Recording Studio Rules

  • Thread starter Thread starter Fire Dome
  • Start date Start date
first of all, i tell people that if i break any of their instruments i will pay for it,
and then i say: if you guys break some of my gear down you also pay,
most of the time it are headphones, if someone is gonna act like a beast a micstand might fall over....mics cost more and are harder to replace quickly (for budget people)

people understand this, but it totally sucks if they do break down stuff, and u can sound like "a bitch" when u say how much they owe u now..
but it MUST be done this way, it will happen to you, and in the end you end up broke

no smoking, i used to smoke in this room but it stinks, definately when the room starts warming up, and there's not enough fresh air because of the sweat and stuff...if u mix that up with smoke, god, disgusting

don't bring other people, just don't, its not a live gig, i don't have the space and ehm...everyone is playing with headphones on!!!! don't think i'll buy extra headphone amps and cans for the fans !! + extra risc of breaking material, fucking up takes

NO cellphones, i mean, turn them off, (and dont forget to turn your off too :rolleyes: )

for the rest, if they act like assholes i just stop doing efforts, if they wanna fuck around, fine, don't expect me to do my best then,
if they show respect, then automaticly you start working better,
i do say it, but in a proper way, that they're in "a studio" and not Live, so they shouldn't get wild, and just behave

people do drink in here, i ask them in advance what they drink,
got me some beer and water today, but i don't let them drink too much,
me neither, shouldn't touch the beer at all actually...

! no weed

i used to smoke weed myself like crazy, but i noticed that when artists blow, they fuck up, start acting stupid and fuck up, even worse then when they drink a few beers

no weed, its not a fucking live gig :mad:

coke, whatever, hehe
 
There was this guy who enters the controlroom of the biggest studio in my country with a cup of coffee in his hand.

As he walks to the big SSL board he bends over and splashes a wave of coffee over and into the console.

Sssssssshhhhittt, he says, how clumsy of me!

The engineer is almost laying in his chair, totally relaxed and says: how's your insurance buddy?

Uhhh, how do you mean, the coffeespiller says? Well, I'm afraid the session's over and I'll call the tech now, gonna cost a $10 k I presume, the engineer replies, haven't you seen the sign 'no drinks in this room'?

True story, I was there. (no, it wasn't me with the coffee)
 
Han said:
There was this guy who enters the controlroom of the biggest studio in my country with a cup of coffee in his hand.

As he walks to the big SSL board he bends over and splashes a wave of coffee over and into the console.

Sssssssshhhhittt, he says, how clumsy of me!

The engineer is almost laying in his chair, totally relaxed and says: how's your insurance buddy?

Uhhh, how do you mean, the coffeespiller says? Well, I'm afraid the session's over and I'll call the tech now, gonna cost a $10 k I presume, the engineer replies, haven't you seen the sign 'no drinks in this room'?

True story, I was there. (no, it wasn't me with the coffee)
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Wasn't "Spill the Wine" inspired by a wine spill on an expensive mixer? Maybe that guy will get a hit out of it, too! :D
 
I've a got studio owner buddy of mine from my college days and he has space for hanger ons in his control room. He says he actually makes more money because there's about 1,000 inputs that really don't need to be made.... everybody wants to be a producer. He gets paid by the hour so if the talent wants to confer with everyone after each take then so be it. He noticed the younger bands probably waste about 1/3 of their studio time on unnecesssary jibber-jabber. If you got the space then what the hell...let them bring their entire crew. They'll pay for it in the end. Might sound kinda ass-holish but it's not YOUR job to ensure these guys stay on track and don't waste their money.
 
Fire Dome said:
The no smoking thing isnt a rule about not smoking outside, it is really abolut smoking directly outside. I would like not to pollute my baby sisters lungs. They can go on a little walk about 30 seconds and be out of the way which i am happy with.

I was really posting this topic to ask what other home/project studio owners with limited space do in terms of rules(guidelines if you want to use a less harsh word)

Dave
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I really think that you're going to have to reconsider this whole baby sister's lungs thing. For starters, musicians smoke. You're going to get people that want to smoke. Put an ashtray outside the backdoor, make them smoke there, and keep the baby sister the hell away from the backdoor when you've got people out there smoking. They are, after all, paying customers and don't expect the Spanish Inquisition for their money. They're going to be very taken aback if you ask then to take a quick stroll down the street. They also don't expect to be tripping over baby sisters while they're smoking or recording so you're probably better to keep the baby sister well away from anything and anyone. If they aren't allowed their own groupies why should they have to put up with yours?

If you really think that you're going to have clients that will break stuff, then put up a "You break it, you pay for it" sign.

