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Ez Street Entertainment
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"Making It"
~W~
Knowledge, Wisdom, and Guidance
The Radio Edition by 
David (Ez) Hamilton

Production Tips
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This is the part of the book where I splurge on some ideas I have to share that I have used, and even some that I have learned from some really ultra cool professionals in the production world....

1. Organize your on line production folders so that you know exactly where everything is at all times. It is like having an arsenal of ammunition but not knowing where it is if you are un organized. Set up folders for sound effects A-Z or set them up in a fashion that is easy for you to manipulate when you are putting together production. 

2. Always save your production, all of it, all the time. Especially the music beds. If you produce on multi track, take to vocal tracks off once the spot is done and saved, and then save the music tracks....... You will always find a need for them later. As you save all of your production, keep the saved production organized as well. This is great for future promotion of your work, and you never know when someone will want to hear some material from past production. 

3. Save all interview material dry if you can. Of course this is if you are an on air talent, and you are interviewing artists. Using artist voiced material in production elements on your station usually goes hand in hand with your station sound, unless you are a Hot AC interviewing Snoop Dog for some reason. Using the artists station ID's and even reusing parts of the interview for future show prep will always come in hand. I am writing a completely new book based on all of the interviews I have saved over the past 10 years. You never know when production material will be of value to have kept, so keep it all saved. 

4. Always search for new voices to use in the production room. Sales people, their kids, the secretary, listeners that come in for prizes..... get them to sit in the studio and read a few liners.... they will love the invite and you will always have fresh liners to use in station production. Go out of your way to search for voices, sounds, effects, and elements that will make your production fresh and fun.

5. Put 1000% into every piece of production you produce. You never know when a client that is used to mediocrity will hear your version of his commercial and hire you to do all of his work. This happens daily in our business, so put 1000% focus to fine detail in each spot you produce.

6. If you are an intern or part time talent, and you are not in any production.... offer to be in it. Go out of your way to get some experience, it is not just going to fall in your lap, and neither is opportunity. Seize the day, seize the moment and make yourself an asset by always being available to voice a commercial.

7. If you are completely new to the production room and you need to get a start, go in at 1 am when no one is around that you can bother and start practicing... You might need a few pointers from your production director during the day, but once your pointed in the right direction, you can have a field day learning the ins and outs of the room.

8. If you are still using labels on material for in studio use or out of studio use, label everything precisely. Take the extra 20 seconds and make sure your label is EXACTLY the way it needs to be labeled. There are other people in your building that depend on your labeling skills, whether it is a number for a song, a number for the dynamics of a commercial, or just a general filing number, pay close attention to detail at all times. 

9. Keep an eye out for internet sites that offer creative sounds, ideas, and elements. Write down these site addresses and save them when you see them. Sites pop up constantly and you will forget them if you do not take 10 seconds to e-mail the address to yourself. 

10. Keep this last tip in mind. No matter how unstable radio gets, or anything in entertainment gets for that matter, there will always be a need for great production skills. Companies will still advertise no matter how downsized our business becomes, and creativity in production will always be in demand because of it. The better you become at producing great commercials and production elements, the more of an asset you will become radio and the production world as a whole. So if you are reading this in wonder whether or not learning production is in your favor, I suggest you realize how important the production room is, and start learning the basics. 

I know that the production room can be intimidating. Don't be afraid to ask questions every once in a while and start a learning process that can change your whole career.  

<-----B-A-C-K------        ------N-E-X-T----->

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____________________________________________________________________________________________________

The Making it book Series
"Making It"
The Radio Edition 

Thank you for taking the time to read " Making It " I hope you get as much out of this book as I did writing it !

contact information
www.ezstreetrecords.com/address.htm

David Hamilton aka Ez Street / along with Jason Brethorst ( web and software designer for www.wearesmart.net ) designed ( 1995 ) and established ( 1996 ) one of the very first record labels for Promotions and Marketing on the internet  ( www.ezstreetrecords.com ) to help local talent promote themselves. David Hamilton now offers you this Free E- On Line Book titled " Making It"  with a 7 part series of " Making It " books in planning for future free e -on line guidance. David Hamilton would like to send a sincere thank you out to all of you who took time to help write this book. As long as one person reads this material and learns something, the writing of this book has served it's purpose.   

Ez Street Records
 to help 
support up and coming talent
 in all forms of musicality 
and 
artistic 
ability  

ERE Ez Street Records and Entertainment
contact information

ERE Ez Street Records Copyright information

David Hamilton also offers you a new work in progress 
" Making It "
~W~
Knowledge, Wisdom, and Guidance
The  Entertainment Edition

 Click above and read this book by  
 David D Hamilton © 2004-2006


Thank you to all of you who took time to share your radio experiences, this is the start to " Making It " in Radio Broadcasting, and here is some Knowledge, Wisdom, and Guidance..... 
 


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