I’m not the first one to ask this question, obviously.  But I stumbled on an article from The Atlantic that puts the argument in a striking graphic.

The reality today is that music is your loss leader.  It gets people into the door, it keeps people thinking of you in between shows, and it’s something your fans can use to market for you as they pass your songs around to all their friends.  Album sales in itself are not much of a moneymaker anymore, but without it, no one will ever buy a t-shirt from you or pay to see you perform.

Does that mean you should not record in a formal studio and just sell a board mix from your last gig?  Probably not.  I can’t remember the last time I heard a board mix on a locals radio show.  You have to have a strong demo, you just need a PLAN on how you’re going to use it.

Budget carefully.  Ask yourself:

1. How many songs should I record that is enough to get people into our gigs?
2. After I pay studio time, do I have enough money to have it mixed and mastered?
3. Have I budgeted for graphic design for the album cover?
4. Can I afford to press a few hundred discs? It’s still good to have some physical discs at gigs – impulse buys are harder with iTunes….

All of these calculations will tell you how many albums you need to sell to break even or how many gigs you need to play to make it all worthwhile.  Stick to your number!!!  Don’t rely on anyone but yourself to remind you of your financial plan when you’re asking your producer to re-cut your lead vocals for the 4th time.

So…. you’ve done all the calculations and know how much you have to book a studio, but don’t know how to find one.  Apart from me slapping you aside the head (you’re reading a studio blog for fucksake), it’s not easy choosing a producer – especially in Denver.  I get it.  I encourage you to talk to several and find a good match for yourself and your music. Get disappointed, disgusted and pissed off at the competition, then call me.

Next article, I’ll focus on steps and things to keep in mind while choosing a producer (whether it ends up being me or not).

Great article about the facets of creating a sustainable career in music. Which leg are you ignoring?

The Three Legged Table: Songs, Magnetism, and Business

Did some mixing today of a client who hired me this fall, but has disappeared.  Sad.  It’s really great music and some of my best work.  I just can’t seem to put it down.  Then, I discovered some water damage under the floors and had to tear up half my hardwood.  The only way to cope with this is wine.  Period.

Tonight, we’re launching a new project, recording a 5 song EP for Defile the Pure.  The guys seem really laid back and a kick in the ass to work with.  It should be a fun time.

This weekend will be much of a marathon, with drum setup tonight and tracking to take off tomorrow, seeing how much we can get done before Sunday night.

I kind of enjoy this type of project where we go like a fucking bullet, capture the band’s natural sound without over-thinking too much of it.  Then we spend a few weeks mixing, patching any issues and sculpting the final release out of the raw materials that come from this weekend.

The down side, is it’s not going to be a lazy few days where we obsess over guitar tone and mic positions.  I have to really be on my game to make us to the end.  Strange timing too.  The studio seems to be taken over by Gremlins lately.  Just this past week, I’ve had to re-diaphragm a mic, repair several bad mic cables, rebuild a wah pedal, correct some wordclock issues, and fix a bathroom leak.  But the issues are at bay (as of last night) and I’m ready to go.  Bring it on (but hurry)!!!!