I need your help with this band, PLEASE!

[bodypolitics]

Hello everyone! Long time lurker, first time poster. I have learned much by reading on here for a while, here I am.

I really need to know what you pros would do next.

A band hired me to produce their new EP, hoping for 5 songs.
During all the meetings I explained how I do things and playd previous examples.
They are all very nice and good people.
All through tracking they made all decisions before we moved on.
At end of every session everyone got a disc. Everyone in band raved about it.
Mixed songs, took songs to their house to listen on their stereo with their girlfriends.
Everyone but one told me about how much they loved all of it, ended up with 7 songs. They said they are fantastic and they never sounded this good and had a great time.

Here it comes.

4 days later I get a horrible email saying the mixes are absolute garbage. I took the songs in a completely different direction and they are "extremely upset" at how bad it all is.

I called right away, and apologized. I asked what they want, and the guy said they want to change some things, but were very happy overall. I explained the words used in the email included "wrong" and "extremely upset". He said not to worry, it is the one member blowing off steam.

I set up a mix meeting, they all brought their lists. Turn this up, that that up, turn this down, turn that down. Usual stuff. At the end of every song I looked everyone in the eye one at a time and asked if that was good. "Perfect", "that's it", etc etc.

Three days later, a worse email. They are furious at everything. They think I should remix every song from scratch with them there, for free.

The only thing I give out is a receipt of payment that states how many hours were purchased, and that the end result is radio quality. I just had a song go number one in some markets on the radio and this band's mixes are of an even better quality than that song on the radio. Other bands and clients have already booked time based on this band's mixes saying they want to sound that good.

The band paid for 120 hours, I have given them 160 so far. I told them I did a radio quality mix and they approved things along the way. They said they are not happy and it is not quality and I must do what they want for no extra charge. I offered remixing at a discount. No good. They want it for free because I never delivered what they wanted.

HELP?!?!?!?!?

[tracktension]

you gave them more than they paid for and delivered a technically sufficiant mix , if not better.i would tell them case closed .they got more then they paid for and helped mix it.so its there fault it is not how they want it.

[DontLetMeDrown]

Yeah that is definitely a bad situation. I would seriously cut my losses, but this is obviously something you will have to decide for yourself. Apparently these dudes don't have the balls to say what's really on their mind to your face or they are just not capable of commiting. I find that these types of clients are just not worth the time, effort, or anxiety.

If anything, I might offer them ONE DAY to resolve all of their BS and remind them that they already had their chance to fix these issues. Make it very clear that this extra day would be THE LAST CHANCE for changes.

Good luck!

[PhilR]

Tell them to p*** off!

They're being arseholes. Deliberatly witholding information required during the mix process then trying to use an exaggerated state of feigned outrage to force you into working for free. Cut them off.

[narcoman]

charge 'em for the tracking and give 'em the multi's. Then tell them to leave - do it politely.... then you've done nothing wrong. OR kill the session and end the whole thing.

[kylergoehle]

ask what kind of monitors or speakers theyre listening to the mixes on. maybe their hifi system is pushing out things in the mix they arent happy with. has any mastering been done to the tracks yet?

[musikwerks]

Bad situation but... invite them back in for one more session to "fix" the things they want fixed. Then get them to sign a document saying they are satisfied with the work, agree to pay $xxx dollars for more work etc, etc. I do it all the time with ad agency clients. Works a treat. Then if they bitch and moan (or worse, decide to sue) you have their signatures on the "we're happy" contract.

[Dale]

what a tangled web!
You will not be able to satisfy them given their dishonesty.
They hired you to "produce" their new EP
you are satisfied with both of your products
you have been paid in full
there is two options:

1) make one last attempt for a finished product (third time is a charm)
or
2) give them the basic tracks (cut bait and walk away)

[slaves666]

You are in a tough spot, and I've been in similar before....I always try and appease the artist, but sometimes there is a fine line, and they start taking advantage.

I will echo the previous sentiment.......do 1 more revision, when they leave happy, get them to sign off on it......

