Where to find local talent?

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mikedavid00

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Heya,

I have a studio now in my basement now and can't develop my tracks any further unless people rap or sing over them so I can add final touches etc.

I'm doing this for fun and not as a business and offer my services for free as long as I like what they have to offer.

My problem is, I can't find any artists. I've emailed maybe about 20 so far saying what's up and I don't get any response. None. These are all independent people who don't have even have a mixtape out etc. Those that do have their 'stuff together', are living the outdated fantasy of getting a 'deal' or 'signed' and don't want to speak to people that can't 'do something' for them.

Man if I was in their shoes and a producer offered to cut me an album for free, I'd be on that in 2 seconds so can someone tell me how to find local talent that is excited and wants to put in work and create something? I feel like I'm looking in the wrong places?

Also do all the artists really believe they're going to be rich and famous? Like where is their head at?

Thanks..
 
hey---i'm up to do a few tracks with you...I write/rap...new to site but.....located in southern California/if you're looking for someone to work with, we can do it over skype, email, IM...i've done a couple songs using that route....I have a good set up at home so my voice quality is on point...take a listen to a few songs (via my profile) and let me know...


Not looking to do much more than make some GOOD music--if some doors open, they open.....but it's all about the Journey...
 
Hey bro thanks for the offer but I kind of wanted to get a live person in the studio so I can learn how to record live.. but thanks for at least being willing.. hehe
 
I'm surprised. I can find a handful of guys who would love to rap if the beats are already made for them just walking down the street here. Now, how many of them are any good dimishes that by a very large amount.

The problem is one of psychology of 'artists'.

Most 'good' artists know a bit about production themselves too, even if its just some basics of using a mixing board, mic and and a beat machine. The more they know, the less they need someone to help on a technical side.

I took 4 thug rappers: Jay, Bo, Spookey, and Skooki's sister LowKi (yeah yeah I know) under my wing 12 years ago just making beats playing some backdrop guitar parts and running the recording sessions through my home setup for them to use. This wasn't any kind of wanna be thug image crap this was a crew of THUUUUGs. On a couple occasions they were late to a session because they had just got out of county for getting in some scuffle night before, hair all messed up, etc.

I didn't care. I thought it was fun that these dudes were wanting to learn about my white-boy rock soundman/engineer nerdy life, and plus they helped carry speakers, took me out partying on their scene after sessions, I was their honorary nerdy white guy I guess.

These guys had a lot of skill, (a lot of jail time to have worked on their dream of being a rap act), a lot of solid lyrics, skill, and complete take-no-prisoners motivation. They also knew jack and shit about doing ANYTHING as far as recording. I could have put them on a karaoke mic at first and looped a video game soundtrack behind them and they would have been impressed.

They had nothing but lyric sheets and old casio keyboard, like the kind tat has 'bossa nova' and 'rock 2' and stuff, or rapping over old beats someone played on a box. One of them, Jay, the ringleader brains of the group kind of guy, actually paid attention during the sessions, wanted to learn what I was doing and how. He was cool with me, we were friends, I didn't hold back teaching him. He learned basic beat programming, running a MPC, a 505, using samples, and layering tracks. The rest of em learned mic technique and how to project their voice for recordings. In the end, once they were done playing around, Jay started his own production company and they made 2 self titled CDs for the chicago rap underground before Jay went to go do underground demos for kids where he grew up as his sort of 'give back to community' thing. Nice warm fuzzy success story I know, but the point is this:

A lot of guys think they can rap, or have a good singing voice. The ones that really REALLY want to do something with it instead of just trying to impress their buddies hanging out or singing to impress some chick... well they are probably making their own beats. To be a performer means at least on some level, you have a control issue and want to be in charge. That works fine if you are an industry prop for pop music to just let the producers do everything for you, but anybody on a local level trying to make a name for themselves will want either a way to do what they want being in control, to establish themself as an artist, or to have someone (like you said) offer them a deal too good to say no to.
 
perhaps i missed this 1 key element . . . where are you located?
im in Central va and im always lookin for opportunities to cultivate my skill, spread my name, generate a buzz, and network with likeminded people . .
 
if u want rappers go to any open mic or got to ur colleges or music store ..you should not have a problem if u are wanting to have artists use ur beats .....but the thing to consider is where u live ....if ur in a small town go to ur next biggest town talk to people if u want them to come to ur location have something for them to listen to ....but dont have high expectations.... meaning dont expect to get lil wayne because u met lil pistol starter .....if u are about work then they will def come back to u with more people ....goodluck
 
right, right.....no clue where he lives.....didnt wanna work with me...
 
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