I was so mad last night I could have spit...I tried to post, but everything I wrote on the subject turned into venom....I'll try and get thru it this morning, with a solitication for advice.

Recently I have been working with some less than experienced guys - basically a decent group but no experience in a studio setting other than some guy's closet a few years ago....no problems, as during the 1st nite of tracking, everyone maintained a certain decorum and respect for facility/property/proprietor, even though the beer was flowing.

Well, each subseqent session got a bit more relaxed, with the conversation levels in the CR getting more and more while the record lights were on. Last nite took the cake, and there are serious doubts as to their future here.

1. On 5 different occassions last niight, I politely but firmly asked everyone to stop with the conversations...this kept on until the chit chat (again) got louder than the playback speakers...I stopped the track right there, and told everyone in the CR to STFU or get out. Exact term. One non-contributing member got out, the others shut up for a while....

2. The band's 'leader' decided he wanted to stand next to me/over me, with one hand on his beer at all times. I asked him, then told him he was going to have to back off and give me space, and keep the beer away from the console...so HE gets mad and says he don't need me to be telling him what to do...Ignoring this, I kept on working, until he set his beer down on a place where the faders were zero'd...that did it, out he went..

3. The two remaining band members were disagreeing with each other....the other drunk one was saying how they sould pack up and leave...the sober one said they could not pack up anything until they paid the bill, as per the agreement they signed, and they their drunken idiocy was costing HIM money. (I like this guy)...When the remaining drunk says (still in my control room!) that they are all bigger and younger than 'that old man', the sober one reminded them this old man has a contract, and more imporantly, a lot of handguns.

4. It will be interesting to see if they sober/straighten up and continue to work, if they just pay their bill and leave with their gear, of if I get some tracking room gear.

I let them know in NO uncertain terms I didn't not mind alcohol, but when it makes you think you are the alpha male in this studio, you are in for a shockingly bad surprise. Why do people insist on being such rude, arrogant, uneducated morons? Do they act this way at their homes? At their jobs? Problem is they are not kids....they are supposed to be adults. What ever happened to respecting others enough that when the record light went on, people shut up?

So do give the ONE LAST CHANCE and continue working with these guys? I really don't need the gig right now, as I am booked solid and have a waiting list....do I completely ban alcohol (as I have illegal drugs)? Do I toss their gear out in the ally and tell them their time at this studio is over? All opinions are appreciated - and if you prefer, EMail me.

Dammit...

"If you feel like getting drunk and wasting money, the strip club is a better place and they look better in a thong than I do." ???

Are they all over 21? If not, that might be a reason to do a dry session. Even if they're over 21, just beg off on potential liability if they get into a wreck on the way home.

Not everyone can do the Replacements thing, and it didn't work out all that great for them. For most purposes, the studio is a place of work--I don't go into my office drunk. I'm sure you have clients who can handle some mild, low-level drinking, but these guys aren't them. Even older guys will have abuse issues (they seem to be easier for musicians to get away with), so it's good to keep an eye on what your clients do and how it effects their work. You're not being a narc or anything--you're helping them manage their investment and get good results, and that is part and parcel of the service you provide.

Bear

Good points...

It will be interesting to see if they come back for anything other than getting their stuff, which will NOT be released until the bill is paid in full....

Reminds me of the time many years ago 2 lesbians got into a pushing and shirt tugging match in the tracking room....but that's a different thread.

LOL! I don't think I've ever had a group as bad as this. I did have a roudy group once, but they also had a manager with them. Unfortunately, he wasn't much better. But I was able to take him aside and explain, firmly, that I don't record and mix by committee. Keep your guys in line and away from the console. You get their concerns and relay it to me. If this is not done, then pay for the wasted time you spent here and we'll call it quits.

He got the message and the record and mix session proceeded well. I will not ever tolerate BS in the studio. Not even from my boss, who I also took aside once and told him if you're going to intrude on my sessions with irrelevant chit chat, work that brings money into YOUR business, then why be in business. In no uncertain terms I literally said "get the ---- out of the studio!" That worked too.

Hey Ken-


When things get to where I can’t work because of clients, I stop working. I don’t bitch or moan, I just stop working. The meter however is still running.
After awhile I’ll hear something like “hey are we going to get back to it?’ and I’ll just let them know I never left it… “ You can do whatever you want, it’s your money”.
If I think I have a group/artist that’s going to waste time, I always get paid up to the minute for every session on that day…no hassles with the equipment leverage thing.
I let them know they are buying time, if they want to use that time to drink, argue, eat sleep what ever, it will cost them the same as making a record.
I have had it come to blows in the CR once. I moved them outside…the meter keeps running… thought about calling 911 but it calmed down.
We have a solid no food, no drink, no smoking or non-involved personnel policy… then I will decide if I want to make an exception. (Except for no smoking)
We also have “special clean up rates” that I let them know about in advance.
I’m glad I don’t get many jerks but it’s good to be prepared.
I never “don’t need the work”, but I do have a “Peak Hour” price schedule. CHA CHING $

Ken are you on samp 10 ?

Good to see ya Paul....as always

No as for Samp 10...I'm debating a complete swap of DAW...IMO 9 started out well but evolved into a disaster - 8 was pretty solid, and 7 (IMO) was the BEST release they have had yet as for stability...

But I digress....things have gotten even stranger....the lead "singer" came in to lay some tracks down the other day, and no one was there but he and I until the bassist showed up....not a close knit family, to say the least....seems everyone is blaming everyone else for the financial problems they are encountering...guitarist blaming drummer for being too drunk to keep a tempo, singer blaming guitarist for being an ass and pissing me off, drummer blaming hius girlfriend...etc etc etc...

Really - all I want is to be done with this, get paid, and send them on their way...I really want them to be successful, but that success is NOT going to come from a Budweiser.

The whole thing is like a soap opera, only without the implied nudity.

"No as for Samp 10...I'm debating a complete swap of DAW...IMO 9 started out well but evolved into a disaster - 8 was pretty solid, and 7 (IMO) was the BEST release they have had yet as for stability..."

Ken-

What re you thinking?

Paul

Honesty...I don't know anymore. I've got a HD24 that I use on remotes, and it sound MUCH better than the pricetag would indicate...I am (yet again) looking at a Mac based system (Logic?) as they seem to have multicore technologies right...Samp still can't balance out a simple 2 core system, and will not really run on a 4 core system (as reported to me)...

Staying hardware is (as you know) space and energy consuming....

I dunno Paul...its like at one time I was awed and amazed by all of the technologies...now I just want the best I can get that works consistently...but nothing out there really EXCITES me anymore. Is it age? Am I growing jaded?

As it stands this exact moment in time, I am still tracking with Samp 8/hardware/Soundtracs board/ADesigns pres....BUT...not using the board as an inline but as a split system....16 returns with EQ, effects, pan, etc....an uber summing box if you will....

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<sigh>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

oh man

sorry, to the point.
i do not mind someone drinking but i will not tolerate a drunk and or drunks and no drink or food, at all.
i do not allow any talking at all, short of, the conversation being directed to me, if you feel the need to chat, go outside, or we stop, and you still pay.




now i will add that in as well.