The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #117780 Message #2540123
Posted By: Anne Lister
15-Jan-09 - 08:02 AM
Thread Name: Discount CDs at gigs
Subject: RE: Discount CDs at gigs
Breezy, am I from over where? Wales isn't normally described as "over there" in the UK!
We've had the discussion on the costs of making CDs before, and yes, you can make them for very little money if you record at home and use other people's resources for producing the printed parts. With all due respect to Matt, that's not normally the kind of product on sale at gigs for £10. I can tell you that my most recent CD, recorded in a studio with four musicians adding their contributions (but some giving their time and expertise for free), some travel to and from the studio and the final result professionally manufactured with eco-friendly packaging (but yes, with cellophane wrap I'm afraid ...it does make a difference in some circumstances) has cost me in the region of £3,000.
A certain number will be given out as review copies, airplay copies or other promotional reasons. Yes, I will make a profit on the other sales as I pre-sold enough to cover most of the costs, but I'm not making enough money at gigs or anywhere else to feel I can afford to discount my prices at gigs - perhaps if I was playing big venues and taking large fees I would feel differently about it all. And, as I said, where possible (at the moment family finance means it's not possible) I'm putting album sales money to one side ready to create future CDs.
I've just done my accounts for 07/08, a year in which I thought I'd done far better than ever before, and was somewhat gobsmacked when I totalled up my total income (including some supply teaching). Far and away less than I would have thought, to the extent that when I put in my expenses once again I find I'm owed tax rather than needing to pay it. So I don't think we musicians/storytellers/songwriters should be the automatic target for requesting discounts!
Anne