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Would you walk?

Sounds to me like the singer has left the band.

That being the case, if he wants a demo to take along when he moves, to help him get a new band together or find gigs or whatever, he can pay for the studio time himself and hire you at whatever the going rate is for studio bassists.

If you are friends, and you want to help him out, you could record for free. But you should not be paying for the studio time.
 
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I've been playing with a band for around 4 years, not my "main" band, but still a great bunch of guys and we've recorded 2 EP's in our time.

We, well the singer/BL, decided it was time to record another EP at the start of March. Ok no worries. We start demo-ing stuff and workshopping the tunes and a few night ago I was recording my final bass lines when the singer tells me - 3 weeks after we record he's moving interstate - in Australia this is a 10 hour drive! I was not impressed. He then tells me the only reason he wants to record is to have something to show for the last 18 months with the band. No chance of gigs/promotion/moving forward. Nothing.

CONS - It's going to be 5 hours a week for 7 weeks jamming to get tighter. At least 2 days off work for me to be in the studio (I run my own business so this is going to cost me $$$). About $1700 each to actually pay for the recording.

PROS - Having a few tunes to listen to. Recording is fun.

So my question to you - would you walk? Would you go through with it?

Have you been in a similar situation?

OMG, absolutely no way. You should be getting the $1700 for the session!!
 
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My initial response would be "Not a chance!". But if you instead want to think through it logically without simply tell him to F off:

I would ask if the remaining band members agree that it's worth $1700 each to have that demo of your most recent 18 months for your own promotional purposes, your own enjoyment, or a combination of those or other factors. If so, then put up the money and go for it.

If not, then it sounds like you and the remaining band members won't get anything worthwhile from the project besides funding the singer's new career without you. Do you and the remaining band members agree that it's worth $1700 each to do that? If so, then go for it.

If not, then ask the remaining band members if you all agree that you'll rehearse and record for free without paying for the cost of the project. If so, then tell the singer you're willing to do that and he'll either agree or not.

If not, then those who do agree can make the offer to the singer and the rest would say goodbye. If the singer agrees then he would be on his own to find other musicians to hire to rehearse and record.

If not, then it sounds like your only remaining choice is, "Nice knowing you and good luck out there.".
 
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The problem I have with the situations where the band evenly splits the recording is this - what happens if one of the songs is discovered by someone and they want it on their movie soundtrack? Does everyone in the band get an even split and even sing writing credits or will the guitar player say that he wrote the song and he gets all money? Courts usually don't care about the bass line, just the lyrics, melody and chord progression.
 
I've been playing with a band for around 4 years, not my "main" band, but still a great bunch of guys and we've recorded 2 EP's in our time.

We, well the singer/BL, decided it was time to record another EP at the start of March. Ok no worries. We start demo-ing stuff and workshopping the tunes and a few night ago I was recording my final bass lines when the singer tells me - 3 weeks after we record he's moving interstate - in Australia this is a 10 hour drive! I was not impressed. He then tells me the only reason he wants to record is to have something to show for the last 18 months with the band. No chance of gigs/promotion/moving forward. Nothing.

CONS - It's going to be 5 hours a week for 7 weeks jamming to get tighter. At least 2 days off work for me to be in the studio (I run my own business so this is going to cost me $$$). About $1700 each to actually pay for the recording.

PROS - Having a few tunes to listen to. Recording is fun.

So my question to you - would you walk? Would you go through with it?

Have you been in a similar situation?
Record your parts at home and send them to the producer. Otherwise, time for them to find a new bass player.
 
I'd walk. Why lose a couple grand for all that? Go buy a new bass LOL.
You like recording... set up a DAW at home. Reaper is free/$60

This!

All you need is a couple of mics, an interface and Reaper if you want those songs recorded.

Where is this singer moving to? If it's to Melbourne then he just wants a demo for a new band. There are so many more his in and around there than Sydney that a part of me would almost move from the country to live there.
 
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These are new songs that you're not attached to in any way? If one of my members announced he was moving, I'd be in favor of recording the rest of the songs we already have finished that aren't recorded yet. Not going to write new songs for the sake of recording, though.

One song we've played for over 12 months and the others have been written as a band in the last 8 months. Great songs love playing them but I don't know if that's enough to justify the time and cost of recording.