Earning money from music production services can be very challenging. So many of us are advertising our recording and mixing services online which is an extremely competitive market place for finding paying clients. Being able to stand out from the crowd is paramount to targeting potential clients.
This article lists 4 things that can help talented recording and mix people find paying clients.
Experience
Working with clients is very rewarding, however it does come with a fair share of responsibilities and challenging moments. If you have never worked with a paying client then I strongly recommend that you get some experience under your belt by working with friends and people in your local networks. Working face to face with people in a studio environment will develop important client facing and time management skills. Getting these experiences are the start of professionalism and reputation... the two things that will see you through a long and successful career.
Identity & Marketing
It is important to discover your niche from which should be developed into a USP (unique selling point). These days we all feel as though we can achieve anything in music production, which at some point leads us all to believe we can offer a variety of services. Don’t get me wrong, it’s great to have lots of strings to your bow but in reality advertising the fact that you can mix any style of music is not always the best form of marketing. Being a one stop shop can actually divert potential clients away from your core specialities.
For example, advertising that you have specialist skills in mixing a handful of genres will enable you to hone your talents which in turn will provide you with the edge amongst your peers and competition.
Showreel
A showreel is a bite sized promotional tool that showcases professional work and abilities. It is very important to update showreels on a regular basis so that your very best work can be demonstrated quickly. I’ve found it useful to have a selection of showreels with different styles of creative content I produce. I find the most effective showreels to be less than 3 minutes in length and to be clearly thought out in their presentation.
Never underestimate the power of a good showreel. They are often the first port of call for potential clients looking to hire you. If they like your work then you have a higher chance of winning their business.
Be A Master Of Your Trade
Sharing your skills & knowledge is a great way of demonstrating your personality, professionalism, taste and expertise. Stating that you ‘mix music’ is not enough these days to prove your abilities within your trade. A great starting point is to offer written mix critiques for enquiring clients. These types of services work well for me as they also double up as a project pitch / business proposal. Getting a client to trust your professional opinion will likely return you with their business.
I find the clients I value the most are the ones that fully know my creative tastes, workflows and abilities as they are hiring me for exactly those properties to be incorporated into their material.
Many of us are fortunate to have found a way of earning a living in our studios and music production services. Please contribute your ideas so that we can help those talented people out there at the start of their careers.