What are you mix engineers charging?

[cap217]

I know, I know.... I shouldn't ask this in a thread and it breaks the rules. Therefore, you can PM me... The reason I ask is because I want to know where to price myself. I am currently getting a lot of work thrown my way for mixing projects from Indi-labels, top-labels, and some independent artist. I change my prices to fit whom I am working with and what they want. If they want a Neve room or ans SSL room I upcharge. If they want alternative mixes etc.... I just need ballpark figures. I priced myself at $500 a mix for a smaller label and they accepted. Makes me think for future work I can demand more. I know it is what I think I am worth but I DO NOT want to set prices to high and price myself out of work! I read something in here when a guy was charging $1500 a mix flat fee. To me that seems kind of high unless you are really in demand. From what I have been told my $500 a mix is slightly pricey, but I get work! Please help me out!!!! PM me if you want to remain unknown to others.... thank you!!!

[djui5]

my prices are on my site.

$500 a track for indie labels is a fair price. I've been quoting stuff quite a bit lower than what's on my site, but it's for self funded artists.

When dealing with majors if you tell them you'll do it for $500 they might think your not professional or desperate...neither of which looks good.

Pro's get anywhere from $1,000 a song to $3,500. Then there's the top shelf fokkers....but we'll not get into that cuz I'll just get depressed again

[Jose Mrochek]

Yeah, If you are being paid 500$ a song and been getting work, I would keep it there. It´s alof of money for a days work no ? You will be able to do the 1k + thing only if you mix a hit eventually. I wouldn´t raise the bar if that didn´t happen yet, but that´s just me.

[cap217]

Thats good advice.... Do you add on equiptment charges on top? Say they want a 4K SSL mix.... I have been asked this, so I have to rent the room and charge on top of that. Then its like how do I compete? I am up to at least $1250, thats tough! And when mixing do you provide alternate mixes at no charge? I get this.... Master at 24bit, Instrumental, VOX 0, VOX +1db, Clean edit.... some clean edits are tough at times. Do I charge more? Then I get some mixes where I get a call to bring up ad-libs or bring up an instrument. I do all this for free I guess but I aam starting to think I should charge!

[Mike Caffrey]

Originally Posted by cap217

I know, I know.... I shouldn't ask this in a thread and it breaks the rules. Therefore, you can PM me... The reason I ask is because I want to know where to price myself. I am currently getting a lot of work thrown my way for mixing projects from Indi-labels, top-labels, and some independent artist. I change my prices to fit whom I am working with and what they want. If they want a Neve room or ans SSL room I upcharge. If they want alternative mixes etc.... I just need ballpark figures. I priced myself at $500 a mix for a smaller label and they accepted. Makes me think for future work I can demand more. I know it is what I think I am worth but I DO NOT want to set prices to high and price myself out of work! I read something in here when a guy was charging $1500 a mix flat fee. To me that seems kind of high unless you are really in demand. From what I have been told my $500 a mix is slightly pricey, but I get work! Please help me out!!!! PM me if you want to remain unknown to others.... thank you!!!

Keep the formula going and don't change a thing. When you start getting fried and still have work coming in, charge more. Wait for the hit or management to come around and then get "fair market rate" (which doesn't acutally exist because it's all about leverage).

[djui5]

Yep, what Mike said.

If they want an SSL mix, I let them know I have to pay studio time, so it comes out of their pocket. If they're cool with that, then do it. Mixing on SSl's is fun

As for revisions, I don't charge extra for that. It's easy to make changes with a mouse

[cap217]

Thats the point, it is easy with the mouse!!! But when does it become a hassle?

[thethrillfactor]

Originally Posted by cap217

But when does it become a hassle?

When you let it be.

[Jose Mrochek]

Originally Posted by thethrillfactor

When you let it be.

that´s true, if you set the rules clear and on paper it shouldn´t be.

Specialy with editing.. do you consider that part of your job ?

[cap217]

I do edit stuff.... I get sloppy sessions a lot. But I dont want to scare customers away or piss them off so I get taken advantage of!!!

[Greg Wells]

Charge a decent rate and get more work - that's your best investment in yourself, rather than being overpaid now.

If a major label asks you to mix something, you should personally pocket at least $1000 before additional costs.

The big mix deities get 4k a track (or sometimes more) as their personal fee, then sometimes rent their own gear back to you for another grand, then you have to pay for the studio time on top of that. They all ask for a point on the record as well, which they often get. It's easy to spend 10k per song when mixing with those dudes.

[TonyBelmont]

$500 is a fair rate for an indie mix.