Running a Session When the Band Disagrees
By Written by Peter McVeigh
Disagreements are normal in the studio. How to keep a session moving without taking sides or losing the room.
Sooner or later, someone in the room wants more guitar, someone else wants less and the singer has gone very quiet. Studio pressure brings out disagreements, as money is being spent and everyone cares about what's being recorded. That's normal. Your job as engineer or producer isn't to win, it's to keep the session useful.
Prevent it in advance
Pre-production solves a lot of problems. Before the first session, find out:
Who makes the final decision on creative matters?
What's the record meant to sound like?
What's already been agreed, such as arrangements and tempos?
If a band has a written agreement or a clear way of voting, you can lean on it. If nobody knows who decides, ask. It's easier when nothing's wrong yet. Our Pre-Production Planner gives you a place to write this down.
Try it instead of debating it
Studios have one big advantage: you can test ideas. Rather than arguing for 20 minutes about whether a part should be there, record it or mute it and listen. Keep both versions if necessary.
"Let's hear it both ways" is one of the most useful sentences in a studio. It takes attention away from who's right and puts it on what the song needs.
Bring it back to the goal
When opinions are split, go back to what everyone agreed. "We said this was going to feel like a live band. Which of these does that better?" Going back to the goal or a reference track makes this a shared question, rather than a contest between people.
Listen for what's behind it
A row over a guitar part may not really be about the guitar part. Someone may feel that they're being pushed out, that they're not getting credit or that they're running out of time. A quiet word during a break can achieve more than discussing it with everyone there. Listen properly, and don't pass on what somebody told you in confidence.
Don't take sides in public
If people look to you for an answer, be useful without making it personal. You can talk about the sound: "The second one gives the vocal more room." That's quite different from: "You're wrong." If you've been hired as a producer, you may be expected to have an opinion, so give it plainly. If you're engineering, it may be better to ask whose decision it is.
Take a break
A tired room makes poor decisions. Ten minutes outside, some food or switching to a different task can defuse things. Some disagreements can be parked: agree to come back to them and move on to something that needs doing. Often the answer is more obvious the next day.
Protect the performance
An argument just before a vocal take can ruin it. Keep the atmosphere in mind when you schedule. Clear the room for a nervous singer if that helps, and keep negative comments away from the talkback. People do their best work when they feel safe.
When it's more than a disagreement
Creative disagreements are normal. Bullying, harassment and intimidation aren't. Nobody should have to put up with that for the sake of a session. If you're in charge of the room, you can pause or stop. Get help from people you trust, and look after your own wellbeing and that of others.
Money and writing disputes
If an argument is about who wrote what or who gets paid, don't try to settle it in the live room. Note down what's being said and suggest they sort it out in writing after the session. A band agreement and a Songwriting Split Agreement help. You can read about these in our other guides.
What to do next
Ask your next client who has the final say, and write it on your session plan. Then remember one sentence for when it all kicks off: "Let's hear it both ways."
Disclaimer
General information, not professional advice. Every session and client is different, so adapt this to your own situation.