What should I do about my client?

  • Thread starter Thread starter chessrock
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JR#97 said:
and threw in Lopp's hummer... ;)
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Uhh. I'm not too sure I like the way that's phrased. :D




This thread is actually pretty good experience at someone else's expense. All my "clients" so far have been pretty cool. Now I'll be better prepared for the more extreme ones.
 
VOXVENDOR said:
Yeah, not many women know the components of drums, but there are some out there....

The ones I was working with, just called it a "ticking cymbal"... I sometimes felt that they were trying to show off/act as having a bit of knowledge, rather than actually addressing real concerns about the sound....
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:D That's just too funny, "ticking cymbal ... " now I've have to start using it, and people will think I'm doing so b/c I don't know any better when really it's just b/c it makes me laugh. :)

I don't suppose that will help me get taken seriously though ...

Right now I'm just into recording myself and the bands I play in, so no weird client stories. BUT, upon thinking about it further I thought this story might be relevant:

The band members in one of the bands I'm currently in were quite reticent about letting me record our demo ... BUT, I let them hear stuff from 2 different CD's worth of solo material I'm doing (1 CD done except final mixing, the other is preproduction) that put them at ease somewhat ... I had to *sell* them on my services ...

If a client hears what you've done and elects to hire you, I think that says they have some confidence in your abilities to pull something together for them. Right now maybe the client is just not seeing the Big Picture. A conversation I had with my bandmates was, "OK, so the demo is sounding like A right now. I understand we want it to sound like B. I can GET it to sound like B. These are the steps in the process we'll be taking to get it there." Then I explained what to listen for during each step (where applicable), how that made it closer to what they wanted.

It didn't sound like I wanted it to because if certain limitations we had going into the project, but right at the beginningI told them which challenges we had that were likely to translate into shortcomings.

Everybody seems happy with the end result ... I hear where things could've been done better, but in a twist of fate one of the songs did get picked up for a commercial spot on a local mainstream radio station, so I'm guessing it's not all that bad ...

Sorry if I'm rambling. I hope some of this tale is helpful ...
 
Vox,

You definately have a lot more patience than I have.If I was writing the songs,providing the studio,providing the instrmental talent and everything for these chicks,I would have informed them that I was the executive producer of the project and was presenting them with an opportunity to be on the recording.
If one,the other or both didn't like the sound of the "ticking cymbal",bassline or anything else,she would have 4 options at that point.

1.) Start coughing up cash at the regular hourly studio rate,then tell me what changes are needed while we are on the clock.

2.)Come across with the aforementioned hummer and let her friend throw in a titty-fuck for good measure

3) If they didn't want to exercise options 1 or 2,either shut the fuck up and let you produce,or..........

4)Gather up their shit and don't let the door hit them in the ass on the way out!

Maybe 23+ years in and around the music biz has made me a jaded old hardass,but that is how far that shit would have flown with me.

Have a great day!
 
Normally, I am a hardass.. but there was another producer going for them, and they went with me, but It was real close, so at the same time as them being pains in the ass, I wanted to keep them with me and keep them fairly happy, so they can make me rich and famous with our "hit song" :rolleyes:

I tried to flow with it and not rock the boat...... One of them did quit just before the end and it became a solo thing.... (I forgot to mention that part)

PS>.... Haven't seen any of the fame or riches yet.....

I should post the song.....Now your all curious, aren't you...:D
 
VOXVENDOR said:
I should post the song.....Now your all curious, aren't you...:D
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who cares about the song! post pics!!! ;)
j/k i'd be interesting in the tunes.
 
Just catching-up with the tail-end of this thread...

VOXVENDOR said:
The ones I was working with, just called it a "ticking cymbal"...
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...that's priceless! :D :D


And yes... post the song, Joe!
 
the song wouldn't be titled, "Hey Joe" (whatcha doin' with that gun in your hand), would it??
 
Chess--You bring back my nightmares! Fortunately, only two though. The worst case was a shrewd lyin' hillbilly that got me to record 8 tunes and mix and master them--all with the promise of payment from his backer. Gee! I could have bought some land in Florida! Gave him a master (for his rich backer to hear) and never got paid. I learnd the hard way. Won't ever do that again. I was naeve, trusting and gullible.

The funniest one was a client who had this 14 year old Brittany wannabe. They brought me karaoke tracks which she was to sing to. Did the session. Mixed her vocal with the tracks. I got paid. (now we are making progress, eh?!)

Father comes back, complaining that tracks (which I took digitally off the karaoke CD) don't shake his Jeep stereo speakers like the real CD's! So I do some EQ, he pays me more, and he's finally happy. I explain that I can't remix the karaoke tracks and all that jazz.

