How Does One Get A Relaxed Performance On A Studio Recording, Part 2

Ty Ford, a fellow musician, sent this as a follow up to the post I did on how to get the best relaxed performance in the studio (and avoid those anxieties that get in the way). His post was so informative I’ve copied it here along with his contact info at the end:

JLS offers some sage advice. Given his tenure, he knows from experience.
I'll add several thoughts.
Before you go into the studio, record all of your practice and
rehearsal sessions with some sort of recorder. Doesn't have to be
good, but it'll help you hear what you're really doing and will help
you get over the nerves of being recorded.
If you are just recording you and an instrument with no plans for
overdubs,
Go for it and have fun.
If you are recording and expect to do overdubs,
try and get the rhythm section (or most prominent instruments)
recorded first in one pass.
If you are playing with others, eye contact is pretty crucial. There
are subtle shifts in timing that happen that make the difference
between making a groove work and not.
There will be those who differ here, but I find a click track
ESSENTIAL for any session work involving instrument overdubs.
I've been down the road too many times without it and the timings
always shift enough so there are ragged edges that fall outside the
groove.
I am not a time Nazi, but there are limitations. Granted, there are a
few people who have really good timing and it may shift a bit as the
song moves. I'm not talking about that. I'm not really concerned if
the song speeds up a little from beginning to end. I am concerned if
the tempo variations keep you from adding tracks properly.
Playing to a click track (it doesn't HAVE to be click, click, click,
you can change the instrument) takes practice. Do that practice before
you go into record.
Tuning: I am a Nazi about that! :) Too many early experiences where I
let someone get by and it was a great take but one string was a little
out and every time it's hit I get sad.
Intonation: an instrument that needs adjustment should be adjusted
before you record. You may have become tolerant of a guitar that has
intonation problems. Sometimes they pop out only on one chord in a
song, but THERE IT IS. Sometimes you need a guitar tech. Sometimes
it's that you're left hand is working too hard and you're pushing the
strings out of tune on one or two chords. Sometimes its a bad set of
strings (even though they are new).
Strings: I used to really like new strings, but now I don't. Let 'em
break in a bit, however long that takes.
When you get to the studio, get comfortable. Take your shoes off, if
that does it. Play around with the first tune to get loosened up.
Regards,
Ty Ford
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www.tyford.com