Anyone do jingles?

Reggie Duncan · Post by **Reggie Duncan** » 17 Jan 2002 11:26 pm

I recently recorded a patriotic recitation for a local songwriter in which I composed and played all of the music, and sung with him. I got a call yesterday from a local radio station about doing jingles for them. I have a great opportunity that has sort of blind-sided me. Any help appreciated! How much do you charge? Tips? ASAP!!!!!!!!!!!
Reggie[This message was edited by Reggie Duncan on 18 January 2002 at 04:38 AM.]

Quesney Gibbs · Post by **Quesney Gibbs** » 18 Jan 2002 2:03 am

I did a few jingles in New Orleans years ago. In my opinion it's like stealing money. Most jingles in a particular area are usually done by the same people who appear to have not much origanality. Go for it.

Johan Jansen · Post by **Johan Jansen** » 18 Jan 2002 4:54 am

Yep I do, I always get paid in hours , with a minimum of 3.

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STEELDAYS 2002
my web-site
my bands CODand TSC

Reggie Duncan · Post by **Reggie Duncan** » 18 Jan 2002 8:23 am

I will be doing all of the music. It is a 30 second spot.

Larry Bell · Post by **Larry Bell** » 18 Jan 2002 9:22 am

I've always enjoyed that type of work. Everything from radio spots to corporate training films. I worked with a guy for a short time who was producing spots for different radio formats. He'd write a version for 'easy listening' radio then he'd call me in to make it country. He had others who specialized in classic rock, pop, and R&B. Haven't heard from him in several years, so maybe that package product didn't work out very well in the long run. I always though it sounded like a good idea, but I have no clue what he got from the radio stations.

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Larry Bell - email: larry@larrybell.org - gigs - Home Page
2000 Fessenden S-12 8x8, 1969 Emmons S-12 6x6, 1971 Emmons D-10 9x9, 1971 Dobro

[This message was edited by Larry Bell on 18 January 2002 at 11:11 AM.]

Gary Lee Gimble · Post by **Gary Lee Gimble** » 18 Jan 2002 11:56 am

Reggie, during the mid '70's for a four year span, banjo was in high demand for the jingle industry. Well, at least in the Pacific Northwest area. Anyway, I was fortunate enough to log in many hours of session work and learn that all you have to do is keep it simple-stupid. If the producer is happy with what you recorded, don't offer to lay down another track. Keep your ears open and listen to what else is being played, complement the mix, don't overbear it. And of course, politic a little. Keep a low profile, pack yourself up and go home when your job is done. Don't hang around unless you're invited and keep the chit chat to a minimal.
Gary Lee

Bob Blair · Post by **Bob Blair** » 18 Jan 2002 10:50 pm

I did a few back in the eighties in Vancouver when by chance I got to know a couple of guys who wrote and produced them. It was fun. Never any other musicians there when I did my part. Keep it simple is for sure good advice. And if you want to get more work, don't be a prima donna. They're probably going to want to plug you straight into the Board - you might not like it, but this ain't exactly art. Be easy to get along with and you'll get asked back. Because jingles are so short, you'll find no time for intros and endings and stuff like that - even a quick 5-1 ending takes up too much time. No time to get fancy. Every time I did one I was in and out in less than an hour - in fact, a couple of times I slipped over from my office to the studio on my lunch break. Good money if you could get them more often than once every couple of months, which is all I managed.

Drew Howard · Post by **Drew Howard** » 19 Jan 2002 6:22 am

Yes. Fix496 (a PSA from MDOT) and the theme for the Progressive Torch & Twang Show (webcast Tuesday nites impact89fm.org/twang) were the most recent.

I likes gettin' them calls!

Drew

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www.drewhoward.com

Bruce Derr · Post by **Bruce Derr** » 19 Jan 2002 8:52 pm

I did a few radio spots back in the late '70s and early '80s in New York. I agree, 'keep it simple' is good advice.

It was a good experience. I would be playing alone, knowing that behind the darkened window, the guy who hired me, and the guy who hired him (ad agency), AND the guy who hired HIM (client) would be listening to ME with all of the other instruments turned off!

When I got my first jingle gig, I was told I had to be in the union. Luckily, I lived outside of NYC, so I didn't have to join the NYC local (big bucks to join). I joined the Danbury CT local. It cost me $78 to join, including the first year's dues. The next day I did the jingle, a Stroh's beer commercial. Guess what I got paid? $78.

Back then, as long as the commercial was still airing, you'd get a "residual" check every 13 weeks. My checks were not large, but folks who did lots of jingles really enjoyed their "resids". I don't know if it's still set up this way.

Kevin Lamb · Post by **Kevin Lamb** » 20 Jan 2002 12:44 am

That is what I do for a living. I have had a jingle company for 20 years. I knock on advertisers doors, write and sell all of them myself.
I have never played steel on one but have hired out numerous times.
Most of my stuff stay in the local radio market....I have not done any national spots. Still I sell them from about $2,000 to $6,000. On the least expensive ones, I do most all of the musical work myself and do all the recording with Protools on a Macintosh.
The bigger jingles I take into a studio.
It is a very good way to make money playing music when you do not have a record contract or have steady club or road work.