What should I charge?

[daryllh]

Originally Posted by Mod Masochist

first of all thanks for reading my post,

I am a recent graduate from the art institute of seattle and just landed my first job as an engineer. It is at this hole in the wall studio that has a digi002, and one mic. I will mostly be dealing with recording vocals. I also plan on mixing the songs at my home studio.

I have no idea what i should charge. I dont want to go to high and offend the guy but i dont want to lo-ball myself either.

anyone else in similar situations i would love your input.

If you have questions about my situation please ask

Thanx

DP in Seattle

what is the market around you? what are studios charging? what are freelancers charging?

In Minneapolis, there is somewhat of a cap for freelance work. We're all making about the same. Obviously, I'm not taking production into consideration.

I did a lot of work for little money when I started out. Personally (not sure if anybody would agree with me) I would ***** yourself out and get as much business as you can, even if it means making next to nothing. If you are a good engineer, good people person, clients will want to work with you again. You run the risk of pissin commercial studio engineers off but since you aren't doing an internship, you need the experience.

Also, realize that clients probably have a good idea of what the market charges. If artist X is looking around at studios, he's probably got a bunch of rates in his head. He may not know the gear, but he will know how much he is going to pay for a room with or without an engineer. Basically, you have to know the same. You have to know what you are going against and adjust accordingly.

[Mod Masochist]

thats the thing, that area has nothing like this around.

Let me elaborate on the studio.

It is a combination

shoe store/clothing store/ cd store/ studio

the store owner is planning to charge around $50 an hour to use it but that rate will not be posted and can be adjusted according to which client comes in.

they need someone who knows how to use ProTools. I must admit that the store is "ghetto" and in the middle of the ghetto. But as such there are plenty of people in the area that want to come in and record.

I have a job that pays the bills so I am not in need of a lot of pay. I just want to be confident in what I ask for

[Slaytex]

If this is the case I would buy an mbox2, an sm57, a AT3035 (all under $1000) and do it myself at the house and charge $50. Like you said it is a shit hole... Right? I don't even charge $50 an hour, unless I'm am using another studio and their gear.
Good luck.

[Mod Masochist]

This is not my studio, I have a fairly nice although low-end, home studio.

I would just be running th audio at this place, its not a shit hole, just small.

All I want to know is what I should be asking for, I have the technical side of things down but the real-world recording for money is new to me. If anything I would apreciate the lowest you would charge someone.

Thank you all for your help and sorry if this seems sophmoric.

thanks all
DP in seattle

[djui5]

Charge whatever the guy with the gun in your avatar is charging...


Is the $50 to include your pay? I'd say if you got $20 an hour you'd be doing well...considering.

[daryllh]

Originally Posted by Mod Masochist

thats the thing, that area has nothing like this around.

Let me elaborate on the studio.

It is a combination

shoe store/clothing store/ cd store/ studio

the store owner is planning to charge around $50 an hour to use it but that rate will not be posted and can be adjusted according to which client comes in.

they need someone who knows how to use ProTools. I must admit that the store is "ghetto" and in the middle of the ghetto. But as such there are plenty of people in the area that want to come in and record.

I have a job that pays the bills so I am not in need of a lot of pay. I just want to be confident in what I ask for

$50/hr include engineer?! I hope so. If not, you should invest in making your home studio better to compete.

[daryllh]

Originally Posted by djui5

Charge whatever the guy with the gun in your avatar is charging...


Is the $50 to include your pay? I'd say if you got $20 an hour you'd be doing well...considering.

real well for $20/hr...just starting.

[contramark]

20 an hour is a respectable price. although your gear may not be up to par if your professional and have somewhat an idea what your doing, then it is worth it for the recording artist.

[DontLetMeDrown]

As much as possible.

[RCM - Ronan]

$50/hour will get you into some very nice studios in Seattle: Pro Tools HD, large format analog console, solid mic collection...

