So what do you think I should start doing about no-shows . . .

[christiaan]

I live close to Nashville, just in case your family isn't keeping you busy enough

I'll keep that in mind
btw chess, sorry for taking over the thread.

 

[Shailat]

Yea, but how do you collect? It's a great policy, in theory, but these are basically all first-timers here I'm refering to. If they're not showing for a session, I don't know how much luck I'll have collecting.

It is a problem. I use a letter from a lawyer that I got and I reuse it any time I need it sort of a warning to pay up. If I have, to I go to a small claims court. It rarely happends as most people are decent enough to pay up.

But the truth is if it's a no show for a few hours (only) and it's a first timer, I chalk it up as a loss as it isnt worth running after.
I can say for the most part it doesnt happen very often. Most people who book studio time really want to record. I alway invite first timers to come down and chat a bit, see the place, and talk a bit about expectations so if I suspect I can be carefull.

If your getting burnt left and right I can't think of any other way other then demanding a down payment but I think it doesn't do to much for a studios image as a place that's creative/fun/cool/ with a good vibe.

If it's happening a lot then ask yourself are they taking your buiesness seriously. Do they think "it's a hobby for him so its no big deal if we don't show...." It's still crap no matter what but ' make sure when people book that they know that you are going to waiting there for them and you expect them to take it seriously.

Bottom line is...even the biggest and best studios get burnt from people not showing to people not paying...the worst I get are those that agree on one thing then argue about the bill.....

Do you have a girlfriend?....let her handle the booking. You be the good cop and she the bad cop. I once had to deal with this well known classical conductor who was all smiles and said sure..no problem.... just call my manager - my wife....she didn't smile once....and no problem turned into a problem.
I meet him every now and then and he still is full of roses, clean, full of smiles.... Behind every good man is his killer wife/girlfriend...

 

[pipelineaudio]

All that hard ass shit is great in theory, but in a lot of areas, the marketplace is saturated with tons and tons of trust fund baby studios to compete with, and if you come across as too business, theyll just go ( and not show up, possibly) elsewhere.

 

[chessrock]

If it's happening a lot then ask yourself are they taking your buiesness seriously. Do they think "it's a hobby for him so its no big deal if we don't show...."

That's a good thought, but I'm thinking it's probably the other way around. My promotional rates tend to be very attractive to those who really aren't serious themselves, or who just don't have their shit together. So what I'm getting are people who really should be rehearsing more, and/or shoring up their band situation (who's staying, who's going, which songs, who's playing what, etc.) before they even think of booking recording time.

Next time you think the small-timer recording places like mine are stealing business from you . . . think again. I'm doing you all a favor by taking all the flakes so you can focus on those who take their craft seriously and have more money to invest in it.

 

[cavedog101]

One-half down will secure a block of time.The other half is payable in two separate installments.The first is the second time you enter the studio.The last is due the last day of the project BEFORE any work gets done.This was always a good policy for me.Of course doing all the biker bands demos for free or for a case or two of beer always helps when you have to go to collections.And it really doesnt matter whether you are recording wankers or superstars, its your gear, your time investment , and its your rules.People who are serious about their craft will be the ones that make up the difference in the ones who are dicks.

 

[rushfan33]

Instead of a deposit based on an estimated time usage, why not just charge a flat $100 deposit payable by money order or cashier's check? That will at least be a guaranteed $100. After the first session they can start paying by check, cash or whatever. This way, it's a clean transaction, you know the $100 will be there when you cash the check. You can do a follow up call say 48 hours before the scheduled time to remind them that the session is in two days and if there ARE any problems, you'll know ahead of time. The $100 can be non-refundable, and to 4 or 5 band members, $100 is nothing to piss away! At the time a band is getting your money order, they probably won't even flinch at the amount, but if it was 1/2 of the session (maybe $300 or more) they might be a little less willing to gamble.

Just a thought....
RF

 

[chessrock]

Hmmm.

But if half the estimated session time comes out to less than $100 I'll do that. So $100 down or half the estimated session time -- whichever is less.

And that applies only to the hip-hoppers.

 

[sweetnubs]

i finally gave up on hip hoppers. Most of them are class A morons and are a waste of my time. they are as bad as the 80's hair metal bands i used to do back in the day. Thank god i don't have to rely on their business. I couldn't take one more hip hopper breaking one of my mics. Hey there mr. hip hopper, you should really get a belt for those pants . . .

