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LSchefman
06-12-2004, 11:10 PM
There is only one reason to become a producer, and that's to work with hot girl singers. The trick is making them think you're a genius so that they will ignore the guitar player they've been sleeping with, and think about sleeping with you instead. Let's face it, if you were really cool, you'd BE the hot guitar player, but maybe you have no talent, or you're not into guitar, or you're just too old. Well, no problem.

Producing is your salvation, my friend. No musical experience required! Remember, George Martin produced comedy records before he started working with the Beatles!

So what does a producer do, besides talk a good game? Well this is the good part: the answer is, "nothing."

It's like being a psychiatrist; all they do is nod, and say stuff like, "how did that make you feel?" or, "tell me about your mother."

All a producer does is look at the engineer and say, "What did you think of that take?" All engineers want to be producers. The engineer will tell you more than you ever wanted to know about that take. Then, ask the engineer where the talkback button is on the console. The engineer will show you.

Press the talkback button, and say to the singer, "How did you feel about that take?" The singer will say, "I think I can do it better." It doesn't matter who the singer is, singers are divas. They always think they can do it better. Then press the button again, and say, "That's what the engineer and I thought. Watch your pitch, that last one was a little pitchy." The engineer will nod.

When she finishes her take, press the talkback button (hey, you're getting the hang of this) and say, "That one was better. Think about your phrasing."

Do not end the session in time for the singer to have other plans for the evening. It's advisable to stretch the session out with comments like, "Let's listen to that one back" if it's moving along too quickly.

The singer will be tired, but she will want some food and a drink. She will be extremely anxious about her performance, and relieved if you tell her it was good. Reassure her that she has a lot of talent. Tell her she cut a hit, for sure. Look at your watch, and say, "Hey, we both need to chill out. How about some food and a drink?" She will say yes.

Get ready to score, Mr. Producer! ;)



DISCLAIMER:

OK, someone's gonna come along and not realize that this was a joke.

Very un-PC, but a joke nonetheless. Well, you humorless studio rat, this was a joke.

jeffnmoe
06-12-2004, 11:24 PM
Straight to the archives with this one! Do not pass go or collect 200 biguns...

Chiba
06-13-2004, 01:11 AM
I got it :)

--chiba

Scott Peterson
06-13-2004, 01:41 AM
Ahhh, now it all makes sense! :D

MichaelK
06-13-2004, 10:32 AM
Les. I found that highly offensive.

Not only was it sexist, it was denigrating. Do you have any idea how much is involved in producing a recording? Have you ever put it the time and effort to make an album, start to finish? Do you really think that all we have to do is sit back and ask the engineer...

>> OK, someone's gonna come along and not realize that this was a joke.

...what he thinks of a take, then press the talkback button? This was... oh. Oh, wait. Wait a minute. What did you say?

>> Very un-PC, but a joke nonetheless. Well, you humorless studio rat, this was a joke.

Ha! I knew that all along!! :)

Bassomatic
06-13-2004, 10:42 AM
Definition of a Producer:

One who can drop a 57 without breaking it.

(thanks to matte for that l'il quip).

LSchefman
06-13-2004, 08:59 PM
A follow-up:

Today I was producing a young woman who is...well, she is a hot looking singer with a great voice.

So after every take, I'd say, "What'd you think of that one?" And invariably she'd say, "I can do it better." Honest to god. I laughed out loud each time, and finally she said, "What's funny, I don't get it?"

So I showed her this thread. She cracked up.

kev
06-13-2004, 11:12 PM
Originally posted by LSchefman
A follow-up:

Today I was producing a young woman who is...well, she is a hot looking singer with a great voice.

So after every take, I'd say, "What'd you think of that one?" And invariably she'd say, "I can do it better." Honest to god. I laughed out loud each time, and finally she said, "What's funny, I don't get it?"

So I showed her this thread. She cracked up.

