Ethics question...

[kakumei47]

Hey y'all,

(well this isn't really ethics I guess but just what an appropriate way to move forward is question)

Wondering if anyone has any thoughts on this. I have a band I've done several records with. In the last LP, one of the members left or was asked to leave the band mid-record. They were on ok terms, but have since had a falling out. The member that left wrote to me asking for me to tell him which songs they kept him on and how many people played so he can get the cut he feels like he should.

Of course, I can look at the files and figure this out pretty easily. I'm friends with the people in the band and the person who left.

So what would you do in this situation? I don't want to create bad blood by relaying this and not telling the other people (not sure if it would but still). Should I get in touch with the other people and let them know what's up? Stay out of it? What would you say/do?
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www.thisiscivildefense.com

[Nick Sevilla]

IME,

I try hard to stay far away from any kind of middleman, intermediary, or mediation position.

Our jobs are hard enough without entering band politics.

All I would do, is relay to that ex member, that you cannot get in the middle of this situation, and to please understand and respect your position.

I cannot tell you anything else other than to do the above, and stick to that.

Cheers
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The Song. Nothing else really matters.

[kakumei47]

Good advice. That was my gut feeling on this one and what I'm leaning towards.
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www.thisiscivildefense.com

[djimbe]

Maybe suggest to either the band, the guy, or both that they might want to work up a full listing of personnel/instrument on each song for their packaging. That way, everyone is clear. I've done a bunch of things with many shifting performers and as a peformer I want that stuff noted anyway. Make them (not you) figure it out during mix, if it's that important. Beyond that, guy gets told "you really need to discuss that with the band not me".
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I thought this club was for musicians. Who let the drummer in here??

[chris harris]

Dear Ex-Band Member Who Is Also My Friend,

I hope you understand that this is a professional decision and does not reflect on our friendship. This matter is between you and the band.

Sorry I can't be more help.

Your friend,
Engineer
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Studio - http://www.hookechosound.com
Label - http://www.wearenicepeople.com
Band - http://www.depthandcurrent.com
Twitter - http://www.twitter.com/HoodEchoSound

[Snarl 12/8]

One thing I did (as instructed by my boss at the time, a lawyer) is make all the files available to everyone at the same time. Then, you're not interpreting anything for anyone, but you're not hiding the truth either. You could send screen shots of the track layouts, or just post the protools (or whatever) sessions and let whoever wants to download them and go through them for whatever purposes they want. My situation wasn't audio related, but it seems like it might work for you. I'm not talking about posting these publicly, just under password or whatever just for the parties involved.
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Carl Keil

[dubold]

yeah, that's not a great position to be in... telling him you don't want to be in the middle of it is technically neutral, but might feel like you're defaulting to the other people's "side".

part of the problem when getting into business with friends is figuring out who's the "boss" in the situation. I tend to go with "whoever's paying has the last word" unless the payer says otherwise. If the band members are all paying you, then they're all entitled to information about the sessions, mixes, whatever.

Having said that, this band member wants the info as ammo for dealing with the rest of the band. whether or not the band is telling this person accurate info about the sessions, band member SUSPECTS they aren't, or might not, which means there may be some bad blood around this whole situation...

I would just be honest with the individual and say, look, my dealings with y'all was as a group, and if the whole group agrees to this, then I'll gladly give you the info, otherwise you're just putting me in the middle of your band fight.
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http://mountainknowledge.bandcamp.com/
http://soundcloud.com/dubold

[joelpatterson]

Yeah, I agree with the consensus, here: find some graceful way to demur.

When this kind of thing happens in my world, I describe it as a case of: YHCUWSKIYWMTGAW

("You have come up with some kooky idea you want me to go along with": in this case, conduct a secret inventory of the tracking info and prepare a private report.)

As engineers, we are naturally (biologically?) sympathetic to our customers, whose requests will sometimes lurch off in funny directions, but everyone should realize that we're operating in an overall framework which does have bounds.

Out of those bounds, you gotta smile sweetly and find some generous way to say, "Take your bitchy little vendetta to the principals, babe, and leave me the fuck out of it."
_________________
Mountaintop Studios
~The Peak of Perfection~
Petersburgh NY 12138

mountaintop@taconic.net

[Gregg Juke]

Yeah, this is a tough one. A copyright/intellectual property minefield, and if the band members themselves didn't take care of business, then it's not up to you.

You can either demur, or write an "open letter/e-mail to all involved," urging peaceful cooperation and cooexistence, and absolving yourself of any responsibility. But, you may want to hold-off on that until the record's done and the bill is current!

GJ

[dubold]

[joelpatterson]

It'll getcha every time!
_________________
Mountaintop Studios
~The Peak of Perfection~
Petersburgh NY 12138

mountaintop@taconic.net

[frans_13]

[MoreSpaceEcho]

[vvv]

[dubold]