Studio owner vs Freelance-engineer

[Lectra]

I was wondering...
As a studio owner do you have certain conditions when working with freelance engineers ?
Do you just rent your studio out to anyone who's paying the bill ?

Imagine, worst case scenario some ****** is doing a horrendous session with a local band.
He screwed up big time.
Local band is not happy with the result.
Will tell all their friends it's the studio that sucks.

What can you do about it ?

Only work with people you know ?
I don't know

[Tibbon]

Hmm... only really rented out the room to another engineer and fello Gearslut. He's a nice guy, and makes some cool music. I really like the stuff he brings from his studio. Nice and punchy. No problems.

But i would reserve the right to cut off engineers that suck (haven't had that problem yet... will do that when i get there) .... (sometimes think i should kick myself out of the studio on 'those' days...)

[ringo.fire]

I rent my studio out to 2 engineers I know, never had those problems even when their clients were not satisfied. at the end the clients know if the producer sucks or the studio...

but it happens that freelance engineers use the recommendation of the studio they work in to get jobs they do at home with stolen software on their office computer, but thats the way it is.

ringo.fire

[toolstudio]

Hi Lectra,

I guess I understand what you mean.

Our SSL room is pretty much my homebase where I mix/engineer, so it has 2 tons of outboard and a third in my privat racks like I need it to.
We also have some freelancers working on projects here, but I know all for a long time, and they know the equipment inside out as they come from france and us. Thats important for me that they all could ride the gear, and don't use only a couple of items, as these are the only one they know.

Some years ago we rented the room out for a couple of projects, where the "producers" wanted to engineer all by themself, as they thought if they have access to all the gear it will mix automaticly. As you would expect they completly fail and started to blame the results to all but themself.

Someone in the thread mentioned, the customer knows if it's the engineers or the studios fault. I think that's true for pro clients, but I also had the experience that they believe what the loudest shouter says.

After that (and that was 6years ago) we decided not to rent the room out for everyone with cash...
It's still possible to rent the room with an assistant, but as I stated above the engineer should know what he's doing


wolfgang

toolhouse studios, germany

[grahluk]

Last time I was working in commercial sound motels if you got the money the room is yours. An assistant engineer that works for the studio will be assigned to you and act as the studio's liason. Whatever you need or concerns you have are usually levelled in that persons direction. They are supposed to know the room, it's equipment, where things are kept, and who to contact for everything from spare cables, pizza, weed, etc. On the studio owner side the assistant is the eyes and ears of the studio in the session to ensure everything works correctly and to prevent the abuse or damage to the equipment, furnishings, etc. There are plenty of stories of experienced assistants helping inept clients. Some artist or producer brings in an engineer who is in the seat because of vibe or personal connection and not so much skill. Sometimes these days the only technical person in the group of clients is the "producer" who's only experience is making beats on his MPC and Protools LE on an iMac. In those cases the assistant may pretty much do all the AE duties but the record comes out with only "producer" credits. In what your case sounds like is you have a private studio that you're considering renting out some. As a private studio owner maybe you will only rent to known quantities or as I have seen the studio owner becomes the assistant engineer on the session. How about that?

[Dave Martin]

Originally posted by grahluk
... or as I have seen the studio owner becomes the assistant engineer on the session. How about that?

That's usually what happens here, at least for the first few sessions.

[toolstudio]

Hi grahluk,

yes our room is a commercial room, or let's say a commercial/privat room. It's a commercial room if someone books it as that. You get an assistant, a runner and all the service you should expect.
I also call it private, because it is equiped with mostly my choice of equipment, but which is like commercial international rooms
.
The difference is that we are in germany, and that kind of room is sometimes a bit to overwhelming (sp?) for german engineers. It's hard to explain, but over here it's pretty much "DAW only" driven studio scene.

What you said, with the assistant running the session, that's what I mean how it mostly works here, that I with my team running the session, and the producer/artist producing.

wolfgang

toolhouse studios, germany

[picksail]

Originally posted by Dave Martin
That's usually what happens here, at least for the first few sessions.

That is exactly what is happeneing on the session I'm working on right now. At first, I found it a little disconcerting to have him jump on the console but hey, the producer (who shall remain nameless for now) turned out to be a very competant engineer. I definately feel it is a more collaborative effort on this one-all three of us are equally involved. I'm taking full credit for the vocals, though. eehe

Sorry for the babble....long week. I'm just happy to that someone can empathize.

