Get Your Shit Together Before You Hit Record

Okay, real talk – I just watched a band blow three entire studio days arguing about whether their bridge should be four or eight bars. Three. Days. That's literally thousands of dollars down the drain on something they could've figured out in their garage.
Don't be that band.
Look, punk bands might not be the most technical players, but they've got one thing dialed: they know exactly what they're doing before they walk into the studio. No hemming and hawing, no "let's try it both ways," just pure efficiency.
I'm not saying your songs can't grow and change once you start recording – some of the best stuff happens spontaneously. But you need your basic framework locked down or you'll spend your budget on debates instead of takes.
Here's what you need to sort out beforehand:

• How's the song structured? (verse, chorus, bridge – in what order?)
• How long should each part be?
• Where are the tricky transitions?
• What's the vibe and tempo?
• Who's doing what and when?

Run through this stuff at your last rehearsal before you book studio time. Trust me, your wallet (and your sanity) will thank you when you're actually getting work done instead of standing around scratching your heads.
Peace|Love|Music
-Josh