[thesteve]

Perhaps this is getting away from the focus of the post, but if you have just graduated and you are looking for a job, try and get an assistant position at a larger studio, or find artists with the budget to get into a large room. In a 1st studio position you have to think about what you are going to learn, and what sort of contacts and networking will happen. I don't know the place you are at, but I can't imaging it will be an eye opening experience. This is not meant to sound condescending though, but this industry is not a huge cach grab when you are starting out, so if you can get a good job at a larger place that pays less, take it and learn. It will pay dividends down the line. That way if you meet a band that you are really interested in working with, you will probably have assisted on some larger projects and you will have a more impressive demo reel. I let my assistant engineer rent my facility for $20 / hr (regular is $55) when I take time off, so if you get on the good side of a larger studio owner you may get the same deal.

[daryllh]

Originally Posted by thesteve

I let my assistant engineer rent my facility for $20 / hr (regular is $55) when I take time off, so if you get on the good side of a larger studio owner you may get the same deal.

That's cool.

I was offered a similar situation when I was assisting/interning at a commercial studio. As well, being an intern meant that if I cleaned the console face with q-tips and mild cleaning solution (or painted a part of the lobby/office areas, I can have a free day of studio time. There are perks for hard work as an intern or assistant.

[daryllh]

Originally Posted by FLYMAX

hole in the wall LE spot is like 25 an hour around here..including operator..
crazy huh?

yeah but, that engineer could be PRO TOOLS CERTIFIED! Isn't that worth the extra 25/hr?! dfegad

[daryllh]

Originally Posted by FLYMAX

yo, i got PT certified in 2000...doesn't mean shyte without experience..

I am going to print this out and give it to new interns. thumbsup

[stereobot]

I know this is an older thread...

Its near impossible to find studio jobs. I am also in Minneapolis, I have interned at various post production studios and also and a well known local studio working for a VERY talented engineer, and a nice guy too.

The problem is there was no hope for employment anywhere. Not because I lacked the skills or personality, but because business was declining everywhere because

#1 - musicians don't make any money anymore, especially around here.

#2 - Home recording gear is getting cheaper every year. And if you own the gear, that makes you an engineer, right? Try explaining that to anyone around here.

#3 - See #2. Then go look on Craigslist and see how many people you can find that are charging like $100 to record, mix, and master a track.
Why would they charge only $100 for something that should take a few days worth of work??? that would be like $3 an hour...

#4 - now think about the musicians that see the price the engineers from #3 are charging, and see that as a good deal, not knowing they will get what they pay for..

#5 - Now you have musicians with less money and less faith in new comer engineers working in a minimal studio.

I can't afford to work for free at studios, so I can't keep interning. I have been offered discounted rates at really nice studios, which would have been great, however they were always booked solid, and I just couldn't keep working my paying job and putting in enough time at the studio.

Now I practically have to beg friends to let me mix their tracks for free at home. I do have the tools (Pro Tools and good software), good ears, and an audio recording degree as well.

Unfortunately I am lacking in experience for all the reasons stated above. Can't gain experience without access to studios and talent. Can't get talent if they have no money and you have no demo reel. Can't make a good demo reel without experience. Can't get a job without experience. can't get experience without a job...

I would start at $20 once you get some decent demo tracks. then I would go from there, especially once you can "wow" multiple potential clients.

Its a very tough industry. Minneapolis is terrible. I am obviously bitter, and its not for a lack of me trying or not having networking skills. I have contacted every local and sent out resumes. I am not giving up, but I am very dissapointed in my options.

[ScumBum]

If you got skills , know how to get a good sound from an 002 then $20 an hour .

[theblue1]

Originally Posted by Slaytex

If this is the case I would buy an mbox2, an sm57, a AT3035 (all under $1000) and do it myself at the house and charge $50. Like you said it is a shit hole... Right? I don't even charge $50 an hour, unless I'm am using another studio and their gear.
Good luck.

Yeah. $50 an hour for a shoe store/one mic recording "facility"?!?!?


That's gotta be just about the wackiest thing I've heard in two and a half decades of watching a business that is chock-a-block with wacky stuff, wacky ideas, and wackier people.