It might be a good idea to find out EXACTLY why they left twice completely happy, and then change their tune once they get home to avoid this problem in the future.

[heyman]

Sounds like alot of ego's.. Sounds like no amount of tweaking is going to set this right..

You did your part. As a nice gesture, give them the raw tracks and let them mix it elsewhere.

Case closed..

[daddycal]

i'd just give them the raw tracks and let them deal with it. You have obviously gone out of your way on your dime to take care of them. they will never be happy no matter who mixes it! Don't feel bad. Don't let them push you around. You won't lose work over it. I know that's what you're worried about. People probably already know what kind of people they are!!

[MonoBrow]

Case Closed! No extra hours no nothing.They had their chances....they blew it.Why should you worry about their shit anymore? Drop these pricks like a hot potatoe!Dont let people like that step on your nerves for nothing.stike

[BBoylan]

Sounds like a horrible situation. I agree with the other posters, you should have a recording contract, which would emphatically state that once the final master or mix is burned and they accepted it, it's their problem. Have them sign off that they are happy with the final mix. All remixes are on the clock at the hourly rate you charge.

Why should this all be on you? Were they NOT THERE for hours of mixing? Did they just completely forget how they loved the product before?

They are pushing you around because they know you can be pushed. You shouldn't have apologized for anything; they have the upperhand, they tricked you into remixing it already once, and will keep doing it until you put a stop to it.

Good luck with this, sorry to hear that this happened.

[bodypolitics]

Follow up!

First, let me say thank you to all who posted and made me feel better. You guys are the best.

The band just left. Here is how it happened. I made a copy of all the individual tracks. I made masters of my mixes and their mixes. I wrote down all the hours I worked on the job. I put all that in an envelope.

They came in and we sat down. I told them one of two things is happening. One, I pull up the mixes and they can make some changes. They must decide now; no "maybes" or "kind of" about it.

Option two, take the envelope and leave. I said that I really want to make them happy and want number one. So we did. After a few hours, we made every single change they wanted, printed to disc, put in order and I am done. I told them my schedule is busy and I am taking time off, so good luck. Even if they email me or call, since I will not be returning the calls, they will go somewhere else if they still want things different.

They were all very nice, very polite, they are good people but bad communication skills.

How did I do?

[Dale]

Congratulations
third time is a charm.
I think that you did it right!!
You got a balanced outlook by "venting" here with constructive feedback.
Then you went back to your client and performed that service which you were hired for.

[musikwerks]

I think you filled the "hired for" part of your service long ago. But you have handled it graciously and the band have gone away happy. Win-Win.

[gearaddict]

It's even worse when one of them is a friend...I did a friend a favor and let him pay by song...well, he would sit with me as I mixed..happy with the mix he would leave...listen to it 200 times in a row, then call me and want to re-do vocals...so I do it...2 days later he dont like them and wants to do them again...so I do it...this went on for 7 songs..I finaly told him one day, LOOK..you are happy when you leave but then we end up doing your vox. over 5 times on every song...from now on if you leave happy...I will charge $15 an hour for you to come back and re-do things....Well That worked..he was not happy about it but at this point I dont care!!

[slaves666]

Originally Posted by bodypolitics

Follow up!

First, let me say thank you to all who posted and made me feel better. You guys are the best.

The band just left. Here is how it happened. I made a copy of all the individual tracks. I made masters of my mixes and their mixes. I wrote down all the hours I worked on the job. I put all that in an envelope.

They came in and we sat down. I told them one of two things is happening. One, I pull up the mixes and they can make some changes. They must decide now; no "maybes" or "kind of" about it.

Option two, take the envelope and leave. I said that I really want to make them happy and want number one. So we did. After a few hours, we made every single change they wanted, printed to disc, put in order and I am done. I told them my schedule is busy and I am taking time off, so good luck. Even if they email me or call, since I will not be returning the calls, they will go somewhere else if they still want things different.

They were all very nice, very polite, they are good people but bad communication skills.

How did I do?

Very well done