Professional Studio Etiquette

These guidelines pertain to sessions in professional recording studios. We don't expect this level of behavior during a class meeting at a community college. But we should all be aware to help minimize the general "noise floor."

1. Be on time. Better yet, show up a little early.
2. Take a shower, brush your teeth and wear clean clothes. We're serious. The recording studio is a veritable incubation chamber, and tends to get a bit ripe. Minimize perfumes and fragrances. Don't even think about chewing gum.
3. Don't talk unless you are spoken to. This means no chit chat. Any talking can be really distracting to the engineer and artists. Don't add to the noise floor. If you have any brilliant production ideas or opinions, write them down to discuss later. If an artist asks "what to you think?" your answer should be "I try not to," or "sounds great."
   • If you must communicate verbally. please whisper.
4. Don't fidget, peck, tap your fingers, crack your knuckles etc. No air drumming or beat boxing please. Nervous energy emanates throughout the room. Try to control your restless legs from bouncing up and down. If you have a medical condition related to any of these issues, please privately disclose to the head engineer. Remember to breathe. Stay centered and focused.
5. Turn your cell phones off. Don't check your email or send text messages during a session.
6. Give the artists, producers and engineers physical space. Be aware of what they are doing, what equipment they are monitoring etc. Let them have the comfortable chairs!
7. Observing a recording session as a 'fly on the wall' can be kind of tedious. Don't space out. Stay present and aware. Try to follow what the engineer is doing. Try to sit close enough to the computer screen to watch what is happening in Pro Tools. Don't yawn. Don't slouch. Smile. Sit up straight.
8. Take good notes. Bring paper and pens.
9. Be ready and available to help in any way possible. During set-up you can follow the engineer around. Be ready to help, but also try to stay out of their way. If there are other assistants involved, try to gracefully synchronize your efforts. Try to work as an efficient team.
10. No food or drinks allowed in the control room. Only water. Be careful where you set your water bottle so that no one kicks it over.
11. An astronaut for the Space Shuttle once said, "what makes a good crew member is someone you would want to go camping with." A studio control room is similar to a space ship. Being able to hang out with people, in a harmonious fashion, is part of the job for audio producers.