Another day at the studio

Our recording studio is quiet today. From one edit bay comes a lilting melody for Music K-8, a publisher based in WISCONSIN. The top educational music publisher in the world, Hal Leonard Publishing, is also based in Wisconsin. In one of our other studios, Hal Leonard is recording rhythm track exercises for teaching string insttruments.

Although our studio, which I want to keep unnamed because I'm not pushing the place - in fact, we have too much work already, does educational recording, we do things like Glenn Miller, Disney, Gospel, Hip-Hop and Ricky Martin. If any one wants to know the most important thing about making a career in the music business, I'd tell them it's simple - show up on time, be dependable and be honest. Talent is important but doesn't help much if you're stoned in front of your tv when it's session time. When I bring kids along in this industry, I'm looking for the same character traits as the guys at Intel.

Two of our younger freelance engineers are working with a few NBA players - it was a challenge to put the right engineers with these ballplayers. For sure, there's a rock star mentality in pro sports, much as in music - play hard and work hard - but it's mostly work - fun but serious. Competition is fierce, even at entry level in music, so once again it comes down to showing up on time and being dependable - once you lose those qualities, you might as well kiss your career good-bye.

How often do you hear a song on the radio and think it's lame? - well, it's on the radio because too many great songs are left unfinished or unsung because many creative people lack discipline and common sense.
Hey, talent is only 33% of the equation in music and in life.