I have a meeting with a Record Producer and the core members of the band I played with last Saturday at Fitzgerald's. He's produced some recordings of the leader singer before, but to my knowledge it was just her and studio musicians. He saw us at Fitzgerald's and liked it, so now he wants to meet with us at the studio. I'm pretty sure this is just a preliminary discussion, but I'm excited by the possibilities of what could happen. I've never had a meeting like this in my life and I've never been inside of a real recording studio before.

If things do come down to contracts and agreements, how do I know what a good deal is from a bad one? What do people typically do with an unknown, growing band? Have any of you ever recorded in an actual studio with paid for studio time? And how do I act for a meeting like this one?

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I wouldn't expect too much on the first meeting. He's probably sizing you up. Be careful of anyone who wants you to "invest" in your recording with your own money. Take your Dad along. He'll be looking out for your best interests. Don't sign anything without "investing" in the opinion of a good contract attorney.
Good luck Happy for you.

That's good news TGS!! Be careful and I don't know if you can legally sign one without your parents because of your age. Here are a couple of links that may help you understand what to watch out for. Good luck and we're proud of you!!
http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/apr07/a ... tracts.htm



http://www.bing.com/search?q=Understand ... FORM=QSRE5

Bex, be very very careful. The last contract I was offered made war and peace look like mad magazine.

Basicaly all you want to give said producer is a percentage of sales. I'd rather pay a good producer 30% of £3000, than a bad one 3% of £30. Start him off on a low percentage that will escalate as he works harder.

If he starts talking of signing one song over to him, make it clear your having no part in that. All he'll do is market that one song. If you know you have another 19 albums of 7 equally good hits and 5 fillers a album, in you. Then yeah agree to it. You can afford to throw one song away and the exposure you'll get from the marketing of that one song will really boost your carreer.


Don't stress yet, and don't sign anything on the day. Every contract (even a speeding ticket) must have a pre agreed period of time in which to be examined

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No no and no

+1. Probably the most important thing you can do is get a lawyer...

Hey TGS, I don't know how it works, anyway be careful. I am happy for you about this opportunity. Good luck.
Claude.

yes, talk to a lawyer before you sign anything. the song "workin for mca" by skynyrd comes to mind.
about the studio. my old band got so much tighter after the studio. we were crisp, focused and confident when we played our gigs after the studio thing. we were prepared and wasted little time which impressed the guy producing the cd. of course we didn't have time or money to waste so we approached it with that attitude.
good luck and most important, have fun. i can't wait to hear it.

I doubt I'll be asked to sign anything on the first meeting, but I want to be prepared if it ever comes up. Thanks for the links! I shall read and understand more about the whole thing. And yes, my Dad's coming.

None of the songs are mine, I'm just hired to play guitar. So any big decisions wouldn't really be up to me anyway. Which is kind of a relief since this would be my first time in the deep end and I'd just be observing.

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Hi TGS,tread very carefully because there are some pretty unscrupulous people in the record business,if he asks you for start up money to finance any venture ,run,don't walk, away.He may be perfectly above board but legal representation is a must in these situations.Lots of luck.

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Get his credentials to look over.

Which record labels, how they do their A&R work, how they handle taxes, percentages, royalties, etc.

Good luck!

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Being able to play and enjoy music is a gift that's often taken for granted.

Don't leave home without it!

Hey Texas, thats very exciting... If something does come of it, there are attorney's that specialize in this kind of thing. It certainly would be worth checking it all out...
Good Luck, and Im looking foreword to hearing "The rest of the story"

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Hey, Boy Blue is back!

This is good news Texas! All of the input so far is right on especially the intellectual property attorney parts. Looks like you are the hired gun right now so definitely bring your Dad, 2 heads are better than 1 in situations like this. They like you so be agreeable as you only get 1 chance to make a good 1st impression. With your Dad there I'm thinking they will be very professional, and let us know how things are going, and stick to your practice schedule, like the old Chicago lyric "this is only the beginning".

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you can save the world with your guitar one love song at a time it's just better, more fun, easier with a fender solid body electric guitar or electric bass guitar.

Are you liable for tax at your age?


Pay tax but can't buy a beer, I'd have to revolt over that one.

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No no and no

The government already took $7 out of my first paycheck. And they're hungry for more. There should be a law forbidding taxes on anyone trying to save up for college.

This guy is the real deal. He's worked with many different artists and bands before, and his credentials look good. The recording studio in question is no joke either. Everyone from Lightnin' Hopkins to Beyonce has recorded there and it's probably the most famous studio in Houston.
I'm sure that one of the reasons he's interested in us is because we're a different sort of band. Modern rock music, but with strong classic rock inflections and three girl members who don't play lame and girly music. He said we reminded him of Heart. And I'm sure he sees the marketability (I hope that's a real word) of that. On one hand I'm very aware that he wants to make money, on the other it's good to have people in the business who like you enough to put time and energy into promotion. I don't think that he's going to try to offer free recording time (which would make me very suspicious) because the girl I'm playing for has already worked with him before and paid for it. But still, I'll tread lightly.

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Yeah, just go along, see what he has to say, I agree with everyone else when they say, don't sign anything, he might be just wanting to dscuss something and they are not always offering anything.
Companies usually have you watched a few times anyway by their A&R people, he's the guy stood alone at the back of the room, or certainly at the bar, if there is one. Pretending not to notice but watching everything.
It's a two way thing don't forget, if a company is interested in recording your band, they need to feel fairly secure as well, they are making an initial investment too and recording is expensive. It's a risk both ways.
But I'm getting too far ahead here, for now just stay loose, enjoy your life, enjoy your music and when people like this come along. Listen to what they have to say and consider carefully, anything that sounds like business. A reputable company will explain everything like legal representation etc. but anyway, let us know how it goes.
Oh yeah......Good Luck!!

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