leedsquietman wrote:So you're helping him out then, it's settled.
If everyone took the attitude of 'it's only one person's money so let it slide' then the world as you know it would be f***ed. We don't live on a kibbutz (or at least, most of us don't). You ask Bob Katz, Bob Ludwig, Doug Sax or Roger Nichols etc how many tracks they mastered for free last year ...
When I go to the store (and believe me I am broke ass after months of unemployment here), the store owners don't take pity on me and let me have the odd shopping cart load of groceries free. The car mechanics who my last car broke down several times, costing me thousands didn't take pity on me and fix my rack and pinion steering or suspension for free. They are professionals and they have to make a living - except musicians, engineers, producers etc. obviously don't have a right to make a living, they are mandated to give it up for free
We don't live in a hippy world where people do favours for Karma. Believe me, I've done lots of favours to people on this board or elsewhere, done lots of things 'just to be nice', I donated a track to a Haiti charity album and gave money myself, even though I barely have any food to eat for my family, but you reach your limit when some freeloader repeatedly feels entitled to help for free and then someone else defends it. Between you and dum, who obviously are fine with people freeloading, his track should be sorted, right ?
Ok, you've made it clear. You're not doing very well with your business and need all the help you can get.
Some of us, on the other hand, are doing ok, and even without comparing ourselves to Bob Katz, manage to put food on the table and even indulge in the odd luxuries every now and then... and yet, still find the time to do plenty other things which are not financially beneficial. Live a social life, watch TV or browse around the Ableton Forums and why not, even offer our professional services for free. And contrary to what you think, there are COUNTLESS successful (and famous) people who offer their help and expertise for free as they, more than anybody else, can do so... I'm not sure about the people you mention, but in the past I've worked on projects for under 25's with Nick Mason, Ewan McGregor and Terry Gilliam to name but a few... and guess how much they got paid for their time.
All creative industries are vocational. We do it because we love it and not just to make money. Because of this the market is over-saturated with people wanting to make a living as artists (or creative professionals) and unfortunately not all are lucky (and by lucky I mean good) enough to make a living out of it. Trust than when the Plumb Factor will hit the airwaves and millions of teenagers will aspire to appear as "TV's Best Toilet Unblocker"... there will be plumbers a-plenty offering their services for free!
By the way, the idiotic comparison between plumbers and musicians is on a par with blaming immigration for unemployment rates. It's not the musicians that do the work for free that are responsible for your loss, it's the ones that DO make a living that cut your luck short, cos they get the work, and you don't.
Unfortunately I am not a mastering engineer by trade, so on this occasion my services are not required, but I am a live engineer and if djarsalan, you need my help with that, any day...just ask!
