datamusicata

On Wednesday we talked about producing the recording yourself by actually buying your own studio and then learning to use it. The obvious upside is that when you go to do the next project, you already have a studio that you know a little bit about using, so the expenses of making another recording have been cut down considerably. The obvious downside is that there are producers and engineers who do this for a living and are simply much better at it than you are. The more hats you wear, the less time you have to give to each of those tasks. I have a little store over at www.cafepress.com/beachwood that sells these ceramic beer mugs on which is written in gold letters, “too many hats, not enough head”.   TRy to remember what you really want to do and try to do that with the most of your time.

Even tho I have wonderful studio and have been an engineer producer musician artist for decades, if I had a really big hit, I would never touch those knobs again. I’d hire a great engineer and let him do what he does best, so that I could spend all my time, energy and focus on doing what I do best, playing my instrument and singing my songs. What a blessed relief to have that all lifted from my shoulders.   At least for one recording.  Just to see how it is.

I like it that I have a studio and that I know how to use it, but I would recommend for the person just starting to make their first recording, don’t buy the studio, go to a person and a place that works; equipment and programs that can be accessed with a minmum of hassle and run by someone who not only knows what they are doing, but can show you what they are doing. You can consider your first recording a tutorial. Learn everything you can from the engineer that you hire and the producer that you hire.

Another thing, there are so many people that want to help; that want to be a part of a project that you can probably negotiate something that will work for you both. What you want is to make the best recording you know how. A recording that serves you as an artist, that demonstrates what it is that is unique and wonderful about you and one that will get you work, thereby enabling you to continue to get better at what you do.

Also remember this: the recording studio and the stage are two completely different mediums. They both involve making music, but they are as different as oil painting and sculpture are in art. In order to be able to do this for your life, you are going to have to be able to shine in both arenas. When I first began recording, all the people that had seen me live said that my recordings did not demonstrate to the same degree how impactful I was as a performer. It has taken me years to be able to put something down in the studio that resonates on it’s own.

It was discouraging to hear that criticism from my fans, but interestingly enough, people who had never heard me live, thought that my recordings were wonderful. So another thing to remember is that opinions are like sphincters. Everybody has one and everybody needs to use it at least a couple of times a day. Because they say it doesn’t make it actually true for you. And it also might be right on the money and enormously constructive to you as an artist. You have to weigh it all carefully and maintain a belief in your own artistry and right to display that artistry.

I always listen to criticism and then I consider what has been said, the source and then examine how much it may be true or untrue for me and to my vision of the project or performance. And then I move forward with what I believe in; either incorporating all or part of what was presented by the critic or disregarding it entirely.

Wow, drifted a little from the original topic, but I think it’s okay. I’m trying to get you to follow your heart and your gifts. Each one of us has gifts of varying degree and of varying uniqueness, but we all have gifts and a perspective as valid as anyone else’s. Keep that in mind while also balancing the fact that if we are awake we are learning and developing and fine tuning our selves and our art on a continual basis. If you live long enough think how bright you’re gonna be.

And the short answer for today is, yes, for your first project find good people to help you with every aspect of it. And learn from them all.