Being a home studio it will be a little different than going to a business. Most people will behave a little better knowing that they are going to someone's home. But.... what rules you have, if any, are up to you. Just be aware that if they are too tight and unreasonable then your clients will be on the off-foot before you start.
 
earworm said:
don't bring other people, just don't, its not a live gig, i don't have the space and ehm...everyone is playing with headphones on!!!! don't think i'll buy extra headphone amps and cans for the fans !! + extra risc of breaking material, fucking up takes
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I'd like to oppugn with regard to setting this up as a general rule. If your studio space allows for having studio audiences and it works with the client and their crowd, you might get a "best of both worlds" of studio sound quality with live feel. As an example to this approach, see "The Tao of Mad Phat/Fringe Zones" by Steve Coleman & Five Elements, which is available for download on the artist's own website:

http://www.m-base.org/sounds.html

Rainer
 
ez_willis said:
1. No burning the studio down.
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You would think that would go without saying, but apparently the Black Eyed Peas should have been reminded of it. I read that they left a bunch of candles lit when they left the studio one night and pretty much incinerated the entire interior of the studio and all gear there within. I'm sure there was some nice gear in there.

Hopefully that means I won't have to hear a Black Eyed Peas song for a while though.
 
No drinks and No Smoking? All I can say is you will never have any clients. Alot of studio's do not allow smoking in the studio, but they do furnish a place to smoke. On the other hand, your's is a "Home Studio" and almost 90% of those I have been in always allow smoking, drinking, farting or whatever else the artist wants to do, as long as it is not destructive or disrespectful.

Drinks? You can't treat your clients like they are your little sister. They are adults and don't need sippie cups or be told not to spill their drinks. Singers need to drink, especially if they are nervous about their project. Their mouths become dry quite often due to nerves. If you are not going to allow drinks in the studio, you better have a good stop watch to stop their "time" when they have to make frequent trips outside your studio to get a drink.

Just some friendly advise from a guy that has been in over 100 different studios here in Nashville.

Mike
 
i find that most of my clients get excited when i let them light up. for hangers on...there is a foozball table downstairs and a few other couches downstairs too.
 
The key is respect. You have to respect the customer, and they need to respect you.

They don't need to respect you like a drill sergaent. You need to get a good rep, for you work, gear, and professionalism. I'm not saying that I'm all hot shit, because I'm not, but in my area, I've started to build up a descent name for myself. So when people come to me to record something, they know they're going to get a high quality product.

Because of that, they will treat me and my studio with respect. I ask that people not smoke indoors. I explain that this equipment is very expensive, and smoke will ruin it. But I show the deck outside with lawn chairs and ashtrays. If you tell them its because of your little sister, I'm sorry to say this, but they're going to laugh at you, and not take you serious.

I ask for no dope on my property, just because I'm in my house, and I don't want neighbours getting pissed off with stuff. Again, not a rule for every studio, but, if they respect what your doing, they will listen.

As far as drinks go, people get thirsty. Again, I just ask them to respect my equipment. If you put prices and that out, they will just think your a prick. But if you have a nice clean space, that looks classy, people will be impressed, and scared of messy that up, and carefull where they put their drink. As far as alcohol goes, if they want to get drunk and take twice as long, fine by me, I charge by the hour, with no deals. (deals, Thats a whole other topic in itself)


Make sure you discuss finances before you start any work. If you tell them the rate is "x", and is due "when", they will be cool. If you do the work and then ask for money, your screwed. Never give out any material until all work is paid for. Even if you think you can trust them, don't. Trust me, you will learn the hard way if you don't do this.


My Rules

Just respect me and my studio, no dope, no smoking indoors, careful where you put your drink, and no product without payment.
 
In Tune Audio,

That is very good policy and advise you have and pretty much how it is here in Nashville. Most artist have spent a small fortune on equipment themselves and they are not quick to destroy ANY equipment. RESPECT is the keyword. Good recording engineers are a dime a dozen and for that fact, so are studio's actually. And you must never forget who is the boss. The one that is paying the $$$$$.

Mike
 
There are rules (cash up front, you break you buy) and there are suggestions for a cost-effective and productive session (no drinking, no posse, no cell phones).

I think you need to separate the two clearly. If somebody wants to pay $50 an hour to have their friends interrupt a take with a cell phone call, you can just smile at the client with that I-told-you-so look.

-Todzilla
 
The other thing that I forgot to mention, and it ties in with the respect, is develop a relationship with your customers.

Most of my clients and I have now become buddies. If they stop and pick up a coffee on the way to my place, they usually buy me one. They'll give me a beer if they have brought some. Some have even moved far away, but still keep in touch. I have another client who has even started collecting some gear for him to do some recording himself (While that is frustrating and cost me a client, that's the nature of the business now) and I've tried to answer some of his questions.

If you really develop a relationship with them, rather than looking at them like a customer or a pay check, they won't want to steal from you or mess up your stuff. Plus, if you get to that point with them, there not going anywhere else, and there gonna tell people about you.
 
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