Five strangers just contacted me to make a tape.
They're basically asking what it costs.
I almost never get paid even gas money.
I've been making tapes for decades.
 
I feel foolish saying I won't take money. I don't really care. Whatever they pay me will be less than minimum wage anyway. I suppose I could buy some plugin or something with the cash.
 
Do I just do it? I like to spin tape. They live in the same city as me. It's good to make friends.
Do I charge them? 
 
I don't know.
 
I hate money and what it does to the vibe. I'd almost rather be disrespected as a free volunteer hack than bring money in.
 
Am I alone ?

What's a tape?



Just kidding. That's a noble attitude you have. It will only cost you your time, so if you enjoy doing it, I say go for it.

Randy

Tape?  If you mean record a CD, do it.  Post here as you go for feedback.  Have fun.  Hey, I am recording drums in my little studio room now.  It all a gas.
 
Rimshot
 

When working for friends or friends of friends I have reluctantly accepted the idea that it is our responsibility to teach them what production costs.
 
It gives the musicians focus and purpose and you get better performances and a commitment to feedback during the post production.
 
It reveals the fact that almost everyone who says they don't have any money is using all their money on other stuff like sneakers and $9 beers. Eventually you get used to the idea that they will just as willingly spend money on if they are focused and committed.
 
I usually help friends by keeping track of the time at a fair rate and then demonstrate that I have written off some of the time if the friends or friends of friends remain focused and committed through out the process.
 
For me the pleasurable part is the overdub process and the final mixing while many bands assume that they will just jam out and you'll have fun recording them as they have all the fun.
 
If the band doesn't want to do overdubs to get the very best results then it is no fun for me, it is just work, and I charge accordingly.
 
I also have a firm policy that the multi tracks never get released for less than full rate. Period. I'm happy to multi track for people and let them take the tracks home to mix on their Pro Tools LE system. Full rate and you get access to all the hardware by the hour. It's a win, win.
 
I have found that a lot of bands that don't record often get burned out by the post process (the difficulties of which are inversely proportioned to their capabilities) and end up assuming they can grab the tracks and finish in their couch at home on their G3 tower. No problem. $.
 
Finally, if you speak to the band about this up front you can sense if they are focused and committed by their reaction to this proposal. Only a few out of every handful have the sense of purpose to do their best job. You can not force the ones that do not have a sense of purpose to work to your standards. You can save your self a lot of frustration by getting a sense for this as early as possible.
 
When you hook up with musician(s) that really do want to see stuff through to the finish then you can start negotiating per song or per project flat fees. I try to avoid that until I know that everyone is committed to having fun and seeing the project through to something you will be proud to have been part of.
 
best regards,
mike
 
 

Seriously....are you working with tape?
 
Second thing.... If someone calls you up and offers you money.... depending on what they ask you to do for them in exchange for the money..... you should (almost) never turn down money.  Even on a computer, there are real costs involved that are out of your pocket, not to mention the hours (lots of them) that you will have invested in this project before it's completed.
 
even asking for a small hourly rate of say $25/hr will tend to keep them focused on the project at hand, and hopefully come in with the intention of getting the best takes quickly.  If they know the time is free..... they have no incentive to move things along..... it can easily turn into a party at your studio complete with girlfriends and buddies, or become a nightmare in that attempt to record the perfect guitar solo take for the 200th time. 
 
Who will be involved in the mixing and the polishing? The old expression about too many cooks in the kitchen applies....and unless this is determined ahead of time, it can become a nightmare as one tweek after another is suggested and tried...... and the clock keeps ticking into the wee hours...
 
You should ask for a fee upfront when they come in for that first session that will cover a reasonable number of hrs.... for example $250 for the first 10 hrs. Put the money in your pocket and forget about it. Now you do your job but keep a log of the time.  It should also be made clear as to who owns what masters and rights and those rights of ownership are contingent upon final payment for your time and any expenses incurred in the project. Get that in writing and signed by all the musicians on the project.
 
It might sound like a lot of things to do, but anyone who runs a studio will tell you that this is very important and there are probably a few other things you should do if you are planning to start on this path.
 
I don't run a studio here for profit. I don't record anyone here other then people who sing or play on MY projects....and that is fairly rare.  Were I to start.... this is where I would start. Charge a reasonable fee, track the time, get advances, get all agreements in writing including payment details, final payment before delivery of the completed project.

Well, my curiosity is perked here... what are you referring to as 'Make a Tape'? I am not trying to be sarcastic. Do you mean the entire recording project from recording to final product (CD)? Or just making duplicates of some existing product for them?
 
A lot of your question is dependent on actual physical product that may be required in producing the final product for them. It is one thing to 'pro-bono' your services to them, perhaps for acquiring experience in working with a group for example. So you may donate the time spent as personal experience. But when it comes down to actual costs involved for physical items (CDs, drinks, etc.), you deserve some compensation. I wouldn't be too liberal with them on that. Your 'customers' may not realize the little expenses involved that can add up quickly. 

just a guess:
 
Taper (Concert)

gswitz
 It's good to make friends.
 

It's good to make money.

If you don't charge them, or charge too little, it devalues and dilutes the worth of the business for everyone else. Might seem petty, but it can have a small knock-on effect which gets bigger down the line, and sooner or later other people have to start dropping their prices. You'd be charging for 'what you know' and the value of that should never be underestimated.
 
 
 

I started recording using actual tape at actual concerts and so to me, spinning tape means capturing a performance and making a tape means capturing and mixing it down for distribution of some sort.
 
These guys are very talented. They are older than me and regularly show up to old time jams at the local park that really are awesome. I go to them on occasion when I have time. Their talent is formidable.
 
They got my name from another super talented guy I made a tape for a while back. Showed up at his house with loads of gear not sure what to expect and it ended up being just two microphones, one on each instrument - hammer dulcimer and mandolin... hammer dulcimer eventually switched to guitar.
 
So, I'll talk to them and just feel it out. See what they think is fair. They are practicing tonight, and I'm invited to come see what's up. I thought I'd just bring a laptop and 10 mics and see what I get.
 
Maybe I'll leave some CDs so they know what I have considered an end-product in the past.
 
So now, I'm off to install X3 on my old retired laptop. :-)