| Generally, the first thing that springs to | | | | what you do best, which is writing and/or |
| mind when you need to record a song, is to | | | | performing great songs!Since this kind of |
| make enquiries with local recording studios. | | | | arrangement may not be costing you anything, |
| However, studio charges are generally based | | | | it is worthwhile trying a few different |
| on an hourly rate that is often more than | | | | producers to see whose ideas and style of |
| your day job pays you.Once you've saved | | | | production gel best with your own view of |
| enough money for this excursion, there are | | | | yourself and your sound.All producers have |
| then further worries. Unless you are a | | | | their own unique style, just as you, as an |
| regular visitor to recording studios, you may | | | | original artist, have yours. This "sound" |
| not quite know what to expect. You may not | | | | can be heard throughout all their productions |
| be able to communicate your ideas for your | | | | with various artists. Look for a style that |
| sound clearly to the engineer, who really | | | | seems complimentary to your own. In other |
| only understands technical jargon.As the | | | | words, don't use a Hip-hop producer to make |
| hours tick by, you will be under the stress | | | | your records if you are a Country artist!Many |
| of wondering if you'll be able to complete | | | | good producers have a wide range of musical |
| your project before your money runs out. | | | | skills, and may also be able to write lyrics, |
| Artists under stress don't generally perform | | | | compose melodies, write arrangements, or even |
| well, but you won't hear this because you'll | | | | play various instruments, such as guitar, |
| be out there performing, instead of listening | | | | piano or drums. All of these skills can be |
| to the performance.If you have also hired | | | | utilised to give your recordings an extra |
| musicians in for the session, you'd also | | | | edge at minimal, or no extra cost.Finally, |
| better be a good personnel manager. The | | | | now that you are off to find your own |
| longer they have to sit around waiting to be | | | | producer, here are some things to |
| told what to play and how to play it, the | | | | avoid...Don't rely on pictures of their |
| more it is going to cost you!It is in your | | | | studio, and lists of top quality recording |
| best interest to use a studio that is the | | | | equipment to tell you how good they are as a |
| best you can afford. But have you taken the | | | | producer. Any piece of specialist equipment |
| above problems into consideration? Have you | | | | can be hired if necessary. A good producer |
| planned out your time in the studio in the | | | | can produce radio-ready recordings on even |
| fullest detail? Do you know enough about the | | | | the most basic equipment, whereas a poor |
| multitrack recording process to know exactly | | | | producer, will not achieve such good results |
| what tracks your song needs? Are you, or | | | | on even the best and most expensive |
| your band rehearsed enough to play every | | | | equipment.Don't sign with a producer who |
| track on its own, and in perfect time with | | | | doesn't make samples of their previous work |
| all the others in the arrangement? Can your | | | | available to you. You need to know what |
| drummer play to a click track? Or do you | | | | experience they have, and get an idea of the |
| have detailed drum parts already programmed | | | | audio quality and styles that they can |
| for your songs? Have you written detailed | | | | produce.Don't sign with a producer who comes |
| score sheets for all the session musicians? | | | | solely from a DJ background. These producers |
| Do you know what kind of sound they need, and | | | | specialise in remixes of existing records, or |
| what style to play in? Have you already | | | | "beats", not in the creation of a new |
| tried out various mix ideas and sound effects | | | | artist's unique sound, or a recording from |
| at home, and know how to explain these ideas | | | | scratch.Don't sign with a producer who |
| to the engineer?If not, you will most likely | | | | specialises in a genre of music that is |
| end up with a recording that isn't quite what | | | | totally different to yours ... Unless you |
| you expected. And it will have cost you a | | | | want to change your style to that new |
| small fortune! At best, you will get a good | | | | genre!Don't sign with a producer who has no |
| recording that sounds something like you | | | | creativity or commercial flair of their own. |
| thought it would. But does it sound original | | | | You don't want a producer who is just going |
| to you? Has it captured your unique sound, | | | | to record everything exactly as you already |
| and conveyed the essence of what you are as | | | | have it, just to please you. A good producer |
| an original artist? Does it convey the | | | | will see things that you have missed, and |
| emotion of the song correctly to the | | | | will add hooks and sounds to your songs that |
| listener?There is another way to approach the | | | | will attract new listeners, and interest from |
| recording process that will solve all the | | | | music industry professionals.Don't sign with |
| above problems, and could even get you a | | | | a producer who is asking you to assign |
| professional recording made for FREE!All the | | | | publishing rights to your songs. You want to |
| above jobs are part of the work that is | | | | be free to sign your songs to record |
| generally done by a PRODUCER.A producer is | | | | companies or publishers who may be able to do |
| someone who has the experience to hear, not | | | | more for you in the marketing or promotion of |
| just the music, but the essence of what you | | | | them. Once you assign the copyright of your |
