How to find a freelance engraver?
Posted: 16 Mar 2016, 07:06
Almost 10 years ago, when I finished my studies in composition, I got two commissions at the same time. Unfortunately, I didn't get paid as one would expect (you know what composers get...!) but deadlines were crossing each other and I had to find an engraver to help me. Of course, I am very “fluent” in Finale, but I needed to leave it to someone else.
So I just searched on the Internet and tried to find some cheap alternatives.
First, India.
A person was extremely nice to me, and had done an example very well. Than I sent to him some pages and expected to see more in days to come, he didn't reply anymore. After one week he emails me: “dear Sir, unfortunately we didn't have electricity for five days”.
OMG. We decided not to deal with this score for now, because of the deadline.
Second, Romania.
After many, many emails the person convinced me to make my score in SCORE, and really the test page was very beautiful. After I sent him the material, he didn't reply anymore. The deadline was closer and closer. No reply from him. Than suddenly, he emails: I am in hospital, I was injured in a car accident, but I will continue make your score soon. OMG... I decided not to continue with him, only because I was uncertain what would happen.
Third, Philippines.
Since the previous engravers were single persons, I decided to find more people, if one get sick another will continue. Smart! Well, I had find them there, a group of engravers. Sounds good! I sent them a test page, it was great. Well, I just shoot all my material to them.
We kept contact and everything seemed to go well.
They finally sent me the material in PDF. I almost got hart-attack.
They engraved EVERYTHING. Every single dust, eraser dirt, line, even if my hair was scanned they engraved it. They engraved even unused staff from the manuscript. Do you know how much job it is?
But the problem was not that. The problem was that every single measure, except full empty measures, contained errors. Every single. It seems that they just see a note somewhere “in the middle” and they click, without understanding if the note is on 4 or 3 line. I couldn't believe. Finally I started to laugh from my misery when I saw: “lo stresso tempo”.
I emailed them: “are you musicians at all?” Reply: “dear Sir, no, we are not, but we definitely pay attention to the graphical design of your score”.
Fourth, Serbia.
I sent the whole material again - to Serbia, they did it in Sibelius. Well inexpensive, but it was an extremely rush job with many people involved, who knows who was typing what – you know how it can look. But finally it was premiered.
The next deadline.
First, I need to find someone who does it well, inexpensive and I had to see each page in advance.
Ukraine.
Two persons, well educated, test page was well done. We decided the price. I send them 5 pages. After one week, they are just finishing, tomorrow will they send. And tomorrow will be evening; on the evening, actually they will send in the morning. No reply, they will send tomorrow, or in two days. And so on.
Finally, I got an email. They think my score is hard. And they want to get paid more. Also, I had got a very detailed instruction how to compose more convenient, so that it would be easier engraved in Finale. If I don't accept this now, they will charge for 5 pages, which I had never seen.
I understood, they have 1001 different jobs and where it is more valuable they will continue. So I decided not to continue there.
Argentina.
Finally I had found a person in Argentina to whom I can trust, and also not to expensive. Not perfect but I make it 'perfect' afterwards. He has been of a big help to me last years.
Also, I feel more 'safe' now when I know some of you people here on the forum who had also done a very good job for me (like Peter West).
Now I know, you get what you pay for.
Therefore now I include engraving fees in my commissions, if not big, I compensate with different approaches.
So I just searched on the Internet and tried to find some cheap alternatives.
First, India.
A person was extremely nice to me, and had done an example very well. Than I sent to him some pages and expected to see more in days to come, he didn't reply anymore. After one week he emails me: “dear Sir, unfortunately we didn't have electricity for five days”.
OMG. We decided not to deal with this score for now, because of the deadline.
Second, Romania.
After many, many emails the person convinced me to make my score in SCORE, and really the test page was very beautiful. After I sent him the material, he didn't reply anymore. The deadline was closer and closer. No reply from him. Than suddenly, he emails: I am in hospital, I was injured in a car accident, but I will continue make your score soon. OMG... I decided not to continue with him, only because I was uncertain what would happen.
Third, Philippines.
Since the previous engravers were single persons, I decided to find more people, if one get sick another will continue. Smart! Well, I had find them there, a group of engravers. Sounds good! I sent them a test page, it was great. Well, I just shoot all my material to them.
We kept contact and everything seemed to go well.
They finally sent me the material in PDF. I almost got hart-attack.
They engraved EVERYTHING. Every single dust, eraser dirt, line, even if my hair was scanned they engraved it. They engraved even unused staff from the manuscript. Do you know how much job it is?
But the problem was not that. The problem was that every single measure, except full empty measures, contained errors. Every single. It seems that they just see a note somewhere “in the middle” and they click, without understanding if the note is on 4 or 3 line. I couldn't believe. Finally I started to laugh from my misery when I saw: “lo stresso tempo”.
I emailed them: “are you musicians at all?” Reply: “dear Sir, no, we are not, but we definitely pay attention to the graphical design of your score”.
Fourth, Serbia.
I sent the whole material again - to Serbia, they did it in Sibelius. Well inexpensive, but it was an extremely rush job with many people involved, who knows who was typing what – you know how it can look. But finally it was premiered.
The next deadline.
First, I need to find someone who does it well, inexpensive and I had to see each page in advance.
Ukraine.
Two persons, well educated, test page was well done. We decided the price. I send them 5 pages. After one week, they are just finishing, tomorrow will they send. And tomorrow will be evening; on the evening, actually they will send in the morning. No reply, they will send tomorrow, or in two days. And so on.
Finally, I got an email. They think my score is hard. And they want to get paid more. Also, I had got a very detailed instruction how to compose more convenient, so that it would be easier engraved in Finale. If I don't accept this now, they will charge for 5 pages, which I had never seen.
I understood, they have 1001 different jobs and where it is more valuable they will continue. So I decided not to continue there.
Argentina.
Finally I had found a person in Argentina to whom I can trust, and also not to expensive. Not perfect but I make it 'perfect' afterwards. He has been of a big help to me last years.
Also, I feel more 'safe' now when I know some of you people here on the forum who had also done a very good job for me (like Peter West).
Now I know, you get what you pay for.
Therefore now I include engraving fees in my commissions, if not big, I compensate with different approaches.