A basic Music Producer Job Description to help you understand a little more about what a producer can do for you as well as helping you choose and connect with the right producer that will be the best fit for you, your project and your music.

To do this right, you need a solid process. It’s much more than walking into a studio, plopping down a few bucks for studio time, and “winging it”. Any local garage band can achieve that goal. But if you want a professional sound, planning, practice, guidance and judgment are paramount. We take the recording process seriously and will only work with you if you can do the same.

The first step is to utilize a seasoned “producer” who will take responsibility for every step of your recording process; from preproduction, to recording, post production, and distribution. We not only understands your sound, strengths and weaknesses, and overall goals, but can weave them into a final product that will help position you with you fans, media works, and future agents and handlers.

Remember in the scope of these services, they can be divided among numerous individuals, but this is the standard and you should expect nothing less from a professional.

SCOPE OF SERVICES: YOUR PRODUCER

PREPRODUCTION AND RECORDING

Accountant – Designating the funds and the budget for the recording from the given information from the artist and making sure the money stays on track. Setting up your budget in preproduction as well should be included.

Hires for the project – Session players help to fill in and enhance any artist or band. Your producer will assist you in accessing, finding, and hiring those additional artists to help round out your sound. Suggested players introduced by the artist or band will be reviewed, but final choices will be the responsibility of your producer.

Creative Force – Will add ideas, arrangements, lyrics and alternate and additional parts to preexisting songs to make them flow better, if needed.

Time Manager – Runs the schedule for recording and calls the session when point of no return is reached.

Diplomacy / Peacemaker – Recording is emotionally and physically draining! The Producers job is to encourage the artist, manage conflicts and emotions, and keep the tensions to a minimum. The Producer is also the middle man between investors, other parties involved and the artist.

An Objective Listener – Hearing the sound from a pragmatic point of view. Being un-effected by a single instrument, idea, or style. This separation allows the producer to be able to see the full song and album as a whole and not dwelling on the individual personal aspects which often can send a song in a direction it should not go.

Quality Control – Your Producer will listen for the intricate lines, the pitches and also make the decisions on what the best takes that an individual can give are. This is an area that needs to be discussed in advance.

If you are looking for perfection; you must have the planning, practice, and budget to back it up. Your producer will work with you to achieve the best possible of all areas, while staying on track time wise, and on a pre-arranged budget.

Director/Boss/Mr. Big/Head Honcho – This role can be adjusted and discussed, but when it is set in to place, it is locked down.

Your Producer will call the end of session, make the call on the needs and the requirements to achieve the best sounds and will be the deciding voice in an artist fight.

Reality Check:                                                                                                                                                                                                     There will be NO DRUGS, NO BOOZE and NO VISITORS in the sessions, unless discussed ahead of time. Alcohol will be allowed for the individuals of age who have completed takes or are finished for that day.

Visitors can only come on certain tracking days. The Control room is where it happens, if you or your Producer is distracted or bothered by people in the room, they will be asked to leave.

Vocal performance – The vocals are the top layer and usually are the tracks that are worked the hardest. We will work with the vocals both technically and physically to create the best sounds.

Sound Check:                                                                                                                                                                                                             The vocalist needs to care and prep his/her voice weeks before the sessions and should be drinking lots of fluids, taking vitamin E and having water and tea available at the session.

Mixer – The producer will take all the sounds and find the right mix and levels with the artist. Post production is also a very important aspect of the job.

Assisting Engineer – I will work hand in hand with the engineer to get the sounds we are looking for. I like to spend the time to get strong sounds right from the start.
POST RECORDING

Marketing, Promotion, & Distribution – Recommend steps required to successfully gain a higher market and promotional share in the music industry and develop the marketing channels to further this process.

Assist in planning and assembling data for the above groups for use by the artist without needed assistance from management. Also preparing timeline goals and project plans. Establish specific databases and media contact groups for press releases, media hits and internet viability that will also include keyword and search optimization programs.

Performance – Prepare the artist for proper stage presence, volume levels and performing skills needed to supplement the music through appearance and stage performances. Write contracts, create stage plots, sound and light requirements and riders that will suit the artist’s and venues needs.

Temporary Management & Consulting – Assist in the artist’s “next steps” as they are being approached by labels and other promotional companies.

BENEFITS

When the project is complete, we will have successfully set the artist or band in place to be a well oiled, professional touring machine ready to take on the smallest to largest venues. They will also have a top notch product that can be shared with confidence. The artist or band will have control of the database networks and a complete filing system in order to maintain control and security of all pertinent information.

This will also increase their viability as an act that should be signed while controlling documents to retain all rights and making sure that the artist and band will understand all information placed in front of them regarding contracts.

This strong start to a career in music shows professionalism and drive uncommon for a start-up talent, and this programmed approach to the overall project is sure to benefit the artist or band’s music and success for years to come.

Whether you use Loren Weisman, another producer or are searching out a particular producer or combining producers, you will need to make sure that these items above are dealt with, understood and designated to make a project run like clockwork and save the most money and time.