If you look at the blog and forum comments left by producers on the sites across the Internet, you'll notice a pattern. I'll just be straight up instead of trying to sugar coat it, since we're here to help. What you'll notice is a pattern of really bad attempts to get their music heard and get some type of deal.
Here's an example:
"Yo! I got hot beats! Check them out at myspace.com/anonymous-producer"
I understand that everybody starts somewhere so I'm not knocking anyone's hustle - but is that really even hustle.
Let's look at this from the other side of the conversation. Let's say I'm a label head (which I am) and I'm actually looking for hot beats (who isn't?) What about that comment makes me want to click that link and listen to that producers beats?
The answer is nothing. That producer hasn't given me ANY reason to click that link or to think he has anything special or even worth my time. Industry cats get that "pitch" every day. In the beginning, before you have any contacts or connections, you actually click some of those links looking for gold. 999 times out of 1000 you just get dirt.
Before long you learn to get stingy with your time. You start to do what everyone else does and filter out the noise. That "yo check out my beats" comment is noise.
Here's what you need to do instead. Think of what you're up against. Every producer with a couple of beats in his catalog thinks his beats are hot. You need to give people a reason check you out and stop looking for handouts. There are no handouts in this business.
If you want in, you have to prove that you have something I want, something that will make my life easier and move me closer to my goals. Notice how everything I'm looking for is about me. That's what everybody cares about, and that's what everybody is looking for - what THEY need.
People in this industry are not surfing the Internet, going to conferences, and answering emails and phones calls to find out what they can do for you. They want to know what you can do for them.
Here's the bottom line. If you don't change your thinking and start to position yourself as a solution to peoples problems, you won't change your position from aspiring to working. You need to build yourself up and have something to say that places you above the noise.
Don't blow it when you have a real shot. Tell the person you're trying to connect with why they should consider your music. What can you do for them.
Here's an example:
"Yo - I make beats in the style of RZA and DOOM. I've placed beats on 6 mixtapes this year and local artists are paying $75 a beat for my production. I'd like to connect with artists like xyz and saw that you worked with him on his last album. Do y'all need tracks? I have examples online at (URL)."
That shows that you've got their interest in mind and you're not just sitting at home making beats. You're actually doing work to build yourself up which shows that you might be worth working with as a partner in some type of deal. On top of all that, THEN you also have to have hot beats and be persistent.
In other words, put some effort into helping the people you want to work with. In a best case scenario, you know what they need and can offer it to them. If you have no idea what that person wants, ask. Just trying to help them instead of asking for help will put you above the noisy 90% who are looking for handouts.
Don't take a half-ass approach to this business and expect people to give you handouts. Do the work to build relationships and eventually partnerships.
A. Zar is a producer, songwriter, and author of How To Sell Beats: The Underground Beat Sellers Report.
For more business tips, opportunities, and resources for beat makers, visit http://TheBeatBusiness.com
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