Downside is that I hated both projects, even though both sounded great in the end. It all boils down to how much crap you want to deal with. That 20%--80% rule is spot on. I'd tell this little bastard that if he wants pro CD tracks, he's just gotta trust you and quit being so antsy about it all. I'd also explain that you can only fix so much and that great records do require the input of actual musical and vocal talent. You can't turn a truck of sheep into the next superstars, even with the latest digital tricks.

My own rule is that the less somebody knows about recording and making records in general, the more they ask for--usually asking for the impossible. The lesser the talent, the bigger the demands too.

How come I don't sound like Shania? Or AXL? My voice sounds skinny! (It is a-hole!) Why doesn't my two chord folk song sound like Aja? Etc. I know you've already mastered it, but can you turn the piano up and the guitar down now?....Add some more echo to my voice too, ok?
 
Originally posted by crawdad How come I don't sound like Shania? Or AXL? My voice sounds skinny! (It is a-hole!) Why doesn't my two chord folk song sound like Aja? Etc. I know you've already mastered it, but can you turn the piano up and the guitar down now?....Add some more echo to my voice too, ok?
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Yup... the whole thing about opening your studio doors to clients is that you're opening your studio doors to clients! And along with a lot of decent, well-intentioned people out there, there's a percentage of freaks and losers that you will have to deal with as well.....

The one thing it does do is keep things interesting! ;)

Bruce
 
Hey Bruce....

Have you ever had to explain "Riddem" to a client?... :D
 
Not so far... and if I did and they didn't get it, they wouldn't be a client!!!! ;)

:D :D

Bruce
 
Crawdad

I actually hand out my card at local Karaoke nights to get money from all the singers that want to make CDs. Its bread and butter and enables me to buy more gear all the time. Even If I dont enjoy it It makes me 100.00 a shot, and they tell thier friends.

I know this makes me a complete whore but Im getting paid for this.
 
Re: Crawdad

darrin_h2000 said:
I actually hand out my card at local Karaoke nights to get money from all the singers that want to make CDs. Its bread and butter and enables me to buy more gear all the time. Even If I dont enjoy it It makes me 100.00 a shot, and they tell thier friends.

I know this makes me a complete whore but Im getting paid for this.
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I used to get tons of karaoke gigs. Easy money. Hell, a lot of the times, they'd just want a recording of themselves singing to a karaoke track! How easy is that!

Another good place to drum up business is open mic nights or jam nights. And don't forget poetry slams and cowboy poetry nights.
 
I got one of those tomorrow. A 19/20 year old girl that wants to record a song for her sister's wedding. She's coming with a keyboard player and a bunch of her friends as backup singers.
It sounds like a nightmare, but hey, my first paying customer!

Oren
 
Hey--there ain't a thing wrong with PAYING clients! Engineering is engineering. Usually, those karaoke singers are so enamored with their voice on a finished product that they go away smiling. Plus, you just made some bread.

Until you get to work for Columbia or something, there is no such thing as 100% great and talented clients. You're gonna get some dogs--and you'll have to teach 'em how to bark!

In the perfect world I suppose we would all work on glorious creative projects and nothing else. In my world, I still have to pay the rent. I do work on my own stuff and love doing it, but I'll take a good paying customer any day.
 
Ive also been Known to record the talented ones I really believe in for free, especially if their previous efforts were not recorded well. But I usually get a favor back from them in the form of session work for free and a little of the take. Then on thier next Effort I get the job but I get paid.
 
Yeah...

I'm not quite at the point where I feel qualified as an engineer to work with a lot of talent...becuase I want to do the talent justice.

Also, my "studio" is not the greatest thing...just one room etc like most of us, so hard to see bringing many paying clients down there. maybe those karaoke brand ;)

but, I have no problem doing things for free for at least the next 5-7 years. While I am young...and this is just something I am learning. Hopefully at that point, I will be good enough to start working with some paying customers.

I know I would have a hard time working with no talent though. Esp people like the guy who couldn't play guitar <sigh>. I'd pick it up, play the track for him, tell him to get over it. hehe

-Wes
 
The first clients just left half an hour ago.
Surprisingly enough, they were pretty damn good. The keyboard player was a total pro. Also sung great. The girl also had a wondefull voice. They had another girl who didn't really sing, just added a whisper track.
I'm really pleased with the result. I may post it tomorrow.

All and all, quite a pleasent surprise.

Oren
 
yes Aren - definately post it I would love to hear...

if you don't mind, what kind of rate were you charging?

I am sure the sister will be happy with it...and talent to boot...nice. the sister wrote the song?
 
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