How much $$ to charge to mix a project

[banjo71]

A buddy of mine in the bluegrass industry asked me to mix and master their cd. Normally I do one or the other, but I guess he'd like me to do both. I'm pretty much not doing this for a living, but I've been at it for about 10 years, running Pro Tools. It's a bluegrass group, so we're talking about 2 vocals, and 5 instruments. Small number of tracks, really. Normally there are 12 songs per bluegrass CD.

I will attempt to mix this CD, although depending on how things go, I may have another gentleman master this for me.

So if I mix it, how much would you charge? By the hour? Flat rate? (Then I can add the mastering charge separate.)

 

[MeltdownStudio]

Im thinking the very same thing here i have been producing for over 10 years now and i have friends who go to England to get there tracks made (Im Irish by the way, so its just across the water) but there paying £125 per day to do one track plus there flight is around €50 then a bus to the airport from where i live costs €30 plus money for transport when over in England and food. It works out pritty expensive just to get one track made, so i was thinking since im not a so called professional but with 18 years experience in the Hardhouse scene the average pay for a days work in Ireland is €80 to €100 per day, so thats what im thinking of charging to start off with ill also master the track for them but wouldn't get that done in a day so when im finished with the track the client can pay when he gets the Master.

 

[Massive Master]

I'd sort of go about this the opposite way -- See if you can find out what their budget is and go from there. Hourly is obviously ideal, but you really need to have some sort of idea of their expectations.

 

[Wanty]

Well i saw one time a guy that per track he wanted 50 dollars as far as i remember

 

[Protocall]

Well i saw one time a guy that per track he wanted 50 dollars as far as i remember

It all depends on the project. How many tracks are included in the mix? I can offer a even better price depending on the time required. Also note, a lot of people mix up Mixing and Mastering.

 

[banjo71]

I'll probably do this for this particular group for about $25 per track. I always put more time into it than I get money, but that's alright. I've laid the groundwork with the first "demo" song they gave me, getting it to sound pretty darn close to what everybody wants from the group. Now I just need to let them decide.

 

[Steenamaroo]

I'd sort of go about this the opposite way -- See if you can find out what their budget is and go from there. Hourly is obviously ideal, but you really need to have some sort of idea of their expectations.

I like this idea. I generally just talk to people and find out
A: What they want me to do.
B: What they expect to/can pay.
c: How long it will take me.

Usually I'll quote for the project with a per-track breakdown.

People are usually pretty happy just having the opportunity to chat it out. Most 9-5 studios will just quote a flat rate.