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  1. How Long Is Your Day?
    When I charge you a day rate I prefer that it last a standard eight hours, but honestly it's rare that happens because I always feel like if we're 99% done with a particular phase of the project when eight hours is up (and isn't that always the way of it?) I'm just not gonna be a dick about it and cut someone off at the knees when finishing up could boost the whole project into a more efficient zone. Just try not to waste my time (see points 4, 5, 6 and 9 below) and we'll be loving life.

  2. Do You Charge A Deposit?
    Usually yes, I ask for 50% (usually meanign your first day if you're here for the weekend) up-front if you are new to me as a client. Simply because I've experienced a huge amount of people cancelling sessions at the very last minute. Me expecting a session to happen means that I've already aranged my schedule to accomodate your project...often during a weekend slot when I could have been out experiencing actual sunlight had I known any differently. Also, I often spend time off-the-clock before you even show up getting the room ready for your project - arranging microphones, plugging in cables, etc. I have simply found that charging a non-refundable deposit on all sessions (subtracted from the balance-owed of course!) keeps people focused on working out the details with their project and sticking to a plan.

  3. What Portion of The Day is Spent on Setup?
    If we're talking about a full band, live-in-the-room kind of scenario: generally if everyone in the band shows up at the same time I can be completely done with setup in 2 or 3 hours and ready-to-rock. If I am careful from the outset about proper routing and signal flow, documenting setup and getting all your tones right it honestly makes the entire recording experience more economical and efficient from there on in. An ounce of prevention, yadda-yadda.

  4. Get Your Parts Right Before You Show Up
    I can't tell you how many folks have wasted hours of their session by inventing guitar solos and the like on-the-spot. It's pretty common for people to seriously under-estimate how long it takes to invent and polish a new part for a composition...especially with the added pressure of being on-the-clock. So, if you plan on getting a four-song demo done in a single day—mixed and mastered—make sure your band knows all it's parts soup-to-nuts or it's not gonna happen and you'll end up either paying me more dough for a second session or walking away with unfinished tracks and no more money to spend on 'em. As stated in rule #1 I give a little latitude on how many hours I spend per-day, but ultimately it's not my problem if you botch a session.

  5. Beware of Too Many Breaks and Too Much Chit-Chat!
    This is really the hardest thing for me to proclaim or enforce, because I really do want to have the mellowest scene going. BUT...the fact of the matter is, your time is valuable and so is mine! When you decided to take the plunge and record your project, you probably had a set budget for getting it all done and based on that budget I've told you how long I can "host" your project in order to meet that goal. It's tough: I do feel that taking a breather here and then as well as general fooling around and comraderie can result in a really fun studio experience and a better recording. So, I try and walk the line between good cop/bad cop on this kind of stuff and nudge people along when I feel it's appropriate. But ultimately it is your responsibility to yourself to make sure that you drive yourself just hard enough to get done what you need to get done. Again, the most typical thing I've seen is a band that has to get their demo done in a single day and ends up leaving with nothing because they took several really long meal breaks, shot the shit constantly, and stopped for half-hour meet-and-greets every time a new bandmember showed up throughout the course of the day.

  6. Excessive Inebriation WILL NOT Be Tolerated Under ANY CIRCUMSTANCES!!!
    The Studio reserves the right to eject any member of the Band from the property at any time for inebriation or inappropriate behavior. And no, you won't get your money back either. I'm actually all-for a little social lubrication during the sessions (although I myself will rarely join you until the end of the day), but know your own limits, please! Moderation! As in bowling or live shows, there's that golden point where some of that can help, and another point where it's all about the gutter balls. Beyond that, I just-plain have a great deal of really expensive gear floating around this place. Spilled beer and knocked-over gear will become your problem instantaneously. For a great example of a band that ended their day with less to show for their efforts and less in their pockets for this very reason, check THIS out!

  7. Back Up Your Own Files!
    I have a limited amount of storage space for digital projects as well as analog ones. Naturally you'll be leaving with your reel if you're doing an analog project, but if all or a portion (such as mixing) is going to be done digitally—as almost all are—it's your responsibility to bring with you or allow me to buy for you some form of digital backup. It can be either a properly-formatted portable hard drive with either FireWire or USB connection, OR one or several DVDs, depending on the SIZE of the project.

  8. We Live in the Boonies—Bring Food and Drink!
    One of the only things people don't like about recording in such a rural location is that there isn't exactly a 7-11 at the end of the block! There is a wee strip mall which has a (insanely good) pizza joint, Mexican food, and Chinese about a mile down the road. This can do in a pinch, but as mentioned in point 5 it's your day and your money so just be aware of how picking up food limits your schedule. Bring lunch, snacks, beverages, whatever you need with you so you don't have to waste the better part of an hour just finding food.

  9. Leave Your Barking Child and Screaming Dog at Home
    Great Magnet is not really a child care facility, nor is it a pet hostel. Yeah, I know YOU think they're cute—and they probably are if you're not an engineer trying to get a job done. But in my shoes they're just a distraction, a noise problem, and something to trip over. Plus dogs can be a big problem with our chickens and cats out here. Arrange for the sitter, please!


GREAT MAGNET RECORDING  |  707.225.4348  |  adam@greatmagnetrecording.com