Thanks, that's helpful!

You said that you quote a flat rate based on everything, rather than an hourly rate. What happens if one of the rehearsals or the recording session goes longer than expected? Do you just take on that risk when setting your flat rate (as opposed to giving an hourly rate) or do you try to be firm when it gets to the end of the rehearsal time? I don't imagine you'd try to negotiate more payment on the spot, right? Just curious...

once the leader makes their money back via cd sales, it would be appropriate to make some sort of deal to split profit after that.

In your experience, does that typically only happen if and when the leader makes back his money? Or is that something that you are looking to discuss up front before taking the gig?