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How do you become a big name producer?
Posted: Sat Feb 18, 2012 1:05 pm
by davwuh
Hey guys, I have a problem.. I don;t have a job and I have no skills other than making music so I need to become a semi-famous producer.. or at least enough to make a decent living off. Don't have to be some Skream type travelling the world and DJ'ing for big bucks, but selling enough music to live a comfortable lower class life would be fine..
Problem is though, I don't drink, don't take drugs and don't go out clubbing anymore - and as getting ahead in the music world is more social than anything, my only real option is to make contacts on the internet rather than trying to forge friendships IRL. But yeah, that's quite prohibiting and plus, I'm not big on talking online. As you can see by my post count I'm not a regular contributor here to the forums and I only come on here every now and then, I guess I'm kind of a reserved person.
So how do you become a big name producer? Don't want to sound arrogant, but I think my tunes are pretty good and I've got a lot of material out there.. yeah I've got some fans and I've made a bit of money off selling my stuff on Bandcamp, but nowhere near enough to live off, which is my objective.
Anyway, I guess there is no answers to this eternal question, so maybe it can be more of an alcoholics anonymous type thread, where we all sit around and talk about how bleak the future is for us all.

Re: How do you become a big name producer?
Posted: Sat Feb 18, 2012 1:07 pm
by apmje
If you gotta ask this question, then you're doing it wrong.
Re: How do you become a big name producer?
Posted: Sat Feb 18, 2012 1:41 pm
by dr h
apmje wrote:If you gotta ask this question, then you're doing it wrong.
This. I guarentee that 99% of all the "big name producers" didn't start out with the intent goal to be famous. They do it because they love music and are good at it. Success comes with passion, hard work and talent.
Re: How do you become a big name producer?
Posted: Sat Feb 18, 2012 1:51 pm
by exfox
davwuh wrote:Hey guys, I have a problem.. I don;t have a job and I have no skills other than making music so I need to become a semi-famous producer.. or at least enough to make a decent living off. Don't have to be some Skream type travelling the world and DJ'ing for big bucks, but selling enough music to live a comfortable lower class life would be fine..
Problem is though, I don't drink, don't take drugs and don't go out clubbing anymore - and as getting ahead in the music world is more social than anything, my only real option is to make contacts on the internet rather than trying to forge friendships IRL. But yeah, that's quite prohibiting and plus, I'm not big on talking online. As you can see by my post count I'm not a regular contributor here to the forums and I only come on here every now and then, I guess I'm kind of a reserved person.
So how do you become a big name producer? Don't want to sound arrogant, but I think my tunes are pretty good and I've got a lot of material out there.. yeah I've got some fans and I've made a bit of money off selling my stuff on Bandcamp, but nowhere near enough to live off, which is my objective.
Anyway, I guess there is no answers to this eternal question, so maybe it can be more of an alcoholics anonymous type thread, where we all sit around and talk about how bleak the future is for us all.

1. make a banging loop
2. tweet zomby and wait for him to ask you for a collab
3. wait a year for the track to be released under his name on 4ad
4. ?????
5. ?????
or jump on the srebme breaks bandwagon before it's too late
Re: How do you become a big name producer?
Posted: Sat Feb 18, 2012 1:57 pm
by Osario
start writing your name in capital letters
Re: How do you become a big name producer?
Posted: Sat Feb 18, 2012 2:07 pm
by exfox
Osario wrote:start writing your name in capital letters
and no vowels whatsoever
Re: How do you become a big name producer?
Posted: Sat Feb 18, 2012 2:09 pm
by reprisal
do cocaine
Re: How do you become a big name producer?
Posted: Sat Feb 18, 2012 2:12 pm
by nousd
he might be the other 1%...
after all, you don't do drugs, go out or aspire to be rich,
you're eclectic, sampling heavy metal, making garage & post-ds,
& not too proud (remixing Bieber's Baby)
now all you've gotta do is give me a reason to listen to your music,
when my experience suggests that such questions come from kiddies making dross....
on the other hand, if you are over 18 & haven't been discovered commercially yet, it's unlikely
but meanwhile, you need to do some hard yacka:
like playing out & gaining experience of what punters respond to
seeking honest appraisals of your work from knowledgeable producers
researching the industry to find your niche & people you can work with
consider & make decisions about what you are prepared to do ethically
realistically, pick up a trade or occupation you can fall back on later in life
learn how to play more instruments
don't expect too many people on here to respond to your question seriously
and remember many big name producers make shit music
Re: How do you become a big name producer?
Posted: Sat Feb 18, 2012 2:44 pm
by Ferryman
Good DJing skills, good production skills, good contacts, a bit of luck.... a lot of dedication.
Re: How do you become a big name producer?
Posted: Sat Feb 18, 2012 2:50 pm
by SKIN E
Osario wrote:start writing your name in capital letters

