Things that tick me off:
1. Having tracks not clearly labeled (audio 1, audio 2 is the black hole of time).
2. Having no markers in a song (when the client refers to the bridge and it's not clearly labeled).
3. Getting a bloated session (please delete unused sound files).
4. Having a projects worth of songs that jumps from 24/44.1 to 24/48 to 16/44.1 and all coming from the same producer.
5. Not having a clear direction that they want from the mix.
6. Having to unwind a ton of automation from their mix, before I start my mix.
7. Having an albums worth of material to mix and they want to clog up my drives with their material. (please deliver a drive with all your material).
8. Not having the vocals tuned and expecting me to just do it because you know it's going to annoy me unless there done.
9. Giving me a tune to mix and after I mix it, you realize it's the wrong vocals... or the wrong guitars or something that you "thought" was finished, but wasn't.
10. This last one is only for the major labels: After all the work I've done on your project,
trying to get your artist to shine and have their best foot put forward, you would take more than 90 days to pay me.
That is the un-kindest cut of all.
PAY ME! PAY ME!! PAY ME!!!