Want professional advice for your music?

[gnome]

I don't think it has been asked. But how much does this service cost?

Or is it case by case prices?

[futures_untold]

Questions are good. Separate the wheat from the caff.

-----------------------

What is exactly included in the service?

Can people send you tracks for review? What information do you provide when reviewing works in progress.

Do you help people achieve specific sounds that they want to create but have currently been unable to achieve?

How many hours of the day are you contactable? What is the expected turn around time for feedback and advice? Do you have SMS alaerts when someone posts on the forum?

Do you work in partnership with other music industry professionals who provide auxillary services?

If I asked you about something you didn't know the answer to, what would your response be?

Patrick

[slothrop]

Do you help people achieve specific sounds that they want to create but have currently been unable to achieve?

Can you make Datsik / Excision style wobbles?

But yeah, fair questions.

Thinking about it, it's kind of surprising that there aren't more mix coaching services around, it's alright picking up tips on forums and you do get good feedback sometimes, but it'd be quite another to have someone who's actually willing to repeatedly and iteratively give you tips and feedback or actually show you what to do as well as telling you. I mean, you'd almost expect mixing teachers to be as common as guitar teachers given that there are probably as many people producing electronically as there are playing guitars...

BTW, even if you don't want Kim's paid-for service (I probably won't be bothering) his blog is worth a read.

[BLAHBLAHJAH]

Y'know it could be useful to get advice from an outside source... People are quick to forget, but every one of your peers on this site is in competition with you, trying to fight for a similar spot. Sometimes you need an outsider to see the weakness of the bigger picture that can be manipulated

But on the other hand, a fashion pyschologist... I don't want nice reformed waltz tunes dressed in tuxedos. String vest and a can of super tenants

Also to slothrop's comment regarding guitar tuition... Even though I never took guitar lessons myself, I do give them. I consider them way more valuable than 'electronic production coaching' for many reasons - for a start, pressing F1 on a guitar doesn't bring up a specialised help section

[TM45]

Y'know it could be useful to get advice from an outside source... People are quick to forget, but every one of your peers on this site is in competition with you, trying to fight for a similar spot.

Disagree. I make music because I think other people will like to listen to it, and I'm here to listen to other people's music that they have made for me. I'm not competing for attention, if people like what I'm doing then that's all that matters.

[ketamine]

Alright. I read his blog, definitely quality. Still not paying for personal service, but on the surface, seems he knows his music...

[slothrop]

Also to slothrop's comment regarding guitar tuition... Even though I never took guitar lessons myself, I do give them. I consider them way more valuable than 'electronic production coaching' for many reasons - for a start, pressing F1 on a guitar doesn't bring up a specialised help section

Wow, you can press F1 and get a thing that tells you that you need to roll off some of the bass on that snare to stop it clashing with your bassline, and how to do so in such a way that it doesn't end up sounding too weedy? What DAW are you using?

[Phase Down]

@ Gnome and Phase Down - You both have valid points, but this isn't the whole picture.

Yet for quick results it is a valid and useful option to have professional help. It cuts down research time, provides insight on developing bespoke solutions and avoids the disillusionment that some members of DSF feel when their works in progress and finished tracks get no feedback.

ive read the blog its decent, im not attacking him personally, but think this whole service is not needed in general for music production unless you have a big list of credits.

[paravrais]

I like this idea in theory but I'm not totally sold. It's true what you said futures, about how if it was macc there wouldn't be as much poking around. But that's because everyone already knows macc is a god XD I know that macc *really* knows his shit when it comes to mixdowns, plus he knows his way around the genre and is widely respected by a lot of people. If I was gonna pay for a service like this I would want it to be coming from someone with a *lot* of experience and knowledge, plus experience with the genre and also enough time to do it properly and give some serious tuition.

Just don't know enough about this guy at the moment and from what I saw on the websites posted, yeah, he knows his stuff. But I don't think I'm convinced he knows his stuff enough to warrant paying for his advice..

No disrespect meant :\

[tavravlavish]

I can understand why people think its a slightly ridiculous or unlegit service but I don't understand why they have to be such dicks about it.

[Kim Lajoie]

Hey guys,

It seems some of you are getting the right idea about this (even if personal tutoring is not for you).

I'd just like to clear something up: This is not about whether I like your music or not. If you are working on something that needs improvement, I won't simply say "that sucks" (like you'd probably get if you'd asked online). I actually go into detail of what can be improved - whether it be composition (usually contour and proportion are common culprits) or mix (usually depth and space are common culprits). I'll go into detail of what *you* need to work on to get to the next level. If you don't understand some topics, I'll explain them for you.

It's not opinions ("I like it", "I don't like it"). It's hands-on tutoring.

If you're not interested in that, no sweat. But if you're serious about your music and you're prepared to go beyond "I'll get info for free and figure it out myself", then I'm here to help.

If you're serious and you want a free trial, send me an email. Get in touch.

-Kim.

[Kim Lajoie]

I don't think it has been asked. But how much does this service cost?

Or is it case by case prices?

It doesn't cost much. If you're serious, get in touch. You're half-right that it's a case-by-case basis.

-Kim.

