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Sales Proposal for Mr. Rob Powell/UNCC Jazz Ensemble

Stewart Audio Solutions

Ryan Stewart

April 24, 2021

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BUSINESS OVERVIEW

My business, Stewart Audio Solutions, is an audio production company that serves

musical ensembles in the Charlotte, NC area. My main service is recording bands, choral
ensembles, orchestras, and any school (middle school, high school, or collegiate) music
ensemble that wants a high-quality recording of their performance(s). I have three groups that
ensembles fall into based on their size: Small (15 members and under), Medium (between 16 and
45 members), and Large (46 or more members). Typically, clients fall into the Medium level.
Once a client and I have contacted each other, set up a recording date and time, and discussed the
client’s specific needs in regards to the project, I will go to the recording venue on the specified
day. I will arrive a few hours early to set up microphones, the mixing boards, and make sure that
everything is properly connected. Depending on the size of the group, usually larger ensembles, I
will hire a freelancer to assist me. Once all the recording equipment is properly set up, I will do a
quick microphone check to make sure everything is working and adjust anything that needs to be
changed.

For live performances that are being recorded, I will arrive and set everything up the day
before the performance. This will be done to ensure that everything is working properly the day
of the performance and so there will be no need to rush and set everything up the same day.

Once recording begins, I will listen to make sure everything sounds right and will do as
many takes as is necessary until I and the director/ensemble are satisfied. If it is a live concert
being recorded, there obviously will only be one take. Once recording is finished, I will pack
everything up and head back home to begin the editing/mastering process. This usually takes
about 15 total hours, depending on the size of the group. Once editing is done, I will upload the
final version to my website to be available for download by the group members, and, if they
wish, copy it onto CDs.
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CREATIVE APPROACH

Many times, audio production companies are good at what they do. As is typically the
case with almost everything, there are some who are less than proficient. I am not one of those
people. In your RFP, you informed me that the UNCC Jazz Ensemble has 18 members, 6 of
which will be soloists. The venue will be an auditorium, and the performance will be recorded
live with a 100-person audience. As you also mentioned, this is a very special performance for
these musicians, and they deserve the highest-quality recording possible. I can provide that and
more.

For this size ensemble (lower medium), I will use three (3) Royer SF-24 stereo ribbon
microphones (1 behind the conductor, and 2 behind the jazz ensemble – 1 on the left and 1 on the
right) to capture the sound of the ensemble as a whole from all around. They will be placed
evenly around the jazz ensemble to ensure that all the music is properly recorded from every
angle. In addition to these microphones, I will also be placing six (6) Royer R-122 MKII
microphones in the ensemble (4 spread out through the musicians, and 2 at the front). These
microphones will serve as “spot” microphones and will be able to highlight different sections
whenever there is an important part in the music. These microphone levels will be adjusted
throughout the duration of the performance to ensure that all sections of the music and all
sections in the ensemble are highlighted. The 2 microphones at the front will be for the soloists
to walk up to whenever it is time for their solo. One of these microphones can also serve the
director if they wish to speak to the audience about the jazz ensemble or any of the pieces being
performed. All microphones will remain on, or “live,” the entire duration of the performance.

Once the recording is finished, I will take all the recordings and edit and master them to
make them sound as clear as possible. The final recording will sound something like this: begin
with a fade up of audience applause, followed by an introduction from the director, and then
move into the music. During intermission, there will be a fade out of audience applause followed
by a repeat of the format of the first half. Once the final recording is finished, I will upload the
audio file to my website and provide each member of the ensemble with a CD recording,
including the director.
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I have been a musician since I was in 6th grade. I play French Horn, I sing, and I love
listening to all kinds of music, so I would consider myself to be very musically inclined. That
being said, along with my audio production and music performance experience at High Point
University, I believe I have the necessary experience in a musical ensemble to know how to
properly conduct a recording session. I have had experience being recorded in an ensemble
myself, and have witnessed some things that I don’t think provided my ensemble with the best
resulting product, if we even received the final recording at all. I want to ensure that every music
ensemble I record is completely satisfied and provided with a final product of the highest quality,
because I know what it feels like to be a dissatisfied ensemble member.
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PROJECT PARAMETERS AND SCHEDULE

Since this is a live performance, there can only be one take, so it is imperative to be as
prepared on my end as possible. In this instance, I will plan on arriving Monday, May 24, which
is one day before the performance on Tuesday, May 25, to set everything up. According to your
website, the jazz ensemble rehearses on Mondays at 12:20 PM, so I will plan to arrive around
9:00 AM to ensure that I have enough time to bring everything inside to the auditorium and set
everything up properly. If it is possible, I would like to do a practice run-through of everything
during your normal rehearsal time to make sure all the microphone levels can be properly
adjusted, and so I know when the solos will be and what levels to set those microphones to. If
possible, I would like to leave the recording equipment set up overnight in the auditorium so that
it is ready to go for the performance the next day.

Before the performance begins, I would like to do one final microphone check to make
sure that everything is working properly. After the performance is over, I will wait until
everyone clears out of the space to begin break down of everything. I would like to debrief with
you and/or the director to go over, once again, the timeframe for editing and returning a final
product. You mentioned that you would like it no later than June 10, which gives me 16 days to
edit everything. I will plan to have editing done within 7 days, after which I will send you a copy
for approval on Tuesday, June 1. If you like it, I will copy CDs and deliver them to you. If you
would like some changes made, I will have 9 days to make any and all changes you would like.

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE

Monday, May 24
9:00 AM Arrive to begin setup
12:20 PM Dress rehearsal and mic/level check
Tuesday, May 25
6:00 PM Final mic/levels check
7:30 PM Concert begins
9:00 PM Concert ends
9:30 PM Pack up/go home
Tuesday, June 1
7:00 PM Final recording delivered for revision(s)
Thursday, June 10
12:00 PM Final recording and CDs delivered
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ESTIMATED BUDGET

TIER 2 PACKAGE
MEDIUM ENSEMBLES (16-45)
STAGE PRICE
Setup $200.00
Recording $900.00
Pack-Up $180.00
Editing $2,440.00
Total: $3,720.00

Since the jazz ensemble is 18 members, it falls into the lower end of the Medium pricing
category. The price chart shown above gives a breakdown of how the total price is split up
between four main production stages – (1) Equipment Setup at $200, (2) Recording at $900, (3)
Equipment Pack-Up at $180, and (4) Editing and Distribution at $2,440. There is a further
breakdown provided in the Production Workflow spreadsheet, which can be discussed further at
the Client’s request.