But... really... I think that takes the cake.


Don't worry about what to charge... I seriously doubt there'll be many customers.

But if there ARE some customers, make sure you charge plenty because you can be guaranteed that they are completely clueless -- NOT that you should take advantage of them -- but rather that you should be paid for what will undoubtedly be totally frustrating, vexing, irritating duty...

[Dream Send]

pretty bold blue1...but I think a lot of us were thinking the same thing.

I started charging about $20 until I could get some good demos that I was proud of and that I could show potential clients. I have always been very involved in the local music scene so I would find myself offering some popular and talented local bands one song for free and then they could judge the quality and decide for themselves if a cutting a full album with me would produce the results they wanted. "Wowing" the client in this manner can definitely payoff with that particular project and also getting the studio name and your name out there while all the while gaining experience.

Just a couple thoughts...

[Benmrx]

Originally Posted by rcm

$50/hour will get you into some very nice studios in Seattle: Pro Tools HD, large format analog console, solid mic collection...

No shit. And notice the plural there......studio(s).

I'm mixing at a place in seattle, $300/day (10 hours.....that's $30/hour) for the room, and they've got a serious collection of slutty gear, PTHD, Trident 80B, and a 1/2" Studer mixdown deck.

I know you're not mixing,....but guess what, they've also got a killer mic locker.

[Audio_Vault]

Hey man,

To tell you the truth about the Seattle recording market, there are a lot of small broke bands that want to record but cant afford a damn thing. I own and run Audiovault Productions in Seattle and the ONLY reason i can charge even 40$/hr is because i have an impressive 10 foot analog board.

Clients want to see something that impresses them, and if it isnt your skill you better have a great room or impressive gear. 50$/hr for a shitty vocal studio in Seattle is not going to get you any clients. But for a first job i would do whatever you can to get yourself out there... GOOD LUCK MAN

p.s. i will be looking for an intern here in the next month, no pay but your learn a lot and work on great gear.

Michael Conway
Audiovault Productions

[nuemes]

If this place has only a 002 and one mic, I can't imagine charging more than $10/hour. I'd also wonder why someone would record there as there are plenty of studios in Seattle that charge $20+ with a very good selection of gear. Why work in that environment if you've got a home project studio with a better setup?

[stereobot]

Originally Posted by Dream Send

pretty bold blue1...but I think a lot of us were thinking the same thing.

I started charging about $20 until I could get some good demos that I was proud of and that I could show potential clients. I have always been very involved in the local music scene so I would find myself offering some popular and talented local bands one song for free and then they could judge the quality and decide for themselves if a cutting a full album with me would produce the results they wanted. "Wowing" the client in this manner can definitely payoff with that particular project and also getting the studio name and your name out there while all the while gaining experience.

Just a couple thoughts...

That is what I am trying to do - have a band let me mix a song for free at home and if they like it they can pay me to do more. Problem is I can't get the band to cough up the session file. Some musicians are so God damned flakey they just let an opportunity like that pass right by. they know that I have tools and an education and some experience, and we get along as far as personality goes... I really don't think it is a matter of distrust or that they think I am a ****** or something.

Being a musician, I would jump at the chance if someone offered to mix a track for free, no strings attached.

[stereobot]

I like the idea of charging per project, since I do lack experience and it might take me longer to get the job done than it would for someone that has 15 years experience.

If I charged $200 to mix a track (assuming it would be a very good quality mix for having a software home project studio) and it took me 20 hours because I might lack a proper room and really nice equipment, then it would be my own problem if it ended up being $10 per hour.

I would rather not ask someone to pay me $20 to mix a track and take longer, unless I had the demo reel to back it up. Although at this point, I would either have invested in better gear, or would take the track to a pro studio and mix it there.

I don't know though, maybe those aren't good ideas. I don't have a functional Pro Tools rig now anyway, I would have to import all the audio into Logic!!

[allencollins]

charge as much as you can sucker them into