 The Pain and Suffering Index, by Fran Ashcroft
I’m often asked “How do I price projects?” Simple – The Pain And Suffering Index. Basically, the bigger pain in the bum a project is likely to be, the higher the rate! You will all know exactly what I mean – Some projects and clients nag away like a bad toothache, don’t they? For some of you it will be the frustrations of tracking inexprienced musicians – or experienced prima donnas. Or inexperienced prima donnas (my suggestion on that one – bring a 2nd engineer, you’ll bloody need it). Then there’s always the label or manager who wants to interfere, or an artist who fancies himself as a producer. And Tweakers who want to make change after change after change after change. The list is endless, and it’s normal to feel shortchanged by the time you’re done. It’s remarkable how much easier The Pain And Sufferering Index makes everything – feeling properly recompensed for the merciless jobs and awkward clients (not many for me these days, but there’s still a clunker occasionally turns up), whilst keeping a creative edge by doing more interesting and challenging projects for less money. I’m at a loss to explain why the most talented clients tend to be the poorest, and the least the most affluent…maybe it’s just the old art vs commerce thing at the heart of it. Still, a bit of pain never hurt anybody… |
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Well said Fran, I mostly agonise over how often I can justify working with penniless but supremely talented bands, it’s a kind of business russian roulette. Exhausting…..