Is studio time to edit my live show tracks included in the package fee?

No. The package fee pays for three hours of mobile recording time. The first hour for travel and set-up, the second hour for recording the actual show and the third hour for breakdown and travel back to Millrose Music (Union Square). Within 48 hrs. we will burn a “rough mix” CD of the live show recording. If you like this basic “as is” recording then the project is completed. Should you wish to come in to the studio to make changes (i.e. redo a vocal line, make the piano louder in this or that song, or tune a bass note) then normal studio time rates are applied (call for details).

Do all clubs allow me to bring an independent recording engineer to record my show?

It depends on the club. Don’t Tell Mama currently has no problem with anyone recording their shows with their own engineer. The Duplex is on a case-by-case basis. The Metropolitan Room charges a moderate “recording fee” to bring us in (we can discuss this) and The Laurie Beechman Theatre does not allow it at all, you must pay for their own recording service. I haven’t heard back from The Triad Theatre yet.

Does it make a difference whether I perform first or last in the evening?

Yes! Being first to perform that night is ideal as it allows us plenty of time to set-up and check all our gear and recording levels. It's much easier to breakdown gear then to set it up. The next best slot is performing last as you're the only act that might be slightly delayed if there are any tech issues. Also, there's no rush to breakdown gear as no one is performing after you. Honestly, if you're booked in the middle of the evening a six or eight track recording is not recommended at all. A four track recording is possible but still not recommended. Accordingly, it's best to consult Millrose Music BEFORE you book your show, not afterwards.

Are there alternative ways to record my live show that do not involve a club?

Yes! Right now there are two excellent alternatives:

1) Renting a rehearsal/performance space with a piano (that allows recording), setting up some chairs and performing your show! It’s the equivalent of recording “in front of a live studio audience” (just like the old days). The point is to perform in front of people and get that instantaneous feedback/energy that makes it feel “live”. The only real difference is that alcohol is prohibited in most of these spaces and you can’t charge admission. Right now I have a good space to do this in on Fifty-fifth Street, which can accommodate 10-12 people as an “audience”. There is an extra fee of $40.00 to rent this space for three hours (it is managed by a friend of mine).

2) Using a generous friend’s living room that has a piano and having a “Cabaret Party”. This option can be the most fun because it’s really more like a party with a cabaret performance attached. The audience is built in and intoxicating beverages can be involved. Got friends?

Although there is usually a small fee in the first option, it is more than offset by the amount of autonomy and control we can have in the space and for the recording. In both options I can also use all my own microphones (making re-recordings at my studio sonically seamless) and don’t have to work with a “house” sound engineer.