10 Do’s And Don’ts

DO:

1- Save, Save, Save It!!! Remember to save- save everything when you’re laying down parts in Digital Performer or some other MIDI sequencing program. Save every take in Pro Tools, save every take you ever do! You don’t want to lose that elusive “perfect” take, the one that can never be captured again. You know the one I’m talking about, right? It’s gone. ( I just hit the Save button in WordPress).

2- Triple your production budget after you decide on a figure- you’ll still come up short, believe me!

3- Make lots of extra copies re: scores, charts, parts and lead sheets!

4- Feed your players, engineers and interns during marathon sessions- they’ll love you for it!

5- Take breaks, step away from the console and remember to rest! Avoid ear fatigue and getting fried!

DON’T:

1- Wait till the last minute, leave plenty of time for everything!

2- Get fixated on one idea, stay open!

3- Get stuck or perseverate if something’s not working, move on and come back to it! The reason is always obvious- that note, or tone, or line, or instrument, or chord change or harmony or effect or plug-in probably doesn’t belong in your piece, OR- it needs to be reworked!

4- Schedule a session in Boston between the months of April and October without checking the Red Sox Schedule first. You could end up sitting in bumper-to-bumper traffic on Storrow Drive for hours and hours, never making it to your session, cursing the Bambino, or cursing someone, or something!

5- Forget your checkbook! You must ALWAYS pay the band!