what to do when the mixing guy is dragging on your project...

**dontouch** · 02-11-2013

Last September I commissioned a local freelance mixer to mix a 4-song ep. Six months later, I'm still waiting for the last song. Is this the norm for unsigned artists? Granted it was a mistake not giving him a deadline, I just didn't think it'd take 6 months to mix 4 pop songs! I've been very patient to him but deepdown I'm anxious! But I don't want to breathe down his neck. Apparently he's overwhelmed with projects and he had apologized for it. I feel so dejected that I don't know what's the proper thing to say or do in order to get him to finish as well as maintain a positive vibe. Advices?

**diggy_dude** · 02-11-2013

Did you pay him for the work? I don't think it's unreasonable to expect a much shorter completion time. I'd get someone else to do the last song if you haven't paid him for it yet. And try to get your money back if you have paid.

**RawDepth** · 02-11-2013

Just mixing? It shouldn't take more than a few days per song at most.

It also shouldn't matter if you are unsigned or not. Aren't you paying his regular rate the same as everyone else? How did 6 months worth of "other" projects all end up ahead of yours?

That's exactly what deadlines are for. You can still give him one now.

**dontouch** · 02-11-2013

Originally Posted by RawDepth

Just mixing? It shouldn't take more than a few days per song at most.

It also shouldn't matter if you are unsigned or not. Aren't you paying his regular rate the same as everyone else? How did 6 months worth of "other" projects all end up ahead of yours?

That's exactly what deadlines are for. You can still give him one now.

I just wanted someone other than myself to mix the songs... But he did some production stuff(arrangment,etc) that really made them a LOT better. So...in that sense, he's kind of a producer?

Initially I had no idea of his rates. He asked 'bout my budget, I told him and he offered a 50% discount. I thought that was very nice of him.

But as time went by, I felt maybe his slow turnaround was because he wasn't getting paid full price. So I offered to pay him full when he's done. It ended up being a 25% discount and I paid the $$ as a "hurry up, please". I guess he didn't get it bc that was three months ago. It only inspire him to get the 3rd song done, minors the revision...

I just want some clarity on this. Even though I'm paying 75% of his full rate, does it still justified 6 mo. wait? Do I have the right to be frustrated?

**Michael Mason** · 02-11-2013

if you paid, you deserve the same service as everyone else, regardless of how much you paid him. Sounds like he wants the money though... 50% got you 2 songs, another 25% got the third....

**dontouch** · 02-11-2013

Originally Posted by Michael Mason

if you paid, you deserve the same service as everyone else, regardless of how much you paid him. Sounds like he wants the money though... 50% got you 2 songs, another 25% got the third....

He declined my offer of full $$, said 75% was 'perfect'.

**Mr Clean** · 02-11-2013

Just send him a polite message saying you're planning a release of these songs at X day/month and is the song near completion. Sadly some people are slow and if you don't ask, they won't say anything. You have every right to ask

My old band recorded an album with a producer in a pro studio, at mates rates. Big mistake. We waited months for a result and the result was very sloppy. We got the files and mixed it ourselves in the end.

**Mo Facta** · 02-12-2013

Yup, if you've paid him 6 months is totally unacceptable. Give him a deadline and if I were you, I'd let him know it's not cool to stringy you along like this.

Bad form on his part.

Cheers

**witzendoz** · 02-12-2013

Never pay until finished and satisfied, all the discount in the world won't make up for never getting the product.

However also see what is going on with him, I had a client that stopped coming in to work on his project, I thought he had changed his mine about using my studio, works out that he got very sick and spent the next 6 months getting well, so you don't know what is going on in peoples lives that slows them down.

Alan.

**dontouch** · 02-12-2013

Originally Posted by witzendoz

Never pay until finished and satisfied, all the discount in the world won't make up for never getting the product.

However also see what is going on with him, I had a client that stopped coming in to work on his project, I thought he had changed his mine about using my studio, works out that he got very sick and spent the next 6 months getting well, so you don't know what is going on in peoples lives that slows them down.

Alan.

Yeah that's the thing. Apparently he's been getting big projects involving national-acts/famed producers, and $$$(hopefully). Lots of all-nighters... Everytime we met up, he looked very unhealthy and in need of sleep. Who am I to tell him to hurry up for a nobody like me. I just think maybe it's bad timing on my part. SO now, he probably regrets the deal but obliged to work on it. I just pray that he finish it soon and not get sick because of that.