by Cari Cole

Are you making these mistakes with your music? Don’t. You can’t afford to mess around when it comes to choosing the right producer for your project. Listen up and be mindful of these common mistakes that turn deadly all too late.

Top 6 Most Deadly Mistakes When Choosing Your Producer

1. Not Enough Research

Finding the right producer is almost as tough as dating. When you date do you go out with the first person who comes along, or do you sift through who would be best for you? All producers are not created equal. Spend time researching who would fit you the best. Not doing so could hold you back big time.

2. You Fall in Love Sight Unseen

Sometimes we fall in love with people who says what we want to hear without really knowing who they are. When you are “dating” a producer listen to their productions thoroughly. Do you hear your record being produced like that?

3. You Trust Your Producer to Magically Read Your Mind

No one is a mind reader (well, maybe a few of you are). But we sure like to think that producers are. It strokes our narcissistic feathers to think that someone can magically “hear” us or “see” us. However your producer needs your guidance, not your blind faith. If you don’t know how to express what you are looking for in tangible musical terms, get someone to help you. Otherwise you could easily steer them down the wrong road wasting valuable time and resources.

4. You Are Excited About Someone Who Has Never Recorded in Your Genre Because You Think Magic

Might Happen

Wrong. You don’t want your producer to experiment on your record, find one that is steeped in your sound. Why not benefit the 10,000 hours of experimentation behind them.

5. You Choose the Most Convenient Option or the One Who “Gets You the Most”

This is all too common for female artists who like the “vibe” to be right. I’m all for giving vibe priority but it is not the deciding factor when hard earned dollars are being spent. Sometimes the guy who gets you the most could be the worst for your record. See #1 above.

6. Staying Too Long When It’s Not Working

Like a relationship, you can stay too long with the same producer, even if it’s not working. This one is for those of you who are loyal to a fault hoping it will work out eventually with enough commitment. Nope. Be sure your production serves you and your music!

But in the end, the worst mistake is not making any. And, the worst mistakes make for the best stories!

Who are your favorite producers? List them here!!!