Help us hire a producer?... Thanks!

Dave Muscato · #1 05-29-2006, 02:58 AM

My band is going into the studio in three weeks, and we would like to have an objective pair of ears with us to guide the way. We've never worked with a producer before. Where do we find one? How much should we plan to pay him/her? What exactly is the scope of what we can expect him/her to do? I did a Google search but didn't find anything very helpful.

Thanks very much,

Dave

wwittman · #2 05-29-2006, 03:27 PM

How developed is your band?
Will you be making a demo to try to get a deal? A record to release yourselves and sell? A record for an exisiting record label, with a budget?
How many copies of this proposed recording can you REALISTICALLY expect to sell?

How prepared are you to record?

What do you hope a producer will bring to your recordings?

What's your budget?

these are the kinds of questions you should be thinking about.

A producer works for an advance against royalties... so some sense of what those royalties will amount to is important.

Also, on the other side, you should be thinking about what you hope the producer will really DO for you.
I don't mean on the nuts and bolts level.. i mean in the big picture.
Will you sell more records? Get a deal? WHAT is the point?

If you spend a 1/3 of your budget and DON'T sell enough records to cover it, or more than you would have without a producer, then it's been a waste of money... no matter how much you like the result.

You SHOULD look at it as a business.

I think lastly, that the right producer is one that really "gets" you and your music, with whom you feel comfortable and confident, and who is genuinely EXCITED about your project.

Avoid anyone who seems to be looking for a payday; or who just seems like he'll do any project for money.

A good engineer may be very helpful, but that's NOT a producer.

Dave Muscato · #3 05-29-2006, 03:54 PM

My band's been together for three years. I've recorded two albums with previous bands, and a lot of session stuff. We've got 15 songs studio-ready, ten of which will be on the record. We plan to sell this on our tour this summer and into next year. We realistically expect to sell between 300-500 (based on what my last band sold on our tours). We definitely will be sending this to radio stations and shopping some minor and indie labels.

We're getting a GREAT deal on studio time because we know the owner (www.bridgestudio.com), so that leaves about $2k for the producer. We're looking for someone to help us lay down a more radio-friendly/marketable version of our stuff, which (live) usually has some 2 or 3 minute solos passed around the different players and various vocal harmonies and dragged-out parts that would not work on a recording for radio airplay. We definitely think of our band as a business - we're incorporated, and have an accountant etc. This is what we do.

Really the question is, where do we find one? Is there a website, a directory of producers? The engineer has done a lot of producing as well, but I'd rather have an objective person producing in the studio.

Thanks!

Dave

Dave Muscato · #4 06-01-2006, 11:52 PM

Dbassmon · #5 06-02-2006, 02:39 PM

Is there a busy working studio in town? Ask the head engineer to recommend a few producers.

Audition them. Listen to their productions and see what they are about. If you like the talent level, go out and have a few drinks with him or here and see if there's chemistry.

If you want a big name, you better have deep pockets.