Internship!

[elementsrtyte]

Yo I just landed an internship at a studio located in Tempe, AZ. Its unpaid, but I get to use an mpc4000, korg m3, pro tools HD, and all this other shittt. Most importantly, I get to meet a bunch of rappers, and I'll be working under some cat young fucha, who supposedly produced a beat for Day 26 (Diddy's new MTB4 band). So hopefully the connections legit! Wish me luck.

And a question. The owner wants me to come in and just make beats, and learn the equipment thoroughly, but in exchange he wants my beats for free. So I'm wondering if ya'll think its a decent trade. The experience and connections for free beats? Or should I still charge him like at least 100$ a track. I mean I don't want to get ripped off, and I know what I can do is legit, so give me some advice on what you guys have done in the past!

Thanks

 

[inflict3]

damn, sounds dope!! good luck, as for what to do, u should try to make a lil at least to eat on, u know? but shit, do like the nike ad says to do....

 

[7thangel]

it wreaks of work-for-hire and that should be separate from an internship. the choice is ultimately yours but giving up your copyright for possible connections and experience doesn't seem like a fair trade or compensation. if you choose to accept, get a written contract, have a lawyer look at it if possible, have a set timeline and set limitations.

 

[elementsrtyte]

Idk I'm thinking about charging like 100$ a pop for a beat. And after that they can do whatever they'd like. I mean I may end up selling myself short. But I would've never had the opportunity in the first place if I hadn't done it. Like right now, I'm making 30$ a beat off shitty internet sites and a few connections around AZ. So I mean like for the connections alone, I think it might be worth it, so in the long run and I can just contact the rappers directly and be like yo you want a beat, $500 for this one. And by that time i'll know protools in and out, know how to get a good sounding mix, and I think i' be rigth on my way.

 

[Elgen]

I'd hate to be in that position. I can't stand giving my beats to anyone else but people i truly, honestly want to work with. I've passed up selling beats MANY times because i didnt want to give them to a dude i wasn't super keen about.

I'd rather give them away for free to guys i respect and have a product that i love.

Congrats on the internship though, just don't let the guy ruin your music or take you for a ride.

 

[Kontents]

Take it, so what if you have to give up your beats made in that studio, If you are getting the studio time and are allowed access to all the equipment and connections why not?. As long as you get production credit it will be worth it. This could be an opportunity to land a paying position. Also if you making beats and are working with a bunch of rappers your gonna have the opportunity to make beats on the side to sell them to outside cats by word of mouf.

Hustle

 

[NobleWordz]

I think you should do it.

You need to think about the long term, right now you may not make much money but what you do get you can't buy, that's experience and connections. You need to milk the opportunity for everything you can get.

Lots of producers get there first foot in the door working for next to nothing and even ghost producing.

 

[Relic]

Do it! congrads!

 

[2GooD Productions]

I think trading beats for an education is a good idea, when you dont have money to pay for it, then making beats is a good way to pay for it.
Im sure the beats you make once you have learned how to use the equipment are going to be a lot better than the ones before.

 

[God]

You can't get everything for free.

Who is the guy and what's his publishing company? Find that out and we can check on whether his claims to fame are legit. You can too by doing a search with ASCAP, BMI, SESAC, etc. Or a few phone calls.

You're basically paying him to work for him. That's the hustle.

 

[classic]

COngrats on the internship man... but honestly to me.. it sounds like a hustle.. its one thing to to intern and learn the trade.. but for him to have the rights to all your work?? i dont know about that....

 

[2GooD Productions]

COngrats on the internship man... but honestly to me.. it sounds like a hustle.. its one thing to to intern and learn the trade.. but for him to have the rights to all your work?? i dont know about that....

Its not rights to all his work, only rights to the music produced while learning and using the guys equipment,
ELEMENTZ... read the contract carefully, if there is some clause claiming rights over all your work forever, then it obviously isnt a good idea. Like G said, check the guys credentials, if he checks out and if he is worth it, then what cost is a few beats?
And if you are in a position to try and hustle him for some cash for the beats then all the better for you.
Id personally look at it as a chance to get some inside knowldge and make connections.

 

[Ash Holmz]

i say do it.. what the hell do u have to lose? use the xperience to make connects and gain a rep.. all of the current A listers started out that same way ..kanye,danja,neptunes,timbo,storch, etc... all of them. the most imporant thing is to make connects and just meet diffrent people.

 

[Kontents]

^^^
thats what I am saying. co-sign on that one.

 

[elementsrtyte]

Thanks for all the responses. Yo but there’s a little catch. The studio doesn’t really focus on one genre like hip hop, it does EVERYTHING, and mainly rock. They’ve done techno they’ve done some gospel, I don’t even know; they’ve pretty much done everything. They are currently expanding their hip hop scene that they haver there, which isn’t that big right now. A rapper from the ATL is coming up this weekend so he might be interested in some beats. Idk, but eya I’m leanining more towards sticking around. Knowledge = Priceless. Right? Right. But damn they’ve definitely got the upper hand on me, which kinda sucks. It’s a win win situation for them.

