Studio job isnt working out anymore..

[jangoux]

So, I am working at the best studio of my city since last August. The other guy who was working with me quit, so since january i am working alone there and everyone is liking my work. However, lately i have been very frustated with how things are not working when payment time comes. My boss is kinda of a rich man. Has every stupid gadget money can buy, a couple fancy cars, more than $100K worth of gear - and the studio isnt his main income source. And that's the complete opposite from me : i work my ass off to earn my money, pay my bills and IF someday i get an extra, i think twice before buying a pizza because i may miss that money, you know.

So, we have a verbal agreement that i get 40% of everything that goes into the studio. The problem is that he is too good to the clients - he gives the masters before the final payment, he won't tell the clients they need to pay him, blah, blah blah. I mean, he does EVERYTHING he shouldnt. Sometimes, i spend two months without getting paid a buck because of this. I've talked to him many times about that and he always says he agrees with me, that he should change - but things never change.

Today i knew a client (finally, after more than a month i ended this work) paid, so i asked him to give me my money. I went to the studio and later the janitor came in giving my money. I was like 'Wait, ONLY THIS? it must be missing something'. I went to talk to him and his explanation was that he gave a discount to a couple of clients WITHOUT ASKING ME, and instead of cutting what he was receiving, he also took some of my money. I mean, $100 is shit for him, but it is a lot for me. I dont know what to do, but i know that i am getting really upset of working too much and things always ending like that. At the end of the day, i have to chose which bill i wont pay this month and he thinks if he'll buy a Xbox or a Wii for his music school. We had a brief discussion, he asked if i wanted more money, and i just turned away. I felt offended by the way he asked it, like if i was a mercenary or something.

I really dont know what to do. I like working there, but i really dislike being explored. However, i can't just quit. I have a daughter and a wife and i can't just be without any source of money. Do you guys have any opinions on how to handle this situation ?

Ivan

 

[brianhood]

get written contracts or quit
screw that verbal crap

be sure to include something about no discounts given to clients without your written consent or some bs like that

 

[JeffTD]

Yup... sit down with him, make it known that what's going down is NOT ok and that you WILL be leaving if it doesn't change and you don't get some formal, legal contracts written up.

 

[Styvo]

Dude
I feel your pain.....it's a shit scenario to be in,particularly because your the main man down there by the sounds of things.I would suggest telling him to put you in charge of running the operation and all calls and bookings related to the studio should be negotiated by you.That way you don't get wires mixed up,he said she said bs.
It doesn't sound right even though he may have money,there's still a standard that your upholding so he should do the same and support you on that.Discounts are ok to offer to return clients and long booking clients,but i think you should be the one determining that seeing your delivering the end result and not him.
Alternatively explain it and get him to agree to a scenario which suits you,otherwise it'll carry on.And yes contracts may need to be put in place.
Best of luck with it.

 

[egan.]

Set a rate that he pays regardless of what the client does. Based on what you are describing (and the fact he is described as your boss) he is your employer and thus he is responsible for paying you on time and in full.

 

[dontletmedrown]

Have you communicated to him that you are having financial trouble because of his decisions? Maybe tell him you're not sure if you can afford to keep working there.

 

[Moonlight_Seeker]

Since you have a daughter and all I would NOT advice to bring him the threat of your quitting. There are surely many people who would take your job tomorrow and he surely knows it.

You might want to ask your boss a base salary paid monthly or something. I would calculate all my bills and how much life costs at the basics firstly... let's say it is... I don't know, 4000$ per months. Then you tell your boss that because you have a family to feed and debts to pay and you make things sound a bit dramatic and tell him that you would rather have a fixed income of 5000$ per month then working on commission. Then you tell him that you know you could do more only by commission but you cannot live knowing that your daughter might be hungry for even one day. So you would rather the security then the chance to make more.

But how much is the studio income for one month?

Is your boss frequently at the studio? Daily? Weekly?

How come your boss is more in contact with the clients then you? He's the one signing the contracts? Is he also a sound engineer?

Are you paid under or over the table?

But let's say that for 10 songs they charge 5'000$. That would mean you make 2'000$ right there. How much did he give you?

 

[Nitsuj]

you are being played. But in uncertain economic times like these it'll be wise to hang on to it while u look at other options. Such as hopping over to the
no. 2 studio in your city.

 

[jangoux]

Thanks for the answer guys. The problem is that i've tried some of the stuff you mentioned...let me answer one by one.

hopping over to the no. 2 studio in your city

I am thinking about that. The problem is that most studios here are ran by the onwer, so the possibility of a job opening is very small. But i am trying to see if there's anywhere that may be available.

You might want to ask your boss a base salary paid monthly or something(...)
But how much is the studio income for one month?
Is your boss frequently at the studio? Daily? Weekly?
How come your boss is more in contact with the clients then you? He's the one signing the contracts? Is he also a sound engineer?
Are you paid under or over the table?
But let's say that for 10 songs they charge 5'000$. That would mean you make 2'000$ right there. How much did he give you?

