# How To Work With A Music Producer
#1. Tailor-Made Warm-Up Exercises: Your Voice, Your Warm-Up!
Discover the power of personalized vocal warm-ups designed specifically for you. Generic exercises or YouTube routines might not only be ineffective—they could even harm your voice. Your warm-up should be customized to match your unique vocal needs. Singing songs right away isn’t a warm-up; it can tire your voice out before you even start. That’s why it’s essential to get into your best vocal shape so you’re fully focused on the story and emotions of your performance. Remember, “Sing from feel.” Feel the emotions first, and then let them flow through your voice. If you enjoy cardio or steam rooms, schedule these before your vocal warm-up, especially for those early morning gigs.
#2. Constant Training: Be Ready for Every Opportunity!
Start your vocal preparation now and never stop. You have to be ready for your big moment at any time! Grammy-winning producer Jeff Bhasker once said, “If you’re not completely ready for me, I won’t produce you.” This mindset is shared by many top-tier producers—they want fully-prepared artists, not projects. Develop a solid Belted-Head-Voice™ technique to maintain power without overloading the pre-amp. Producers shouldn’t have to compromise your vocal quality or struggle to capture your dynamics. Keep training, and you’ll be ready for any opportunity that comes your way.
#3. Partner Up During Vocal Tracking: Focus on the Feel
When recording vocals, train your ears and voice for the microphone, headphones, floor monitors, and in-ear monitors. Remember, there’s (hopefully) always someone running your sound or helping with vocal tracking, and for a good reason. Self-producing during vocal tracking is extremely challenging—it divides your focus between engineering and feeling the song. You’re there to communicate, not just to sing! Make sure your producer or engineer listens like an audience member and provides feedback to bring out the emotion in your performance.
#4. Befriend Your Sound Engineer: Your Secret Weapon
Your sound engineer can make or break your performance. Build a great relationship and show you care about the quality of your sound. Neglecting your electronics can send the wrong message, and upsetting the sound engineer could lead to a poor mix. When things go wrong on stage or in the studio, audiences will notice—and the blame will fall on you. Understand your gear and work with your engineer to ensure you can always hear yourself clearly. This partnership is essential to achieving your best sound.
#5. Master Your Gear to Control Your Sound
Invest in Farplay.io, a small mixer, microphone, headphones, and floor monitors, and practice using them every day—even during your vocal exercises. This hands-on experience will boost your confidence and allow you to communicate clearly with your producer. It’s vital to test your microphone and monitor feedback to avoid on-stage mishaps like embarrassing mic issues or feeling out of tune. Know your equipment, and your performance will shine.
#6. Immerse Yourself in the Song's Story: Embrace the Emotion
Let 90% of your focus be on the emotion and story of your song. If you make a mistake, brush it off and stay connected to the feel of the music. Producers will always push you to find more emotional depth because that’s what resonates with your audience. Sing every note with intention, and let the story guide your performance.
#7. Practice Until Technique and Emotion Become Second Nature
Repetition is key. Sing your songs repeatedly until the technique and emotions become a part of you. When you reach this point, the story and its emotions will be where you want to live in every performance. Nothing will distract you—your connection to the story will stay strong from start to finish.
#8. Enjoy the Journey: Have Fun Performing!
With all this preparation, you’re ready to enjoy your performance to the fullest. When you’re having a great time, your audience will feel it too. The energy you bring to the stage and studio will elevate your music and create unforgettable experiences for everyone.
Brad Chapman, Vocal Coach/Vocal Pre-Producer
www.bradchapmanvocalcoach.com