| Oh it is so painful to read this - Ouch! I have been there, done that, swore I would never do it again, and then repeat ad nauseam...
You seem like a very customer service oriented audio engineer - Unfortunately your client will realize this and then proceed to use it to their advantage, even though it is inherently wrong. Equalizing the kick drum for four hours is ridiculous - Kudos to you for your tolerance... I would have thrown myself out of the nearest window 45 minutes into it (boost, cut, boost, cut, wander, boost, cut - UGG!)...
Most clients that I have worked with have not been that picky, but they do want to to be part of the mixing process in some way, shape, or form. Because you are painting a sonic picture, they want to hold the brush - Here are some ways I have included the artist(s) without them totally stepping on my toes:
1. Set ground rules - "Your input is very important to me, however when I am listening critically I would really appreciate a quiet environment so I can focus. Could you jot down your ideas and share them with me during breaks?"... I have found this helps tremendously when it come to clients barking out orders.
2. Ask your client to bring in a "guide CD" - Something that they feel reflects the overall feel they are going for. I will proceed to A-B them throughout the session - The artist will feel like they contributed substantially to the final product.
3. If you are working in a digital environment capable of automation, I will have each musician come up to the board and ride the fader throughout their individual track. Normally they are too afraid to go more than a couple of dB up or down, but they leave feeling like they were in control.
I hope some of these suggestions helped... Happy Mixing! |