask? just find a balance).

anyhow, it might be good thing to decide, until you hear the end result, and how the band reacts, to write the final bill

so maybe you can say: 'it's going to be a minimum of € 150, and a maximum of € ???

if i would be in this case, it would all depend on how well i know these peole.

also, tell the band what they can expect and what not.

just how i, a non pro as well, would deal with it.

jupiter8 · Post by **jupiter8** » Tue Jan 14, 2003 12:10 pm

How much do you wan't to do it?
And how much do they wan't to?

paulrmartin · Post by **paulrmartin** » Tue Jan 14, 2003 1:04 pm

Base price (200-250 euros sound fair)plus an hourly fee(30-40 euros/Hr) from the moment you start packing your stuff(like a plumber).

Immanuel · Post by **Immanuel** » Tue Jan 14, 2003 2:06 pm

I would say - even if they are friends, it is perfectly fair to ask them money for it. How much does your equipment cost you a year? 3000€? How much do you get to use it a year 1000hours? How much of the time you spend with the gear is nothing but learning (wich benefit you clients/friends)? I could easily see you "spend" 200€ on that project. Do not undersell yourself. If you do a good job (not pro - just good) - get your expenses covered and get some money too. What Paul says is maybe (depending on your skills) not too far reached. If you need this job yourself to practise, because you feel rather unskilled, then maybe just get the money, you "spend", and the money it costs to make you a living person for 2days (house/room/appartment + food and other essentials).

Immanuel

astroman · Post by **astroman** » Tue Jan 14, 2003 3:21 pm

estimate at least 50% to 100% more time than in your first calculation.
It will certainly take that amount on such a loose planning (nothing bad with that) and you can't stop in the middle of creativity / mixing just for time's sake.
Then check (international) what a 'studio-day' sells for on eBay (great idea according to krizrox, btw) and reduce 25-50% for considering yourself a 'non-pro'.
Then you'll have a reasonable sum to talk about with your buddies and don't have to feel uncomfortable.

my 2 cents, Tom

Post by **garyb** » Tue Jan 14, 2003 5:10 pm

well,pros make an easy $50 an hour(and easily more for a good one),so what's fair?$20 an hour? $10? $5? your call......

remixme · Post by **remixme** » Tue Jan 14, 2003 6:11 pm

If they are friends or not. I would get some sort of deposit to cover equipment damage. And don't lend them money! See below

I did something similar about a month ago, thankfully no damages, but we never got the whole album done, we couldn't get hold of a decent vocal mike, (it was done on the cheap to be honest)
And I lent them money for equipment hire, which I haven't had back yet, one of them is a pretty good friend, so I trust him plus I can bust his kneecaps soon if I don't get money back.

We hope to do the final vocal tracks at the end of this month, we started in a weekend in November!!!

It's just a warning that sometimes things for friends can drag on a bit.

Tony B · Post by **Tony B** » Tue Jan 14, 2003 6:24 pm

Be careful. People would make you feel what they are going to do is no big thing but once you get started they would start to make GREAT demands. I had that experience which caused me to spend a lot of time doing a recording. The guy said the song is very simple but once we started it was very hard to satisfy him. Don't give away your services. You have a great system. Good sounds.
$50 an hour. Nothing less. Friendship cannot buy a SCOPE card.

bosone · Post by **bosone** » Wed Jan 15, 2003 2:34 am

wow! i would not expect to receive so much answers!

actually, one of them IS a friend of mine, a guy which i know since my childhood... we are friend since 20 years!

anyway, i didn't know the other two members of the band, so i think that i will ask them not much money...
nearly half of the work is done (we did 1 of the 2 recording session and some of the song are ready) and we will retirn to the room in february.
i was thinking about asking 25-30 euro to each one of them... considering the friendship with that guy...
anyway, i will take care of your suggestion!

my goal in this work is not making (a lot of) money... for sure i will re-invest the money into some gear, and perhaps i will be asked by another band to do the same non-pro job... and this time the price will raise a bit!

and besides all these, it was (and is) a NICE experience for me, i never made such a recording session and such a mix!

Spirit · Post by **Spirit** » Wed Jan 15, 2003 2:56 am

Some good advice I read on another forum:

Either charge people the full amount or do it for free. I think this is good advice. A "halfway" price is not an act of deep friendship, and neither is it business.

If you feel they are friends then get "lifetime free entry" to their shows and a bottle of vodka.

If it's business then give a rough quote beforehand based on discussions. The present the bill afterward explaining any differences from the quote.

Really this should have been done before you started.

I'd be inclined to do it free. Maybe their word of mouth will get your real paying business from non-friends.

_________________
Where I rest . . .

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Spirit on 2003-01-15 03:56 ]</font>

Skunker · Post by **Skunker** » Wed Jan 15, 2003 3:18 am

>>>> 200-250 euros

This is for the same in a pro recording studio with a decent room for mic ecording.

In answer to the question, it more 20/25 € unless they agree to pay more (bringing your whole setup ?)

thermos · Post by **thermos** » Wed Jan 15, 2003 4:36 am

doing work for friends/people you know are great.
It should be beneficial both ways, you record them and let them have their demo, in return they are patient with you and let you experiment with the consept of recording a full band. the result should be that they will have a good free demo (and probably more and better demos in the future), and you will at the end of the day be a better producer/engineer and wil have experience and something to show when real businis comes through your door.

If all this fails, its aleast fun to be creative with good friends.

thermos

Tony B · Post by **Tony B** » Wed Jan 15, 2003 4:57 am

Once you put these type of Sound Card into your Computer big business has started. A good question is how far are those guys taking that recording? Don't underestimate a song!!!!! Check
the Copyright Act and see who gets the ROYALTIES

. When you do a recording as a Studio Recordist that's it for you NO MORE, NADA, ZILCH, ADIOS.