What do you want your Group to sound like?

Never book time at a Recording Studio until you decide what you want to record and have perfected enough songs for your recording session.

Use a Cassette recorder for recordings, etc. so you can decide what your Band should sound like. If you sound lousy on a cheap recording, you'll sound lousy (but with great fidelity) in the studio. Use the home recordings to find what's wrong with your songs or performance and fix it.

Choose an order of songs that allow a smooth transistion from song to song.

Take your time developing your sound and ability to work as a group before booking recording time.

Using borrowed items for the session? List accessibility (When you can use it, restrictions etc.) [Counting on borrowed equipment is always a bad idea. A sure way to ruin your session is to book time and later find out the equipment you need is not available.]

Make a Home Recording of exactly what you want your group to sound like.

Don't reserve studio time for any reason until this is done and you are satisfied with the quality of your performance on the tape.

Make a Cassette, etc. recording of what you expect/want the Band to sound like, with the songs you intend to use, on the final studio recording. This recording should be made available to the recording engineer at least a week before the session. 

Play that tape while your group is setting up in the studio.

Insist on doing "Live" recordings where the entire band plays at the same time.

"Live" recordings, where the whole Band plays at the same time will produce enthusiasm and life in the music that will show up on recordings.

Recording one instrument at a time reduces the "life", the presence in the recording.

If there's any mistakes, you can always have that instrument re-recorded separately or with the entire band, during the same session, using different tracks.

Some studios will try to make a band record everything, one instrument at a time. 

Such work may double or triple your time in the studio, time you waste money paying for.

Never book time at a Recording Studio until you decide what you want to record.

Studio time is expensive yet many waste time and money while at the Studio deciding what to record during the session!

Never book time at a Recording Studio until you have perfected enough songs for your recording.

Making small talk with the Band and engineer is a waste of time and money. If you need to do it to keep people in a good mood or relaxed, that's fine. Don't do it to prove your superiority, etc.

Once you make a priority list of what songs to record, it will be easier for everyone to see and agree on what needs to be recorded.

Never book time until you are sure everyone will be available for the session time, and not having to rush etc to make it to the studio in time.

Make a budget to see how much you have to spend on studio time.

Have each person in the group make a budget of their finances so they know how much money they can contribute to the group. Each person should agree on how much they will make available to the group. (Every member should keep their budget confidential and not share that information with the group.)

Remember, this is money you allocate to spend on recordings, equipment etc only for the group, not money for the group plus strings, movies, dates etc. Keep those separate in your calculation.

Money should not be actually pooled until you are ready to make a purchase.

Keep all receipts. Keep all receipts. Keep all receipts. Did I say to keep all receipts?

When making a recording for the Group, define who actually owns the songs & recording for legal reason.

Never use the Group name on a purchase receipt. (Unless the group is incorporated, and if it is, ask your Lawyer about situations like this when you incorporate.)

If a Manager pays for studio time, have a signed agreement with him to determine who owns the recording copyright etc, and if it is a gift or cost is reimbursed to him as the band earns money as a loan.

If a person or Manager pays for your expenses have an agreement in writing as to what they will get out of it by doing so. Consult a lawyer before signing anything, INCLUDING the back of any Check or using another person's check to pay for the session etc.

Have an agreement on how ownership of the recordings will be divided up If the group breaks up or a person leaves the Group. 

If you fire your manager or band members you need to know if any of the recordings will go with any of them.

Spend the extra money and PAY FOR the tape your Band is recording on, so you can KEEP IT!

You can go broke buying Brand "Names"?

Don't book time anywhere without hearing other recordings made in the same facility, using the same engineer.

Talk to other bands who have used that studio, ask about problems and general feel they had during their work there.

Don't go on reputation alone, be sure to test and compare available sound recordings made at several studios for quality and usability between "generics, off brands and name brands".

Decide who will make decisions for the group before doing anything!

Decide who determines what to do and how it is determined. How many must agree to make changes, etc. for the session.

Put a cap on the amount or a budget for the recording sessions may be set for time booked by the group leader or designated person or treasurer to book without consulting the group. This may also include an a agreement to require two people to agree on the purchase first. 

Everyone must agree on these procedures and on who the leader is.

Decide on a procedure for changing leadership and other business positions /jobs for the group.

After the band starts making enough money ($800 up a week or $3000+ a month) and becomes a business, decide on a treasurer and on how many people are required and on who can sign the band's checks. (Two signatures preferred.)

Before opening the Bank account, talk to a Lawyer at some point to see what other matters you need to agree on and settle on, as well as what you must do to protect the band's name.

You can go broke using "Free" Studio Time!

Many Record Companies, Group Managers etc. who claim you don't have to pay anything for Studio time actually have in their contracts that Studio and other production expenses will be charged towards the group's future profits. 

At least one famous singer had to declare bankruptcy in the last ten years because the expenses of her million seller hit was greater than her share of the profits of the recording.

Every item you ask for or require a studio to have or provide for you will be charged for, even if you don't use it.