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The producer is the supervisor
of the project. He is in charge of every little detail,
from scouting out the necessary talent to promoting
the artist. Taking on this role comes with many responsibilities,
all of which have to be executed to a tee. Therefore,
superior organizational skills are a must. Overlooking
any detail can keep a project from reaching its full
potential. That, in turn reflects poorly on the producer,
as well as, the artist.
The artist has to have
a clear mind to reach their full potential and it's
the producer's job to make sure that this is accomplished.
The producer must listen to the artist's concerns,
as well as, everyone else's and find solutions to those
concerns or any other problems that may arise.
When selecting the material
for the project, the producer needs to act as an unbiased
ear and decide which material is most appropriate.
If an artist writes their own songs, the producer must
be very tactful because the artist may be emotionally
attached to his work and saying the wrong thing can
lose the artist's respect. Realize that throughout
the whole process, both the artist and the producer
should feel comfortable with the material. So, be prepared
to make compromises, in order to arrive at a mutual
decision.
Once the material has
been chosen, it's the producer's job to review it,
making any necessary adjustments to the arrangements.
Then, the producer needs to make sure that the artist
has sufficient time to rehearse the material before
heading into the studio.
The Producer must schedule
the studio sessions, the line up, all breaks, and any
other necessities. He has to be able to gently push
the artist along, watch the clock, and keep within
the project's budget. At the same time, the Producer
cannot let any of these limitations affect the quality
being sought. If he starts stressing over time or finance,
for example, he must shield the artists from these
worries. Added stress and concern could very negatively
affect the performances of the talent.
The Producer needs to
know if the artist is still capable of performing at
their best, or if he should call it a day. A good Producer
can tell what the different strengths and weaknesses
of his artist are and use that knowledge as a tool
to best guide the session along. Knowing when an artist
needs encouragement to move them along, or when he
just needs to be pushed back on track is also the responsibility
of the Producer. Additional Producer responsibilities
include deciding when work will be accomplished, as
well as, when partying will be allowed.
It is almost impossible
to have a productive session if either alcohol or drugs
are involved. Even if the party is after the studio
time, the Producer has to protect the budget from the
cost of the party. It is surprising how costly a couple
of hours of rest and relaxation can become.
After the songs are selected,
arranged, and recorded, the Producers influence continues.
The next item is overseeing the mix of the material.
This is primarily the job of the engineer, but the
Producer also needs to guide them through the project.
The Producer should be the one to decide the finishing
details, such as if a particular instrument needs more
volume, effect, or reverberation. This last responsibility
marks the completion of the material. A producer who
is thorough will follow his project through until he
believes the mix represents the best work that can
be done by everyone involved. |
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