what to Chagre for mixing on my website

[Zak Kazanski]

Hello GS,

I want some opinions. What should I say I charge for Mixing on my newly made website. Should I give a flat rate, and hourly rate or, just say i will give quotes based on the track/record?

The site also sells beats, studio time, and promotion.... I work with a Team who does all the promotion.

My skill level: I have been perfecting my Mixing and mastering skillz hidden away in my studio for the past 5 or so years. I recently became aware my skill is on a professional level. I've recently done some work with a couple bands and rappers from Philly and NJ (including Meek Millz (maybach music) Joey Jihad, and DJIG. I also have a mix that is going to be feautured on the up and coming NBA 2k12 soundtrack (the video game) via Duck Down Records.

My equipment: I have pt 8, cubae, fl, reason, and loads of outboard gear and plugins. Too many to name here, but they all cost a pretty penny.

Essentially I don't want to have a price on "paper" (aka the website) that will scare off some potential clients. As my prices with the above listed artists fluctuated depending upon the $$$ budget available.

Any Advice before I commit?

Thanks everybody!

-Zak

p.s.- and for mastering?

[John Suitcase]

I'd be inclined to resist posting a price, unless you're confident that your price is right. The problem with posting a price is that some people might have paid more, though they're not likely to offer to! And people who can't pay your posted price probably won't contact to negotiate.

If you get a contact from someone, you can give them your rate, then follow up. If they say it's too much for their budget, you can negotiate, if you want to.

On the other hand, if you post a price, you will avoid messing around with people who can't afford your services!

As to what to charge? I think some equation of tracks * length makes sense, but may be too confusing. Maybe request that info on your contact form, then send a detailed quote?

It wouldn't make sense to charge the same for a hip hop track with 8 tracks as for a huge pop production with 92 tracks, I don't think!

(Is the blog in your sig your writing? I tend to think along a similar line with regards to marketing, etc...)

[Zak Kazanski]

Hello John,

Thank you for the advice. Thats defiantly what I plan to do! Wouldn't that be a shame, charging the same price for a rap and pop mix lol

As for the blog some of it is my writing. I work with a couple people on it and with a bunch of other bloggers, its a collection of the best articles we have found throughout the web. Most of the info on my part, though, comes from a lot of reading. Gotta love libraries!

[jonathan jetter]

Originally Posted by Flowetic

Hello GS,

I want some opinions. What should I say I charge for Mixing on my newly made website. Should I give a flat rate, and hourly rate or, just say i will give quotes based on the track/record?

you have to find your own place in the market, based on your expertise, your equipment, and your experience.

for me, that's around $400/mix, with a slight discount for a full album's worth of songs. if it's 120 track per song of modern pop, i will try to get more. if it's drums, bass, acoustic guitar, and one vocal, i'll do 3 songs/day and charge less.

but your rate could be $2000/song, or $50/song. there's no way for anyone here to give the correct answer based on the information provided.

i go with flat rates for most mixing work, either unattended or when the client drops in toward the end for tweaking. hourly would be more honest, because i am honest and don't pad my billing. but clients don't *perceive* it to be more honest, because they think you'll pad your billing. includes one revision and then after that we go hourly.

if someone is over my shoulder from minute 1, then we're working hourly because it'll usually take twice as long ("let me hear the acoustic guitar soloed in my rock song. why doesn't it have any bottom end?" kind of time-wasting)

there are also a lot of other variables- do they need autotuning/beat detective work? (my $$$ amount above assumes not). do they need re-amping? are you expected to master your mixes or is it going out to an ME?