Topic: Recording For Money

[kmanshi]

I'm pretty new to recording, and I'm doing everything I can to get out and record bands.  I'm really the only person in my area that is doing it.  At least taking the time to learn how to do it.  As a result, I've been approached by a lot of bands with the question, "will you come and tape us"?

Now, I don't have to tell anyone here, that a lot goes into recording, mastering, tracking, burning, etc.  Money aside, it takes quite a bit of time to record and produce a nice sounding audio cd, and or DVD.  Ever since I got into recording, I've realized that I now have two full-time jobs.  My question is, does anyone charge bands to come and record them?  Is this ethical?

I'm of the opinion that it is, and am curious to know what can be charged for our passion?  Let's say a band asked you to tape them.  You are willing to provide them a copy of the performance on CD (perhaps even doll it up in a nice case with some kind of label), and the actual (in my case) ProTools session that you created.  Assuming it's of acceptable or better quality, what would you feel comfortable charging?

I question my own abilities at this point, but someday I would love to make this more than just a hobby.  I mean, if you're doing a job you love doing, you never have to work a day in your life, right?  Sure, starving musicians aren't going to pay an ass load of money for a CD, but they can copy them and sell them at concerts, right?  With limited overhead outside of what they pay you to record, and the price of CD-R's, and I guess packaging should they decide to doll things up.  What can realistically be charged for something like this?  Or should I say, what would you be comfortable chaging a band that is trying to get out there?  If you're even comfortable doing it.

The more I think about it, it really shouldn't be about money.  I love music, and if I love a band's music, it should never come down to a price; however, If I'm going to sit through 4 pub sets of shite, edit it, track and master it, then burn it to CD-R's that I bought, I should be entitled to something, should I not?  Moreso than just the gratification I get from pulling a good sounding show.

Any thoughts on this? 

PS - How do you copyright a name for a production company?  And a logo?   

[mirth]

There was a discussion on this topic recently in the open forum... Maybe last week? I'd do a search that possibly involves the keyword paid and see what you come up with.

[mirth]

fwiw I've never been 'paid' for doing recordings. The only thing I've ever received out of the deal was a guest list spot and/or more gear for the bag.

[kmanshi]

Sorry about echoing.  I guess I'm not as bored at work as I thought.  Thanks to all for your input. 

[Simp-Dawg]

first off, what's your rig?  you mentioned protools so i'm curious if you're doing multitracking?
if you're using professional grade equipment and mastering multiple tracks, producing cd's, etc...hell yeah you can charge them.  i don't know what's fair though.
if you're just doing an aud tape or sbd, even a realtime or post production matrix, if it's for bands you like or respect, i'd lean towards not charging them...or if it's an opener for a band you do like and were going to be there anyways, etc.
if you have to go out of your way, to go out on a night you normally wouldn't, and record bands you don't like and wouldn't normally care to even talk through their show with friends cuz your friends won't even go, then yeah charge them.

what's fair price?  that depends.  again, what's your rig?  if it's a set of CSB's into a minidisc, you aren't going to be making very high-quality recordings and don't have the right to demand much for them.  if you're really serious about it, even if it is just an aud/sbd mix but you're time-aligning it and mastering it down, if it takes time on your part to make it sound at least somewhat professional, then you can demand a price.  maybe $50-100/hour of music?  i dunno, i've never charged anyone.  i also don't often tape bands i don't like, and if i do tape at the request of someone else and don't like it, i sure won't be seeing that band again.  often, i just show up and roll, if i they ask for a copy i'm usually happy to do it when i have time.  sometimes i go out of my way to offer it up, like for oteil (burbridge) and the peacemakers, luckily he was really friendly and i had a few words with him after the show and said i'd send him a copy if he gave me his address...he did and i followed through.

anyways, tell us more about your situation.  i've rambled enough.

[kmanshi]

Rode NT5 (matched) -> MBOX -> ProTools LE 6.4

Let me state for the record that my skills are not where they need to be to be charging anyone anything for any recording I do for them.  This is simply something I've been kicking around.  After posting this yesterday, I thought about it the rest of the afternoon.  Money was never the reason I started recording.  I started recording because I love music.  Specifically, I really liked the music my friend was writing/playing.  Providing an artist a copy of their own music can be a powerful tool for them to learn, and grow.  Handing my friend the first CD I ever ripped for him was what hooked me.  The way I felt when his band mates were coming up to me at the bar saying, "thanks for recording us, bro.... it means a lot to us" was all that I needed.  Call it karma, call it warm and fuzzy, call it whatever.  You can't put a price on that.

There's a lot more I need to be focused on.  I'm still dickering with mic configs, spacing, angles, and when to use a config in what situation.  I don't even know which one I like yet.  More importantly, I don't even know what will happen to the sound image if I go from XY to DIN or to ORTF.  Money?  Shoooooot.... there ain't no time for money.

[Digital Quality]

I was talking to a friend about how to moonlight a little bit with the rig. He suggested taping weddings, or maybe getting involved with the wedding video guy seeing as the wedding audio would be important to some people. He also came up with the idea of taping a funeral service. It sounds morbid but would probably be a nice memory to have for someone and video is not really apropriate at the service.

I thought those were cool ideas but I'm pretty much booked up with too much doing it for the music anyway. In search of the perfect tape