Running A New Home Studio

[adubl0]

Whats going on guys? I just finished constructing my new studio in my basement. I had been using my closet in my room as a vocal booth, and now i have a full 8x4 fairly soundproofed booth built in my basement.

My question for you guys is...I have been promoting my studio for a while now and I finally got my first client. The pay scheme I came up with is $55 for the first 2 hours(have to paid up front) and then $20 for any other hour after that. For the people who run studios out of their homes, how do you charge your customers?

 

[Dogbreath]

how do you charge your customers?

beer.




I think most of that comes from where you're at. What will the area support? How many other studios in the area? What kind of quality can you expect to give? Demo quality or master quality?

In my area, I'm it.

But I don't usually do any outside work. Mainly just me.
I've recorded a couple of demos that sounded good and the band was happy with em.
They were freebies (except for the beer )

 

[adubl0]

ahah Beer always works....but the taxman doesn't seem to like that currency as much as I do lol. Im from New York and I basically been recording my friends for free and the quality came out better than I expected. I think Im going to stick to this payment method and see how the work/pay scale goes for this first run.

 

[Yonce N Mild]

beer.

Quit stealing my business plan dude!

 

[suprstar]

Taxman, what? Income? Screw that, if I'm gonna claim a few bux/year in income, then I'm ALSO claiming the purchase price of all my instruments and gear, depreciation, home office (studio) deductions, electricity, etc....

Anywhoo, I don't record many bands, but I get one every once in a while. The deal I gave 2 of my buddy's bands - $250 for a appx 3-4 hr tracking session, and a weekend of mixing - maybe 20 hours total.. I gave MY band a little better of a deal, ie free.. Then there's my wife, she like to sing, she pays via other, umm.... non-monetary means

 

[Phyl]

Did the first group (album) for free because it was a learning experience for both of us.

The next band was $40 per song because they are friends. What a mistake - I ended working for a nickel and hour.

The next album was $100 per song and I still felt I was working for too little. I'll probably charge $150-200 a song for the next album.

Projects that involve single songs or miscellaneous audio work I charge at $20 an hour. I'll be increasing that rate as well since I'm getting confident that I can produce results equal to the other project studios in my area.

You have to be careful with how you track time when using an hourly rate. For instance, if the session is plagued by brain farts on my part I won't charge the client for the time spent figuring out why my board or software isn't doing what I expect.

 

[adubl0]

Yeah Im going to use this session as a rough run just to figure out where I lie with everything. I might have to increase my rates...or I might not have to...we shall see...

 

[TeyshaBlue]

Then there's my wife, she like to sing, she pays via other, umm.... non-monetary means

What a coincidence...that's the same arrangement I have with yer wife.





















Sorry...couldn't pass it up.

 

[Richard Monroe]

It depends on how good their weed is.

 

[austinm08]

Did the first group (album) for free because it was a learning experience for both of us.

The next band was $40 per song because they are friends. What a mistake - I ended working for a nickel and hour.

The next album was $100 per song and I still felt I was working for too little. I'll probably charge $150-200 a song for the next album.

Wow, same exact thing happened to me. I recorded two bands recently, charging $20/hr (cheap since it was a learning experience for me).

In the end I must have made 50 cents or $1 an hour... BIG MISTAKE!

What a coincidence...that's the same arrangement I have with yer wife.

 

[moresound]

I just stand on the off ramp of the local freeway with a sign......



*WILL MIX FOR FOOD*



It's been working out good so far.

 

[Dogbreath]

What a coincidence...that's the same arrangement I have with yer wife. .

It depends on how good their weed is.

*WILL MIX FOR FOOD*

beer.

)

she pays via other, umm.... non-monetary means

huh...looks like all the bases are covered.

 

[suprstar]

What a coincidence...that's the same arrangement I have with yer wife.

Sorry...couldn't pass it up.

She tells me she prefers my large capsule dynamic to your little condensor. She has a thing for that nice thick tone. Ya bastard