a question for Michael Jones

[Michael Jones]

From my experience a rational way of adding income to a studio is to become the Producer!

Find a band in your town that is about to break - i.e. the street talk is that this band is about to become famous. Go and sign them up and use your downtime to record them with no time limits etc etc. and no cost to them. You may have to front the money for tape, hiring additional gear if necessary , whatever but with a completed album under your belt you should be able to either sell or lease it to a major?? If you really want to make the most of it you should also sign up their publishing to your own publishing company.

cheers
john

Yeah. Sounds good. But the band's going to want you to front them cash. They think they're getting a record deal, and are going to want da long green, da money down, da big roll...

 

[frederic]

Yeah. Sounds good. But the band's going to want you to front them cash. They think they're getting a record deal, and are going to want da long green, da money down, da big roll...

Yeah, they always ask, don't they. The couple of times I went through this I made it really simple.

I pulled out a copy of a major label contract, which in a nutshell says "here is your front money, but you won't see anymore until after we pay for recording, mixing, mastering, producing, marketing, tours, materials, legal fees and daily breakfast for 200 executives. Then, IF there is any money left over (if we don't get bored with you sooner), we'll give you some minor coinage.

Then I explain how I work. They get nothing up front. They in turn, owe me nothing but "their best" in the studio, "their best" on gigs I schedule, and exclusivitity (sp?) for "X" months. I used to pick 18 or 24. If nothing bit by that time, it was time to part ways on a handshake.

Usually they "get it". if they don't, I wish them well and forget about them entirely and wish them well. More power to them if they can find a deal more suitable to their needs.

 

[mixmkr]

From my experience a rational way of adding income to a studio is to become the Producer!

Find a band in your town that is about to break - i.e. the street talk is that this band is about to become famous.

from my post...a couple up..

originally posted my mixmkr>>>>>as I worked for a booking agent that also ran a small 1" 8track studio. We got quite a bit of work from all the bands that he booked, and he also brought in bands on HIS nickle so he could play producer and try and "make a hit". The bands basically just had to pay me...their studio time was free, except for my wages.<<<<<<<

that got a lot of interest from a lot of bands, of course...but making the "hit" was another story! lol!! (that was 25 years ago now... )

Like I said, those were the "best" sessions as he (and sometimes we) picked the bands to record, and ran the show... plenty of experimenting...you know...the drum kit in the reverb chamber crap and swinging microphones around....


I agree...it is a good idea....if it can pan out. But unlike the thinking that the band wants some front money, I think many bands will take a professionally recorded album (for basically free....ownership to be decided down the line*) as a down payment...eh? Kinda like Frederic's plan.... a good one.

*you know what down the line means...right?!!

 

[John Sayers]

Yeah - I agree about the upfont coinage but I think that's just a hangover from the old days

Putting upfront like Frederic described I think is cool - it's part of your investment in the band, but as you are the record company I reckon you deal with their manager and if they don't have one you appoint one.

All record deals are agreements between management and record companies stating who is going to do what and pay for what. The resultant contract deal, i.e. points, is determined by this arrangement IMO and is extremely flexible and provided the deal you agree to is fair for both parties you've got a great chance of getting full payment for your time and a bonus for your input.

PROVIDED THE BAND HAS A HIT

cheers
john