Recording Fee

Paul King · From: Gainesville, Texas, USA

I have been given the opportunity to do some recording at a small studio. This is no big city studio by any means but it does have a pretty good sound. I am wondering what would be a fair fee for playing on songs for different artists. I have been asked and just would like some opinions from anyone willing to give their thoughts and ideas...Paul King

Donny Hinson · From: Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.

Start cheap (like $20-$25 per song), and then inch up if they continue to call you. I generally charge less than half scale, and still get thought of as an "expensive" player around here. It's very easy work, and can be interesting and fun, too.

Oh yeah, never do it for nothing!

Recently, I got a call from a producer to play on a singer/songwriter's CD (6-8 songs). I was told it would probably take about 6-8 hours in the studio. They asked how much I would charge for such a session, and when I said "at least $200", there was this long pause. They explained how this was the first project for this person, and the budget was quite limited. They promised to call me in a week or so to let me know if they decided to use me. Three days later, they gave the job to another steeler. About six weeks later, they called and apologized for not letting me know they had hired someone else to play the session!

Guess I should hang up the session work too.

[This message was edited by Donny Hinson on 05 October 2003 at 05:17 PM.]

Bill Hatcher · From: Atlanta Ga. USA

At least $100 a song. A little less if they have 5 or 6 to do. Not worth the time to do it any cheaper. They will never pay you what you want unless you start there.

Tony Prior · From: Charlotte NC

I'm with Donny..

Charging a bundle for a local songwriter or singer who needs to hire on a few musicians is a large chunk of cash while also paying for the studio rate.

Unless they are actually making a record or a CD for national airplay this is more for the experience and fun rather than the bucks.

Not free though...

just my take

tp

Bobby Lee · From: Cloverdale, California, USA

I charge the same as a casual gig - $75 for 4 hours. Maybe that's too cheap?

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Bobby Lee - email: quasar@b0b.com - gigs - CDs, Open Hearts
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Ken Williams · From: Arkansas

You might consider charging by the hour, decreasing the rate with each hour involved. For example, $50 for the 1st hour, $30 for next hour, $25 for the next hour, $20 for the each additional hours in that session. These are just example figures. Rates might depend on the cost of living in your area.

Ken
http://home.ipa.net/~kenwill

Bob Hoffnar · From: Austin, Tx

Shoot for double what you normally get for a regular local live gig. If you can play in tune and work fast you can charge what you feel you deserve and you will get plenty of call backs. I talk to management about money so the vibe with the artist doesn't get to weird. If you get to a manager they usually know what they are going to pay. Don't sell yourself short but also don't be a big head.

Bob

John Lacey · From: Black Diamond, Alberta, Canada

Check out what other players are getting for session work around the area. The going rate in Calgary area is about $100/song.

Jim Palenscar · From: Oceanside, Calif, USA

$50/song

Jim Cohen · From: Philadelphia, PA

$85 for the 1st song of the session, $65 for each additional song on the same session. Don't go by the hour, or you get penalized if you nail it on the first take, and feel badly if you need several takes to get it right, cuz then you're making more money the worse you play!

chas smith R.I.P. · From: Encino, CA, USA

This is what the union has to say about it, you could use it as a referance:
http://www.promusic47.org/wages/Cphono.asp

Alan Kirk · From: Scotia, CA, USA

How about $50/hr or $50/song, whichever is more.

I don't see the logic in charging less per hour as the hours mount up or charging less per song for doing more songs.

I think you need a minimum per-song charge and or a minimum per-hour charge.

A drummer friend of mine in a well-known country band charges $75/hr or $75/song for local demo gigs when he's not touring.

[This message was edited by Alan Kirk on 05 October 2003 at 03:10 PM.]

Jim Cohen · From: Philadelphia, PA

Alan Kirk · From: Scotia, CA, USA

Jim,

Makes sense to me.

So how about whatever rate per song/hour, plus cartage?

I still think a person should not give a quantity discount for providing creative services. The Union doesn't do it. My touring friends don't do it. My band doesn't do it--the price doesn't go down the longer we play.

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Larry Bell · From: Englewood, Florida

I charge a minimum of $50 to set up my guitar -- and that applies to ANY GIG OR SESSION. If I have to haul my stuff and set up and tear down, that's as little as I'll do it for. For a session, that buys you the first hour. Thereafter, any part of an hour over and I add $25. Most sessions I play are 2 hours, I get paid $75, and everybody's happy. Most of my work falls into two categories: jingles and demos (or individual artist / songwriter / indie stuff). The project studio is hesitant to hire extra musicians when they can avoid it already -- I don't want to alienate them. The 'little guy' -- the independent songwriter or singer -- can't afford much more than that.

I also have an understanding with a couple of studios that if they get a corporate account and the money is plentiful, they will share the wealth. They know I cut my price to the bone for all other sessions.

The market is very depressed, especially in small towns (like my area). I wouldn't DARE charge more. I'd get even fewer calls than I do now.

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Larry Bell - email: larry@larrybell.org - gigs - Home Page
2003 Fessenden S/D-12 8x8, 1969 Emmons S-12 6x6, 1971 Dobro, Standel and Peavey Amps

Jay Ganz · From: Out Behind The Barn

I charge double if it's a crummy song.

Paddy Long · From: Christchurch, New Zealand

For the top sessions I charge $100 a track, minimum 1 track !! If the job is for a low budget session my minimum is $50 per track. If they don't want to pay that - then I suggest they get someone else. Don't ever do a session "for the experience" - always charge what you think your worth - and if they want to pay you bugger all then they don't really appreciate your ability or what you can offer their song. Session work is pretty specialised, and you need to be able to do the stuff in one or two takes -- if they pay for someone because they are cheap, they could end up paying twice as much studio time because they guy could take a week to get one track down !!!

Herb Steiner · From: Briarcliff TX 78669, pop. 2,064

If it's like most regional demo/"bandstand record" sessions, I charge $50/hour with $25/half-hour thereafter. If I nail the song in one take, and do two more like that in one hour's time, I get $50. I've still only spent one hour doing my craft.

I used to charge by the song, but found myself in situations where I had to hang around while they got a drum sound, while the guitarist finished his overdubs, etc. So I was spending my time waiting for the producer to get HIS sh*t together. Knowing he's paying by the hour gets the producer a heck of a lot more serious about me being there.

If the band/producer has it together and I finish in one hour, it's been a pleasant hour and I have 50 more bucks than I did an hour ago. Usually I walk away with more than that, though.

Doing an album project is generally a multi-day affair and requires bulk time pricing.

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Texas Steel Guitar Association

[This message was edited by Herb Steiner on 13 October 2003 at 04:06 PM.]

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