Top 10 Tips on How To Start Your Hip Hop Production Business
Set Goals
First and foremost set up some goals….break them down into short-term and long term. Ask your-self some questions, understand your motivation. Why are you in the game? What do you want to accomplish? Where do you see your-self in 1-2-5-10 years? Ask your-self all of these questions and be optimistic but also be realistic.
Business Model
A business model is the foundation of your business. If you believe your beats will separate you from the rest that’s fine but you need to develop your strategy to hustle. Are you going to incorporate your business or run a sole proprietorship? Do you want a record deal, or do you want to run your own record label? Keep asking your-self questions because there is always room for improvement
Marketing plan
Develop a marketing plan on how to advertise your beats and your brand. Think out-side of the box here and get creative. Read my article on Marketing Your Instrumentals for some other ideas.
Budget
Set up a budget and stick to it. Factor in expenses such as studio software/equipment, purchasing new samples and loops, buying a website etc. There are many start-up costs, but you should be able to do this without spending hundreds of dollars.
Studio Set Up
This is where you put in all your work. Research the best products out there for you, start small and grow. There is a bunch of information available online. Check out our Making Million Dollar Beats with a Low Budget or Review of MiDi M-Audio for some product ideas.
Structured Schedule
Time is money and hard work pays off…sound familiar? These are two of the oldest sayings…but they are so true. Work hard but work smart, be disciplined and consistent. To be a well rounded producer you will need to schedule time to learn new techniques, search for sound kits and samples and set aside time for marketing your business.
Industry Connections
Make your-self assessable both online and offline… make sure if people want to contact you then they can. Be proactive and contact local record labels and submit your demo.
Build a Team
No one can do it all themselves. At some point you are going to need an expert weather it’s a web designer, a rapper for your beats, a singer, or your boy who has a million samples. Build your team because they will help you succeed.
Demo
Obviously you need a demo. Make sure it has not only your best music but also a wide range of your skills. Producers these days can make beats anywhere from hard east coast hits to dirty south sounds to R&B melodies. Make sure you round out your skills.