For studio owners: how do you keep of booking?

[Nfinite2006]

hey guys i have my own home studio and im getting ready to start working with local talent and i need to establish my pricing.
What is the best way to setup my "Log Book" recording sessions etc.
i know most of you charge by the hour but do you guys include charging for the gear that is used during a session? experience? etc.

Im just trying to get things straight before i start to do this just thought i'd ask the pros.

and BTW, if any of you have a sample log sheet that you use to keep track of your bookings can you shoot it my way via email: knightmurr@yahoo.com


Thanks,
Nikko

[dhiltonlittle]

what do you mean by charging for the gear that is used during the session?

i don't charge anyone for gear unless they spill something on it.

[Nfinite2006]

oh, i see.

well how do you go about booking?

[Marogru]

It depends what type of clients you will be dealing with. If they are laid back smoke all day and drop a verse type, you should charge by hour couse they will waste your time. If they are prepared, better to charge for a project (track) then you wont feel the breath of time on your sholder. As for log book, its simple as getting a celendar and writting our sessions down, nothing special.

As for gear. If its not outsourcing, I never charge for it extra, even if they play my drums or guitars.

1 more thing about gear. Allways use the best you have, don't try to save your gear on minor clents couse then you will spend more time on getting it right in the mix and the time-mone calculation will be equall.

Last thing, allways get minimum 50% upfront, even if it will mean loosing a client if he won't agree.

Hope this will help a little

[PettyCash]

Originally Posted by Marogru

Last thing, allways get minimum 50% upfront, even if it will mean loosing a client if he won't agree.

[PettyCash]

If you have a simple setup that you are running out of your basement or something along those lines, come up with simple rates that will get the local guys actually coming in. Say 30-45 bucks an hour, depending on the quality of gear and work you are able to deliver. If a local hot shot wants to come in and book some time, you can then up the price for certain services because you know he is good for it, but try and give the small fishes a break, and as they get bigger at what they do, you might see some loyalty if they are really happy with the work you do.

Buy some type of note book where you can easily rip out a page if needed, and log all your stuff in there. When you become busy as hell with sessions, upgrade yourself by getting a PDA to store all your info to have on the go.

[PettyCash]

charging for production becomes a whole other story though......

[bgrotto]

Unless you're able to turn out really good results, anything above $30/hr is pretty steep (IMO).

There are commercial studios with professional staff that, depending on where you live, charge as little as $40 and will consistently yield superior results. I'd say keep your prices low, attract a local clientele, get your chops (and facilities) up, and raise your prices when you think you can step up to the big league.

Since you're working from home, there's not much overhead, so don't get greedy. Regular, consistent work that pays a modest amount is better than an occasional gig that pays more.

[phillysoulman]

As soon as you book your initial session, demand payment UP FRONT for the agreed upon time and if and when they need more time, get that money up front too.
If they balk at that, it shows that they never intended to pay you in the first place.

You dont charge for equipment unless you have some very high end, esoteric gear, which I doubt.

[Nfinite2006]

thanks for all the tips guys heres my gear:
HP 864N Media Center PC
MyBook 500gb External Hardrive
Shure KSM44
KSM44 Standard Shock-Mount
E-MU 1820M
Avalon VT737SP Mic Pre
Sony-MDRV-700 monitor headphones
Sony-MDR-7506 Monitor Headpones
Monster Mic Cable
Wharfedale 8.2 pro-active studio monitors
adobe audition/cubase VsT
Monster XLR monitor cables
Klipsch THX refrence speakers
On-Stage studio pop-filter
On-stage Studio Mic Stand
Auralex Studio Foam
Auralex Mo-Pads
Klipsch THX subwoofer
sE Reflection Filter
Mogami Cables

[shaneoconnor]

this is one i disagree with Bgrotto on.

i think this guy should charge AS MUCH as he think he is worth. from my standpoint, i would like the home studio guys to be charging more, so when i am working in a professional facility, i don't have to lower to their super low prices.

[bgrotto]

Originally Posted by shaneoconnor

i would like the home studio guys to be charging more, so when i am working in a professional facility, i don't have to lower to their super low prices.

Heh, I hadn't thought of it that way.

Of course, to be fair, I was trying to actually help HIM, not myself, so I stand by my advice.

[Mr.Cheese]

Originally Posted by dhiltonlittle

what do you mean by charging for the gear that is used during the session?

i don't charge anyone for gear unless they spill something on it.

No, actually you should charge for every piece of gear used in the studio that is not vital to the production of the song. If the guy already has an instrumental made but wants to add your cool (X) synth, you charge him for using that synth. If he wants to use your MPC to redo a drum groove, you charge him for that as well. That's not coming from me, that's coming from my former instructors. And in each studio I have been in, they say they charge extra for using their stuff.

