1. Have someone who is not attached to the project act as producer.
This person needs to have experience in producing CD's. It is a huge task to line things up, make sure the budget is set properly, and secure the studio, line up session times for your people and more. The producer needs to have a great ear and be somewhat of an arranger. He has to know what songs are worth putting on a CD and what needs to be thrown out. He has to be objective and understand the dynamics of working with non-professional volunteers. His role is that of bring everything together to make it happen.

2. When planning your budget, add a few thousand for cushion.
When working with volunteers, it is very difficult to know how long a song will take to lay down in the studio. Unless you have had experience in one, it can be very intimidating at first. Good studios cost a lot of money. Practicing until you are sick of the song will help in your preparation. A CD isn't as forgiving as live sound. When wrong notes are sung or played, they are there forever. One important tip: make sure your drummer can play to a click track before you step into the studio. You will spend hundreds of extra dollars if he isn't used to playing to a click track.

3. Choosing the right studio.
There are thousands of studios that you could choose from to do your project. For most of us, location plays a large role in the studio we choose. Many of you have in-house studios and that's a beautiful thing. For those who don't, check around for pricing and reputation. Ask to hear some of their work. Make sure they have the equipment you need to do your project. Find out what instruments they have in-house. Do you use their drums or your own? Check for references and talk to them. Check dates for available session time. Determine when your people can be there and plan accordingly. There is nothing worse than scheduling recording time and one of your players or singing can't make it. Do your research ahead of time and your project will flow much better. Important tip: for many studios, the minute you walk in the door the clock starts. In my first recording session I came early to set up the drums. I thought I was getting ahead so we could start on time. The clock was running while I was setting things up. I was under the impression it was for actual recording time. Not too smart.

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