Re: How do you become a big name producer?
Posted: Sat Feb 18, 2012 3:11 pm
by davwuh
Yeah, I guess one of my biggest problems is i'm not a DJ, just a lowly producer

Re: How do you become a big name producer?
Posted: Sat Feb 18, 2012 3:20 pm
by davwuh
sd5 wrote:he might be the other 1%...
after all, you don't do drugs, go out or aspire to be rich,
you're eclectic, sampling heavy metal, making garage & post-ds,
& not too proud (remixing Bieber's Baby)
now all you've gotta do is give me a reason to listen to your music,
when my experience suggests that such questions come from kiddies making dross....
on the other hand, if you are over 18 & haven't been discovered commercially yet, it's unlikely
but meanwhile, you need to do some hard yacka:
like playing out & gaining experience of what punters respond to
seeking honest appraisals of your work from knowledgeable producers
researching the industry to find your niche & people you can work with
consider & make decisions about what you are prepared to do ethically
realistically, pick up a trade or occupation you can fall back on later in life
learn how to play more instruments
don't expect too many people on here to respond to your question seriously
and remember many big name producers make shit music
Guess this is a pretty good post, I'll keep it in mind
Re: How do you become a big name producer?
Posted: Sat Feb 18, 2012 8:24 pm
by dindin
Fair enough if you're just a producer. I guess just lots of refining and perfecting each one of your tunes. A friend of mine showed me a track last year and its now coming out on a respected label but the difference from the original to what it sounds like now shows how much refining and tweaking he's done with the tune. There is always room for evaluating your work and improving it. Send your tunes to dj's who you like and aspire, hopefully you'll get some feedback. If you're passionate about what you're doing then you'll carry on at it until you are a success in your view.
I myself haven't started producing. But only got a pair of technics last year and even just playing out with a few people watching is something which gives me a buzz and a desire to carry on and improve. Just keep going and at some point you most likely will get a break.
Re: How do you become a big name producer?
Posted: Sat Feb 18, 2012 8:48 pm
by baddis98
davwuh wrote:I don't drink, don't take drugs and don't go out clubbing anymore
this attitude won't take you far...
Re: How do you become a big name producer?
Posted: Sat Feb 18, 2012 8:49 pm
by davwuh
dindin wrote:Fair enough if you're just a producer. I guess just lots of refining and perfecting each one of your tunes. A friend of mine showed me a track last year and its now coming out on a respected label but the difference from the original to what it sounds like now shows how much refining and tweaking he's done with the tune. There is always room for evaluating your work and improving it. Send your tunes to dj's who you like and aspire, hopefully you'll get some feedback. If you're passionate about what you're doing then you'll carry on at it until you are a success in your view.
I myself haven't started producing. But only got a pair of technics last year and even just playing out with a few people watching is something which gives me a buzz and a desire to carry on and improve. Just keep going and at some point you most likely will get a break.
It's probably good advice, but I guess the problem is I'm not as immersed in the culture of the scene as other producers are.. I'm really a reclusive guy and not interested in music scenes and that type of thing, so I guess I don't really know many DJ's except the big ones.. i've never sent a demo in my life either, except a couple of tunes in dropbox's on soundcloud (but i guess nobody pays attention to them). I think if you checked my stuff that I put out too, it's quite different from the usual dubstep scene.. most people put out singles, because its vinyl oriented - but i'm a broad music listener and i've always been inspired by the idea of a concept album, or the album as a flowing work of art.. that's how I make my music really
Re: How do you become a big name producer?
Posted: Sat Feb 18, 2012 8:51 pm
by garethom
baddis98 wrote:davwuh wrote:I don't drink, don't take drugs and don't go out clubbing anymore
this attitude won't take you far...
What?
Dude, your tunes are solid, big big fan of your Pharaoh album. I'm confident you'll be able to get some releases man, who knows who can "make it" big enough to make a living, but there's no denying your tunes are good.
Can't wait to get some time to get started on this collab!
Re: How do you become a big name producer?
Posted: Sat Feb 18, 2012 9:00 pm
by davwuh
garethom wrote:baddis98 wrote:davwuh wrote:I don't drink, don't take drugs and don't go out clubbing anymore
this attitude won't take you far...
What?
Dude, your tunes are solid, big big fan of your Pharaoh album. I'm confident you'll be able to get some releases man, who knows who can "make it" big enough to make a living, but there's no denying your tunes are good.
Can't wait to get some time to get started on this collab!
For sure