| are as an original artist.A producer will | | | | songs to someone, they have exclusive rights |
| know instinctively when you have made the | | | | to them for the duration of your contract, or |
| perfect take, and will get you onto the next | | | | even for perpetuity! All a producer needs |
| stage of the process without having to waste | | | | from you, is your written permission to |
| studio time playing back every take first.A | | | | record your songs, and perhaps sell their |
| producer will have your whole sound in | | | | recordings or release them on their own |
| glorious 3D in their head before a single | | | | label. If so, make sure you get at least the |
| note is played.A producer will have the | | | | statutory mechanical royalties (currently |
| technical knowledge to know how to translate | | | | 6.5%) from these sales!Don't sign with a |
| every part of the process to something the | | | | producer who only works with one set of |
| engineer can understand.A producer has a long | | | | musicians. Although many have their own |
| list of business contacts who he can call | | | | preferred set of "in-house" session |
| upon at short notice to add whatever is | | | | musicians, there will be times when your |
| necessary to make the sound you need ... | | | | music wont be suited to the way these |
| Session musicians, arrangers, writers, synth | | | | musicians play. Make sure that your producer |
| programmers, track editors, equipment rental | | | | has a wide range of musical contacts to draw |
| companies, etc.Sounds expensive, doesn't | | | | from.Don't sign to a producer who promises to |
| it?Not necessarily!Although some producers | | | | make your song into a hit record. Even if |
| will charge a flat rate for the job of | | | | the producer has already produced several |
| perhaps several thousand pounds (or dollars). | | | | hits, there is no guarantee that your song |
| Many work from their own studios, with their | | | | will be a hit. Marketing gurus and sales |
| own "in-house" session musicians for a | | | | teams make hit records, not artists and |
| royalty plus expenses. Therefore, they | | | | producers!Finally, some producers may ask you |
| become somewhat like a "record company". | | | | to sign an exclusive contract for a certain |
| They will produce a recording for any artist | | | | time period (perhaps 1-5 years). These |
| they see potential in, in the hope that their | | | | producers must also be "song-pluggers" or |
| recording will eventually be signed to a | | | | "promoters" who need to protect their |
| major label and make money. Of course, in | | | | interest in you whilst they are working to |
| these instances, you will still have to pay | | | | get you a deal with a major label, using the |
| for the studio and session musician | | | | recordings they have produced. Before |
| costs.Sometimes they will even do the whole | | | | signing any exclusive deal, always have the |
| job for FREE, or for a minimal flat rate to | | | | contracts looked over by a lawyer |
| cover expenses. How can they do this? Well | | | | specialising in the music business. Make |
| instead of taking a royalty from your advance | | | | sure, by examining the production company's |
| or sales, they take ownership of the | | | | track record, that their promise of a major |
| copyright in the sound recording they make. | | | | deal looks likely to happen within that time |
| This is fair, because, after all, they put a | | | | period. You don't want to be wasting five |
| lot of their own money and special skills | | | | years of your life whilst your best songs are |
| into the making of it. So what do you get in | | | | sitting on someone else's shelf, doing |
| return? Of course, you get full use of the | | | | nothing!If you are a country music writer, |
| recording for your promotional | | | | you can go to a Nashville demo studio and get |
| needs!Furthermore, many producers with their | | | | amazing sounding recordings using top country |
| own studios, now also have their own record | | | | music session musicians. If you are only |
| label. Wobbly Music is one such producer. | | | | pitching songs to that specific market, that |
| Whilst you are looking for a recording or | | | | is great, but every recording they produce |
| publishing deal elsewhere, or whilst | | | | sounds like the last.If, on the other hand, |
| promoting your record as an independent | | | | you think your music has wider appeal, or you |
| artist, your producer will have the right to | | | | are a performing artist yourself, you will |
| sell the recording (from which you, as the | | | | want to be noticed in the crowd across a |
| artist or composer, will be paid royalties) | | | | wider marketplace. You need to accentuate |
| in order to try and recoup their losses and | | | | the part of your sound that is unique to YOU. |
| profit from this mutual deal.There are now a | | | | A good producer will be able to recognise |
| great number of producers doing deals similar | | | | that which is unique to you, and will make |
| to this. It means you can have a demo made, | | | | sure that your recordings take advantage of |
| or release your own recordings for little or | | | | that.Lynn Monk has experienced over 30 years |
| no money up front, whilst still retaining the | | | | in the music business as a musician, concert |
| freedom to sign with whoever you wish, or | | | | sound & lighting engineer, DJ and record |
| remain as an independent artist. So in | | | | producer; and is now the proprietor of Wobbly |
| effect, you will have a record deal working | | | | Music. An indie record company dedicated to |
| for you to earn extra royalties in the | | | | supporting the "Mature Independent Artist". |
| background, whilst you concentrate on doing | | | | |