Studio Costs; Recording Next Steps

[Matthew S. Manning]

Y'all, this is a lengthy email, so be prepared.

We finished the rhythm section sessions last night. Things went really well and I'm very satisfied for having such a limited budget and timetable during which to work. We're going to have a SOLID EP! At any rate, it's time to pay for the sessions. We can't get the tracks bounced over until we've paid, which holds up the bass, trumpet, and vocal recordings. The complete personnel list for the band/project is as follows:

1. Jeneal

2. Todd

3. Jarrin

4. J. Smitty 

5. Donald 

6. Nikki 

7. Charles 

8. Randy

9. Omare

10. Joel

11. Me

EP Track List (not necessarily in this order)

1. Intro/Drum Call (Studio/Full Band)

2. Time Is On Our Side (Studio/Full Band)

3. Price Is Right (Vocals/Boogs/Track)

4. Can I Ask You A Question? (Studio/Full Band)

5. Bridge To Nowhere (Studio/Full Band)

6. Rock The Party (Track/Vocals/Boogs)

7. Stars Fall From Skies (Studio/Full Band)

Our time used came out to 14.5 hours @ $55/hr, equaling $797.50. Divided 11 ways, this comes out to $72.50 per person. If you've already paid something on it, adjust the rest of your contribution accordingly. If you haven't paid anything on it, please make arrangements to do so by SATURDAY, August 14th. Donald will be going back out to Recording Arts to get the tracks and make the payment, so he is the point man on receiving the payment. It may be most efficient to just meet up with him in person or to deposit it into his bank account, but I'll let Donald determine what works best for him. We really need to get this money in quickly so our project can progress in a timely fashion.

Randy and I also paid for all of our gas up to Pittsburgh and back. Mine was $70 for 2 tanks, and Randy's came out to $80. The studio payment is most pressing, so we'll take care of that first, but for the next studio session or full band cost, I'll be subtracting something for Randy and I on the back end. Thanks for understanding.

Next Steps:

The things that still need to be recorded are vocals on everything, Omare's parts, trumpet parts, and the bass parts. Vocals, please respond with your plan for recording (i.e. with 3rd Side Productions, the Jolleys, etc). Boogs, find a studio in Brasil that has a solid sound and booth because we won't be able to get the tracks to you before you depart. Charles find a spot to record there in the NO. Jarrin, you can record your stuff straight into Logic on Donald's comp, so you guys set up a time to get that done, please. I want everything recorded by SEPTEMBER 15th, so we can get the tracks to Jammal with ample time to mix/master/edit them. The tentative completion date I have in mind is OCTOBER 31st.

Because of our financial restraints, I think we'd all agree that a digital download is the most cost-effective way for us to distribute the EP. I'm going to sit down and find a reasonable price for the album, but initially, I'm thinking we should price it at $8. At that price, we'd only have to sell around 100 copies of the album to recoup just our studio costs. I also think that  is a reasonable price for a seven track album. Give me your thoughts.

As for album art, I mentioned earlier that I think it'd be dope to have James Shields (www.creativeshields.com) do our album art for us. Check out his work and tell me what you think. Johnnie Bess, another dope artist, was also suggested. Johnnie is the brother that did a live painting when we performed at the Black Family Reunion on the National Mall in 2007. He's also a strong option. If you have ideas for affordable artists, let the group know. 

Great job in Pittsburgh and in the studio, IQ! We are finally nearing one of our major goals: giving the people a worthwhile project to listen to. 

SIQ withIN,

Matthew S. Manning

Juris Doctor Candidate, Class of 2012
President, Black American Law Students Association
The University of Toledo College of Law

Managing Partner
Raised Right Production Group, LLC
"On The Shoulders of Souldiers"

[Donald Martin]

I got called into work today, so I won't be able to get everyone's money until tomorrow morning. I don't start work until 5pm for Friday, So I plan to be at the wachovia until 4pm to make the check to Recording Arts.

