View Full Version : charging for audio recordings???


Joshua Cohen
September 7th, 2003, 08:53 PM
Hi there. Recently, I've setup a contract with a local school to film and record there local events, concerts, and recitals. One area they'd like to is to is audio recordings of their recitals.

I was curious, if their is anyone else here who records music live, how much you'd charge for something like this.

The process would include running a line from the mixer into an m-box, then into the computer using a program such as peak, or protools, or of the sort.

So doing the recordings, that can be done, but I am not so sure how much to charge.

Any suggestions?

Thanks again for all of your help.

Jacques Mersereau
September 10th, 2003, 07:55 AM
There are so many factors to consider when deciding on this kind of bid.

What does the client want to get out of it?
("Archival" recording costs less than nationally released album production.)

How much are you charging for video taping?
(You probably can't charge more for audio recording, or can you?)

How big is the set up? (One mic costs less than a dozen. A Protools HD rig
costs more to run than a cassette machine. A shure SM57 costs less than
a Neuman M-50.)

How are you recording it? (DAT, cassette, minidisc, . . . multi track?)

Where is the gig? (Hard load in = mo money.)

How long is the gig? (Half an hour costs less than all day.)

Do you need to make dups?

How rich is the client? (I'd charge Beverly Hills High more than Inner City High.)

A good rule to remember is: The first price charged is the price from then on.
So, don't short change yourself with the old, "I'll charge less on this first gig
just to see how it goes."

Personally, I'd figure out the least you'd do it for and
_double_ it. Sitting there listening to kids slaughtering whatever
material for hours, days, weeks and years on end
would be taxing to say the least. At least if you are being paid decent money
the pain is less than it would be otherwise :)

Joshua Cohen
September 10th, 2003, 07:57 AM
Hey, thanks for all of the information. I'll deffinetly take it to notice.

It helps break everything down for me.

Thanks