Definitely read books. Read as many as you can actually and keep on pushing to learn new concepts, music techniques and understand all aspects from the business side to the music side. You really have to have the mentality for this if you want any chance of success. If this is going to be your career than you have to treat it like that. If making music will be how you pay bills, how you put food on the table for yourself (or family even) and will replace a day job eventually (we all push for that right?), than it's mandatory that you take "making beats" to a serious level.
You gotta look at where you are now and then where you eventually want to be. Now map out all of the steps you need to get there. Literally, E V E R Y step you need to get there. Then you can start breakin it down further into what you can be doing today and RIGHT now at this moment that will help you reach your end goal. Cut out the non-serious bullshit and focus.
What you're focusing on now is going to be developing your skill, style and overall sound so it is unique and truley yours. The idea is to get your beats to a level where they speak for themselves, doesnt sound like anyone elses shit (meaning it can't be easily replicated), and your clients will feel the beats are worth every penny. This process takes mad dedication and never ends. If you're not up'ing your game continually, you will get passed by people like me who keep elevating and innovating.
One of the greatest keys to selling beats is networking. Who you know can make or break your success. You have to go out and meet the right people, people that are looking for beats or people that may know of someone who is looking for beats (seems like everyone at a club knows someones homeboy who raps, right?). Go to the local shows in your area and bring mad beat cd's. Make sure the show is a show that sounds the closest to your own style (for instance, if your production is sample based east coast premier type stuff, you wouldn't be at a lil jon concert tryna network). Talk to the people in the crowd and just ask if they are an MC or know of any MC's. Pass your beat cd around, but talk to the people. The people at these shows will be your future fan base so establish rapport with them. Go to as many shows as you possibly humanly go to. If your broke, than stand outside and talk to people. Do what you need to do. It also is a good idea to try an get your beat cd to the people actually performin in the shows lol... forgot that almost.
Make sure you have a website up with more of your stuff and contact information. Put the website on the cd, you'll be gettin mad hits to your website off this as well.
Another thing you can do is chose to sponsor a local MC with free music. Sponsor a whole album, all the beats for free. Entire production by you. Make sure the MC has talent though, don't do your homeboy cuz he's always askin. Do some tracks on the side to keep him happy but try an avoid puttin your best work to that. You need to build production credits, and thats the idea behind producing the album. You can ask for more $$$ on future projects if you can say I produced the album Phat Hip Hop Jams Blah Blah for Blah and Blah artists.
For pricing, you need to set your own price. It depends on the project and whether or not the person can realistically afford what your asking for and that it is reasonable. It's kind of a guessing game cuz you're wanting to ask the highest price without being insulting or overselling your music and their trying to ask for the lowest price without being insulting.
If your starting out and trying to build a track record or need money, have them make an offer to you. I actually switch between a few different methods depending on the person/project.
With the website, you can put a price tag on a few beats so people have an idea of your price range without you having to say anything. You can still have them make you an offer, but now you have something on your website that gives them an idea of your price range and you can use that as your reference if it's too low. This can also work as a disadvantage if someone has more money to work with but they see your price already. Choice of stratagy is up to you really.
Damn I typed a lot. My beatmaking finger is sore now.. FL's in the house...
ha, Peace
