How do you guys deal with dumb callers?

Archived from groups: rec.audio.pro (More info?)

Don't you have a fixed rate for specific services? Would quoting those prices be
enough?

If he's not ready, or doesn't really know what he wants to do, it's not your
fault you can't provide an estimate.

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Steven Sena <xssound@comcast.net> wrote:
>Them: Hi, how much does it cost to make a demo?
> Me: About 5 thousand dollars...
>Them: (long pause) O.K. thank you...

I do this. The problem is that sometimes the guys have the money. That
is how I wound up miking a lawnmower.
--scott

--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

Archived from groups: rec.audio.pro (More info?)

"Scott Dorsey" <kludge@panix.com> wrote in message
news:cl40g0$67r$1@panix2.panix.com...
> I do this. The problem is that sometimes the guys have the money. That
> is how I wound up miking a lawnmower.

Okay, well, you can't just stop there.

Now why exactly were you miking a lawn mower?

--Nick

Archived from groups: rec.audio.pro (More info?)

Well, I hope you at least kept the recording for sale as a sound effect.
;-)

(Actually, it sounds like an interesting project to me.)

--
Nick D.
http://cultv.com
http://ironia.net


"Scott Dorsey" <kludge@panix.com> wrote in message
news:cl46m5$c2c$1@panix2.panix.com...
> Nick <delonas@NOSPAMcultv.com> wrote:
>>"Scott Dorsey" <kludge@panix.com> wrote in message
>>news:cl40g0$67r$1@panix2.panix.com...
>>> I do this. The problem is that sometimes the guys have the money. That
>>> is how I wound up miking a lawnmower.
>>
>>Okay, well, you can't just stop there.
>>
>>Now why exactly were you miking a lawn mower?
>
> Because it was part of the band, of course. They drove it around on stage
> for one song. Sort of like Georges Antheil, but different. Oh well, they
> paid on time....
> --scott
> --
> "C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

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I am doing a cheap demo for a local young hardcore band..5 songs..live
instruments, guitar and vocal overdubs. One 8 hour session, 1 3 hour guitar
overdub..and a scheduled mix session..all of which was thouroghly discussed in
the one hour consultation. Today..mix session..guitarist calls up..has the
flu..tells me he thought they were just gonna come and pick up the final
master. I told him..I did some editing but no mix..I thought the band wanted to
be present. He told me to finish it. I spent 3 hours total editing and
tweaking..plus a trip to my car. Called the guitarist to schedule a
pickup..he's in bed..I talk to his mother and tell her they can pick up cd's
tomorrow and they owe me for 3 hours. Someone else in the band's father calls
me
...asking me how much more money I am going to try and get out of his kids
band...threatens to call the Attorney General and then he says he's coming down
to the studio. No contract..just verbal.
Any ideas?
John A. Chiara
SOS Recording Studio
Live Sound Inc.
Albany, NY
www.sosrecording.net
518-449-1637

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"Blind Joni" <blindjoni@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20041019212707.22420.00000899@mb-m06.aol.com...

> tomorrow and they owe me for 3 hours. Someone else in the band's father
> calls
> me
> ..asking me how much more money I am going to try and get out of his kids
> band...threatens to call the Attorney General and then he says he's coming
> down
> to the studio. No contract..just verbal.
> Any ideas?


Tell him there is no contract each tiem you sit down at a restaurant but
before you leave you are expected to pay for your goods...

If that doesnt work - kick some ass...

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blindjoni@aol.com (Blind Joni) wrote:

>I am doing a cheap demo for a local young hardcore band..5 songs..live
>instruments, guitar and vocal overdubs. One 8 hour session, 1 3 hour guitar
>overdub..and a scheduled mix session..all of which was thouroghly discussed in
>the one hour consultation. Today..mix session..guitarist calls up..has the
>flu..tells me he thought they were just gonna come and pick up the final
>master. I told him..I did some editing but no mix..I thought the band wanted to
>be present. He told me to finish it. I spent 3 hours total editing and
>tweaking..plus a trip to my car. Called the guitarist to schedule a
>pickup..he's in bed..I talk to his mother and tell her they can pick up cd's
>tomorrow and they owe me for 3 hours. Someone else in the band's father calls
>me, asking me how much more money I am going to try and get out of his kids
>band...threatens to call the Attorney General and then he says he's coming down
>to the studio. No contract..just verbal.
>Any ideas?

