JPF Home Page Forums General Messages Industry Message Forum How much to charge for Vocal Demo?

What's the fair/going rate for Vocal Demo's Online? Meaning someone sends me their song/lyrics online and I record it and send it back.

Anyone know or have any experience with this?

Some people charge by hour...others charge by the song, or per project.

How much you charge depends on the clients you are working with...

When one does studio work, very often the person hiring the singer may ask the singer what their rate is...At that point, a singer names their rate--but may have to settle for less...

Hope this helps...unfortunately, there isn't a simple answer to this.

Good luck!

Emily

Emily is right. It varies based on what someone needs done.

Do they want just a simple guitar/vocal demo? Piano/vocal? Full-blown demo with several instruments? Do they want it to sound more like a finished master than a simple demo? Are you able to play all the instruments they want, or do you have to hire musicians? Do you have to hire the singer? You might if they need a singer of a diffent sex than you.

Do they need you to write a melody to their lyrics? Do they want a demo with the vocals and music AND just an instrumental track that they can preform to? Are you going to have to rent studio time, or do you have the facilities and faculties to make the recording yourself? Do they want any harmonies or backing vocals on top of the lead vocal?

If you are able to do a decent recording at your home, find out the going rate of commercial recording studios in your area on an hourly basis, and if they have a special flat fee for demos per song. Use that to help determine what you should charge. Obviously you want to present a bargain rate compared to the rate at commercial studios, so adjust your prices accordingly.

Also look at the prices other online demo services. Listen to their quality as it compares to yours. Decide if you want to go more for the best quality demo that they can expect from a demo service, or if you want to market your services as fair quality, but very affordable.

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Chris

Hello Diane,
It simple depends on what you have to offer, your level of skill and your turn around time.

I've been making demos online for quite awhile now and I won't get into pricing on this topic but your welcome to check out my sight and get the info there and determine where you stand.

I have altered my prices several times in the last few years(always downward) to find my competetive gliche with the rest of the competetion. Once you find a price you think is competetive, try it out for awhile. The numbers never lie. Adjust from there.

Eric

Sorry, I forget my address:

http://www.soundclick.com/ericharris

Eric

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"If you always do what you've always done, you'll always get what you've always got"

AFTRA, the union that covers singers (it isn't AFM; I don't know why) has standard rates for this. You could use that as a guideline.

Well, I'll tell you what I do. Not that it's standard or anything...

I charge $50. I may even throw in some BG vocals or doubling if requested. I'm very busy and it isn't worth me spending my time for less. That might be too much for some to spend on just a vocal and I know some people will do it for less. That's cool. Some people have thought it was worth it. That's cool too!!!

I take a little less for a Producer I just started to do a little work for here in town. I have other reasons for doing that (like experience in a real studio) .

I think the better demo studios figure the vocal will cost about $75 to $100, but then again they have some really great vocalists (Like Buddy Jewell before he went and got all famous) doing the demo work.

Hope that helps!!!

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John

http://www.johnkscott.com

I've used dozens of session vocalists and other session players over the past 10 years so I can give you some input that hopefully will narrow things down for you.

For demo sessions where I have control over the nuances of the vocalist (they being present in my studio), I've paid anywhere from nothing (they owe me favors or want a copy of the demo for their own promotion) to $125 for a singer who already has several CDs out and has entertained major label contracts as an artist.

Average L.A. "in-person" rates are in the $75-150 per song range for experienced session singers who can do lead and all background parts in 90 minutes or so.

Some singers charge by the hour - usually because they've been burned by some home studio who made them sit around for 3 hours while they got their "gear" working or finished other parts. That range is $35-50/hr. in L.A. This is all non-union work, of course.

Union rates are much higher. AFTRA rates are incredibly expensive for someone just doing a demo. I believe one of my clients had to pay close to $300 for a 2-hour union session with an AFTRA voice-over artist last year.

The disadvantage of Internet-based performers for me, is that there's no real-time feedback or control of the phrasing, articulation, etc. I personally would be hesitant to pay over $40-50 for something I'm gambling will suit my needs, regardless of how good the singer is. But that's just me.

However, some people don't have the production chops or experience to be able to direct such nuances and would be very happy with someone interpreting their melody and lyrics. Hence, the proliferation of demo studios/companies where you send them your "rough" and they make a demo for you, at bargain prices.

I have paid up to $80 for drum tracks recorded in the drummer's studio without me being present - from a drummer who has several major label credits - and who guarantees that I'll be happy, or will re-record it for free if I'm not.

Hope that helps!



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Larry
www.audibleresponse.com

Thanks everyone. There is some excellent information here and definitely enough to give me a better idea on my question.

Diane Jessurun
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/6/dianejessurunmusic.htm

I used to use Buddy Jewell. I used to be a moderator of his message board. I remember wondering what the heck is wrong with Nashville not giving him a record deal. Then, wham, out of nowhere NS Star show.

The best demo singers in Nashville right now are:

Dave Brooks
Tim Buppert
Mike Sutterfield
Curtis Wright
Tim Hopkins
Darryl Lee O'Donnell

Not in that order.

There's a guy named Lance who was on Nashville Star. Any reason he wasn't listed in the above group? (Just curious, I don't know him or anyone on your list. I just recognize a few names.)

Lance Miller is good, maybe a little too nasely for my tastes. But yes, he can be on the list for sure. Jennifer Hicks also does demos and she was on the show.