If you send them Garbage to produce you will get Garbage back. A demo/producer service should be able to recognize this.It should not boil down to Caveat emptor.

"It should not boil down to Caveat emptor."

So Bill, are you saying that if a demo service receives a work order for a song that is not well written, they should refuse it?

Bill,

There's a big difference between a transmission and a song. If the transmission doesn't work...it doesn't work.

Bill, a car can be proven to be not worth fixing (but even then, I'm sure that someone, somewhere, is restoring their Yugo). But a song is completely subjective. A song that most "experts" would agree is a bad song, may become a hit.

Now, having said that, I've often told clients that I didn't think their songs or singing were worth expensive recordings. Right now, I can't recall one instance where the client agreed. I know of several who left me, went down the street, and hired another (often more expensive) producer.

My general question, though, is this: is it unethical for a producer to not give their unsolicited opinion on the worth or "readiness" of a song? Even though I often give my opinion (imagine that!) I don't think someone who doesn't is being unethical.

Before you go to any studio, talk to your team to determine if the song is ready to be recorded. You do have a team, don't you? (Yes, I stole the phrase from Mike Dunbar!)

Seriously, get the advice of some trusted people (not just friends and family) before spending a dime on a demo or recording. Paying a studio to record a song that is not ready is just throwing your money away. If you have money to do that, then send some my way!

Of course, if it is a vanity project, go for it. There's nothing wrong on spending money for something like that if you go into it with your eyes open.