The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #159548 Message #3780644
Posted By: mg
23-Mar-16 - 01:14 PM
Thread Name: Uncomfy with Kickstarter appeals?
Subject: RE: Uncomfy with Kickstarter appeals?
Here is how I see it..first of all I do not have a highly discriminating ear so I am comfortable with what sounds good to me and do not have the money for perfectionism...but pretty darn goodism.
I think you can put out something very good in Seattle USA for under 1K. Recording can go very quickly in a good studio with good engineer. Say you have 18 songs and pay $60/hour for good engineer..rates are terribly higher elsewhere I know. Go quickly and efficiently and tune up, rehearse etc. first. 20 minutes per song. Yes it is more than possible. We have done it with groups of people and instruments. That is $360. Then two hours of mastering..this particular engineer does not require much mastering because he does stuff as he works..$120. Art work..free free free. This is where to save money. I regret every penny I have put out for this because I can do a modest but better by far job myself. It really really adds up...tweaking with fonts, colors etc...you need to do this yourself....I am assuming you will be satisfied with a fairly simple cover. Get friends to advise you on aesthetics if you are not comfortable. Don't be too complicated. I have now figured out online design with CD baby and can put out something simple that looks better than what I have paid for, and I expect to improve as I learn more...
Then, another place to save money...use smaller runs. CD baby works well for this..you will pay more for smaller runs, but you can sell, order more..it would not hurt to do a very small run, perhaps just the cd and no covers, to make sure no glitches. I did this last cd and there was a serious glitch in something...
Also I recommend having the options of selling with cover and without...people want to know there is a cover out there, but will buy the cheaper no-cover versions.
So 100 copies with cover at $4 each (I know you can get them cheaper but quality at CD baby seems good), $400.
I think you have spent $980, not counting taxes and shipping etc. Sell your 100 copies for $10 each and you have covered your costs. I am not taking into account free copies you give to friends, radio stations etc..that can really eat into things.
So it can be done. Don't end up with boxes of CDs you have to sell, get depressed over, dust, move etc. Just pay as you go...and with CD baby if you find you want to add a song, change liner notes, whatever, you can do it.