[djui5]

that's quite normal pick......a lot of producers know how to do quite a bit in the control room...and engineers do a lot of the "assistant" work....

Producers act as tape op's a lot too....running pro-tools (or whatever)....

[djgout]

as a staff engineer, albeit a much younger one, i've been kinda designated the assistant on all of our freelance gigs. it works out wonderfully. i've worked with incompetent engineers where i've ended up doing most of the work and i've also had freelance engineers who after two or three sessions at our place learn the room enough for me to just stop in and be on call.
the assistant is totally the liason between the studio and the band who is all you have to keep happy. in my mind they're the ones paying for the time and the service even if they are signed to a deal. most people who try to book a studio freelance (engineers at least) know that they have to beable to have their shit together or they'll loose gigs to the staff assistant on the next project.
if you're worried a client will think the studio is at fault for shitty engineering you should definitly be the assistant on the session and make sure nothing sucks. you know the room, you know the gear and all it's quirks. if you can't keep the client happy as well what the **** are you doing owning a studio that isn't just for your own hobby? (no offense intended, i think ya'll get my point). just make sure you have a competent assistant assigned to each freelance client. no sending in the new intern who hasn't even figured out how to scrub the toilets yet.
the only thing to worry about is loosing your assistants to the bands that will like their work and hire them outright!!!

-justin

[Jules]

My studio is semi-private

So we like to know ALL about a project before we let it in here.

There are about 6-9 engineer / producers always welcome at this time and I am happy for that number to grow.

The studio is never for hire 'self drive' (except to one person and he was staff here for 2 years) it always comes with an engineer who can assist or do ALL the engineering..

[cgarges]

Originally posted by ringo.fire
but it happens that freelance engineers use the recommendation of the studio they work in to get jobs they do at home with stolen software on their office computer, but thats the way it is.

I take exception to this as an absolute. I'm sure there are some people who do this, but as a freelancer, I have NEVER done it. There is one studio that recommends me for work regularly (they do lots of broadcast--I'm their after hours "music guy") and I have never taken anything they sent to me to work somewhere else.

On top of that, I don't do any audio work on my computer at home and just today even, I spent my own $700 ordering another Masterlink for what little assembly I do at home (again, for people who contact me directly).

Chris Garges
Charlotte, NC

[picksail]

Originally posted by djui5
that's quite normal pick......a lot of producers know how to do quite a bit in the control room...and engineers do a lot of the "assistant" work....

Producers act as tape op's a lot too....running pro-tools (or whatever)....

I hear ya dj. But this guy is definately an exception. And you know what, it doesn't really matter to me. I was more than happy to let him step in and do his thing. He had a very clear vision of what he wanted to accomplish and instead of directing me, it was easier for him to do it himself.
At the end of the day the production still happened at MY studio and MY name is still attached to it. I am humbled and realize every day how much running a commercial studio is like operating a mom n' pop convenient store. It's still a service industry and it is absolutely paramount that we cater to the needs of the 'customer', because they will remember... They may not remember that you provided an SSL 9000K, but they will remember things like courtesy, politeness, a sense of urgency and the willingness to meet their needs and ensure that they are comfortable and have all the amenities and maybe even a few luxuries. Things like a working cue system, wi-fi, ftp server, coffee machines, a refrigerator, etc. - these are the real attractions.

[Kestral]

Our studio is semi-private. For the most part, we don't let anyone use our studio (unless it's a really REALLY good friend and even then, they'd know it was a HUGE favor for us to even consider it)

My studio partner produces major label records, so what happens is that it gets charged out to the band when he produces them. Otherwise, it's a private studio.

Don't want some wanker touching my Neve 1073/Urei 1176 or his Neumann U47 chrome top long body tube mic

[s0nguy]

Originally posted by Kestral
Our studio is semi-private. For the most part, we don't let anyone use our studio (unless it's a really REALLY good friend and even then, they'd know it was a HUGE favor for us to even consider it)

My studio partner produces major label records, so what happens is that it gets charged out to the band when he produces them. Otherwise, it's a private studio.

Don't want some wanker touching my Neve 1073/Urei 1176 or his Neumann U47 chrome top long body tube mic

I find that most people who want to use my studio want me as the engineer since it is my ears they are hiring (as well as the cheapest HD rig in town). I've rented out my studio once.....still havent been paid....and it was 3 months ago.

Grrrr.....

-S0nguy