[idlabs]

All of that really depends on your setup and how integrated your production gear is to it already. Its really hard to charge somebody an hourly rate plus usage of your MPC that is sitting next to the mixing console your not charging extra for. Its all good in theory, but the reality is (especially in a small/home studio), it won't fly. People just won't go for it and will go somwhere else.

[dhiltonlittle]

Originally Posted by Mr.Cheese

No, actually you should charge for every piece of gear used in the studio that is not vital to the production of the song. If the guy already has an instrumental made but wants to add your cool (X) synth, you charge him for using that synth. If he wants to use your MPC to redo a drum groove, you charge him for that as well. That's not coming from me, that's coming from my former instructors. And in each studio I have been in, they say they charge extra for using their stuff.

?

i'm not sure who told you that. aren't you the guy who was talking in a thread a few weeks ago about full sail? how you didn't learn anything and were blazed the whole time? and then decided not to get in the biz? maybe you misunderstood your "instructors".
i have worked in some of the biggest studios in nyc and am now an owner. i don't have some one come here and say you know what, a u47 through a 1073 will sound great on you're voice but that is an extra 500 bucks. oh, and a cl1b will be another 300. does anybody work like that? i have the gear i have and the talent i have and that's why people come to me. if someone comes to me to produce that's another story and another rate all together. but even then they are hiring me to produce. i don't charge them every time i pull out a certain piece of gear. depending on who/what it is for it is rates and points etc.

like i said before. if they spill something on it they pay for it.

[Mr.Cheese]

Originally Posted by dhiltonlittle

?

i'm not sure who told you that. aren't you the guy who was talking in a thread a few weeks ago about full sail? how you didn't learn anything and were blazed the whole time? and then decided not to get in the biz? maybe you misunderstood your "instructors".
i have worked in some of the biggest studios in nyc and am now an owner. i don't have some one come here and say you know what, a u47 through a 1073 will sound great on you're voice but that is an extra 500 bucks. oh, and a cl1b will be another 300. does anybody work like that? i have the gear i have and the talent i have and that's why people come to me. if someone comes to me to produce that's another story and another rate all together. but even then they are hiring me to produce. i don't charge them every time i pull out a certain piece of gear. depending on who/what it is for it is rates and points etc.

like i said before. if they spill something on it they pay for it.

I got a studio too bro.. and lets say you have a Zildijan drum set sitting around and the band that comes in wants to lay out some live drums. Are you gonna let them bang on your drums for 4 hours and not charge them anything extra for that??? What are they gonna spill on a drum set that you can't clean up? Common man you should know that

[psycho_monkey]

Originally Posted by Mr.Cheese

No, actually you should charge for every piece of gear used in the studio that is not vital to the production of the song. If the guy already has an instrumental made but wants to add your cool (X) synth, you charge him for using that synth. If he wants to use your MPC to redo a drum groove, you charge him for that as well. That's not coming from me, that's coming from my former instructors. And in each studio I have been in, they say they charge extra for using their stuff.

you've misinterpreted things a little there.

Most of the time in a commercial studio, what's on the spec sheet is included in the room rate. If a studio has extra, boutique gear or has other studios from which it may be possible to borrow gear, there's likely to be an extra charge - which is likely to be far cheaper than renting from a hire company. Gone are the days where you could, as a producer, hire your own gear onto the session, or as a studio, charge extra for the PT rig.

As an owner/operator, different situation - you're just hurting yourself by only breaking out your best gear for those willing to pay.

Instruments are slightly different - after all, a band should have a drum kit. If they don't and want to use yours, a fee for wear and tear etc isn't unreasonable.

[dhiltonlittle]

Originally Posted by Mr.Cheese

I got a studio too bro.. and lets say you have a Zildijan drum set sitting around and the band that comes in wants to lay out some live drums. Are you gonna let them bang on your drums for 4 hours and not charge them anything extra for that??? What are they gonna spill on a drum set that you can't clean up? Common man you should know that

i'm not going to argue with you about it. it's not the way i work and i don't know anybody that works like that. if you want to that's you're business.
and on a side note, last i checked zildjan didn't make drum sets.

[ryst]

Originally Posted by Mr.Cheese

I got a studio too bro.. and lets say you have a Zildijan drum set sitting around and the band that comes in wants to lay out some live drums. Are you gonna let them bang on your drums for 4 hours and not charge them anything extra for that??? What are they gonna spill on a drum set that you can't clean up? Common man you should know that

Usually the drum set is figured in to the studio cost per hour or per day. That's why studios with better gear/instruments can be justified to charge more per hour or day. As a studio owner, you should know that. The only time I have ever seen a case where the client was charged for using a piece of equipment was when the studio didn't actually have the piece in question....the client had to rent to piece they wanted for their record. And that does happen more often than you might think.

