Guys,
I've been asked to provide some amps for an upcoming series of sessions with Mark Goldenberg (played for Jackson Browne) and Mark Ribot (of the Ceramic Dogs). Is there a customary fee for this sort of thing?
Given who's gonna be playing, I'm inclined to do it for free just for the exposure and good will it will generate.
Your thoughts, gentlemen?
What to charge for session support?
Moderators: pompeiisneaks, Colossal
What to charge for session support?
Rich Gordon
www.myspace.com/bigboyamplifiers
"The takers get the honey, the givers get the blues." --Robin Trower
www.myspace.com/bigboyamplifiers
"The takers get the honey, the givers get the blues." --Robin Trower
Re: What to charge for session support?
Do you become on-site support as well? As in, do you get to be there making sure that speaker cabs don't get plugged into the wrong end of the amp?
I have no idea how such things would work.
I would imagine it's an honor to be thought of. Then, if you begin getting thought of very frequently and you are constantly being demanded of for your amps, you would have to re-hash if it's time to start some charges related to the level of demand.
I would also imagine that the specific situation plays a big part of how you would handle this; who asked you, how you know them, how they asked you, and why.
I'd be all over bringing someone my amps to use freely for some recording. However, I wouldn't just dump them and leave unless I felt confident they would be properly treated.
However, amps are sentimental things to me, kind of like children, and amps have nothing to do with business in my case.
Come to think of it, nothing in my life has anything to do with business. I should consider any career choices carefully.
I have no idea how such things would work.
I would imagine it's an honor to be thought of. Then, if you begin getting thought of very frequently and you are constantly being demanded of for your amps, you would have to re-hash if it's time to start some charges related to the level of demand.
I would also imagine that the specific situation plays a big part of how you would handle this; who asked you, how you know them, how they asked you, and why.
I'd be all over bringing someone my amps to use freely for some recording. However, I wouldn't just dump them and leave unless I felt confident they would be properly treated.
However, amps are sentimental things to me, kind of like children, and amps have nothing to do with business in my case.
Come to think of it, nothing in my life has anything to do with business. I should consider any career choices carefully.
Re: What to charge for session support?
How about asking for an acknowledgement in the liner notes???
Re: What to charge for session support?
I certainly would not do it for free, or just liner notes. Questions , how long do they expect to be using your gear? Give them a daily rate or weekly, etc.
And then there is Cartage, are they picking up and returning or are you delivering and picking up.
What is your time worth? what are the local rental companies charging?
Mark Goldenberg is one of the coolest players out there.
And then there is Cartage, are they picking up and returning or are you delivering and picking up.
What is your time worth? what are the local rental companies charging?
Mark Goldenberg is one of the coolest players out there.
Re: What to charge for session support?
On site support ( you are there to keep it working ) $200-$500 a day depending on distance and responsiblity.
The price for gear is very dependant on the gear used.
Most amps rent for $25-$45 a day. But I've got a few choice pieces that fetch $125 a day all day long! Orig TW's can command over $300 a day.
a normal contract reads Cost per day, a week at the cost of 4 days. Minimum rental time billed at 3 days. Client responsible for freight. amps are supplied with New Production tubes at no additional charge. NOS tubes charged to customer plus bias charge.
credit card deposit, Must be used on sight of said location, unless prior arrangements have been made ( don't want a vintage bluesbreaker at the local dive bar being used as a beer coaster! )
(lots more legal jargin but that's the jist)
Hope it helps.
Keep in mind those guys are top player so paying for supplies isn't a new concept. Most the cost is a write off to the label or at least there accountant. Bill them for what its' worth, at the end of the day you are left with the wear and tear, and tubes aren't free!
Happy New Years!
The price for gear is very dependant on the gear used.
Most amps rent for $25-$45 a day. But I've got a few choice pieces that fetch $125 a day all day long! Orig TW's can command over $300 a day.
a normal contract reads Cost per day, a week at the cost of 4 days. Minimum rental time billed at 3 days. Client responsible for freight. amps are supplied with New Production tubes at no additional charge. NOS tubes charged to customer plus bias charge.
credit card deposit, Must be used on sight of said location, unless prior arrangements have been made ( don't want a vintage bluesbreaker at the local dive bar being used as a beer coaster! )
(lots more legal jargin but that's the jist)
Hope it helps.
Keep in mind those guys are top player so paying for supplies isn't a new concept. Most the cost is a write off to the label or at least there accountant. Bill them for what its' worth, at the end of the day you are left with the wear and tear, and tubes aren't free!
Happy New Years!
My Daughter Build Stone Henge
Re: What to charge for session support?
Wow, you really are a sell-out. Just kidding. You know your stuff. It all sounds pretty reasonable to me. Even unknown artists often get grants to get recording done, so it's not like it's coming out of some poor musician's pocket... unless it is just an artist's little personal project. If it was something like that and I knew them, that's where I would probably do it for free and be as supportive as possible. Of course, everything I do is so small-time so that is how I think.selloutrr wrote:On site support ( you are there to keep it working ) $200-$500 a day depending on distance and responsiblity.
