• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Recording, Cost split equally?

#21
Thanks for the replies, I feel like it makes me feel better about the whole thing. I definitely agree with things being equally paid, I guess I just don't want people taking advantage of it. And many of you are right, we probably should have fully defined everything before we got there. I'm used to recording in a basement. It's all a learning experience. And I think as many of you suggest if it was out of band funds, then it would be no problem, we are in the process of setting that up.

At the end of the day, I was hoping to see how others do it. I guess I was sort of looking for thoughts on should everyone be there all the time. No so much "how can I not pay my band mates" Maybe I should have worded it differently. It was late.

Thanks for the responses.
 
#22
Another option is....if these recordings are just for demo/friends/family...etc.....spend the money on your own gear and record yourself. Recording is a lot like learning guitar or bass.....it's not hard to do, it's hard to be great at
 
#23
we are sharing our recording costs 3-ways between the band evenly, regardless of how long whatever takes however long to track, edit, mix, etc.. because we'll evenly split the record sales (however minimal they may be!).
if your bandleader/singer is asking for a double-share of that, he needs to pay that % breakout of the recording time as well.
 
#25
Record sales is a very good point, I don't expect we will be making bank on it or anything but I can see how the slope could get slippery if things weren't equal. Great advice, I know our singer was concerned about us paying for his time doing vocals. I guess my goal out of this thread was to figure out how to avoid problems down the line. Not to solve a current problem.
 
#26
Our band split recording costs equally amongst 5 members. I joined the band when they had most of the tracking done, but rung up a few more hours by going in and rerecording the bass parts. I just didnt feel right releasing an album with a band without me being on it. We just finished up mastering and are headed to a meeting with a small lable owner this evening.
 
#28
MatticusMania said:
Our band split recording costs equally amongst 5 members. I joined the band when they had most of the tracking done, but rung up a few more hours by going in and rerecording the bass parts. I just didnt feel right releasing an album with a band without me being on it. We just finished up mastering and are headed to a meeting with a small lable owner this evening.
Click to expand...

I've read stuff about giving everybody a part on every song, no matter how small, I feel like everything is starting to make more and more sense. Sort of feel like a newb for doubting it, but I think everyone in the band was kind of hesitant to have other people pay for their time. I feel like paying one lump sum would be easier on the mind. I'm learning a lot I hadn't thought about.
 
#29
I was in cover band a few years back and band did our tracks in 3 hrs and the singer took 6 hours to get his parts correct. We were all pissed and our $300 budget turned into a $900 demo. We split it equally but it did eventually lead to a break up because of friction.

My son is in a band and plays drums, he joined a band after the tracks were laid down and they expected him to pay for parts he didn't record. i told him run don't walk, but kids never listen.
 
#30
One point that I don't think has been raised yet is that you don't go into the studio unless everyone already has all their parts down. You should all go in knowing 100% of what's going into a song. Now is not the time for your guitarist to figure out his solo or for your singers to fix their harmonies.
 
#31
Split equally AS ALONG AS the profits are split equally.

Do you ALL share in the songwriting CREDIT?

If not, the songwriter(s) will potentially earn FAR MORE $$$ than non-writers. And claiming later, that you came up with a bass line (that later was rerecorded by the "new" bass player) does NOT qualify. This has to ALL be agreed upon IN WRITING BEFOREHAND.

Consider Lennon/McCartney's income v. Ringo Starr's income.

Good luck.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back