And since when did Zildijan make drum sets?

[ryst]

Originally Posted by psycho_monkey

Instruments are slightly different - after all, a band should have a drum kit. If they don't and want to use yours, a fee for wear and tear etc isn't unreasonable.

Even in this case, I haven't heard of the studio charging extra for the band to use their instruments. I know tons of bands that use the studio's instruments. Most studio owners are wise to have a drum set, guitars, basses and keys in their studio if possible. A lot of times the band's instruments flat out suck or just aren't good enough for a good sounding recording. Also, if the band wants a certain "tone" that they can't get from their gear, that's another good reason for the studio to have some instruments available.

Now if you are referring to "a fee for wear and tear" for things like, guitar/bass strings, guitar/bass setup (different tunings), drum heads and so forth....then that seems like a reasonable extra charge.

[Mr.Cheese]

It all depends on what they come to the studio for... I know from top dawg engineers that have been in the game since the 80's that they do this. If you had a different experience that's fine, but I'm not backing down from what I was told by people who worked in some of the best studios in America cause someone on Gearslutz told me they include it in the price.

[dhiltonlittle]

Originally Posted by Mr.Cheese

It all depends on what they come to the studio for... I know from top dawg engineers that have been in the game since the 80's that they do this. If you had a different experience that's fine, but I'm not backing down from what I was told by people who worked in some of the best studios in America cause someone on Gearslutz told me they include it in the price.

you are definitely entitled to you're opinion and how you run your studio.

fyi, things were ALOT different in the 80's. and ALOT of the people here on gearslutz OWN and WORK in "the best studio's in america".

[rickrock305]

it goes both ways. some studios will throw a keyboard or MPC on your session for no extra charge to keep you happy. others will charge you for anything extra you want. it depends on the spot.

if the drum kit was set up when i got to the studio, i would expect it to come with the price of the room. same with keyboards and such. but if i have to request a piece of gear thats not in the room, i would expect to have to pay extra for it.

if you keep this gear out in the room and then try to charge people when they want to use it, its not going to reflect good on your studio. that kind of thing doesnt make people happy.

i know a few engineers who make crazy money by renting their own gear to sessions they're working on. i do it all the time as well. good little side hustle if you got some gear. in fact i've been thinking of starting a small rental company down here.

[psycho_monkey]

Originally Posted by Mr.Cheese

It all depends on what they come to the studio for... I know from top dawg engineers that have been in the game since the 80's that they do this. If you had a different experience that's fine, but I'm not backing down from what I was told by people who worked in some of the best studios in America cause someone on Gearslutz told me they include it in the price.

It certainly was the case in the 80s - and even as late as 2000 over here in the uk, PT was extra on top of the room rate.

But for an owner-operator, it just doesn't make sense to work like that. You buy your gear as a selling point for the studio, and to let you do the best job possible. Also, when you're dealing with clients themselves, they're not necessarily going to see the value in paying you an extra 20 bucks or whatever to break out the top mics.

A commercial studio on the other hand, has an intermediary (the engineer+producer) between them and the client. engineer sees Neve preamps on an "Extras" gear list, tells label they need that gear for the best result, label coughs up.

But as for engineers hiring gear onto sessions...over here at least, just doesn't happen anymore - maybe in the very rare case that a 2nd PT rig is needed. As an assistant I've sometimes hired mics onto a session at a reduced rate to what a hire company would do them at - but that's when you're being paid peanuts a day and someone else is asking for them.

I'm afraid your tutors were a little out of touch with the real world of studios today.

[scorpio01169]

it is common practice for some studio to charge extra for use of drums, amps, and other thing not related to just mic'ing the bands own intruments.....what i do is if someone wants to use my keyboards and sequencer, i charge a midi productioni rate that separate from actually recording the tracks they produce to tape. and for the drumset i have set up....i charge for use for new drum heads. i would assume that a lot of you guys are artist/producers/engineers, but for me i don't produce as much as just being an engineer. i can make beats, if i wanted to and i used to. but over the years i have gotten lazy and unmotivated with rappers that dont wanna pay. so i have to charge for use of those things.

[azrael kennedy]

Originally Posted by Mr.Cheese

It all depends on what they come to the studio for... I know from top dawg engineers that have been in the game since the 80's that they do this. If you had a different experience that's fine, but I'm not backing down from what I was told by people who worked in some of the best studios in America cause someone on Gearslutz told me they include it in the price.

are these the same top dawg engineers that own zildjian drum sets?

[Denny Lavish]

Originally Posted by azrael kennedy

are these the same top dawg engineers that own zildjian drum sets?

ROFL


Lavish