I bought a bunch of gear not to rent out to my clients, but to give me better tools and an edge. When freelance, many pro folks on net newsgroups commented that I should charge for it, that was echoed by others - 'damn right' 'without a doubt" etc..

I never charged for it.. it was included in my fee. I can't immagine charging for it. It would go down very badly with my clients. But that's just my situation, I am understanding of those that 'get away with it"! :)
For me, the idea that a clients lack of planning and misfortune derived thereof is an oportunity to bill for more studio time seems "cold" or unfair. It is irelevent to my situation anyhow because I am always producing, so the sessions progress is all MY responcibility.

:)

basicly the only stuff i'd want to rent out is stuff i don't consider fun, and would rather not own, but have to [cause, for example, you can't apparently find anywhere to rent a f$*%ing 24 bit DAT outside of NYC in the northeast.

thus, it's them rent it from dreamhire at a way too high price, or me give them a bit of a break by purchasing it and renting it to them.

is this cool?
--owen

Why haven't you allready got a 'deal' going with Dreamhire?

No one pays card rates, everyone pays 50% many less... :)

Pay for it on credit card, make the band pick it up and deliver it back to save some dough.... (if they want it that bad)

Masterlink is a better 24bit recorder buy:

CD player with word clock input!
24 bit 44.1k & 96k recorder
CD Burner

:)

I work out of an "actual" studio. I charge an hourly rate for recording and mixing. It's a DAW free zone, so editing doesn't come into play. I have a "project mastering" room at home. I charge by the song and usually work alone and have the client come by and we assemble the CD together.

I don't rent anything that I own and is in-house to clients. If someone wants a specific piece of gear from a guitar amp to a 24-bit A/D for transfers I rent it. I'll get a deposit from my client and then rent the gear from whatever source I can find. If your clients want 24-bit mixes they can either pay for you to rent the gear or they can go somewhere else.

I tend to buy things that people ask for. After a while if I get enough people asking for 24-bit mixes and files I'll get a 24 bit converter. If it only happens twice a year I'll skip it.

further info on cutting a deal w/ dreamhire julian? that would be rad! [ah, hip terms from the 80's...]

--owen

Right who here can hooook Owen up with Dreamhire? :)
(I don't know em in the US) but the UK devison of the company just went bust so the US side will be getting get a lot of cool gear send over (I happen to know)
:eek:

That sucks. Rather then send all the gear to the states why don't you and a few engineer chums buy some of it and start your own rental company?