What's a good MW Job to get that will help me become a good producer?

[kizm0]

I'm trying to find a job and I live in a small city. I've only worked at a few other jobs in my life and it's been over 1 year since I last had one. What's a good job to get to help me become a producer? I was thinking something along the lines of being a cleaner at somebodies studio? Someone who does the dirty work. It'll give me a chance to explore a real studio and give me experience. I'd prefer to get this kind of job, but I can go with working at Subway for 1.3 years. (I now have 6 Grand in equipment I'm planning to buy.)

Also,

I know this isn't a Job forum, but when you first get hired somewhere..if they see that you're serious and don't slack then would they quickly give you the ability to work 3 hours every single day? No more no less. I know this depends on the job, but in your own experience how did things work?


I plan to be a Hip-hop producer, and I know a up-and-coming rapper here who has goes to a local studio. I might try and get into contact to see if I can clean there.

I'm the type of person that sets a goal and goes for it until he reaches it. It's been like that since I can remember..only thing is, if I don't find value in it, I quickly lose interest and motivation until something sparks it again. That is, unless that thing is producing\creating\composing Hip-hop. Lately though, it's been tough.

[voicegenius]

Originally Posted by kizm0

I'm trying to find a job and I live in a small city. I've only worked at a few other jobs in my life and it's been over 1 year since I last had one. What's a good job to get to help me become a producer? I was thinking something along the lines of being a cleaner at somebodies studio? Someone who does the dirty work. It'll give me a chance to explore a real studio and give me experience. I'd prefer to get this kind of job, but I can go with working at Subway for 1.3 years. (I now have 6 Grand in equipment I'm planning to buy.)

Also,

I know this isn't a Job forum, but when you first get hired somewhere..If they see that you're serious and don't slack then would they quickly give you the ability to work 3 hours every single day? No more no less. I know this depends on the job, but in your own experience how did things work?


I plan to be a Hip-hop producer, and I know a up-and-coming rapper here who has goes to a local studio. I might try and get into contact to see if I can clean there.

I'm the type of person that sets a goal and goes for it until he reaches it. It's been like that since I can remember..only thing is, if I don't find value in it, I quickly lose interest and motivation until something sparks it again. That is, unless that thing is producing\creating\composing Hip-hop. Lately though, it's been tough.

Explain the lines in bold...

[NonSpecific]

I'm not sure if cleaning a studio would be a good in...and I'm not sure a studio would want to pay someone to clean for them unless it's a huge studio...

I don't see the transformation from janitor to producer/engineer going to smoothly...Good Will Hunting was only a movie!

But seriously...why don't you just talk to the studio and see if they will let you sit in on some sessions. I used to do it with the studio in the small town I live in...but it was a small studio...

I just don't see going up to them asking to clean their toilets would impress them very much. Why don't you say..."Hey I am very motivated to learn what I can about music...is there anyway you can help me learn or any type of agreement we can work out to further my education? I'm open for any ideas you might have..."

If they are not willing to work with you then most likely you cleaning their toilets wouldn't make a difference...

Oh...and there is a ton of information on-line where you can teach yourself if you really are that motivated...

[Ken Lewis]

well, i think oftering to do "whatever needs to be done" ie: make coffee, clean everything, run errands, etc... is part of an intern description. If you do those well, it should be an easy jump to quietly ask the studio owner "hey can i please sit in on sessions quietly in the back of the room with my mouth taped shut and learn something". If the answer from the owner is not "yes definitely", you dont want to work at that studio (unless the session is a BIG session, then its understandable that they dont want the new kid in the room even quietly). but if its a small town studio, the two should go hand in hand, trade of services, work your butt off to help out around the studio = get to sit in on sessions. And being IN the session is where i think you learn the most. thats were the records are created.

Also, "only 3 hours in a session". dude if you get into a session, dont leave that studio until you are the last man out. that is a free education, take every minute of it. i always HATE when interns wanna sit in for an hour or two because for the intern, its like coming in in the middle of a movie and watching 2 scene's and leaving. you might think you know what the movie is about, but really you've missed most of the important stuff.

The other place you learn the most is with your own gear on your own time, but a combination of the two is going to be a much more well rounded experience. good luck!

[PeeWeeGee]

I'm gonna be flogged for suggesting this, but....

If you are REALLY dedicated to getting that experience and insight, VOLUNTEER a couple of days (or more) to a quality studio in your area. Few Ops Mgrs turn down "free" help. But you need to be emphatically clear about the fact that you are there for the education and that you are "exchanging" your hard work for their teaching.

You will get a couple of things out of it (if the studio owners aren't buttholes):
1 - You'll certainly appreciate every scrap of learning you pick up, because it cost you in sweat!
2 - You'll QUICKLY decide if you are as dedicated as you think you are. Only true passion can make someone VOLUNTEER their resources. Believe dat!

Peace,
PWG

[kizm0]

I'm quite dedicated actually. At home I've been reading books, using DAW's constantly, and experimenting. I'm going to College for an Associated in Music Performance. Then I am going to a University to extend the knowledge. I live in a campus town(UOFI - not Chicago) so it's not that expensive.

I just have lots of things to buy now and I want to look for a side job that will help me produce better WHILE gaining money to buy equipment.

Of course I'd like to volunteer at a studio, but I also need money. I could volunteer on my free time.

