Members Antman261 Posted December 19, 2006 Members Share Posted December 19, 2006 Everything about this aspect of recording seems very understated. Everyone talks about how to best position a kick mic, but hardly anyone talks about the complexities of being in the business of recording. I'm personally looking to setup my own studio, something simple, it's fairly common here in perth. One of the biggest studio's here started out as a home thing I believe. Actually quite a few are parts of peoples houses. I don't know what it's like in other parts of the world. Then there's the worst part of the whole business, the musicians! One girl wants me to be her manager, producer, and record her stuff, and I'm certainly willing because she has some great stuff (and honestly for me sometimes it can just come down to making something I'd like to hear). However she's terrible at actually, well, turning up. I don't think anyone else would have kept trying like I have. How does everyone manage their business? At all levels, from novice like myself to pro. What's it like in different parts of the world? By the way, any advice on this girl I'm trying to get on the ball here? I have no idea how it'd work out trying to be her manager if this is how she is when we're just trying to get her to turn up to record some tracks. But I also think once she's heard her own songs properly produced and recorded she'll begin to take the whole thing more seriously, and music will take a more serious place in her life outside of her bedroom. I probably sound incredibly unprofessional now, and that's because I am, DREADFULLY unprofessional. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members notinuse Posted December 19, 2006 Members Share Posted December 19, 2006 Get a checkered jacket and a cigar stub. Say baby a lot? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil O'Keefe Posted December 19, 2006 Share Posted December 19, 2006 Then theere's the worst part of the whole business, the musicians! Wait until you have to start dealing with accountants and A&R reps - you may decide to reconsider this statement at that point. Seriously, how do you deal with a client who doesn't show up? With a regular paying client, you hit them in the pocketbook. Many studios have a deposit and cancellation policy. IOW, the client(s) pay a deposit when they book the session, and they forfit that deposit if they fail to show or if they cancel without sufficient (commonly 24 - 48 hours) advance notice. Now if you're fronting everything and producing a client on "spec", then you should definitely have some sort of formal contract / written agreement. I'm not up on Australian law, so that's something you should definitely discuss with an attorney or barrister in your area who is well-versed in entertainment law. However, I would start off by having a serious "heart to heart" discussion with this artist. If she's unwilling to be responsible and apply herself, then I see no reason why you should put your time, money and efforts into trying to build a career for her. It's often said that no one will believe in an artist as much as they themselves will, and no one will work harder on their career than they themselves will. Most successful artists know this and are willing to work very hard at their craft... but if they're not willing to, the chances of their becoming successful (and that's a huge long shot to begin with) drop to nearly zero. I would very specifically and carefully explain this to the artist, as well as my proposed plan of attack and then come to a mutual decision regrding whether to proceed or not based on our discussion... and I would make certain that I was covered and protected in case the artist decided to fall back into old patterns. Frankly, it doesn't sound good to me insofar as her potential career... there's a lot of talented artists and bands who will never amount to anything in the long run because of some fatal flaw or another... lack of professionalism, substance abuse problems, an attitude of entitlement and an expectation of being magically "discovered" and having everythig handed to them (the "big myth"), etc. etc. IMO, no matter how good this person is, you may be better off trying to find another artist or band with similar level of talent, but a better work ethic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members gtrbass Posted December 21, 2006 Members Share Posted December 21, 2006 If an "artist" is too immature, irresponsible, or lazy to turn up to take their music seriously, they won't amount to diddly. You are wasting your time. Dump her. The only people who will bother with such an "artist" is someone who just wants to pretend to be an idolmaker, wants to get in her knickers, or is a slimeball who will sign her to a nasty deal where she keeps 1% and you get the other 99%. I'm sure you are none of the above. Dump her. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members blue2blue Posted December 21, 2006 Members Share Posted December 21, 2006 Originally posted by Antman261 Everything about this aspect of recording seems very understated. Everyone talks about how to best position a kick mic, but hardly anyone talks about the complexities of being in the business of recording.I'm personally looking to setup my own studio, something simple, it's fairly common here in perth. One of the biggest studio's here started out as a home thing I believe. Actually quite a few are parts of peoples houses. I don't know what it's like in other parts of the world.Then there's the worst part of the whole business, the musicians! One girl wants me to be her manager, producer, and record her stuff ...[snip] You sound very much like me fifteen or so years ago... except a lot less certain of yourself. I was fortunate to have a comfortable situation and could devote a fair bit of money and a lot of time to setting up a project studio with a room dedicated to it in my house (and the ability to press a hallway into service as an iso booth, better yet). But after less than a decade I'd had enough. Not of recording, not of music, mind you. I still make music; I still record it. But I'd had enough of the music biz, for sure, and I was no longer really keen on working to record my brother and sister musicians or try to guide them through their projects or help them reconcile their often totally unrealistic fantasy goals with the cold realities of the biz. And I had grown to hate anything to do with the "suit" side of the biz equation... the club owners, label asses, lawyers, managers... the lot of them a bunch of sleazy, money-grubbing, musician-hating vampires... My advice: keep recording; keep making music. Keep the dayjob. And keep your love of music... _________________ PS... I just went back and read Phil's response and it is, of course, smack on. Don't waste your vital life energy on someone who shows no sign of taking themselves seriously... You will find yourself drawn into being the kind of "enabler" you read about in self-help books -- in the negative example section. You will be drained, emotionally, economically... When one has been around for a while (and I have) you can see the "shape" of her sort of narcissism and immaturity in the mist of a story like this. She may be a lovely, sunny person; she may have great talent; but until she really takes herself seriously -- and that's a bend in the road many an artist simply does not negotiate -- she will be a black hole for the time, energy, efforts, and emotions of others. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Picker Posted December 21, 2006 Members Share Posted December 21, 2006 Great post Phil! That about covers it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil O'Keefe Posted December 21, 2006 Share Posted December 21, 2006 Originally posted by Picker Great post Phil! That about covers it. Thanks Picker. That, and maybe the last quote in your sig. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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