 

[chessrock]

Hey there mr. hip hopper, you should really get a belt for those pants . . .

LOL. You're alright, Sweetnubs.

 

[crosstudio]

no one... and i mean no one touches my mic. i set it up. i tell you where to stand. you break my mic... i will turn your pockets rabbit ears and take the CD changer out of your car.

i'm not joking. i want my money.

i don't care about cancellations because i only book time when i know i want to be home anyway and i rarely do sessions for people unless they are a friend of a friend.

some friends of mine own a full time studio in DC (one world) on 9th and O where the new convention center is being built. if you don't show up, then they make you pay them for the first two hours of the session you missed before they allow you to book a new session... oh wait... that's for rehearsal space. i'm not sure what there exact policy is for the recording side of the house.

 

[littledog]

I don't have a problem with hip hop artists not showing up. For a while, it was just the opposite. I had a couple of guys who would just ring my doorbell unannounced, hoping that maybe I'd have a free hour so they could put down a rap they had just written.

Some of them didn't even have cars - they'd have to take a couple of different trains and then walk a mile to my studio. Never did quite figure out why they just didn't call first...

 

[Gunther]

Maybe a $20 deposit? It will only scare people off who weren’t really committed to showing up (which is what you want.)

If I was in a sucky band and didn't have much money, I think I would still understand why a $20 deposit would be needed.

Have them mail a check or paypal it... or drop it off.

I think they will see you as a more legitimate business too if you ask them for money, even a little bit. It makes a statement that you take yourself seriously.

 

[strmkr]

I usually do the 1/2 estimated time or block time deposit. When the session time comes if they don't show up and haven't called far enough in advance for a re-schedule,I'm going to charge those hours against the deposit just like they they were here recording.

The one exception I have to the rule is with gospel/christian groups. I make them pay all up front for any time they want to use because I have been burned to death by them. There is only one gospel group in the area I make an exception for because they have always paid up on time with non-rubber checks. The rest pay cash on the barrel head from now on. I even had one "producer" file chapter 7 bankruptcy,then he put the reference copy into print

 

[knightfly]

I think I'd try the "Warning Shot to the Head" approach - .357 mag if they're friends, .44 mag if they're not - If they're REAL hip-hoppers, they'll understand... Steve (yeah, just kidding - go the deposit route. If they get pissed, tell 'em "bye-bye" - all you will have lost is the aggravation...)

 

[crosstudio]

strmkr, that's horrible about gospel groups dogging you.

when i was advertising my studio publicly, i use to give 10% discounts to gospel groups as a way to 'pay my tithe' as a person practicing the christian faith. i've never had a gospel group stiff me.

i have a christian group coming to the studio tomorrow. a guy i use to go to church with when i was a teen is the drummer.

i would have gone to their church service and took their studio fees out of the offering plate. when they asked why, i would have told them off right in front of their preacher.

 

[sweetnubs]

yeah your're right about christian groups they are smarmy shady sons 'a a biches. they are cheap bastards always trying to get something for free. to quote william burroughs: "never do business with a religious son of a bitch. their word isn't worth shit, not with the good lord telling them how to fuck you on the deal"

 

[crosstudio]

churches are no more shady than the rest its just that you expect them to be more honest.

hey nubs, do they let open homosexuals attend church in your part of the earth?

everyone tries to do the diversity thang here in DC, but my homies in NC will stare you down something fierce if two dudes come up in the lords house looking too friendly to one another.

 

[sweetnubs]

yeah sure, you're pretty safe around these parts. ot that I go being an atheist and all. The only time i set foot in a church is to record and occasionally consult. I've recorded some beautiful pipe organs in my day. nubs loves pipe organs. (wink, wink)

 

[crosstudio]

a homosexual singer who was signed to capitol records and at one point sang back vocals for another DC native told me that slobbin' the nob helped open his throat so he could belt out the tunes.

i went to see him perform at a club we used to have here in DC called trax.

that dude could sing his ass off, but he was too openly gay for capitol records to ever do anything with him.

black and openly gay doesn't play well in r&b.

 

[littledog]

...unless your name is Luther....