SPECIAL SKILLS
"Because I've been a singer," says producer
Chris Farren, "I understand the emo-
tions and the feelings of having a set of
headphones on and being on the other side of
the glass from where the music is coming out. I
understand what it feels like when the
headphones don't fit right, you're not feeling
good, you're singing as hard as you can
but it doesn't sound right, or you don't
understand what the producer wants from
you. Because I've felt like that, it allows me
to communicate with singers better than
nonsinging producers."
A producer must understand both the creative
and business aspects of making
records. He must be able to communicate with
the engineer and musicians in techni-
cal and musical terms, and with label
executives on the business matters.
POINTERS FOR THE
JOB SEARCH
"I don't think you decide to be a
producer. I think you either are or
you
aren't. I think my biggest piece of
advice
is to be as objective as you can
about
yourself and your talent. Try not to
go
down the wrong path for too long of
a
time. I wanted to be an artist; I
wanted
to be a singer/guitar
player/harmonica
player. I wasn't a good enough
singer,
but I could be a good producer. If
you're
not succeeding, there must be a reason. Be
objective."--PA
"Do anything and everything in the music
business that you can do. Absorb as
much music and as many different influences as
you can. Make yourself as multifac-
eted and valuable as you can. Go in and produce
someone's demo. Do it for free. Just
get in the studio and work and
experiment."--CF
PETE ANDERSON, PRESIDENT, LITTLE DOG RECORDS;
PRODUCER AND MUSICIAN
From the time he first saw Elvis Presley
perform on television, Detroit native Pete
Anderson fell in love with the sound of the
guitar. "I just loved how the guitar looked.
I've always been in love with the sound of it."
At age 16, inspired by the music of Bob
Dylan, he bought his first instrument and
taught himself to play. Although he went to
art school, that interest soon faded away and
was replaced by music. "Music became a
creative outlet for me."
CASE STUDY:
Being in the position to hire
musicians, Anderson looks at
people and asks, "Are they
responsible? Are they polite? Do
they have a car? Do they have a
phone? Do they have good
equipment? Are they low main-
tenance?"
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