Spec Deals: A Few Things A Producer Should Consider

[brandondrury]

Here's an article I wrote about the pitfalls I have ran into doing a spec deal as a record producer.

<a href="http://www.recordingreview.com/artic...Consider">Spec Deals: A Few Things A Producer Should Consider</a>

Brandon

[earthboundaudio]

good article, I'm doing one right now, where I get 50% of sales, and the dude pays to manufacture in batches of 300. He was just hard up for someone to help him out. And I dig the experience, so even if I don't make a cent off of it, I'm still happy to do it. His last EP sold about 400 copies, so I'm hoping this one does about the same, or better.

[brandondrury]

It sounds like he's got a decent track record. That's a good move. Some guys will tell you not to jump into the spec deal, but as far as I'm concerned it's an investment in your future as well. Even if you don't get paid, at least your name is on an album that has an artist that is worth doing for free.

Honestly, for me the main reason I wanted to do a spec deal was to create a record that no one in my region had been able to achieve before. I wanted to set the bar as high as possible and say "This is what I'm capable of". So many bands run low on money and have to compromise or just don't have quite the talent to come up with something totally pro. There's going to be some pressure on my to get the thing to sound pro, but it's a pressure I look forward to.

The only thing shitty about a spec deal (so far) is the time it's taken. I would have much rather taken 5 days in a row for 3 weeks than taken 9 monthes to write the songs. Oh well, that's part of the learning process, I guess.

Brandon