Culture Sculpture: Producers (...But You're Good At It...)
Words by Mr. Al Pete
Great day or evening to everyone. Hope things are moving accordingly. I attempted to do an episode of Clear Visions speaking on this, but we’re on the Reading Rainbow tip today. I wanted to speak on producers and how it pertains to me, and to other fellow producers I know.
On Twitter, A. Walton Smith tweeted: Where do social media managers and producers go for support? It caught my attention because I feel like producers have no space to speak their concerns, or even praises. Some of the replies were spot on. Some said they go to liquor, pizza, and group chats. Others said that they don’t have a space…me being one of them.
While researching this topic, I saw some things that I didn’t know producers do. One of them was handling the managing of the project(s). I figure that I would do the work and the talent handles everything else, but I know that people expect me to do everything. Now…has that been discussed with me? Of course not. Do I blame them? Not much. That’s where research and communication comes to play.
I’ll take time to make an audio about this, but this post will explain what a producer consists of, some points people don’t understand about what producers do, and things people can do to show support to them.
Three points people don’t get about being a producers:
If they don’t work, you (the talent) don’t shine. Put the creatives on the left and the administration on the right…and in the middle…are all of the producers. You don’t have a middle, you have nothing.
Producers are human. They need rest along with everyone else in the equation. They have lives, personal goals, and families. Consider that when working with them.
They do everything!! Like…everything.
…an podcast intern at WJCT. 2018 flow.
Things you can do to show your producer love:
PROMOTE THEM: A simple mention of them when you share your work does a lot. It can set up some bigger potentials for their career. It’s a sense of caring, which bring me to the second point.
WORDS OF AFFIRMATION (…AND MEAN IT): Say ‘thank you’ and give them details about the work they do for you. Example: “I like how you put this song over my talking” or “I appreciate the time you take with working with my project…everyone loves it.”
CONSIDER THEIR CREATIVE GOALS AND DREAMS: If you show them that you care about their dreams, they might pop up with some creative ideas for your work. Maybe they wanted to try something out but didn’t because you continuously treat them like a worker. You don’t VALUE them.