How much $$$ do you charge??

  • Thread starter Thread starter Milkfaj
  • Start date Start date
This is a bit OT, but here goes anyways.

I spent the weekend at the Wintergrass Festival in Tacoma. Something like 30-35 acts on 5 stages in three different locations.

I couldn't believe the amount of gear these guys had. The main room had a board you would see at any nationally touring acts' show. Plus a seperate monitor board at the side of the stage. Of course, every set was digitally recorded for posterity.

I sat there wondering how in the world the sound company can make money when they need to bring out $500-750,000 worth of gear to a 3-day festival. And also pay to haul it in and out, and supply engineers, etc. It ain't like you can put those 1400-pound boards on the roof rack of a 78 Rabbit and run it back to the shop.
 
The writer of that Cadillac ad surely loved the subjunctive tense. Were I writing in 1915, I'm sure I would too. How did we get from there to Led Zeppelin?
 
i charge what whats fair and what people will pay.

$20 an hour isnt going to pay for my facility and equipment. And it probably wont pay for many others facility and equipment if its truly professional as it is.

Its hard to find a happy medium between the two.

Danny
 
Mine is a little goofy - I have an hourly rate that's used with certain clients, stem work, labels, etc. Then, there's an "Indie Package" rate that most regular projects fall into. It's basically a "all-inclusive" thing so people know what the bill is going to be - As long as there's nothing really out of the ordinary... :eek:

MM Rate Sheet
 
Your "indie" rates seem very reasonable, Massive. I just may have to take advantage of them one day.
 
I would say, that no matter what my skill level is, or my equipment stash, my time no matter what is going on, while I'm working hard with someone, is going to be at least $25 an hour right off the bat for my musical and (less audio) technical experience. Of course if all my skills improve it would increase, but you have to be happy about the money before you work, or you'll be thinking about that as if it's some unresolved issue and it'll get in the way of your best work.

I don't really 'get' spending less and getting less. I don't understand who would choose that. If you can't get the level of quality you really need, then don't do the project; raise money, pre-sell, do parties, get another gig/job, whatever, but if you can't properly fund a business venture, then it has one huge hole that can ruin it considering all of the other factors involved, why would anyone want to start off with missing pieces of the puzzle? It's like going into the studio with first draft quality songs, or w/out rehearsing.

Prepare and that includes prepare the budget for high quality. I'd rather wait 20 years for high quality than waste 2 years chasing after lower quality while nickle and diming everyone involved. Or, just save enough for one really good quality recording and get out. Then if the rest is in place, at least the full potential is apparent in that one production. Or, and this is what I guess I'm doing and so are many of us and it's why we are here, learn on your own and diy and take time and money, but less money and much more time. Then, at least you can have an idea of what it takes to try to achieve both quality recordings and the level of performance required. But that path can be endless and at some point it leads to a fork in the road: continue building diy or return to the investment of pro production. But, At least after some diy, if you go into a studio, you'll have rehearsed cheaply, did some test production and possibly be a bit more efficient in the process.

That leadership thing was interesting, reminded me of what I was reading about the Beatles press conferences in "all You Need is Ears" by George Martin. They were leaders and then they became targets. Then John mentions Jesus and all hell breaks loose.....
 
i have 2 rates and it depends totally on whether i know/like you, or i don't. for friends it's $20/hr.....otherwise it's $35. i take cash. my gear's not great, but it gets the job done pretty well. my room's not great, but it certainly works. in all, i can turn out a better recording than someone who doesn't have the gears and ears, and for some folks, the fact that i've made the investment so they didn't have to is all that matters.

truth be told, b/c i don't have a bathroom in the basement (where the studio is), i don't bring in many people to record other than close friends, b/c otherwise they have to piss in the yard (not so bad b/c we've got a few acres), or they have to go upstairs into the house and the wife's not too keen on that (AT ALL). once we put a bathroom in, though, i'll be running some local advertising......but until then i'll be a small operation recording mostly only my stuff and some assorted stuff for friends. have i made enough to recoup my investment? not even close.......but i did make enough last year that i could buy a BLUE Dragonfly with the proceeds. that's gotta count for something. :D

i know for a fact that i turn out a far better product than some folks in this town charging $50+/hr. i've heard a lot of locally done recordings--some on 24track 2" analog with neumanns, and man do they suck. :D


oh, and once we put in the bathroom, the rates are going up. :p


cheers,
wade
 
Maybe you could build in a "third" rate structure.

$40 / hour if you want to use the bathroom.

$35 if you can hold it. :D
 
$25 if you convince the bass player that it's a Miller Lite. :eek:
 
Depending on how good the job is, or what area, could range anywhere from 60-100 an hour or 200-2000 per song.
 
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