[kizm0]

Originally Posted by Ken Lewis

well, i think oftering to do "whatever needs to be done" ie: make coffee, clean everything, run errands, etc... is part of an intern description. If you do those well, it should be an easy jump to quietly ask the studio owner "hey can i please sit in on sessions quietly in the back of the room with my mouth taped shut and learn something". If the answer from the owner is not "yes definitely", you dont want to work at that studio (unless the session is a BIG session, then its understandable that they dont want the new kid in the room even quietly). but if its a small town studio, the two should go hand in hand, trade of services, work your butt off to help out around the studio = get to sit in on sessions. And being IN the session is where i think you learn the most. thats were the records are created.

Also, "only 3 hours in a session". dude if you get into a session, dont leave that studio until you are the last man out. that is a free education, take every minute of it. i always HATE when interns wanna sit in for an hour or two because for the intern, its like coming in in the middle of a movie and watching 2 scene's and leaving. you might think you know what the movie is about, but really you've missed most of the important stuff.

The other place you learn the most is with your own gear on your own time, but a combination of the two is going to be a much more well rounded experience. good luck!

Well said.

[Chris Lago]

Originally Posted by kizm0

I'm quite dedicated actually. At home I've been reading books, using DAW's constantly, and experimenting. I'm going to College for an Associated in Music Performance. Then I am going to a University to extend the knowledge. I live in a campus town(UOFI - not Chicago) so it's not that expensive.

I just have lots of things to buy now and I want to look for a side job that will help me produce better WHILE gaining money to buy equipment.

Of course I'd like to volunteer at a studio, but I also need money. I could volunteer on my free time.

Pick your poison!

[Storyville]

Originally Posted by kizm0

I'm trying to find a job and I live in a small city. I've only worked at a few other jobs in my life and it's been over 1 year since I last had one. What's a good job to get to help me become a producer? I was thinking something along the lines of being a cleaner at somebodies studio? Someone who does the dirty work. It'll give me a chance to explore a real studio and give me experience. I'd prefer to get this kind of job, but I can go with working at Subway for 1.3 years. (I now have 6 Grand in equipment I'm planning to buy.)

Also,

I know this isn't a Job forum, but when you first get hired somewhere..if they see that you're serious and don't slack then would they quickly give you the ability to work 3 hours every single day? No more no less. I know this depends on the job, but in your own experience how did things work?


I plan to be a Hip-hop producer, and I know a up-and-coming rapper here who has goes to a local studio. I might try and get into contact to see if I can clean there.

I'm the type of person that sets a goal and goes for it until he reaches it. It's been like that since I can remember..only thing is, if I don't find value in it, I quickly lose interest and motivation until something sparks it again. That is, unless that thing is producing\creating\composing Hip-hop. Lately though, it's been tough.

How old are you? This is not me being condescending, I'm genuinely curious.. First thing, save your 6 grand. Don't buy a damn thing. You will need that money later. If you have never made a beat before, and don't ANY equipment, maybe spring for an mpc, pro tools le, and a computer. But save as much money as possible because you'll need it later down the line.

As for getting an internship, just keep going for it. And I mean literally GO. Show up the studio, take a look at it, talk to people. Always know what you're talking about, but don't go out of your way to prove you know what you're talking about.

But being a good Hip Hop producer doesn't really require going into studios. If you mean making beats, you learn that at home. Take piano lessons.

[tonymission]

Originally Posted by Storyville

But being a good Hip Hop producer doesn't really require going into studios. If you mean making beats, you learn that at home. Take piano lessons.

Best advice in the thread.

[hendrikxix]

Their is difference between someone who makes beats - meaning composing and performing (or programming) original instrumental music, someone who is really a producer, and a recording engineer that specializes in hip hop tracking and production.


The fastest way to learn to beat making is to make beats with whatever you have available. I have worked with a couple of heads who were complete geniuses with the Playstation software from MTV. Their music was simply amazing. Software that is highly under-rated is FL Studio or FruityLoops. The step sequencer is the easiest way to make music quickly. Read the manual! Watch videos online. Start working with as many other beat makers that you can find on the net, in your home town. For me, competition made me write stuff that was much better than working by myself in a vacuum. The three big instruments to learn would be keys, drums, and bass. You did not need to work in a studio to do this kind of work. You need a computer, a decent audio interface (Not an M-Box), and a couple of nice monitors. If money is a factor, don't get a Mac. You get a lot more computer in the PC world and there's tons of software available.


A real producer puts the whole show together. They hire everyone, often write songs with the artists, choose the studio to work in, find live musicians to fill out the sound. Sometimes that means doing everything yourself. A lot of the time the producer FUNDS the project and gets the biggest share of the profit (if any). A producer is a big picture person usually with an excellent understanding of the psychology of creative people, motivation, fear, competition and excellence. This is something that comes with lots of experience, a strong musical background, charisma and usually fame or money.


An engineer deals with the tiniest details of tracking and mixing. Moving a mic a half inch, rotating a mic off axis, how to attenuate the peaks of the kick to get it to sound bigger, without making it wimpy. Attack and Release time minutia for compressing drums, bass and vocals. How the sound stage can be used to the best advantage, how to either avoid masking or use it to create new timbres. You need to learn this either in a studio as an apprentice, in a good audio school that has great facilities (I teach at New England Institute of Art in Boston and at U. Mass Lowell both have great facilities) and then leverage that into getting good internships.


Sometimes there are people who really are all three. Sometimes you will find yourself in one role or the other depending on who you're working with.


The best job to get to learn audio engineering is working for live sound companies as a grunt. You will carry the bass bins, mic stands and a 43 foot console. But you will get to watch the FOH and monitor guys throw down. Live is good because it forces you to learn to do things quickly and it puts you around dozens of musicians every weekend. Not wanting to be embarassed is a very powerful way to learn. You are always on stage being watched from the time you load in, to the time you strike the stage.


[Also posted to stuDIY: recording studio do-it-yourself]