Mixing Services

[mikell]

Hello Folks,

Quick question. Is it usual to pay upfront for mixing services? I would be sending tracks to be mixed to an engineer out of state.

Thanks for your time. I hope I put this in the right place.

[Musiclab]

Speaking for myself, recently I mixed a project for a guy from England.
He sent me the tracks of his song and after a discussion about what he was looking for I gave him an estimate and he sent me half up front. Then I mixed the song, sent him an mp3 and when I received the balance I sent him the Hi res mixes. I don't know that I would be Ok with this every time, but it worked this time.
You're soliciting the mixer, he has to take time to do your mix, during which he's not getting paid, if you were to skip out on the bill. If you are pals it's one thing but if you don't know each other, and the mixer is reputable it's shouldn't be a problem. I would ask for a completion date.

[jonathan jetter]

if i were just mixing one song, for someone i didn't know, i would ask to be paid up front.

i have dozens of references from established musicians and producers who will vouch for me. rarely will my client be able to reciprocate. so he pays up front.

if i'm mixing a full length, then i'd ask for half up front to get started, and would send out the first half of the songs as soon as they were done. i'd ask that the balance be paid up before the mixes from the 2nd half get sent out.

obviously if i know someone well, i've no problem with giving him/her some wiggle room. but it's really important on my end not to get burned.

[narcoman]

100% up front for some things, especially first time clients. 50% for the rest. That's how I do it !!

[ruff mix]

Originally Posted by Musiclab

Speaking for myself, recently I mixed a project for a guy from England.
He sent me the tracks of his song and after a discussion about what he was looking for I gave him an estimate and he sent me half up front. Then I mixed the song, sent him an mp3 and when I received the balance I sent him the Hi res mixes. I don't know that I would be Ok with this every time, but it worked this time.
You're soliciting the mixer, he has to take time to do your mix, during which he's not getting paid, if you were to skip out on the bill. If you are pals it's one thing but if you don't know each other, and the mixer is reputable it's shouldn't be a problem. I would ask for a completion date.

I'm similar...I don't think it's too far fetched to ask for 100% up front. Just make sure they're reputable.

[Rocke]

Guessing you haven't had anything mixed by the engineer before and don't know the guy.

If it's only one or two songs and they seem very reputable, I would say no problem.

But keep in mind that sometimes, it tends to happen that clients get screwed in these kinds of scenarios one way or the other.

[You_Father_Sky]

A pragmatic approach is usually best IMO.

Depending on the client, I usually do a rough mix of a track and send them a 30sec-1min demo to decide, than 50% of project budget up front if they decide to go ahead.

I do the work, send them the demo mixes. Once they approve, the remaining 50% and then I send them all the full files and give them 2-3 recalls per track included in the cost.

If he's reputable pay 50% up front. If he's a famous mixer, paying 100% is not unheard of at all, but then again, you're at virtually no risk, he'll get your work done. If you're unsure, have him do a demo mix of the track for free.

But I'm sure everyone has wiggle room in terms of their procedure from client to client.

[Marogru]

If I don't know the guy. 50% upfront.
If hes known or I know him, I don't care, he can pay me after.
At worst he won't pay me, I will loose 6 hours of my life but he will be scammed here for slutz to know who not to deal with.

TBH we should make a scam list sticky here

[shaneoconnor]

half up front makes sense.

[brethes]

Originally Posted by shaneoconnor

half up front makes sense.

50% upfront to reserve the studio time and the balance either on completion for clients I know or after sending an MP3 preview of the first two mixes for new clients.