I asked this base salary but his answer (while he was sending orkut scraps to everybody) was "I prefer to pay you just when i receive from a client". He is all day at the studio because a music school also works there. He's not a sound engineer (and that brings something else i hate about him, he's always telling me wich gear i should use because SOMEONE or gearslutz told him..). He SHOULD be signing the contracts but those things happen (clients getting forever to pay) because he never signs contracts and keeps everything in verbal agreement. I always say my studio income is between $0 and $1500 because there are months that even tho'i work like a horse, i get nothing. This month was the best one i got paidm but then again, i was also poorly paid the last couple months. I think the school janitor is getting paid better than me and while i think it's unfair to compare jobs, i think that studiyng audio should be reward a little more than cleaning floors. Despite the fact that i got 'well' paid this month, things are no better because all my bills were late from the last two months i didnt receive much money.

Have you communicated to him that you are having financial trouble because of his decisions? Maybe tell him you're not sure if you can afford to keep working there.

Yeah. His answer is always "be calm, some cool projects are coming in and we'll be all smiles then...". But my bills can't wait. SHould i wait and leave my house without energy or water?

I swear i'd just quit, but i need this money. My wishes are that i could get my own place or better, get a regular job. I am sick of not knowing how much money i'll get at the end of the month. The problem is that i never completed my graduation and nobody without a degree gets paid here.

I guess i will try to make a contract with him and see what happens. IF he agrees to a contract..

 

[pifos_2]

Fuck that bastard. Don't work without a contract.

 

[smy1]

Seriously, he is just exploiting you and unless he is retarded, he surely knows that he's doing that. Statements like "I prefer to pay you just when i receive from a client" and "be calm, some cool projects are coming in and we'll be all smiles then..." are basically showing you how much he disregards you.

Bottom line is: you are a fool for wanting to keep working at a place where the owner thinks you are enough of a doormat to tolerate this mockery ...

Basically what you need to do is, IF you still want to work there:

a) quickly check out other places/options of work in case you need to bail out
b) arrange a formal meeting with your boss (not an in-between-doors talk)
c) tell him that you are working for nothing some months and have bills to pay and that this is unacceptable
d) let him know that you need a base salary every month, make it higher than what you need
e) let him know that you won't work for him if he doesn't agree on a base salary
f) if he wants to negotiate, negotiate down to what you really need - that way you leave him feeling like he "won" on the negotiation part
g) make sure he pays you what he owes you before you go back to work - sometimes not showing up for a day or two works wonders ...

Most importantly: do not be afraid of losing the job. You are not making any substantial money now either that you couldn't make waiting tables or cleaning the floor, so it can't really get much worse, can it ...?

This is another prime example why I never work for free anymore, ever. Be it music production, photography, design or live shows. If you work for nothing or almost nothing people expect that from you all the time. Sadly you made the mistake of going into that stupid 60/40 agreement with him to begin with. Now it's harder for you to have leverage to get out of it.

Also, if the lack of a university degree or similar qualification keeps you from getting paid - finish your degree. Or simply fake one.

 

[Metaltastic]

Really sorry to hear that Ivan - I can't offer any suggestions beyond what has already been said, but I really hope it works out, and I would definitely start looking for other places to work! (and not necessarily studios, if you gotta pay the bills then money is money, even if you're mixing concrete or something!)

 

[James Murphy]

his stance sounds outright illegal to me.... but i have to say that you are responsible because it is you and only you that is allowing himself to be trod upon. Demand a change and that it should be quantifiable, documented, and binding. if he disagrees, leave... sure he can get someone else, but they will leave too. also, you have it in your power to control the masters... it should not happen that even your "boss" gets access to them until you are paid. additionally, a 60/40 deal is a partnership of sorts, not an employer/employee relationship.... and you should point that out to him... because it sounds to me like a limited partnership where he provides the space and gear and you provide the skills and labor. don't allow yourself to be trod upon like this, or it will never stop... it will get worse. your "boss" is a user and a manipulator.

your biggest mistake after accepting the 60/40 deal was to not immediately and decisively stand up and put your foot down the very first time you were shorted or that he gave discounts or gave out masters without payment first.... and the longer you don't, the worse it will get. you would have gained respect from him if you had been adamant from the first incident.... but you rolled over and let it happen. don't compound this by letting it go on any longer. not even one day. the longer you wait, the less power you will have to change it... if it isn't already too late. if it is too late, you need to leave.

you can't allow yourself to want something so badly that you let yourself be screwed over... it's not worth it, ever, and it will surely sour your attitude toward the very thing you most aspired to do.

 

[::XeS::]

^ holy words!

 

[DanLights]

definitely what James Murphy and pretty much what everyone else has said is more than true. You are being used and it is in great part your fault for letting it happen. No job should be done "through verbal agreement", that just leads to what you are now experiencing. Whatever deal you'll get, be it a monthly income or a percentage, should be written in paper, and all payments with clients should be written down too. And as many here have said, if you have to leave and work waiting tables or cleaning floors while you make your own studio or fhinish your degree or whatever, don't ever feel ashamed of it, just follow your dreams however the fuck you can and dont take bs from people like that fuckface boss of yours

 

[dontletmedrown]

soooo.....

what happened?

 

[Loren Littlejohn]

soooo.....

what happened?

+1