But yo God, yeah I’ll figure out Young Fucha’s real name hah, and let you know. Could you hook me up with that artist check. I found his myspace and he’s got like a video of Making The Band on there, but it’s just like an intro clip to the show, it doesn’t really show him in it (or I don’t think so). Thanks man.

PS. The owner of the Studio is making me print out the 120 page PDF manual for the fucin MPC4000. AND I need to print the manual for the Korg m3, which is probably another 200 pages. WTF?

PSS. God, you said “You're basically paying him to work for him. That's the hustle.” Damn that’s hella profound. And True, this is why I think he’s got the upper hand on me. It kinda sucks but you gotta sacrifice to gain.

 

[elementsrtyte]

oh fuck, by the time I was writing that last post, 4 more poeple posted hah.

But okay, so this is what he said. I make the beats, they will mix everything up and make it sound commercial level quality. Get one of their singers on it, and do hooks for the beat. And then when rappers come in, they'll market the beats to them. So I need to make sure that I am getting credit. Cause otherwise I am DEFINITEly getting hustled. As long as I am present at these sessions, then everything will be fine, but who knows if they'd call me for that shit. Even just a little voicetag at the beginning of everybeat.. "DJ Elements on the track" would be sufficient, BUT SINCe i'm not even in control of the final product, they could simply delete that shit out, and claim it to be their very own. shit's crazyyyy.

But yea, I've got nothing to lose, I'm probably going to do it. Thanks for the responses. I'll definitely get the vibe from this guy and see what he's about. Everyone seemed really honest, and chill there so I don't think that they're the type to hustle. And yea 2good, I'm thinkin i'll probably try to get a few bucks out of everybeat at least. Hopefully it'll translate into 10$ an hour. That's more than just the simplee, "paper or plastic" job, and its my passion

ps. There is no contract involved.

 

[God]

You're expendable - if you cop an attitude he'll get rid of you for the 1,000 other cats lined up to steal your gig.

If he's making you print shit like catalogs that sounds like they're just giving you busy work - so you have shit to do. It's common practice. You'll also do beer runs for them and other menial shit.

As far as giving you a "place" where you can find the person's name - it's doesn't work like that. You gave me a vague response. I'll try to see what "Young Fucka" is - or even if a cat with a name that stupid exists.

Just learn your shit and then move to a music center like LA or New York where you can actually make some money.

 

[elementsrtyte]

yeaa i went there and everyones madd chill there. the owner's just letting me fuc around with the mpc4000 and the m3. may i add, that hardware is a bitch to learn when you've been dealing with software your whole life. it takes like 20 clicks to do what you could easily do by the click of a mouse. so it'll actually be a month or so before I make anything worthy of him selling off. And i'm only in Phoenix for the summer, then its back down to tucson for school.

and ya, valid point. i am expendable, i don't know who wouldn't be happy for the knowledge. its just a few beats and I'd be getting shit money for them anyways.

AND LOL young fucka hahaha naw dawg, its young fucha like future. But yea apparently he is legit. I was checking out some of the MTB4 myspace sites, and all the boys from that show have him on their top 8s lol. And thats enough credibility. its nuts, and the manager from the rock band "The Format" was in there the other day, which also validates their credibility. He is also currently talking to interscope, about transforming his studio into an interscope studio. So I mean, the place is defi legit.

And yo G, do you do music for a living?

 

[dahknee]

Congrats! How many beats do you have to make for the studio?

 

[God]

yeaa i went there and everyones madd chill there. the owner's just letting me fuc around with the mpc4000 and the m3. may i add, that hardware is a bitch to learn when you've been dealing with software your whole life. it takes like 20 clicks to do what you could easily do by the click of a mouse. so it'll actually be a month or so before I make anything worthy of him selling off. And i'm only in Phoenix for the summer, then its back down to tucson for school.

and ya, valid point. i am expendable, i don't know who wouldn't be happy for the knowledge. its just a few beats and I'd be getting shit money for them anyways.

AND LOL young fucka hahaha naw dawg, its young fucha like future. But yea apparently he is legit. I was checking out some of the MTB4 myspace sites, and all the boys from that show have him on their top 8s lol. And thats enough credibility. its nuts, and the manager from the rock band "The Format" was in there the other day, which also validates their credibility. He is also currently talking to interscope, about transforming his studio into an interscope studio. So I mean, the place is defi legit.

And yo G, do you do music for a living?

Ha! The Format! They got dropped by Electra real quick cuz they couldn't sell records. I think some cat named Mike was their manager.

Dude - let me give you a piece of advice, keep your head on your shoulders and grind. Keep your mind straight.

EVERYONE says that they're doing this and that and meeting with some cat at Atlantic, Def Jam or whatever. They all did that at one point. If you were smart you'd stay on this cats radar, cuz it looks like he wants to start a writing pool/production pool if he's not BSing. He can't make an "interscope studio" - he'll probably do a couple projects for them.

Just stick around and make the drive to Phoenix for each weekend to "show" how much you care about working for him. That'll put you at the top of the list. Learn the knowledge and go for there. And don't claim MySpace for credibility - that shit is easy to fake.