Was this before or after the "food & drink" (or whatever you kids wanna call it nowadays)??? :D :D

LSchefman
06-14-2004, 12:07 AM
Before.

kev
06-14-2004, 12:41 AM
You must have a killer acoustic guitar case then!?! ;)

LSchefman
06-14-2004, 01:15 AM
>>You must have a killer acoustic guitar case then!?! <<

Well, I used to, before I got carpal tunnel syndrome from the extra heavy strings I used to play back in the day. ;)

GaryNattrass
06-14-2004, 04:48 PM
You forgot than in addition to the talkback button you have to sit at the end of the desk and play with the master output fader's pushing them ever higher as the engineer wrestles with the
other 72 faders which are now at the bottom of their travel.

Another producer job is to schedule which day to do the snare drum, which to do the kick, the hi-hat can be tracked by a great percussionist I know in LA and we can do the vocals in AIR Monserat if the storm season is OK.

Mixdown will also be offshore for tax reasons! Prefereably Le Mirrabel as they have some good old wine and cheval burgers there.

Bassomatic
06-14-2004, 09:10 PM
Cheval burgers?

Yumm.

LSchefman
06-14-2004, 10:59 PM
Gary, you realize that you work in much classier situations than I do. ;)

LSchefman
06-15-2004, 09:15 AM
>>don't we all Les? <<

Aw, heck, yeah.

MichaelK
06-15-2004, 10:22 AM
>>don't we all Les?

> Aw, heck, yeah.

That's why our recordings sound so good and sell so much: hunger. Adds that edge that comercial radio loves so much.

GaryNattrass
06-15-2004, 10:30 AM
10 million people get to listen to my dubbing stuff every week, I can hear them all now calling.


Who Dubbed this Shit!!!!!:D

Bassomatic
06-16-2004, 12:21 AM
Like i always say, 'Dubbing is a Must'. Somehow, i think your yusage of the term is a different one.;)

(with apologies to The Dub Syndicate)

GaryNattrass
06-16-2004, 03:37 AM
Dubbing here in the Uk is the same as the re-recording mixer in the USA.

Ether way a thankless job with high Producer and Director bullshit absorbtion required!:D

LSchefman
06-16-2004, 09:46 AM
>>Ether way a thankless job with high Producer and Director bullshit absorbtion required!<<

Sounds an awful lot like creating ad tracks, except that with ads the producer and director only THINK they are big-time film-makers. ;)

Unburst
06-18-2004, 09:07 PM
Les-You're a genius.

You have reached the inner producer in all of us.

LSchefman
06-19-2004, 11:35 AM
>>Les-You're a genius.<<

Thank you. My mother thinks so, too. ;)

>>You have reached the inner producer in all of us<<

Excellent!

You guys will be babe magnets yet!

Er...make that label magnates.

Tonekat
06-24-2004, 05:13 PM
I want to be a producer so I can say cool things to the engineer like "can we throw a little silk on those cymbals?"! :p

LSchefman
06-24-2004, 09:53 PM
>>I want to be a producer so I can say cool things to the engineer like "can we throw a little silk on those cymbals?"<<

That's a really good phrase! I'm impressed!

RL in Fla
06-25-2004, 01:32 PM
http://home.microcore.net/~stringjam/bsguage.jpg

:dude

LSchefman
06-26-2004, 05:01 PM
I LOVE that BS-o-meter!

Is that a photoshop concoction, or is there a real piece of brass like that that can be bought?

It would be a fun thing to put in my studio for clients to get a yuck out of.

:D

MichaelK
06-26-2004, 10:26 PM
Originally posted by LSchefman
Is that a photoshop concoction, or is there a real piece of brass like that that can be bought?
I don't know the answer, but I saved the pic. It's a keeper.

Les, you've seen these items from Funk Logic (http://www.funklogic.com/products.htm)? I think given your professional history, the Algorhythmic Prosecutor would be a must-have.

LSchefman
06-26-2004, 11:24 PM
>>Les, you've seen these items from Funk Logic? I think given your professional history, the Algorhythmic Prosecutor would be a must-have.<<

I have seen these, and I really like them.

Unfortunately, my racks are already kinda full with actual gear...;)

GaryNattrass
07-04-2004, 07:03 PM
Chateau Miraval!!!!!

Best damn studio in the world!!!!

Shame that we were doing Duran Duran for a TV special when I was last there in the 80's!

Vive la Jaque Lousier!!!!