Re: How do you become a big name producer?
Posted: Sat Feb 18, 2012 9:16 pm
by wrexile
davwuh wrote:i'm a broad music listener and i've always been inspired by the idea of a concept album, or the album as a flowing work of art.. that's how I make my music really
If anyone were to read this statement then they'd be as interested as I am to listen to your work

I'm a bit pissed up now but I'm going to make sure to bookmark your soundcloud and give your stuff a listen
I don't have any advice as to how to "make it big" as I've no fuckin idea lol. Infact there's a thread with a kind fellow asking why I'm not "bigger".
Just do what you love man. You could take the easy root of taking a popular song and putting some extremely simple elements to it, such as:
Kick Snare Kick Snare
And a bassline that goes:
Bwwuuuuaaaahhhhhhhhhhwehhhhheeuuuuuuuiiiiowwobwobwuh-eh-ih-a-a-uh-uh-o-o-o-o
And do collabortations with metal bands (I'm assuming you can see where this is going

).
Anyway! I'm drunk, and shall bookmark your soundcloud

Peace!
Re: How do you become a big name producer?
Posted: Sat Feb 18, 2012 9:32 pm
by davwuh
wrexile wrote:davwuh wrote:i'm a broad music listener and i've always been inspired by the idea of a concept album, or the album as a flowing work of art.. that's how I make my music really
If anyone were to read this statement then they'd be as interested as I am to listen to your work

I'm a bit pissed up now but I'm going to make sure to bookmark your soundcloud and give your stuff a listen
I don't have any advice as to how to "make it big" as I've no fuckin idea lol. Infact there's a thread with a kind fellow asking why I'm not "bigger".
Just do what you love man. You could take the easy root of taking a popular song and putting some extremely simple elements to it, such as:
Kick Snare Kick Snare
And a bassline that goes:
Bwwuuuuaaaahhhhhhhhhhwehhhhheeuuuuuuuiiiiowwobwobwuh-eh-ih-a-a-uh-uh-o-o-o-o
And do collabortations with metal bands (I'm assuming you can see where this is going

).
Anyway! I'm drunk, and shall bookmark your soundcloud

Peace!
Hahaha yeah, I mean i've been producing about 10 years now and the reason I've been doing it so long is because of my love for making music.. I guess I'm just one of those creative types who sucks at business
Re: How do you become a big name producer?
Posted: Sat Feb 18, 2012 10:12 pm
by ambinate
dunno but pharaoh & samurai are killer releases. didn't realize you had a new one out, will definitely be checking it out when i get a chance to listen later.