information regarding hiring mike for his services and studio use

ACCESS AN AGREEMENT DRAFT AT THE END OF THIS PAGE

mike PROVIDES THE STUDIO, GEAR, TECH WORK, RECORDING, EDITING AND EXPORTING engineering

  • MIKE WILL PROVIDE USE OF HIS STUDIO SPACE

  • HE WILL RECORD & ENGINEER ALL STEMS & FILE EXPORTS

  • YOU’LL BE ABLE TO CHECK STEREO A DRUMS EXPORT MADE TO YOUR MUSIC TRACKS

  • The STEMS are EQ’D and panned by Mike per the actual kit and mic placements. This really is important with the toms and also partially with the stereo hihats due to his engineering and style of purposeful composing with those instruments, while account for the delicate aspect of leakage via volume tweaking

  • TYPICAL STEMS ARE: Mono Kick, Snare and Room, then Stereo Toms, Cymbals L/R, Above Kit VP 120 degrees, HiHats L/R.

mIKE WILL PROVIDE & GO THE EXTRA MILE

  • MIKE VALUES GOOD AND CONSTANT COMMUNICATION. HE WILL WORK DIRECTLY WITH YOU FOR SCHEDULING, A TIMELINE AND DEADLINES.

  • ZOOM MEETINGS TO DISCUSS ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE SONG [You can FEEL like Mike is in a studio with you without paying for the massive travel, lodging, meal, cartage and gear expenses]

  • HE IS LOCATED IN MASSACHUSETTS (ET ZONE)

STANDARD SONG payment scale

PREMISS

  • Drum tracking is not the same as a keyboardist, guitarist, saxophonist or bassist providing digital, single part tracks. More time is needed to mesh input 24 tracks than to play. Mike’s knowledge of how to bounce stems according to his true sound is of paramount importance in preserving that, as well as your getting the BEST results.

  • Even if you know him or someone close, please, avoid asking for “favors” or price chopping. You’re avoiding huge travel, studio, engineering and gear costs, while getting the VERY BEST ‘Mike.’ who has limited, valuable time, along with the use of his name.

SONG LENGTH

  • 3:30 OR LESS $2000.00 USD

  • $200 USD for every additional approximate :30 seconds up to 5:30

  • SONGS LONGER THAN 5:30 HAVE TO BE NEGOTIATED, ESPECIALLY COMPLEX ONES

  • TIME IS CALCULATED IN SONG LENGTH, NOT DRUMMING VS NO DRUMMING TIME WITH THE EXCEPTION OF LONG NON-DRUM SECTIONS FOR OVER A MINUTE AND NOT STARTING A NEW SONG ESSENTIALLY AFTER THAT. THE 3:30 FEE WILL START AGAIN IN THAT CASE.

  • A 50% DEPOSIT IS REQUIRED BEFORE MIKE BEGINS THE KIT & SONG PREPARATIONS

  • THE FINAL 50% NEEDS TO BE SENT ONCE YOU APPROVE AN mp3 STEREO DRUM MIX and BEFORE HE SENDS YOU THE FINAL STEMS

  • There is very simple and fair “work for hire” contract the gives you full permission to use the track how you want with the exception of violating a few simple rules

things THAT ARE not included

  • THERE IS NO OPTION TO TRAVEL TO HIS HOME STUDIO

  • NO SONG WRITING VIA DRUMS [Mike will only play “to” existing song sections with your previously written and recorded music, while not creating a foundation for you to compose “to.”]

  • NO RAW TRACKS [Mike will not allow any engineer to EQ his raw sounds. The EQ will be Mike’s approved sound and the panning will reflect the actual kit set up]

  • NO VIDEO PLAY-THROUGH [songs are recorded in pieces. Mike will not relearn the song for play-through purposes, nor deal with lighting, personal optics preparations, filming, footage downloading, editing, processing or uploading. This process is significantly more time consuming and expensive than his recording audio. Video of him playing has a separate and high value due to HIS LIKENESS and TRADEMARKED NAME]

  • NO USE OF MIKE’S SOCIAL MEDIA [Mike does not do promotions for anything or anybody except his own products, or ones he gets significant royalties for.]

  • NO REFUNDS once the initial 50% is sent

  • ADDITIONS OR CHANGES to received demos need renegotiation and possible extra fee.

Five Time Grammy nominated and winner drummer/composer:

2021 Best Metal Performance for “The Alien” by Dream Theater.  [Win]

2013 Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance for “The Enemy Inside” by Dream Theater.

2011 Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance for “On The Backs of Angels” by Dream Theater.

1999 Best Rock Instrumental Performance for “For the Love of God” by Steve Vai

1997 Best Rock Instrumental Performance for “Windows to the Soul” by Steve Vai

winner in every judged competition & audition:

Boston’s Best Rhythm Section All Styles (Drummer & Bassist Pairing) 1st Place

Massachusetts All State Jazz Drummer (1st Chair,) Eastern District (1st Chair,) Waltham, MA Senior High School Louis Armstrong Award for Jazz Band.

ALL East U.S.A. Percussionist (1st Chair,) Massachusetts All State Orchestra Percussionist (1st Chair,) Massachusetts Eastern District Orchestra Percussionist (1st Chair.) Waltham, MA Senior High School John Phillip Sousa  Award for Concert Band, Waltham, MA Junior High School Band Director’s Award.

Seven N.A.J.E. Jazz Drummer awards as “Outstanding Musician” at State Level Jazz Band competitions.