The price for gear is very dependant on the gear used.
Most amps rent for $25-$45 a day. But I've got a few choice pieces that fetch $125 a day all day long! Orig TW's can command over $300 a day.
a normal contract reads Cost per day, a week at the cost of 4 days. Minimum rental time billed at 3 days. Client responsible for freight. amps are supplied with New Production tubes at no additional charge. NOS tubes charged to customer plus bias charge.
credit card deposit, Must be used on sight of said location, unless prior arrangements have been made ( don't want a vintage bluesbreaker at the local dive bar being used as a beer coaster! )
(lots more legal jargin but that's the jist)
Hope it helps.
Keep in mind those guys are top player so paying for supplies isn't a new concept. Most the cost is a write off to the label or at least there accountant. Bill them for what its' worth, at the end of the day you are left with the wear and tear, and tubes aren't free!
Happy New Years!
Re: What to charge for session support?
I'm all about supporting the little guy and i'll go out of my way to make it a great experience and a product they are proud of, but at the end of the day it's still wear and tear that needs to be compensated for. you have to remember everthing has a cost of use.
Guitars = Strings and cleaning (finger oils)
Amps = Tubes and Capactiors and to some extent speakers depending on how they are run, or even transformers for that matter.
Studio = Wear and Tear on gear, tubes, capsules of microphones, and Electricity, tape heads if your's old school
and supplies to clean, label and document.
It's pretty safe to assume nothing is free so even if you don't make a huge profit or any profit try to break even so you aren't left with a loss.
Example: Of a $25 a day amp rental for a Fender Princeton reverb since I just had it on the bench.
$15 - goes in that amps repair fund, this includes the ATA case caster wheels. when it reaches $500 the over flow goes to general tech fund where $ can be pulled to repair and buy other amps, increasing inventory.
$10- Profit ( time to pack, and process the order )
Tubes are tested before and after each order and replaced around 80%(amplitrex) depending on the amp. or at any point they become microphonic or undesireable. Each amp is played to ensure best possible tone before it goes out. ( common sense )
General Service and replacement costs
Tube (1) Rec 5AU4 (2) 6L6 (1) 12AT7 (2) 12AX7 (1) 7025 = $110 New production / $350-$500 NOS RCA Original tube compliment.
Caps (1) 4x20uf Cap Can (7) 25mfd/50v = ~$65
Original Jensen 10" speaker $150 - 450 depending on how the market is.
Transformer replacement set $150 for new $350 for old
Every 500hrs / 6months general service ( clean, tighten, inspect. 1 hr) $60
even with an ATA case (3/8" 2" foam heavy latches) it can come back broken...
sorry for all the words... long story short... Charge $15 a day to break even. an hold the cost of the Amplifier in a worst case situation, I.E. the price guitar center would charge you to walk in off the street and buy a replacement the same day. Probably twice what it's worth on a credit card.
Guitars = Strings and cleaning (finger oils)
Amps = Tubes and Capactiors and to some extent speakers depending on how they are run, or even transformers for that matter.
Studio = Wear and Tear on gear, tubes, capsules of microphones, and Electricity, tape heads if your's old school
and supplies to clean, label and document. It's pretty safe to assume nothing is free so even if you don't make a huge profit or any profit try to break even so you aren't left with a loss.
Example: Of a $25 a day amp rental for a Fender Princeton reverb since I just had it on the bench.
$15 - goes in that amps repair fund, this includes the ATA case caster wheels. when it reaches $500 the over flow goes to general tech fund where $ can be pulled to repair and buy other amps, increasing inventory.
$10- Profit ( time to pack, and process the order )
Tubes are tested before and after each order and replaced around 80%(amplitrex) depending on the amp. or at any point they become microphonic or undesireable. Each amp is played to ensure best possible tone before it goes out. ( common sense )
General Service and replacement costs
Tube (1) Rec 5AU4 (2) 6L6 (1) 12AT7 (2) 12AX7 (1) 7025 = $110 New production / $350-$500 NOS RCA Original tube compliment.
Caps (1) 4x20uf Cap Can (7) 25mfd/50v = ~$65
Original Jensen 10" speaker $150 - 450 depending on how the market is.
Transformer replacement set $150 for new $350 for old
Every 500hrs / 6months general service ( clean, tighten, inspect. 1 hr) $60
even with an ATA case (3/8" 2" foam heavy latches) it can come back broken...
sorry for all the words... long story short... Charge $15 a day to break even. an hold the cost of the Amplifier in a worst case situation, I.E. the price guitar center would charge you to walk in off the street and buy a replacement the same day. Probably twice what it's worth on a credit card.
My Daughter Build Stone Henge