John,

You need to have something like this posted clearly on your website:
---------------------------------------------------------------
Standard hourly rate: Less than 8 hours - $40/hr
Day rate - 8 hours or more: - $35/hr
Commercial hourly: - $50/hr
Mastering: - $40/hr

Audio CD’s:
15 minute program or less - $5
Up to 60 minute - $10
Data backup CD’s - $15

Hard drive storage: - $20/gigabyte

POLICIES:

All bookings require a 50% non-refundable deposit. No product will be released
until balance is paid in full. Payment due at session end unless advance
arrangements have been made.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Then, you quietly explain to the father that the band had scheduled a mixing
session, which you did, and they owe you for that time.

Harvey Gerst
Indian Trail Recording Studio
http://www.ITRstudio.com/

Archived from groups: rec.audio.pro (More info?)

Hi John,

That's a tough one. Are the band members minors, especially the guitarist?
I don't know what the law says about verbal contracts with minors but I
thought Kringe's comment was awesome about how restaurants don't have paper
or verbal contracts ( or even statements or disclaimers that ordering food
obligates you for the cost of goods and services etc ) but everyone over the
age of 5 or 6 pretty much knows that restaurants an stores just don't give
stuff to people without payment.

I'd say have at least one decent sized friend over to watch your back and a
phone ready at hand in case this 'angry dad' gets out of control and you
need to call the police 'etc' but otherwise don't overly respond to his
hostility, meaning don't back down just to get rid of him and don't get
overly upset trying to out scream him. Calmly explain what took place as
you did in your RAP post and that you explained to the band what your rates
are. ( and your Rate Card on your site spells out what you expect to be
paid )

Maybe at least very simple contracts would be a good idea in the future and
recording all of your conversations and calls with clients ( with their
permission of course ) might be a good idea too.

Best of luck!

John L Rice
Drummer@ImJohn.com

"Blind Joni" <blindjoni@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20041019212707.22420.00000899@mb-m06.aol.com...
> I am doing a cheap demo for a local young hardcore band..5 songs..live
> instruments, guitar and vocal overdubs. One 8 hour session, 1 3 hour
guitar
> overdub..and a scheduled mix session..all of which was thouroghly
discussed in
> the one hour consultation. Today..mix session..guitarist calls up..has the
> flu..tells me he thought they were just gonna come and pick up the final
> master. I told him..I did some editing but no mix..I thought the band
wanted to
> be present. He told me to finish it. I spent 3 hours total editing and
> tweaking..plus a trip to my car. Called the guitarist to schedule a
> pickup..he's in bed..I talk to his mother and tell her they can pick up
cd's
> tomorrow and they owe me for 3 hours. Someone else in the band's father
calls
> me
> ..asking me how much more money I am going to try and get out of his kids
> band...threatens to call the Attorney General and then he says he's coming
down
> to the studio. No contract..just verbal.
> Any ideas?
> John A. Chiara
> SOS Recording Studio
> Live Sound Inc.
> Albany, NY
> www.sosrecording.net
> 518-449-1637

Archived from groups: rec.audio.pro (More info?)

> Typical call (at least once a day):
>Me: Hello, Boogie Tracks.
>Them: Hi, how much does it cost to make a demo?
>Me: What are you wanting to do?
>Them: I just need a demo, I have a friend that has a brother that rented a car
>to a guy that carried the groceries for a guy that works security at Sony
>Records, so I need to send him a demo.

Quote your highest hourly price right here. If they're smart enough to
try to negotiate then they will reveal whether or not they know
anything about the recording business at all. If they want to chat,
then tell them you can fit them in on Thursday for a consultation at
1/2 rate per hour. Stress how much money the consultation will save
them in the long run.

If they book it, great, if not, tell them you have to get back to a
Very Important Session, and they wouldn't want someone interrupting
their Very Important Session, now would they? Laugh, get their number
if you care, and hang up.

Otherwise it's a bit like asking a dealer in Las Vegas if you can play
some hands for free to watch how the game is played.

>So you see where this is going? I'm sure I'm not the only one getting all of
>these calls. What do you guys do? I'm the most expensive guy in town (in
>hopes of deterring amatures so they will go to the home studios around here)
>but it doesn't work! I know this makes me sound like an ass,

Nah, you're upping your standards. Up theirs.

Kurt Riemann

Archived from groups: rec.audio.pro (More info?)

In article <20041020021129.08579.00002315@mb-m12.aol.com>, EggHd
<egghd@aol.com> wrote:

> << That is how I wound up miking a lawnmower.
> --scott
>
> One time I recorded a Bulldozer! (well ok we claimed it was a bulldozer but it
> was really a backhoe).



We once did a multitrack avant-garde piece done exclusively with an
electric can opener. The guy spent hours doing it and even had to go to
a nearby store to buy a new one after burning out the motor of the one
he brought.

