URGENT... need Producing/Developing Advice!

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Blue Bear Sound

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OK... so a couple of weeks back a father hired my studio to produce a vocal demo for his 15 year old daughter... no problem, the session went well and the daughter is actually quite talented.

They would like to pursue their daughters musical interests further and they asked me for some advice regarding their next steps.... although I could give them some general info regarding producers and A&R reps, I'm hardly a guidance counsellor as far as development of new acts - especially at such a young age... I mentioned looking into some resources for them and getting some info.........

You guys here are the resources! SOOOOOOOOO.......... any suggestions about a career path to follow for the young lady?? Ed, sjoko2, Q, John, Shailat, ametth - I'm looking in your general directions! (but of course, anyone else can jump in!)

(and no "what does she look like..." comments!!!) ;)

:D

Thanks...
Bruce
 
(and no "what does she look like..." comments!!!)


does that mean shes "homely"...Im sure she has a great personality....

what kind of music can/will she do?
 
Well....
I would suggest that sjoko2 take a look but then again he only works with top models. :)

The quickest for them would be to get it to a Entertainment Lawyer or Producer. Preferd one that is well conected in the industry.
A well conected Lawyer/producer that is interested, will cut through the shit others have to go through to even get a record company to throw it in a pile of hundreds of CD's on the desk of a A&R executive.
If he wants money to hear the demo then let them look for somebody else.
Thats the short path.

The long path...........Let them buy a book on the topic
it's way to long to write here.

God save their souls
 
Gidge said:
(and no "what does she look like..." comments!!!)


does that mean shes "homely"...Im sure she has a great personality....

what kind of music can/will she do?
Click to expand...
He-he... :D

No - not homely... she's along the lines of Celine Dion...

Bruce
 
Shailat said:
Well....
I would suggest that sjoko2 take a look but then again he only works with top models. :)

The quickest for them would be to get it to a Entertainment Lawyer or Producer. Preferd one that is well conected in the industry.
A well conected Lawyer/producer that is interested, will cut through the shit others have to go through to even get a record company to throw it in a pile of hundreds of CD's on the desk of a A&R executive.
If he wants money to hear the demo then let them look for somebody else.
Thats the short path.

The long path...........Let them buy a book on the topic
it's way to long to write here.

God save their souls
Click to expand...
Ha! True enough... :)

But yeah... what you mentioned is pretty much what the exact general kind of info I told them - but I was hoping to give them a bit more.

What would you suggest in terms of cutting a demo? She doesn't write her own material, only sings - but she has talent! I doubt she should be shopping around a karaoke track... and it's her singing ability they are interested in pursuing as opposed to songwriting or a band thing....

Hey, I'm an engineer... what the hell do I know! I leave the A&R stuff to the pros!!! ;)

Bruce
 
HA!!!

I meant musically along the lines of Celine Dion, but I guess in looks too!

:D

Hey Emeric, that link stays put for about 10 secs, but then recycles to a geocities page saying that webpage is no longer available! Is that the joke?
 
The page is pretty old.. first one I saw that had a negative slant.

Not a big Celine Dion fan.. hope you like it! If not, keep the pepto handy. Probably her media tactics, but anyway... don't want to drag your thread off topic here.
 
If they want her to succeed they should follow the time honored tradition of marrying her off to some pedophiliac record producer/manager like Celine Dion's husband. Of course you can always just wait until she's 18 before you marry her off to any of the big time record producers who seem to comb the high school yearbooks looking for nubile young girls to marry.

Let's face it, that's a great way to get your big start in the industry. Oh yeah...the other way to is if she's related to someone in the industry. Is her father a famous person? If so she should have no problem getting a deal!

If she doesn't have any of these things going for her she can always look for a good college and sing for the simple pleasure of singing.

Sorry so cynical.
 
A good producer, manager and a lawyer if she is super serious.
 
Wally is right on target with his advice. Plus NO kareoke tracks. I lucked out with one great singer, but it generally doesn't work. Start looking for original material. Contact NSAI or Taxi, find a few killer songs, hire top notch musicians, and cut as close to a finished product as you can get. Get a producer in, and an arranger. It's always a question of the right song, the right singer, and a well played track. Make it easy for a record company to like her.

BTW, "great voices are a dime a dozen". Her looks DO matter. Most important of all, what does she really want? A lot of people may tell her she's great, but if a passion for singing isn't in her, she won't get very far.
 
Well yeah... I agree too - but she's so young! I suspect that her father was looking for some concrete, practical next steps for her to follow... to shop around for a producer, what kind of demo should it be - a simple a cappella vocal track to emphasize her ability??

I mean I could collect the session players and have them lay down tracks, but the talent herself is not a songwriter, so it's not like she has some tunes to even record! I'm personally not interested in producing her myself (no time!), so I'm at a bit of a loss at what to tell them....

Bruce
 
I'm no expert, but here's what I think ... it's all about what her goals are ...
I mean, if she just wants to get gigs singing and get experience ... not go for the big Celine Dion career right away ... she could probably hook up with other studios and maybe sing backups or do jingles or something. Some bands need backup singers ... that would be good experience for her.

If she really just wants to be a star, then she's got a long way to go. Step one... she needs to collaborate with someone who can write music, or learn to write music herself. Lyrics wouldn't be bad either. ;)
Once she's got a good demo of that ... then find a producer, manager, etc. I think the chances of her finding someone who would put all that together for her just from hearing an acapella track of someone else's tune is pretty slim. So, she's got to do a little work on her act if she wants to go the "artist" route.

My 2¢, anyway
 
Thanks for all the repsonses guys, helped me come up with something to pass on to him.... I promised I'd get back to her father tomorrow....

Bruce
 
(Hahaha........ha,,,laugh out loud funny, Cmiller :D )

As was mentioned several times above, great singers are fairly common. She needs to be beautiful if shes going the celene dione route. Thats nonnegotiable. I think the most critical thing at this stage is to find an original, artistically developed quality songwriter (i.e. has been writing seriously for more than 5 years) ESPECIALLY one who is up on current songwriting trends. Maybe have them speak to a music publishing company and buy some songs. I say this as one who spent years as the music director at my college radio station sifting through mounds and mounds in rooms wal to wall with demos, inde releases and major label throwaways. What struck me again and again (and many times since) is how many more good (or at least competent) performers there are in the world as opposed to good original writers. Its the same with acting and directing. The surest way to anonymity IMHO is bad or even average songwriting.
 
hmmm

Definately a lawyer in the entertainment biz and a good producer! Make a million demos and start sending them out. Maybe start a web page. Do something to let the industry know they are serious about the journey they are going to take.
 
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