Freelance Recording Engineer contracts?

[cutoff_frequency]

Hey all, I've been searching around a lot lately and I'm wondering where to start in terms of forming a contract for my services as a freelance engineer. To be honest I'm not exactly sure that its common to use contracts but at the same time, as its a work for hire situation, it makes sense to have a document outlining rates, methods of delivery, etc.

Are there any sort of sample contracts out there I could use as a starting point? How is this typically handled?

Thanks so much!

[api2500]

What kind of work do you do?

What kind of work have you done?

[cutoff_frequency]

I work with several local studios bringing artists in to record, but I also do a lot of mixing, which is my main concern. I guess I'm just looking for a way to stay protected and establish beforehand my rates, as well as providing a guarantee that the clients work will be finished on schedule.

[audiomichael]

I've never had a contract when I've hired engineers. Or when I've booked a studio. It's always been very much on the honor system. That said, it's good to be very clear about your rates

[api2500]

So are you serving the Studio or the Artist?

Will you be getting the talent to sign their material away and to whom will it be signed to, you or the studio?

Will the studio be hiring you and getting you to record people and get their talent on board?

[cutoff_frequency]

Thanks guys for the replies. I guess I'm sort of serving both the studio and the artist as I'm bringing work to the studio and paying them their freelance rates but charging the artist for my services on top of that.

I'm not looking for anyone to sign over material to me or the studio, I just want to guarantee I'll finish the work and that they will pay accordingly. I guess if that doesn't seem to be the standard in the industry (to deal with this via formal contract) then that's not the way to go. It just seems like I should have something to give to my clients...either way the honor system has worked out well so far, I just want to go about it as professionally as possible.

[therealbigd]

Originally Posted by audiomichael

I've never had a contract when I've hired engineers. Or when I've booked a studio. It's always been very much on the honor system. That said, it's good to be very clear about your rates

That used to be my policy but I've had problems twice recently and I'm typing mine up at the moment.

[Tony Shepperd]

Originally Posted by cutoff_frequency

Hey all, I've been searching around a lot lately and I'm wondering where to start in terms of forming a contract for my services as a freelance engineer. To be honest I'm not exactly sure that its common to use contracts but at the same time, as its a work for hire situation, it makes sense to have a document outlining rates, methods of delivery, etc.

Are there any sort of sample contracts out there I could use as a starting point? How is this typically handled?

Thanks so much!

If you someone wants to try and screw you, no contract will help you.
To defend the contract will typically cost you more than you were being paid in the first place.

[DanDaMan]

Originally Posted by api2500

So are you serving the Studio or the Artist?

Will you be getting the talent to sign their material away and to whom will it be signed to, you or the studio?

Will the studio be hiring you and getting you to record people and get their talent on board?

Hey guys, sorry to bring back a dead thread. You guys probably know me as the dumbass who started another freelancing thread on here.

After reading the other thread, I was under the impression that people serve bands and not studios?

Are there any drawbacks to freelancers working for studios and not bands?