Re: Ok, Brandon...
Um...
My first screamingly obvious questions is....
Why are you producing a band you know nothing about?
The whole point of producing is to make sure that come out with a recording that is as effective as it can possibly be (by making the music as intense as possible). If you know nothing about the band, I don't think you can even start with producing.
!
I don't know where you stand, but the reason I produce is because I want to work my way up. I eventually want to be part of a recording that effects a lot of people.
There is no way you are going to achieve this is you just record anybody. It sounds to me like you are going on a blind date. Only this blind date may last 6 months or more.
So I would start with making sure they are worth a shit as musicians, but more importantly, as songwriters. If you have to write songs with them, than do it.
The second place I would start would be with a contract of some time. If I new I wanted to do the project, I would lay out all your expectations and figure out a way to achieve this. If the band isn't willing to spend any money they won't be willing to invest their time either so make them commit to something.
When I started my first producing gig, I just wanted a band to do it right. I wanted pro drums recorded on a Neve in a great room (which we got). I wanted 1,000 cds made and I wanted hard promotion. Because of my lack of foresight a lot of that has fallen apart. I should have had a contract that said, that the expenses for this record are going to cost $3500. If the band breaks up or doesn't live up to their end of the bargain, I get the cash.
If you've got a great band, great songs, and a legally binding agreement I'd say that you've got something great happening here. If any of these 3 are compromised, you are screwed and wasting your time.
Be extremely picking about the singer!!! I don't care how heavy it is. If the singer isn't something special, this is waste.
My producing takes me months and months to finish an album. Of course, I'm not yet in a position where I can work on a record 6 days a week. Then I could probably finish one in 8 weeks or so.
Anyway, make sure you really want to spend the next 6 months of your time working for $2 per hour with this band. If you aren't in it balls deep, no one else will be either.
After all this, (maybe before the contract), I would sit down and discuss your vision and their vision. Does their music call for techo Reason drums at times? Are they going to be pissed if you want to go that route? Are they wanting to be heavy as hell while you want to go a more commercially viable path? These questions definitely have to be answered.
Brandon
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