Now that we have a foundation, I’d like to shift back into podcast mode and how you can make money as a talent producing them.

The following are 5 ways that you can make money from podcasting.

1. Research

2. Copy writing

3. Voice Over

4. Music Production / Jingles

5. Distribution

Although #2, #3, and #4 look familiar to you as a professional voice talent and producer, the first and fifth may seem a bit irregular. Trust me, these are services people will pay for as well.

Let’s start from the beginning.

1. Research

Researching information about markets, products, services, or special interest topics is a task for most people and doesn’t fall under the heading of “Enjoyable”. It’s also time consuming. Many people will not have the time, desire or skill to research their podcast format or topics to be discussed.

2. Copy Writing

A large number of you are gifted in this area of skill. If you are good with words, phrasing, and highlighting key points to summarize for a segment or show, this service is also something that could be charged for on a per word or per episode basis.

If episodes are timed out to last X amount of time, you’ll be able to calculate how many words should be written for each podcast. Don’t be afraid of scripting! Scripts keep voiceovers on track and also maintain professionalism, minimizing tangents and useless information.

3. Voice Over

Ah, this is home, you say! The voice over component of a podcast is without a doubt the quickest and most exciting part of the production cycle.

This is where you can explore different reads and really customize the podcast for an audience and your client. If you are the host, opportunities for you to communicate are greatly increased. If you’re the imaging and promo talent, make sure that you fully embody the essence of that podcast program. It will show in the recording and school of public opinion.

4. Music Production / Jingles

What podcast nowadays is complete without music production? Music plays a role unlike any other element. Music can take on the identity of a segment or transition to the next gracefully and distinctly.

Some podcasts have jingles in them to start off the show. This isn’t as common as musical interludes (or, if you’re into Classical music ‘ritornello’), but they are effective if used the right way. Again, these are services that you should be charging for, especially if you have composed and performed the music yourself.

5. Distribution

If you’ve ever submitted your website to directories, you’ll understand how significant this area of promotion is.

Distribution is another area that customers have little to no time to execute. A podcast relies upon gaining new listeners in order to become successful. If you were to take the time to properly setup the RSS feed and manage a blog for your client, going the extra mile to submit to podcast directories will yield amazing results and get that podcast out there and into the hands and ears of the public.

Because of the tedium this may create for you, charging a premium for this service is strongly suggested. No one wants to volunteer themselves for this activity unless they are a glutton for punishment.

Of course, depending on your client, your fees will vary. If a podcast is for a large entity that intends to use their podcast to generate leads and sales, a higher fee for your work could apply than if it were a podcast for those podcasters who simply do what they do for fun or as a creative outlet.

If you can provide the complete package for someone, your services will be in demand and you can make a solid income as a podcast producer.

From the rhythmic South American Samba beats, the melodic concerts of Yiaani, the evergreen compositions of Beethoven, or the hugely popular foot-tapping Indian Punjabi music, music binds the world like nothing else. Wherever you may go, whatever the place, music is the universal language that creates wonders. Caste, creed or colours hold no place in the all encompassing realm of the music world.

To top it all, technology in the form of the internet has really changed the face of music as we knew it. Whether you are a music lover interested in music downloads to hear that favourite song you’ve been missing for the past several years, or a die-hard musician wanting to make up your own music, get onto the net and prepare to take on the world! The urge to make your own music can now be satisfied like never before. Though few people can afford a full complement of studio equipment, reasonably priced options abound, especially on the internet. A full complement of studio equipment may not suit everyone’s pocket, but today low cost options abound that won’t burn a hole in your pocket. A Personal Computer with multimedia at home may well be all you need to satisfy that creative urge of being the next Mozart.

Try a MIDI (short for Musical Instrument Digital Interface) player for a comprehensive experience of a digital home studio. Essentially like a piano player, a MIDI player allows you to put in the notes and musical data, and then even change the actual sounds that will play back to you. Take the choice between using electronically created sounds and recording acoustically. The former has a wide range as far as quality of music goes, and needless to say, gives an astoundingly realistic and immensely satisfying experience.

Once you have the software in place, you can even record vocals. Additional requirements are a decent microphone, a good audio interface card and a set of studio headphones and playback gear. Croon away into the mike till you get the perfect pitch. After all, the best thing about doing it on your own PC with music production software is that you can keep doing mistakes, with unending repetitions till you are satisfied. Identify the weak points and sort them out at leisure.

Some of the useful music production software available freely on the net include the N-Track Studio, the Steinberg Cubase SE Multi track recording software, the Steinberg Cubase SX3, the ASX to MP3 converter, the RM to MP3 converter, the Mini Stream Ripper etc, just to name a few. Google away to get to the millions of sites each search is bound to throw up.

So go ahead and let your creative genius run loose!

Are you interested in getting started in the music production industry? Well there is a lot of space available for you, did you know producing music doesn’t have to be released in the charts? You can produce music for games, videos or even adverts but of course you would love to see yourself on MTV. Making it big in the music industry is hard but you can do it, you just need the right knowledge to get there. You need someone to guide and teach you exactly what you need to know, all the formulas to making successful music.

Producing music for fun is always great and is the best way to start, however if you want to make a career out of music you need to get your knowledge up. You need to learn to make music for the listeners; creating music for yourself will often leave you by yourself in your studio. You need to project exactly what the listener is expecting but you can’t expect to know how to do this unless someone teaches you this, someone like a mentor. A mentor can guide you, listen to your music and tell you what needs correcting, mentors normally have great expertise in the field their in so if you can get one.. snap them up quick. The formulas you need to know will tell you how to construct your songs, tell you the instruments that sound the best, teaching you how to use music production software correctly, mixing and mastering and so much more!

