Getting more bands to come in

[Laneismusic]

I've had a lot of bands message me sounding like they're ready to start tracking within the next few weeks but then never end up doing so. Now being really young, I think they may not take me seriously. But my work speaks for itself. I have great quality, with tight mixes, and people seem to love it. But getting the bands in to record that say they want to, because they need to, has been a challenge.

Is there a certain way i should go about promoting my studio to kinda get the people to commit?

I'm new at this forum so bear with me haha.

And as far as rates, I'm unsure whether to charge by the hour, or by the song.
I'm charging 80 a song right now, give or take.

Thanks! -Lane

 

[egan.]

First of all at 16 you are in a compromised position but the reality is that only 10% of conversations are going to result in actual gigs. It's just the nature of things.

 

[Lasse Lammert]

bands that are booking my services have to pay 1/3 non-refundable deposit.
Labels usually don't, but I've never had problems with them bailing

 

[Jarkko Mattheiszen]

It happens all the time, don't worry. Unless it's a solid booking with a strict starting date set and an advance payment, just treat the gig as a huge maybe.

 

[Melodeath]

It's pretty normal for people to flake out.

Damn, I don't even make $80/song

 

[Ermz]

First of all at 16 you are in a compromised position but the reality is that only 10% of conversations are going to result in actual gigs. It's just the nature of things.

Very true.

Way more people flake out on me than have ever committed to going through with a project. Deposit will help weed them out and waste less of your time.

 

[chrisrivalry]

Set up a blog on your myspace or a disclaimer on your website that says you require a deposit of some sort before you even tough a microphone. As soon as you get people who say they want to record, pencil them in an organized notebook or you can be all fancy and shit with a word document on the computerteli as a maybe. Then once they pay you that deposit mark them in with a definite and schedule a time to record. I'm not sure if you're in a band or not but scheduling with a band is very difficult and is 9 times out of 10 the reason why they didn't show up. Think about it, you have typically 5 guys that have lives and jobs outside of the band since I have a feeling you're not working with too many label bands at this point. You have to work around them if you want to make it happen.

 

[dcb]

low budget bands are not as organized as one thinks. most of the times itts 1 person pushing the band forward , contacting you, asking about prices and stuff. this guy might say : i wanna work with you. but all 4 other members think your too expensive (well 80 $ is ridicoulous, youd have to pay me twice the money to work a full day) .
so its always a democratic decision, which 9 out of 10 times leads to bands buying a cheap interface,
programming drums and do it on their own. basically they copy your idea (i guess you dont have a u47 or ssl ;-)

its tough these days. you gotta deliver a certain sound AND be cheap as fuck...

more bands will come if you satisfy your clients.

after i finish an ep i usually have 5 bands coming to me referring to that specific productionand go :
we loved that. whats your price? your young, take your time.
youll need at least 10 years to become a really really good engineer. another 10 to become a really good producer.

 

[NSGUITAR]

Let's hear a mix.

 

[BLUElightCory]

bands that are booking my services have to pay 1/3 non-refundable deposit.
Labels usually don't, but I've never had problems with them bailing

This, exactly.

I do things similarly, to book a timeslot a band must put down a non-refundable $500 deposit - if they cancel for any reason, they lose their deposit.

 

[Melodeath]

Jesus christ. I wish I had the opportunity to work with bands with more money. I make less than that deposit mixing and mastering a full length.
I keep rates low or I get no work

 

[SkybluestudiosBEN]

Make appointments to get deposits.

 

[The StabbinCabin]

low budget bands are not as organized as one thinks. most of the times itts 1 person pushing the band forward , contacting you, asking about prices and stuff. this guy might say : i wanna work with you. but all 4 other members think your too expensive (well 80 $ is ridicoulous, youd have to pay me twice the money to work a full day) .
so its always a democratic decision, which 9 out of 10 times leads to bands buying a cheap interface,
programming drums and do it on their own. basically they copy your idea (i guess you dont have a u47 or ssl ;-)

its tough these days. you gotta deliver a certain sound AND be cheap as fuck...

more bands will come if you satisfy your clients.

after i finish an ep i usually have 5 bands coming to me referring to that specific productionand go :
we loved that. whats your price? your young, take your time.
youll need at least 10 years to become a really really good engineer. another 10 to become a really good producer.

+38257364958654

This man speaks the truth

 

[Laneismusic]

Let's hear a mix.

I'll post the one i'm working on now in the rate my mix section or whatever, i'll post a link.


Thanks everyone for the advice -Lane

 

[cloy26]

Become friends with every band that comes into work with you. The first band I started a year and a half ago, I did for free. I didn't know who they were, but they seemed like a talented group of younger musicians. I explained why I wanted to track with 'em, and they were down. A year and a half later, I am friends with about 20 local bands, the vast majority of which I have worked with and they always come back.

This business, like anything else, is networking. Always begin and end with the band on good terms and if you put out quality material, they will come back.

 

[Laneismusic]

Let's hear a mix.

Jesus christ. I wish I had the opportunity to work with bands with more money. I make less than that deposit mixing and mastering a full length.
I keep rates low or I get no work

It's pretty normal for people to flake out.

Damn, I don't even make $80/song

First of all at 16 you are in a compromised position but the reality is that only 10% of conversations are going to result in actual gigs. It's just the nature of things.

Please take a listen http://www.ultimatemetal.com/forum/...ads/607994-metalcore-mix-please-critique.html

 

[JonWormwood]

Being in a semi respected band around town helps too. I'm friends with alot of bands, word spreads, ppl contact you.

 

[zackpennington]

Being in a semi respected band around town helps too. I'm friends with alot of bands, word spreads, ppl contact you.

This.

My studio partner's band is huge in town right now so he gets probably 3 times as many clients as I do.

My band broke up a while back and no one really gave a shit when we were together.

 

[Laneismusic]

This.

My studio partner's band is huge in town right now so he gets probably 3 times as many clients as I do.

My band broke up a while back and no one really gave a shit when we were together.

YES! I'm in A Cursive Lie. Arlington's biggest Prog. Metal band. It has helped

 

[TreKita]

I feel your pain dude.

i've done a total of 2 project, both of which never paid me for my services, so i'm withholding the master track.

i hate how that goes. i got the 50 dollar deposit for them so they were serious, but it just fell through after that.