Sent from Donnie's iPhone

--
Intrinsiq: "'SIQ'ing with'IN' to create the truest 'IN' music..."

[Jeneal Davis]

Hey, won't be able to contribute until Tuesday... my $600 won't hit the bank until then for a gig that i did last week....AMEN, THANK YA LORD!!!! LOL

Matt, I talk'd to Rob today and he said it will be $ 50 dollars a hour to lay the vocals... he  usually charges $80. So if we do go wit Rob does that means we(vocalist) will have pay Rob's $50 plus $ 72.50?  

--
Jeneal Olivia

[Donald Martin]

Todd says he has a mic, ima take a look at it first. I was thinking of using the drum room to record on my Mac as well

Sent from Donnie's iPhone

[Matthew S. Manning]

Jeneal,

The vocalists wouldn't have to foot the bill on their own; c'mon Doc! Lol, nah, we'd distribute those costs to the whole group. I will say, however, that I anticipated the vocals being able to record for considerably less than $50 an hour. I was thinking something more in the $25-30 range. Let's keeping looking for a better deal. I'd love to work with Rob, but that seems high for just vocals. 

Also, how many hours do you all think you'll need? I like the idea of vocals recording for free (into Donald's comp) ONLY IF the quality will be just as high as the stuff the instrumentalists did in the studio. If not, we'll just have to cough up the dough to get it done right. 

Matthew S. Manning

Juris Doctor Candidate, 2012

President, Black Law Students Association

The University of Toledo College of Law

Managing Partner

Raised Right Production Group, LLC

"On The Shoulders of Souldiers"

Sent from my iPhone

[Donald Martin]

I can get good quality on the mac. I just need a great mic and a great room.

[Wes]

we have that donnie. I'll call you

[Jeneal Davis]

ok

[Donald Martin]

I'm heading back to the studio TuesdAy at 2:00. I'll need y'all money preferably by Monday. Jeneal hit me up soon, I want to see if u can make a deposit in my wachovia acct

Sent from Donnie's iPhone

[Jeneal Davis]

call u tonite

[Matthew S. Manning]

Just got my money to Donald. Everybody get yours in so we can make moves on this EP!!!!

Let's GO!

Matthew S. Manning

Juris Doctor Candidate, 2012

President, Black Law Students Association

The University of Toledo College of Law

Managing Partner

Raised Right Production Group, LLC

"On The Shoulders of Souldiers"

Sent from my iPhone

[Donald Martin]

Hey Fam. I asked Ken from Recording Arts to give us some more time to pay. He said I can come back Sat. or Monday with the payment. I was planning to have the money up my today, but there were a couple snags in the plan. So we have until Friday to get the money together, and I dont think we can make them wait any longer. Let me know when you guys are straight then you can make a deposit in my wachovia so i can cut a check to Recording Arts.

Lets get this EP Started!!!!!!

-Donnie

[Donald Martin]

Aight, I got John Smitty's money yesterday. Hit me up when u guys are ready!

Sent from Donnie's iPhone

[Wes]

I will have mine tomorrow evening. can the vocalists meet sometime this week?

[Donald Martin]

I'm off tomorrow morning and Friday. R u free b4 7 today?

Sent from Donnie's iPhone

[Wes]

yes I am

[Matthew S. Manning]

Executive decision:

Donald/Jammal: At the end of the last track of the EP, we're gonna have an old man spit 10 minutes of wisdom a la Common's "Forever Begins". Actually, it's gonna be the old brother that blessed us at the Black Family Reunion in Pittsburgh.

"Confusion need a solution...Amendment, atonement....5/5ths human"

Matthew S. Manning

Juris Doctor Candidate, 2012

President, Black Law Students Association

The University of Toledo College of Law

Managing Partner

Raised Right Production Group, LLC

"On The Shoulders of Souldiers"

Sent from my iPhone

[Randolph Woods]

10 minutes tho? --- On Wed, 8/18/10, Matthew S. Manning <msma...@gmail.com> wrote: