For your own sake, you MUST get a written contract or agreement between the two of you before you do ANY work in the rented studio. If she wants to put a clause in her draft proposal about inclusion of her studio's name, then it's up for discussion, nothing more.

Show her what benefits you would be bringing to her operations (additional equipment, guaranteed rental per month, possible holiday/illness cover etc) and that to do this you need to be independent. If you can't agree on the terms of a final contract, then you either have to back down or walk away from the deal.

Compromise is not a dirty word. A rose by any other name would sound as sweet. Maybe she feels that your name will benefit her and perhaps her name may benefit you? Could she be in love with you? Are you married? Is she married? There's strength in numbers. If you actually come together, you may have another engineer in about 18 years?

I once thought about naming my studio "God's only nose".
Ms. Remy Ann David

Thanks for the help all!

The reason I don't want to put her name on my recordings is obviously because it's publicity and I run the risk of people phoning her when they like the quality of my work. It may also be confusing to anyone reading the sleeve to see "Recorded at X studios (Which rents space at Y studios or whatever)". A compromise may be to thank her in the credits or whatever, but I can't insist that my clients do that either...

I can't put a fixed value on it (My recordings could sell 5 or 5 million records) so I'm not sure what it's worth.

Also, although most bands put "Recorded at X studios" on their CDs, are they obliged to?

I was laughing out loud at RemyRAD:

Could she be in love with you? Are you married? Is she married? There's strength in numbers. If you actually come together, you may have another engineer in about 18 years?

Not a bad way to recruit staff!

As much as we would like to do business with a handshake it will not stand up in court or if you have problems down the road. Get everything in writing signed by both parties and witnessed by a notary public so there are no problems later on. If you have to get a lawyer involved.

This situation of having a studio within a studio seems to be getting more and more popular. It is a help for the studio owner who can now count on additional income and for the non studio owner because they now have a "real" place to record in.

There are bound to be problems and a couple of my friends who own studios or are renting from studio owners say that there are always start up problems. Things like expendable supplies, who get keys, when can the studio be used and if the renter has access to the studio 24/7 so if it is not being used by the owner it can be used (for a price) by the renter, who cleans up after a session and if food is allowed into the studio or control rooms.

As to putting your name on something along with someone else's name. It depends. If the studio that you are renting from has some serious clout in the area it maybe a good thing. If they are always having problems that get put into the newspapers (drugs, noise, cars and motorcycles at all hours of the day and night) then it might not be a good idea. I would talk it over with the owner, find out why she wants to have this done and then make up your mind and get a contract drawn up as per paragraph one of this message. If this becomes a sticking point maybe you will have to make the decision to go or stay and you may not want to do that.

There is a studio near hear that always wants their name and logo on everything they touch. Even if it is as simple as duplicating or printing some CDs for a client they want their name on the product. It pisses some clients off and they never return. Other clients are OK with the name and logo as long as it is done tastefully. In one case it became a big sticking point and the studio lost the client over the extra logo and studio name on what they said was "their" product. It also may have some repercussions for clients and I would ask them (and get a contract with them) to approve the "extra" name.

FWIW

RE: Keeping your name on a project or a product.

It's in your best interest to have your name, website, phone number or all of the above on your product, at least in a tasteful way. (Perhaps a logo, or simply a website listing somewhere?)

Depending on your arrangement with the client, and how much work you do (Some of it, or all of it), you may be able to ensure your name stays on the product all the way up to completion & CD replication. (Do you do that for them, or does it go elswhere?)

In the end, it may come down to a written agreement; perhaps you can offer them some kind of small savings or discount if they include your name.

In the best of all worlds, you'll do such a great job and make them so happy and proud, that OF COURSE they'll make sure your name is on there. Surrrrrrrrrrre they will! :twisted:

As for sub-renting a studio: Get a lease. In writing. Notarized.