Samc wrote on Mon, 14 June 2010 03:29 |
Thomas W. Bethel wrote on Mon, 14 June 2010 03:33 |
I guess I am really confused. If you are getting ready to do some mastering for a client and it could be materially upgraded simply by the client going back and redoing some parts of the recording to make it sound much better why wouldn't YOU suggest that to them instead of just taking their money and saying "what the he!!, I got my money and so what if the client did not get the best job possible". If that is the way that most mastering engineers here work (and that is what you ARE saying isn't it) then I think you are short changing your clients BIG TIME.
Do what you want to do and do it the way that works for you. I will still work with my clients and try and make their project the best I can make it. If that means telling them that there are things that could be done better then I will tell them that if they say no everything is fine then I will simply master what I am given. I really don't see what all the fuss is about. We are, after all, in the SERVICE business aren't we????
<Just an aside. If I go to my doctor and she tells me that if I would walk some more I could lower my cholesterol and if I stay away from too many carbohydrates I could lose weight I don't say to her "you are meddling in my life and I don't like it." Instead I usually say "thank for the friendly advice" and then it is up to me to decide whether to do anything about it. I really don't see the difference between that dialog and what I am talking about with my clients>
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Thinking that your intervention is always needed to make your client's work 'better', or equating what you do with what your doctor does is the height of presumption in my opinion. I still think...in fact I know for sure now that my original suggestion that you should just produce and engineer for your clients would be the best solution for all your client problems.
It is your doctor's sworn responsibility to look after your health, she bares some legal and moral responsibility to do so...THIS IS THEIR JOB! The mastering engineer.....well, If you don't see and understand the difference between what your doctor does and what you do, I don't see the need to even go any further...
The part that makes me scratch my head though is that you came asking for advise, and now you turn around and tell the people you don't agree with to go mind their own business...
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I DO NOT automatically tell a client that there is something wrong with their music or the recording of that music - where you got that idea is beyond me. I do tell a client if there is a problem with something they have done IF it is something that I think can make their recording sound better. I am not equating myself with a doctor. Professionals, like we want to be, are being paid to provide advice and suggestions along with providing a SERVICE.
If an architect draws plans for a building and a mechanical engineer sees that there maybe problems then it is up to them to inform the architect of the potential problem. If an electronic engineer designs a piece of equipment that maybe hazardous to the person using it then another engineer who sees the potential problem should make the first engineer aware of the problem so it can be fixed. I fail to see the logic of "don't interact with the client, don't ask questions or make suggestions and just master it" when someone is spending a large amount of THEIR money and wants it to sound the best that it can.
Work with your clients in the manner you chose and I will work with the clients in my way and AGAIN let just agree to disagree.
Maybe all your clients are pros with multiple gold or platinum records and don't really want your advice or suggestions. Most of my clients are relative newbies to the music/recording game and are looking for suggestions and help.
This discussion is going nowhere fast so I am going to make this my last post. Thanks to everyone that made suggestions and I will certainly think about what has been said here.