The Producer

The producer is the supervisor of the project. They are 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 their 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. They have 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 they should call it a day. A good producer can tell what the different strengths and weaknesses of their 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 they just need to be pushed back on track is also the responsibility of the producer.

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 their project through until they believe the mix represents the best work that can be done by everyone involved.