Amazingly, I do not still have a copy of it.

(Amazingly, the Red Sox won again! If you never hear from me again,
blame it on the upcoming Game 7.)




David Correia
Celebration Sound
Warren, Rhode Island

CelebrationSound@aol.com
www.CelebrationSound.com

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On Tue, 19 Oct 2004 13:04:09 -0400, Druhms wrote
(in article <20041019130409.08241.00002138@mb-m10.aol.com> ):

> I know this message will offend some people, but I just have to get some
> insight on how studio owners deal with call after call from idiots?!?!?! So,

> don't get mad at me for being impatient with ignorant people, I'm trying to
> learn how to better deal with it.


JJ,

I just give 'em your number!

Ty




-- Ty Ford's equipment reviews, audio samples, rates and other audiocentric
stuff are at www.tyford.com

Archived from groups: rec.audio.pro (More info?)

> Tell him there is no contract each tiem you sit down at a restaurant
> but before you leave you are expected to pay for your goods...

Wrong analogy. The prices are printed on the menu.

Archived from groups: rec.audio.pro (More info?)

EggHd wrote:

> Worse than that was the song. "Dozerman and Didie Girl". A song about
> the man who (really) drove a bulldozer and his little daughter. Ouch. I
> did it as a favor for an old neighbor's good friend. The guy really
> thought he had written something great. The worst part is I did it for
> free.

You'd feel even worse about this if you had taken money.

--
ha

Archived from groups: rec.audio.pro (More info?)

"William Sommerwerck" <williams@nwlink.com> wrote in message
news:10ncpe94q8q69ee@corp.supernews.com...
> > ...asking me how much more money I am going to try and get
> > out of his kids' band... threatens to call the Attorney General
> > and then he says he's coming down to the studio. No contract...
> > just verbal.
>
> No contract? Major mistake. Especially when dealing with (I assume)
minors.
>
> If the father stops by, don't get the least bit angry, regardless of how
he
> behaves. Clearly describe the work performed, explain your usual rates,
etc,
> etc.

Minors can't sign a contract.

Just sayin'.

dtk

Archived from groups: rec.audio.pro (More info?)

In article <20041019212707.22420.00000899@mb-m06.aol.com>,
Blind Joni <blindjoni@aol.com> wrote:
>I am doing a cheap demo for a local young hardcore band..5 songs..live
>instruments, guitar and vocal overdubs. One 8 hour session, 1 3 hour guitar
>overdub..and a scheduled mix session..all of which was thouroghly discussed in
>the one hour consultation. Today..mix session..guitarist calls up..has the
>flu..tells me he thought they were just gonna come and pick up the final
>master. I told him..I did some editing but no mix..I thought the band wanted to
>be present. He told me to finish it. I spent 3 hours total editing and
>tweaking..plus a trip to my car. Called the guitarist to schedule a
>pickup..he's in bed..I talk to his mother and tell her they can pick up cd's
>tomorrow and they owe me for 3 hours. Someone else in the band's father calls
>me
>..asking me how much more money I am going to try and get out of his kids
>band...threatens to call the Attorney General and then he says he's coming down
>to the studio. No contract..just verbal.
>Any ideas?

Well, you tell him the truth. They asked you to do it, so you did it.
They can pay the money or you can keep the mixdowns. Invite the father to
come down to the studio and see what you do and why it costs what it does.
--scott
--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

Archived from groups: rec.audio.pro (More info?)

<< You'd feel even worse about this if you had taken money. >>

I'd feel better if I still had a copy.....



---------------------------------------
"I know enough to know I don't know enough"

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"Druhms" <druhms@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20041019130409.08241.00002138@mb-m10.aol.com...
> I know this message will offend some people, but I just have to get
some
> insight on how studio owners deal with call after call from
idiots?!?!?! So,
> don't get mad at me for being impatient with ignorant people, I'm
trying to
> learn how to better deal with it.
> Typical call (at least once a day):
> Me: Hello, Boogie Tracks.
> Them: Hi, how much does it cost to make a demo?
> Me: What are you wanting to do?
> Them: I just need a demo, I have a friend that has a brother that
rented a car
> to a guy that carried the groceries for a guy that works security at
Sony
> Records, so I need to send him a demo.
> Me: Ok, so, what do you need to do.
> Them: I've got a couple songs I need to record, to send to... (see
above
> answer).
> Me: Ok, so you are a singer? And you have written 2 songs?
> Them: Yeah
> Me: Is it just you and a guitar?
> Them: No, I just got the words, I need the music.
> Me: So, really, you have half a song?
> Them: No, I've written 2 songs, I just need the music. Do you got
the music
> there?
> Me: No, I don't have the music here. You need the other half of
the song
> written, or a chord chart, or even just tell me the chords and
we'll hire a
> guitar player or piano player, whatever you want to play it.
> Them: Well, I got it in my head, I don't need anyone screwing up
the song I
> wrote.
> Me: Ok, so what do you want to do?
> Them: How much does it cost to make a demo?
> etc............
>
> So you see where this is going? I'm sure I'm not the only one
getting all of
> these calls. What do you guys do? I'm the most expensive guy in
town (in
> hopes of deterring amatures so they will go to the home studios
around here)
> but it doesn't work! I know this makes me sound like an ass, but
I'm really
> starting to lose it.
> Thanks for the help.