[paravrais]

I'd potentially be interested but only after I know the answers to the questions futures posted above, also can you give some kind of quote as to how much it costs. Because depending on how much your charging here this could potentially be quite a worthwhile thing to do. If your expecting a heap of cash though there's no chance XD

I have a couple of fairly experienced people I already go to for advice but because they are busy people getting on with their own shit I can't get the volume and quality of feedback that I'd ideally like to recieve. How much time do you put into this project? Would I be able to get speedy and concise replies on a regular basis?

EDIT: you posted again after I pushed the reply button but before I posted this XD I'll send you a message man.

[Kim Lajoie]

What is exactly included in the service?

The main service is consultancy. I point out where you need to focus your efforts to improve your music. It's usually not what you think it is - because it's often something you've either ignored or didn't know about.

I also offer mixing/mastering and other collaborative arrangements, but I didn't advertise them here because I expect most of you are interested in developing your own engineering skills. Respect.

Can people send you tracks for review? What information do you provide when reviewing works in progress.

People can certainly send me tracks for review. I write prose explaining where the weak points are, and I usually do a combination of suggestions several approaches to address the issues, and I also link to *relevant* articles and guides I've written (some are not public).

Do you help people achieve specific sounds that they want to create but have currently been unable to achieve?

Absolutely. The best results are when someone can be very specific about the sound they're after, and they also provide their own attempt at it. It's usually quite easy for me to bridge the gap.

How many hours of the day are you contactable? What is the expected turn around time for feedback and advice? Do you have SMS alaerts when someone posts on the forum?

Turn around time is almost always within 24 hours. The only exception is when I need to do a mockup or example in the studio, and it depends on when I get schedule time in the studio (in between my other clients and artists). Usually that takes a 2-3 days.

Do you work in partnership with other music industry professionals who provide auxillary services?

I work with a team of other musicians and artists for many projects, but they usually don't contribute to this service.

If I asked you about something you didn't know the answer to, what would your response be?

I haven't yet been asked a question that I don't know the answer to. If I was asked a question that was beyond my own knowledge, I'd get myself up to speed. I take this service seriously and don't accept "I don't know" from myself. I'm also a producer working with a number of artists (as you can probably tell from my website http://www.obsessive-music.com) and I'm constantly pushing the boundaries of my own abilities.

Hope that gives you a bit more background.

-Kim.

[gnome]

How much?

[Kim Lajoie]

How much?

It depends on a few factors - mainly how much (and what kind of) assistance you want. Like I wrote above, get in touch. Send me an email to [kitchen at kimlajoie dot com] and tell me about what you're working on and where you'd like to take your music.

Some people only want/need a few pointers and they take it from there.

At the other end of the range I've done studio work for people - demonstrations of basslines, arrangements/structures, and even whole mixes. Obviously, these aren't meant to replace your own work, but to provide real audible examples of the concepts I'm explaining.

-Kim.

[3za]

I haven't yet been asked a question that I don't know the answer to.

How much?

I'd potentially be interested but only after I know the answers to the questions futures posted above, also can you give some kind of quote as to how much it costs. Because depending on how much your charging here this could potentially be quite a worthwhile thing to do. If your expecting a heap of cash though there's no chance XD

I don't think it has been asked. But how much does this service cost?

Or is it case by case prices?

It doesn't cost much. If you're serious, get in touch. You're half-right that it's a case-by-case basis.

-Kim.

your a bit like one of those sale guys how just keep rambling on, and when you ask how much this amazing shit they are trying to sell you costs, they just keep rambling on?

this is not helping your image on this fourm, people have already said they find you a little shady, and that you might be doing this only to rip people off.

when ever i do business with anyone I always like to talk money first.

so how much are we talking???

[Kim Lajoie]

your a bit like one of those sale guys how just keep rambling on, and when you ask how much this amazing shit they are trying to sell you costs, they just keep rambling on?

this is not helping your image on this fourm, people have already said they find you a little shady, and that you might be doing this only to rip people off.

when ever i do business with anyone I always like to talk money first.

so how much are we talking???

I appreciate that, but unfortunately this is not a one-size-fits all product. It's not like I'm selling online guides for a fixed price or anything like that. See my post above - some people only need a quick response, some people can use more hands-on assistance. So there's no set 'price per song' or anything like that.

You're right that it seems a little mysterious. I apologise for that. I'll try to give a bit more clarity. Here's how it usually works:

1) You email me with a link to your track.
2) I email you back with a few options - including prices - with varying levels of involvement.

In -most- cases, my starting point is $50. How far that gets you depends on how you want me to help you. For basic written advice, $50 gets you pretty detailed response for three songs, or three rounds of assistance for one song, or a studio demonstration (and write-up) for one song. These are the most common scenarios.

But it's negotiable. The price can be less if you're living in a developing country. The price can be less if you don't need much help, or just want a few pointers to relevant articles and resources. The price can be more (with your permission) if we go back and forth many times and I do a few different studio demos for you.

I hope that makes things a bit clearer. It's not straightforward, and I'm open for negotiation. So like I said - if you're serious, get in touch.

-Kim.

[TM45]

lol. $50 would buy me half an analog synth. Dun flatter ytourself too much fam. x

[soosh21]

While, i wont be using your service i had a read of your blog and there is a lot of helpful advice in there. Big up. I prefer to work things out myself, even if it doesnt get me far.