Heartbeat Productions

I have taken the following excerpts from Indy Record Label and Promoter Heather McDonald because I found this these concepts very useful in raising awareness on who record producers are, what they do and what to expect from them in getting your music produced. I hope you learn something important from the following material and keep on an ethical, effective and productive path in getting your music made and avoid some of the blatant pitfalls that can trap musicians into bad deals or contracts.

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Record Producers – What Do They Do?:

The record producer works with the band, sessions musicians and the studio engineer to “produce” the sound the recordings. Often the producer’s job is to provide an extra set of ears, to produce a certain sound or to provide experience. They may be involved with arranging parts of the track or even writing it. In smaller studios the role of engineer and producers may be combined, and the band may producer or co-produce the recordings with the engineer.

In House Record Producers:

An in-house producer works in a particular studio, and his fees will usually be included in the cost of renting the studio, although they may also receive “points.” (Producer points are the percentage of royalties a producer gets for working on an album. The easiest way to look at points is to consider one point to be equal to one percent.)

Studios can often be keen to retain in demand producers as they can provide a major reasons for artists to come to the studio. Some producers, such as grunge pioneer Steve Albini in Chicago and lo-fi producer Kramer own their own studios. When booking a studio if you want to work with a particular in house producer, make sure that they are available and booked in for your session.

Independent Record Producers:

An independent producer will be employed by a band, or the label on the band’s behalf, in order to gain a particular sound or in order to gain from the producer’s reputation. The producer and the band will then go into a studio to record. The producer’s fees will be separate from the studio rental fees. The producer will usually oversee the recording sessions as well as the mixing and the mastering of the recordings, but make sure this is made clear before the work starts, and that the overall fee is agreed.

How Do Record Producers Get Paid?:

Most producer will be paid a flat fee/advance for their work. Some will also receive points – a percentage of the dealer price of a record and/or a share of the profits made from the recordings. It’s common for producers to receive both. A producer may work for a reduced up front fee in exchange for some points, or may secure a fee plus points, if they feel their production will be important to the record’s success. Initially some producers may work for free to build up work but top producer can be very well paid. If you’re involved in the songwriting process, you can expect royalties on top of your production fees.

How Do I Become a Producer?:

Traditionally producers begin work as engineers in studios, or sometime as session musicians, gained experience in the studio environment. Then they begin working as an in-house producer until they gain a reputation. As Danger Mouse’s story shows these days a producer can start working from their bedroom, however studio experience is very valuable to a producer. As a producer you’ll probably be working with a studio engineer, but you’ll be expected to know your way round a mixing desk. Working at your production skills in the bedroom is a good way to start, and try and gain work experience at a local recording studio.

Record Producer Contracts:

As with all aspects of the music industry, contracts are important, not least because they let everyone knows where they stand and what is expected of them. An engineer may feel that they’re ‘producing’ the session – the band may not. A band may expect the producer to oversee recording, mixing and mastering but the producer may be only be expecting to work on the recordings. These issues, along with fees and point are more easily discussed before recording begins, and a contract can clear up any misunderstandings

Brought to you by:

Joe Yazbeck, Founder
Heartbeat Productions

http://www.heartbeatproductionsinc.com/

Receive a Complimentary Music Career Consultation by calling 727 260 7723

Stage Presence: the ability to command an audience with impressive style or manner.

Charisma: the special virtue of an office, function, position, etc., that confers or is thought to confer on the person holding it an unusual ability for leadership, worthiness of respect, or the like.

In simple terms, commanding qualities from the stage consist not of hard, authoritarian, overbearing force, but qualities that attract people to people. In this sense commanding consists of sincerity, credibility, concern, certainty, ease and comfort. These are the qualities that create an audience that is attracted to your performance, song, message and emotion you generate.

So you can see, charisma is not, as some people might think, a mysterious factor that one is just born with. It is learned much like a craft and built upon those commanding qualities that transform an average musician into a knock-out performer who can truly capture the heart of the audience and make them want more.

Heartbeat Productions coaching starts with learning the exact communication tools to become a dynamic and impact perfroming artist. These are the main building blocks of true dynamic stage presence that attracts and turns an average audience into real fans . These tools can be learned and applied in your career and life to great results.
 
Call for your complimentary consulation at 727 260 7723  or 727 489 2349 

Visit http://www.heartbeatproductionsinc.com/