Should I cancel the session
I recently put an ad in the free paper here in Japan announcing that I was looking for projects to practice my engineering skills on. I wrote on the ad that it was for experience etc. I had about 4 or 5 people contact me. I was set to record one band, and the day of the session I call the contact to confirm times and he tells me that the lead guitarist quit last night and so they cant make it. Bummer. Good thing I called.
Anyway, on guy called and asked me I would be interested in recording him. He is a drummer and want a "couple" of clips for his homepage. He send me the link, and it makes him out like a pro drummer. Some Tv appearances, shows with a big name Tokyo based cover band etc.
As we talk about the project it is decided that he wants to do 8 - 10 40 sec clips of different styles. I ask him to get the backing tracks to me so that I can have everything set before hand, He agrees to put everything on CD and mail it to me.
He calls afew days later to say that his computer can't handle the midi files and that there are drop outs in the files he is trying to output. He wants to know if I can record them into my machine the day of the session...
A few days later, after looking over his homepage I realize this guuy had contacted me a few months earlier when I was looking for a drummer for my band and said that he would be happy to work with us, but he would expect to be paid for his time...so, after all this I write him back and say I am interested in doing it, but that I feel uncomfortable doing it for free, and that I would like to make a small something for my time. He says that "I think you have the wrong impression, I really am not that succesful with my drumming and don't make much off it. I can't afford to pay you."
Hmmn.
next day he calls and asks if I am able to bring a video camera and video the session cause he would really like some video on his web site. WTF! Umm, OK?
So i sort of want to blow him off, but wonder if I should just do the session and use it as a resume sort of thing. Experience. One to try and figure out how to work with people, all that jazz. Foreign community is pretty small here as well and it would be in my best interest to not blow it, but at the same time don't want to be the guy with all the gear that you can expect to work for free...ahh what to do?
Any thoughts, suggestions, or ideas.
Thanks for reading, and apologies for the long post. Not alot ogf people around here to bounce this off of.
leon