In your case I'd recommend just telling him that he's a "dumb caller"
This will have the desired effect of causing him to hang up on you,
thus wasting no more of your time.

Norm Strong

Archived from groups: rec.audio.pro (More info?)

"Scott Dorsey" <kludge@panix.com> wrote in message
news:cl5u6t$h1g$1@panix2.panix.com...
>
> Well, you tell him the truth. They asked you to do it, so you did it.
> They can pay the money or you can keep the mixdowns. Invite the father to
> come down to the studio and see what you do and why it costs what it does.

Oh, man. I don't know. All he needs is this guy telling him what he's doing
wrong in the mix ("my son should be LOUDER" ). Of course that would be an
excellent way to rope this guy in, as long as he agrees to pay while he
"supervises" the mixdown.....

Archived from groups: rec.audio.pro (More info?)

just got one

"Wecording Center"

"WhassUp?"

What may I help you with?

What do you do?

We are a recording studio.

Do you record songs?

Yes, Studio rate is $50/hour.

What does that include?

Studio and engineer.

Oh--Alright--Click!



What the hell am I to do with that?




Richard H. Kuschel
"I canna change the law of physics."-----Scotty

Archived from groups: rec.audio.pro (More info?)

>
>> Minors can't sign a contract.
>
>Whether or not, that doesn't mean he couldn't have given them a document
>spelling out what was to be done, the rates, etc.
>

Basically, I never have a contract for demo work..and everyuthing was clearly
explained in the consultation. I'm not going to get upset..this stuff is good
practice for a real crisis. It is interesting that the Dad; not even knowing
what I do here, assumes to now how much "it" should cost.


John A. Chiara
SOS Recording Studio
Live Sound Inc.
Albany, NY
www.sosrecording.net
518-449-1637

Archived from groups: rec.audio.pro (More info?)

>Oh, man. I don't know. All he needs is this guy telling him what he's doing
>wrong in the mix ("my son should be LOUDER" ). Of course that would be an
>excellent way to rope this guy in, as long as he agrees to pay while he
>"supervises" the mixdown.....
>

So this is how I can soak more money from the band..<g>.


John A. Chiara
SOS Recording Studio
Live Sound Inc.
Albany, NY
www.sosrecording.net
518-449-1637

Archived from groups: rec.audio.pro (More info?)

Amen brother. I get those too. What the hell?!?! How do these people
function in society?
Recently someone berated my studio to me on the phone because I didn't have a
kareoke player in my studio. "What kind of studio are you running down there?"
I was asked sarcastically. Then the guy proceeded to inform me about his home
kareoke setup and how I need to "get some real equipment" if I'm going to make
it in the "music biz".
If I could only have such a successful career singing kareoke down at the VFW.
JJ




>just got one
>
>"Wecording Center"
>
>"WhassUp?"
>
>What may I help you with?
>
>What do you do?
>
>We are a recording studio.
>
>Do you record songs?
>
>Yes, Studio rate is $50/hour.
>
>What does that include?
>
>Studio and engineer.
>
>Oh--Alright--Click!
>
>
>
>What the hell am I to do with that?
>
>
>
>
>Richard H. Kuschel

Archived from groups: rec.audio.pro (More info?)

> Because it was part of the band, of course. They drove it around on stage
> for one song. Sort of like Georges Antheil, but different. Oh well, they
> paid on time....
> --scott

I once did an editorial job for a live act that wanted to mix in
samples. I mixed sound effects over the sound of a bandsaw that lasted
10 minutes. My ears were not happy.

Archived from groups: rec.audio.pro (More info?)

> << You'd feel even worse about this if you had taken money. >>

> I'd feel better if I still had a copy...

You think so? Remember, nostalgia ain't what it used to be...

Also, I have a backhoe, but you'd have to rewrite the song yourownself.

--
ha