1. Can you briefly describe your job to me?
A record producer is in charge of all the creative aspects of recording, including song selection, performance recognition, artist coaching, song arranging, personal motivation, etc. He or she also serves as a liaison between the artist and their record label, management and fanbase. Your main task is to help your artist achieve their musical goals in the recording studio.
2. How did you get started in this business?
I came up as a musician. I play the pedal steel guitar and toured and recorded in Emmylou Harris' band in the 1980's. She taught me everything I know about the recording studio.
3. How do you tell someone over you (your boss) that you can't accomplish an assigned task?
I'm not sure I understand this question. If I worked at a record label and my task was to record an artist and make a great record, I would do everything I could do to find a great song and produce a session at the highest quality possible. If the artist then had trouble with the song, I would explain to my boss that the song and the artist were mis-matched and that I would work harder to find better-suited material for the artist's next session.
4. Do you have any advice for a media student who is just starting out?
"80% of success is showing up." ---Woody Allen
Intern for a good studio, producer or engineer and learn the ropes in the studio through them. Use the internet as a way to demonstrate your talent to prospective artists and clients. Be nice to everybody; the person you are rude to may soon be running Sony Records.
Thank You Note (E-mail)
Steve,
Thank you so much for taking the time out of your busy day to answer those questions for my class. I hope to visit Nashville soon as I plan on possibly moving there in August. We'll have to get together!
Thanks,
Alex Gilson
University of South Carolina - Media Arts
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