Re: [Harp-L] Paying the pipers

["steve@xxxxxxxxxxxx" <swebb@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hey Mike....
   The band I was playing in spent 3 months (usually one night a week) putting together a CD of all original songs. The songs were all written by the guitar player/singer and it was his project. Since I play in his band, I donated my time.  Of course, this was self-serving because I wanted the experience of recording myself in that kind of situation.  Plus, we are friends and the guy who did the recording work is also a friend, although our band leader did pay him for his time.
I have played on a couple of other self-recorded songs for friends and have yet to be paid any money. 
If I were to record a CD of just me playing.. or a harp-heavy CD featuring me... Nahh.. I don't think I'd even want to hear that.   But I bet yours will sound great. If I were you, I'd start working on it now, even if just practice and deciding what you want to do.
FWIW... a few songs of ours can be  heard on Myspace.com/wspudmusic

---- Michael Easton <diachrome@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote: 
> 
> After laying down a harp track for a local musician's  cd recently I  
> got the urge to put out my own cd  in about 2 years.
> I figure by that time I will have the money, songs and players lined  
> up for the recording.
> 
> While I've offered my services gratis for this (no money was  
> mentioned) and another cd (non-profit cd so nobody got paid) I was  
> wondering how the rest of you handled paying local players as guest on  
> your solo or band projects?   It's hard to figure out who would do it  
> for free and who would expect to be paid.
> 
> I plan on setting aside money  and thought about letting them know  
> upfront what I can afford per song in case they were expecting to be  
> paid. I know some musician friends will do it for free but I need to  
> enlist singers as well who may not want to do it for free.
> 
> Finding the best players to interpret the songs is more important to  
> me then just throwing together a bunch of guys to put out a cd.
> Several of the local players play on the national blues and jazz stage  
> and have their own recordings so I need to respect their ability to
> bring something to the project.
> 
> Also what is expected when you bring in a producer to help with the  
> arranging?  I never met the musician whose cd I played on. Only his  
> producer.
> 
> You can reply online in case it will help other players wanting to put  
> out a cd.
> 
> thanks
> 
> 
> Michael Easton
> www.harmonicarepair.com
> 
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Harp-L is sponsored by SPAH, http://www.spah.org
> Harp-L@xxxxxxxxxx
> http://harp-l.org/mailman/listinfo/harp-l