So start producing music today and you will see results, find a mentor and learn how to make music the listener wants to hear. You could seriously turn out to be the next big thing, not everybody gets the formula right every time even the professionals but you need to be on their level of getting it right to make it. There is a website that teaches you so much about this topic, tutorials, guides the full works. You will be making music everyday and they will even tell you how to make money from just making music from your house everyday, its that great. Start your music career today and start making music now, don’t waste time and think about it. Do it now!

For some information on this visit http://www.musicproducerpro.net

Good Luck!

J Baileyy

You play in a Band or are a Music composer or dream of becoming one… Your next big step is going to be making a timeless album…

Despite how far or near this event looks to you these seven steps should be clear to you in your mind. Helps to have a clear picture of the future you are about to embark on…

STEP 1: Ideation

The initial spark can come anywhere. Typically one band member or the composer will come up with a starting point which is typically a guitar riff or a musical piece on the Keyboards or the Piano. It is best to have all band members participate in the ideation stage so that the band is truly greater than the sum of the parts. However typically in many bands there is one person who is the creative director of the entire show.

As an individual composer your initial spark can come from many sources including the songs and musical genres that you are currently listening. This is not the same as being “inspired” or illegally ripping off someone’s musical work. However keep listening to new genres of music to have an open mind and greater exposure.

STEP 2: Background Arrangement

Once you have an initial starting point you will need to arrange other pieces of music around the initial riff. Say for example you have a killer guitar riff (Say a progression of chords) you may want to start the song with it or use it as the verse or chorus or main melody.

The other pieced of music will act to support the rest of the song. For example if you use your initial riff in the chorus you may want to use a lighter version (say an arpeggio version) of the progression or some complementary riff for the verse. Other derived musical pieces could become the bridge or the intro to the song.

Once you have figured out the pieces of music you will have to arrange the entire background of the song from the start to the finish as you want it.

Arranging is mostly done on computers using a very powerful computers say for example a machine with a 4/8 Core Intel/Mac processor. Various software like Logic can be used for arrangements. However if you are recording demo versions at home this can be done on much less powerful machines… even of your laptop!

STEP 3: Recording

Now as a composer or a band you need to bring in other instruments and/or vocals and record them separately.

For example you feel your composition could use a sitar solo in between or a Carnatic vocalist for backing vocals. (This is the stage to let your imagination soar!) The possibilities are limitless.

Once the lead parts of the song are recorded we can move on to the next part.

STEP 4: Music Production:

At this stage you may still want to nail a particular feel and add more instruments and effects. You may add or edit certain effects to the various musical parts you have recorded so far. The amount of processing you can do for each of the tracks you have recorded is again endless.

A word of caution: There is a point of time whereby you will not achieve much by spending sleepless nights tweaking some process into the tracks. Just be aware when to move on to the next stage! There are bands and composers who spend forever trapped in production! Just see where you draw the line between perfectionism and paranoia.

STEP 5: Mixing

This is where you give everything you have produced so far to a mix engineer and give him a basic idea of what you want to achieve in terms of the sound. The Mix Engineer will thereafter mix the song and give it the correct treatment. A mix engineer’s tool is of course the multiple Channel Mixer. In a typical professional setting it could be a 24 channel mixer with the ability to process any number of tracks.

STEP 6: Mastering

Once you are through with each of the above 5 Steps for each song that you want on your album you are ready to move into the penultimate step which is Mastering the Album.

The tracks which are produced so far are sent to a Mastering Facility where the final EQ adjustment including equalising the loudness of all the tracks takes place. The tools for this purpose used are Mastering Boxes.

STEP 7: Replication

The Mastered Tracks that are so produced are then finally sent to (hopefully!) your label company for final replication and distribution into hopefully millions of CDs.

Of course now that you album is ready for distribution you will have to make a huge effort to promote the album. That would require a lot many steps and in case you are an independent artist without the backing of a Music Label these initial steps are going to be a very difficult. Yet there is no need to lose hope if you are a band or composer who has found his sound the audience is out there. Make the effort and reach out to your audience. Use the internet to promote your music.

If you are serious about a contemporary music career, selecting the best type of music school education is very important. An ideal school is one that offers comprehensive, hands-on education in contemporary music performance (typically, guitar, bass, drums, keyboards and voice), recording, songwriting, original music production, music business and related fields such as music video production and instrument-making.

Professionally-oriented schools offer programs designed to increase your technical skills, musicianship and performing experience to a level that will allow you to play any style of music. To evaluate the best schools of this type, you need to analyze the music course content along with the professional background of the instructors who teach them. Another valuable indicator is found in the record of students who have gone through the school – their success stories will tell you whether the school is providing relevant education.

Vocational music schools offer specialized training in instruments like guitar, keyboards, drums, bass, voice, and so on. Private instructors provide individualized training that suits your style and level while classes in technique, theory, and performance give you a broader foundation in musicianship.

Private schools and universities offer music programs ranging from Non-certificate training to Certificates, Associate Degrees, Bachelor Degrees, etc. Depending on your level of skill and the length of the program, you can either enhance and broaden your musical abilities for your own enjoyment or become an expert musician ready for concerts or the recording studio.

Hollywood, California is the location for several music institutes nurturing up-and-coming talent of different age groups. As the contemporary music capital of the world, Los Angeles also offers a vast number of private music teachers who can provide independent music lessons on typical contemporary instruments such as bass, guitar, keyboards, drum set and voice.

For the serious student, larger institute of music in Hollywood provide comprehensive training in contemporary music performance and technology, with courses designed by world-renowned music teachers and professionals.