Charging for service

> > > Charging for service

Posted on

Hold 'Em Czar
Member Since: Dec 30, 2004

ok most of ya know i'm workin' on a 7 song EP for some real good friends of mine....my parents and other engineers are telling me i should charge them for my service. as i am planning on spending (off the top of my head) roughly 80 hours mixing. that plus my gear, my experiance, and knowledge adds up. so i'm gettin' alotta pressure to get paid for this gig....the thing is is that these guys are all close friends, AND this is my FIRST real gig as an engineer. i'm quite confident the will like the final product and they do plan on makin' about 500 copies of it. i've already told them i wouldn't charge but i will keep a time log of time spent workin' on it. an engineer friend of mine said i should charge about $300 and do NOT give them a final mix of any song until i get the money. that kinda makes me uncomfortable. what do you guys think.

peace

wyd

[ Back to Top ]


Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002

Jan 18, 2005 04:07 pm

If this is your first real gig, the word of mouth might be more valuable than any payment. Some small token fee, like the mentioned $300 would be cool, or maybe a cut off the sales they make. $.50 per disc or something...royalties, baby.

Hold 'Em Czar
Member
Since: Dec 30, 2004

Jan 18, 2005 04:13 pm

yeah i was thinkin' that too. and yeah i do wanna use this as a kinda portfolio or something.

thanks

wyd

Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002

Jan 18, 2005 04:20 pm

Years ago I did a few jobs cheap/free in audio and web production stuff, it paid off by referrals, portfolio content and the like.

At this stage of your business I would recommend concentrating on that first, of course you deserve to get paid but I wouldn't ask for much.

Of course wives/significant others/friends don't always see that side real easily, but really it depends on your goals. Do you just want quick money now or build a reputation that could allow for making money of the course of a lifetime?

I've "been in business" for...jeezuz...about 6+ years now (wow, time goes by) and just months ago it became my full time job (not only studio, but media production on a broader scale including studio work), so I have been down this road. If you want to do this as a business, sit back tonight and take a good hard look at your long-term goals and do whats best for that, not just for tomorrow.

Just my two cents.

Hello!
Member
Since: Jan 12, 2004

Jan 18, 2005 04:26 pm

Hey Lads

Im in EXACTLY the same situation...wierd or what! I've just done mastering a CD for a mate who spent a small fortune having it tracked in Pro-Tools...hmmmm, nuff said.

I am also doing it for free for the referals and also, crucially, the sleeve mention with my new web address and my name/business name (new business Im setting up too).

So, I thinks, I'm gonny do it for that AND cause my buddy paid too much for what he has. Feel a little sorry for him cause if the truth is told, his band aint that good. They are all in their mid 20's so they aint kids and I did say to him after his last (pro done - hmmmm) EP that he needed some better songs to make anything out of it.

He has 1 killer song on this ep and the rest of it is better but its still not kickass bar one song which I like. In light of this, I have also offered to remix his song (which is a remix - GET THIS - he told me he felt "limited by the pro-tools studio he was using as the engineer couldnt get his band live" !! LOVING IT LOVING IT LOVING IT !!!! Yessss.... So - goes to show - the pro's with pro-tools (no offence to all users of it - but THERE IS more than that one system!).

Anyway, I digress, I offered to do him a full remix on his good song. This, may help him oot as I'll add this to the final master and he may get something for his efforts.

Point is, its all aboot publicity. I may even get the dupe gig (I can get some discs duped over here cheap by a mate) so I could score in the end a little for my time...beer money really but the main prize is the 1000 mentions on the sleeve etc and word of mouth.

Cheers

Coco.

Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002

Jan 18, 2005 04:34 pm

Another moment I remember actually experiencing and a lesson learned from it:

Gotta be careful about the "totally free" jobs. Ya don't want another friend comin in and saying "what, well, you didn't charge [insert name here]". So a meeger something should always be asked, if even only enough for dinner.

Hello!
Member
Since: Jan 12, 2004

Jan 18, 2005 04:41 pm

Fair point...though, I reckons I can maybe get me some nice work from his band on the strength of this i.e. some Enhanced CD work, promo discs (DVD or SVCD) and some PDF's i.e. songbooks.

If I can do that little lot for them, I'll make a nice wee bit for my efforts.

Tho, I do agree and I shall NOT be affording free work EVER again...the trouble there was I was gonny do it for the lads for months...my bad - just gettin round to it (tho they hadn't long finished their disc so their bad too).

I guess ma karmic account will be growin...

Coco.

Eat Spam before it eats YOU!!!
Member
Since: May 11, 2002

Jan 18, 2005 04:59 pm

With friends realize that as soon as any ammount of money is transacted then they will expect the world. I had this happen with a video project last year.

If it's your first gig then do it for free so you know what dealing with people is like, before you have to learn what it's like to deal with people who have "certain expectations."

That way, if you get sick of them you can call it off and only time is spent. It's not like they arn't getting their money's worth :)

Hold 'Em Czar
Member
Since: Dec 30, 2004

Jan 18, 2005 05:05 pm

well, based on the fact that i have already told them i'd do it for free, and they do give me tons of a certian herb and beer. i'm content with that. next band i do i'll charge some money.

thanks guys

wyd

Banned


Jan 18, 2005 09:53 pm

that certain herb is very expensive these days so consider yourself makin phat cash!!

Member
Since: May 26, 2004

Jan 18, 2005 10:42 pm

I have a friend named Herb ,and he doesn't run up the bills as much as the beer and I guess it would depend on if the friends were close close "budds",but you should charge them something if only it be picking you up a used peice of gear ,or springing on the pizza ,mowing your lawn. nothing is free in this world including friendship,patience and kindness.

Hold 'Em Czar
Member
Since: Dec 30, 2004

Jan 19, 2005 11:37 am

yeah i hate that part of the night....."$80??? how did i drink that much?? ahhhh Jagerbombs $7 a pop, 3 pitchers, hell there's 21 bucks...and there's that "round of drinks on me!" oh yeah gotta tip well cuz i'm a regular here" ick, yeah drinkin' out is prolly one of my worst vices on my wallet.

Prince CZAR-ming
Member
Since: Apr 08, 2004

Jan 19, 2005 03:56 pm

I dropped that habit, and then could afford a much better computer, a good mixer, a decent mic, good guitar processer, etc, etc, etc.

=)

Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002

Jan 19, 2005 03:59 pm

yeah, pjk, I'm with you. I dropped that whole scene...life has been much more fun and productive since.

Hello!
Member
Since: Jan 12, 2004

Jan 19, 2005 05:12 pm

dropped all bad habbits except for ma beer....I canny give up ma beer. As Geetar Jim said "Hats to beer ma boys" !! hehe.

Coco.

A small pie will soon be eaten
Member
Since: Aug 26, 2004

Jan 19, 2005 06:05 pm

So long as there is little bit of blood left in my alchohol stream i'm ok!

Hello!
Member
Since: Jan 12, 2004

Jan 19, 2005 08:20 pm

For sure....for sure. In fact, less blood...more broon ale...weehey!

Coco.

> > > Charging for service

Related Forum Topics:


If you would like to participate in the forum discussions, feel free to register for your free membership.