You Have To Be FEARLESS!

One of the most frequent questions I get from people is how I get this or that? They want to know who hooked me up with my connections as if I have some kind of secret to share. Well I do have the secret to being successful and getting what you want. YOU HAVE TO BE FEARLESS. The things that have happened and continue to happen in my career are all because I'm not afraid of the unknown. I decided what I wanted to do when I was thirteen years old and I have not looked back since. From the moment I claimed and began to verbally state my vision, people began to tell me how it was impossible and unattainable instead of encouraging me. Luckily I was focused enough to not be shaken. Don't get me wrong, I had and still do have those nervous moments where I will start to question what I should do but those moments only last for a short time because I realize that attaining success or achieving a goal is all about overcoming fear. We fear what we don't understand and have a tendency to want to stay in a kind of safe zone but growth of any kind is never comfortable. Growth constantly makes us reevaluate ourselves and our accomplishments. Most of us are afraid to grow because it demands that we take a look at who we REALLY are and face the sometimes uncomfortable truth about ourselves. So we began to make excuses as to why we can't do this or that and before we know it fear has taken over our very existence. We are no longer willing to take a chance on anything and it begins to show in our appearance, spirit and health. Fear is like a weight, it can hold you down. Fear can also manifest into stress which in turn can manifest into disease and death. Yes it is this serious! In order to live your life full out you have to be unafraid. When the creator gives you an idea or vision, you have to move on it immediately. Simply put, another word for fearless is faith. You have to have faith that what ever want you can have but you have to willing to go out into this world and claim it. That is how I am able to see the world via my art and craft. I am aggressively and fearlessly pursuing my goals and those goals are not based on any person doing this or that. The vision was given, I accepted it, it was then verbalized and written down and it is my goal to live it fearlessly everyday of my life. This is called manifestation. Being fearless simply means that you have the faith to live and walk in the light of what you want. So no more excuses! SEE IT, CLAIM IT, DO IT!!!!!!! FEARLESSLY!

The Truth

All Rights Reserved by Airtight Productions 2011

Let The Music Dictate, Not The Gear

I was at a gig recently and I met a guy that was a studio owner and he obviously has access to a lot of resources. He went on and on about how he was building his second studio and how he had the best pro tools HD this and that and how by having this top of the line equipment he was going to have better mixes and make better records simply because he had this gear. It really served to remind me that the best and most valuable piece of equipment that we have is our ear and that we have to let the music dictate and not the gear. I don't care what kind of gear you have, if don't know how to make a record or better yet if you don't know how to write a good song then you are wasting your time. It's about capturing a feel and energy that exists in a particular moment. It seems that in the modern recording industry we are more concerned about the gear than we are what we record with the gear. There have been tons of hit records recorded on the simplest recording set ups. This top of the line gear in the right hands can yield very positive results but most of us don't have half a million to a million dollars to spend on a studio. The truth is that these days you can have a quality computer based recording set up for less than $3500.00. Which will include your software, interface, outboard compressor/pre amp, mic and some descent plug ins. It is important that we keep our focus on what's really important and that is writing great songs. The gear is only a means to an end to help us get the music recorded. Trust me, if you write a great song and you get a great mix, no one is going to say they don't like it because you didn't record it at 96k using the latest HD software and the wavs gold bundle (LOL). I have had records played on the radio and even on movie soundtracks that I recorded on sixteen track ADAT or on pro tools 32 track LE. You have to use what you have to get what you want. If you don't have a million dollar set up, just start from where you are. As a matter of fact, I think it's better to learn recording basics on a simple system where you can focus on good tracking, micing, leveling, understanding EQ and compression. When you get a basic grip of these things, it doesn't matter what system you use, these things will always apply. Remember Berry Gordy and Motown made records in the basement of a house with a very basic recoding set up and those records still sound as good today as anything being made now. That's because they focused on the song first and then getting the best performance out of the musicians and the artist. The gear was merely a vehicle to help achieve those goals. You want to have a quality set up just don't get to caught up in the latest this and that. You have to know what things YOU need to better help you reach your goals. You may not need 100 reverb or compressor plug ins. Just figure what you need and grow from there by letting the music dictate, not the gear. Continue to enjoy this beautiful process of making music.

The Truth

All Rights Reserved by Airtight Productions 2011

Time Is STILL Money

As a producer and studio owner I get the great opportunity to work with a lot of immensely talented people. I've done this for a long time and one of the things that I've been able to develop in the studio is a particular work flow. Anyone that has ever worked with us will tell you that we don't waste time at all. We do quality work but we get it done efficiently. The reason I like to work this way is to help save TIME & MONEY but most people don't seem to get that time is STILL money. As we all know, studio time is mostly charged by the hour so it is vital to be able to use that time wisely. The best way to do so is to show up fully prepared. If you are cutting a band, be sure to at least get together a few times before the session and go over the arrangement, keys, tempo and feel. Have a plan A & B. Plan A may be to record five rhythm tracks and plan B may be to get at least three done. Whatever it is, just have a plan. If your session starts at six then you should be there at least an hour early to set drums and mic amps, if need be, so that at six you are ready to roll. You have to understand that you are on the clock ALL the time. Some engineers will be gracious and not charge for set up time but you have to be ON TIME. The most contradicting thing to me is all of the people that make records have these great visions and plans but sometimes lack the follow through it takes to move the record beyond the studio. I've heard ever kind of hype speech and motivational pitch to be heard but people will get in the studio and not want to leave (LOL) I mean in terms of getting there project done. Don't start a project if you don't have the FULL budget to complete it. When I book a project I will set aside a certain amount of time to get it done and I will base my price on that schedule so to go any longer because a client doesn't have their money straight ends up costing ME money. Before you go into the studio be fully prepared creatively and financially so that you can get the best possible end result. Bottom line, being on time is the key to success in anything you do. It is important not to waste your time or anyone Else's. Now go make your plan, book your session and make a hit record. Remember time is STILL money.

The Truth

All Rights Reserved by Airtight Productions 2011