Free Song - Limits? Effectiveness?

[rcb4t2]

Hey guys - I'm thinking about doing a "one song free" promotion to get some new faces into the studio. Wanted to get some opinions:

1) what kind of limits do y'all set? Band tracking? Simple acoustic or other solo/duo style? Solo vocalists with backing tracks? How many hours for each type?

2) what about mix/master? Seems like I'd have to include this as well. Seems a little cheap/gotcha to offer the tracking but not the post...

3) have folks seen positive results from these situations? Sure some will take advantage, but at least it's exposure and gets the word out.

4) any other thoughts? Opinions? Advice?

Thanks!

[jonathan jetter]

free mastering sample? sure. that's half an hour.

free mixing sample? perhaps. 4 or 5 hours for a band that i would really want to work with.

free recording/production? not very likely. that's way too much time. if i want to comp 2 and a half days of studio time i have several musician friends who are both talented + bankrupt, and i'd rather steer my charity that way.

[AstralPStudios]

No way I'd ever record for free. As for mixing/mastering...Well, that's what the "Samples" portion of a website is for along with production meetings and showing them previous tracks and how YOU work and WHY you're better than the rest around you.

It's one thing to scope out and pick a select few but that's it. Doing stuff for free/cheap is why people are undercutting everyone and skewering production costs. :|. This is album/music production, not free ride production.

[oldeanalogueguy]

Originally Posted by rcb4t2

Hey guys - I'm thinking about doing a "one song free" promotion to get some new faces into the studio. Wanted to get some opinions:

1) what kind of limits do y'all set? Band tracking? Simple acoustic or other solo/duo style? Solo vocalists with backing tracks? How many hours for each type?

2) what about mix/master? Seems like I'd have to include this as well. Seems a little cheap/gotcha to offer the tracking but not the post...

3) have folks seen positive results from these situations? Sure some will take advantage, but at least it's exposure and gets the word out.

4) any other thoughts? Opinions? Advice?

Thanks!

Dont do anything for free.
Double your prices.
Offer a discount coupon for a limited time.
they love a bargain, time limit makes them buy now.

[rcb4t2]

Yeah you guys are right - summer's really slow around here right now. Not sure what I was thinking lol. Thanks for keeping things in check.

[psycho_monkey]

I do a fair amount of "on spec" mixing with new clients - if you don't like the results, you don't pay (and you don't get to keep the results either, of course).

Paid off so far...not really had anyone not complete the project.

[Radiogal]

"Free" is never good for anyone. -A free product will not sound as good as you probably wouldn´t put as much time and efford in it. The result will be under your level of ambition.
If the clients (probably) drops out after that, cuz they didn´t wanna spend money anyway cuz they are in it for the freebees, they´ll leave with a bad product from your studio. Rumour has it!

I bill a higher rate for the first studio day, mainly cuz the first day usually takes more time for setting up instruments etc.
I have lower rates from day 2 and on.

Just my 2 cents

[crissmichaels]

Free recording - Never. It takes way too much time and effort to set up. Discounted rates for one song as a sampler would be a better idea.

Free mixing - On songs that are simple to do, like acoustic duos, sure. For a 5 piece metal band with dueling harmonized lead guitar throughout the entire song, no. Once again, discounted rates.

Free masthering - Sure, go ahead. Mastering doesn't take much time, so you could probably take care of that right before you go home, then call them in the morning to come and listen.

That's my $.02