The Producer Files Issue #18
Read time: 4 minutes
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In this issue (#18) of The Producer Files:
ϟ Discussion: The best way to uncover what's not working in your freelance music production business
ϟ Quick Tip: Solving the ‘clients disappearing after project proposal’ problem
ϟ Celebrate: How RnB Producer Fred Irie shattered mental barriers around working with clients (it paid off)
ϟ Plus our recs (recommendations) of the week!
DISCUSSION: Answering the question “Why can't I get any clients?”
So… Why are you struggling to get clients as a music producer?
Well... I actually don't know. Or at least, not yet.
This is a popular question that producers ask us when they are struggling to grow their freelance business in order to fund some of their bigger endeavors.
Imagine trying to put together Ikea furniture without instructions. Heck, even with instructions, it's a complete pain in the ass sometimes.
But without instructions, it would definitely take forever, and you could end up with a 3-legged sofa. Yeah, you know the ones your momma always warned you about?
But here's the difference between Ikea furniture and your music production business: Ikea furniture is built to be put together one way, using one set of instructions that everyone can follow and get the same result.
Production careers don't work like this because you may have different strengths and weaknesses compared to another producer. So, if both of you followed the exact same instructions, it might work for one but not the other. That's a 50% failure rate.
So, how do we solve this?
Well, we do something that you can start doing for yourself immediately.
SIMPLE TRACKING…
This is a screenshot of a 'Metric Tracker' from one of the producers we work with. At first glance, it looks random and kind of boring, but it's one of the most powerful tools in your business.
We use this to track every stage of their process, from reaching out to a potential client and having the initial conversation to conducting a 'test' session and making them an offer to work together.
Basically, they are just punching in the date i.e. (3/13/24) when an activity happens, and then it populates a dashboard that shows me (their business advisor) which stage of the process they are the weakest at.
It's then, and only then, that I can truly answer their question, “Why am I not getting any clients?” and then prescribe them a set of instructions that is relevant to them.
Because I know, once they patch all of the holes (weaknesses) in their boat (process), then they can sail across the ocean (meet their income goals).
I think that all of us reading this right now can agree that the slowest way to solve problems is to not even know what the real problem is in the first place.
I encourage you to start tracking what you're doing in your business as a producer. The simpler, the better. It doesn't even matter if you don't fully understand what you're doing yet... Doing this will help you receive better and more relevant advice from others when you get to that stage.
QUICK TIP: Try this next time you send a proposal for a production project (and stop getting ghosted)
Here at Dark Label, we love simple and effective tips, and our client roster is always sharing these with each other, so we wanted to share one with you...
Let's say you just finished a meeting with an artist or company that wants to work with you, and now it's time to send them a proposal. Exciting!
Your hands are sweating as you meticulously put together the most detailed and beautiful proposal that you KNOW is going to win you the deal (because you spent a lot of time on it, and they would be crazy to say no).
You hit the send button and finally exhale.
A few days go by... Nothing. “Hmm, that's strange. They seemed pretty excited on the call."
Oh! An email. Okay, they said that they did get the proposal and that they are looking through it and will let me know. Hell yeah.
A week goes by... “Let me follow up.” Nothing...
👻👻👻👻👻👻 Arg, Ghosted again!
The worst part? There's no closure. Did I do something wrong? Am I too expensive?
Here's a quick pro tip from one of our producers, Thomas from Saaaaaan Diego. He started working with us a few weeks ago and has already landed his first paid project ($1500 full song production with an artist in Texas that he met while networking on Instagram) - yay Thomas.
Thomas' day job is as a corporate consultant. And he shared with us that he never sends out a proposal. Huh? Never?
Instead, he does this...
At the end of his project discussion with the potential client (artist), he tells them: “Hey, let me take all of this info, think through it, and put together a proposal for you. Let's go ahead and schedule a quick call on the calendar 2 days from now, and we can go through it together, answer all of your questions, and see what you want to do from there. Sound fair?”
And then he does just that. The first time the artist sees the proposal, it's on a call together where he can actually discuss their concerns if there are any.
And hey! If they aren't a fit to work together right now, at least there is closure. He can make a plan with them to reconnect in the future or provide them with some steps to help in the meantime… Then move on with a clear head.
WINS: From leasing beats to landing high value production projects with talented artists.
It's human nature for all of us to base reality on our own experiences, not necessarily on what is “true.” Our producer, Fred, came to us after doing well in the beat leasing world but wanted to diversify his income and further hone his craft as a record producer by working directly with artists on projects.
When he came to us, he had a few mental hurdles that had to be overcome because, up until now, his only experience with artists was artists spending $30 on a beat (not that there is anything wrong with that, but it created some negative assumptions many producers from that world have).
Luckily, Fred got to experience a new reality by being around other producers who were very established in the record-producing world, which set a new standard of thinking for him. It paid off!
[Zoom in] and read through this to see if you relate…
Recs of the week
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Recs of the week 〰️
ϟ If you're advanced, we recommend jumping over to this podcast episode to listen in on a live consulting session we had with a recovering major label producer about growing his business fast and getting out of a rut. It may shed some light on your current situation.
ϟ If you're starting out, we recommend this video discussing the smartest path to full time music producer. It removes a lot of complexity.
That's all folks! Thanks for reading The Producer Files and when you're ready, feel free to reach out to us…
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