Who is behind the Industry Standard Producer showcase?
Don-It’s a joint venture between Prototype Entertainment and Inasirkl Music Group.
J Hatch-Nothing was going on for producers in the Tri-State area that had impressive results. We decided to put together this showcase that would put producers in front of people that they couldn’t get meetings with.
It’s like one big meeting with your A&R, manager, producer, engineer and label executive in front of a crowd. It gives you a lot of bang for your buck.
Don- For the industry gatekeepers the crowd is basically their market test. If the heads are knocking then the A&R might mess with this. If people are standing looking around then they know to move on to the next producer.
The industry has become real saturated. There are producer battles that are active. Why do you promote your event as a showcase instead of a battle?
J Hatch- Basically we try to establish a little bit of an educational role in this whole industry. I think Don and I have a few people in our extended families that had made an extensive dent in this saturated market in New York. If you can do it in NY you can do it anywhere.
Don-It’s not about competition its about reality. We’re trying to train people to go into a meeting and know what to play prior to going to the meeting. We bring people down like Rocwilder, Dame Grease, Needlz,Bad Boy, Def Jam and other industry heads.
J-Hatch-Everybody gets treated like a superstar. You may not be the best producer but we need you to get that feedback now so that you can be the best producer. It’s a matter of finding your niche.
What is your screening process for finding producers for the show?
Don- I review all the submissions. Producers will send MP3’s, mail tracks or I’ll meet cats at the showcase. J Hatch and I sat down together to listen to the submissions.
A lot of submissions that we got were very good and some were excellent. Some were average and just OK.
We let people in that are incredible and also those that are not quite ready yet. At the end of the day it is a show. You can’t have everybody being great. It’s almost like American Idol for producers
The showcase has a range of talented producers, which balances the vibe of the show?
Don-The showcase is like a roller coaster ride. You’ll have a producer that is just OK and you’ll have another guy come on and blow you away. The whole crowd is up & down. J is the host and he runs the show evolving around Hip Hop beats, which is very very hard.
J Hatch-We treat everybody like a star whether you’re Hot or not. A lot of people benefit because they’re getting feedback from industry cats that do this everyday. They get an opportunity to walk away with a prize package that has a perk.
There are a lot of cats in the audience that don’t have budgets for big producers. They might meet up with a rapper or singer that might take their music to a whole different level.
What are some of tips you can give an aspiring producer trying to break into the game?
J Hatch-You have to be more than just a producer. The reason why Don and I do our showcases is because we try to create other visibility streams for our companies. We’re bringing out people that we want to see ourselves. Don & I both have production companies.
Don manage producers that work with MTV and are in a process of placing tracks with big artists. I manage a platinum producer by the name of Jimmy Kendrixx.
The producer can’t just come out on stage and expect to get a placement. You have to create awareness and surround yourself with the right people. Get somebody like Don and I who have relationships with A&Rs and artists managers. I go to the sessions now. I don’t go to A&Rs much like I use to.
We have debates all the time about the differences between beat making and production.
J-Hatch-I think a lot of beat makers that had some success are starting to realize how important it is to now become a producer. You have to be diverse and cater to all markets.
I know a few Hip Hop producers that have labels and R&B artists who are not succeeding because they don’t know how to do vocal arrangement, bridges, certain transitions or coach. That’s why I give it up to Scott Storch who can kind of do it all.
Industry Standard Producer Showcase
is a partnership between Prototype Entertainment & Inasirkl Music Group.
The I Standard Producer showcase has bridged the gap between the producers and the people who work in the industry.
Make sure you click the "Got Beats" link above and check out the interviews from the showcase winners.
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A lot of artists and producers claim to have their own record labels. What are some of the misconceptions people have about running a label?
J-Hatch-I think people believe that having a computer, email address, & business cards constitutes you having a label.
Record labels only exist when you have distribution.
The problem is everybody thinks they want to go for a distribution deal. You have to have a full staff when you have a distribution deal.
The bottom line is the education is poor when it comes to music industry shit. People don’t grind hard enough and realize there is a business.
The first time you write or spit that lyric it’s a product. You’re a writer and publisher. You have to set up your situation with Ascap or BMI.
There are so many steps in the process that people try to skip. They don’t realize how business oriented you have to be.
People don’t know that you only get 8 cents a record.
Don-You have to function as a business. Producers think they give their beats to different artists and they’re going to blow up.
They don’t think about getting their publishing, copyrights or sample clearance. We’re trying to educate people on that.
One of the judges in particular from Missing Link Music is a stickler as far as sampling.
He believes you shouldn’t put samples in your tracks because you won’t get any publishing.
I agree and disagree. I agree because yes your publishing is worth less money.
You won’t make any money off it. I disagree because Hip Hop came from sampling.
What would you recommend to producers that are trying to step their game up on a budget?
J-Hatch-This dude comes in last month and tells us that he had a flood in his studio and he lost everything.
He made these tracks on Play Station. He played the tracks and you wouldn’t have known that he did it on Play Station. The mix could have been a whole lot better.
One of the best programs out there is REASON if you’re looking for a certain sound. A lot people are using REASON.
Don-Everything is a huge network. I’m not one to advocate piracy but if you have a network of people you can get the new version of Pro Tools.
People share things. You can go on Craig List and find gear like a used MPC or Triton. You can find equipment.
GOT BEATS for I Standard Showcase? Send Email to gotbeats@prototypeentertainment.com
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Submit Beats To
I Standard Producer Showcase To:
gotbeats@
prototypeentertainment.com
