It’s human nature to want to start at the top. But any career, especially in the music industry, is built from the ground up. Understanding the ins and outs of the business is a learning curve. So before approaching a producer it’s important to be at emotionally, mentally, musically and creatively prepared for each step up.

Before approaching a producer it’s important to understand the role a producer plays. Simply put, a producer is a jack of all trades. They solve technical and creative problems. They settle artistic and personal arguments and disputes. Some producers see themselves as the musical director who determines a band’s "sound." These producers spend most of their time at the mixing board. Others see themselves more as businessmen who handle the nuts and bolts of recording a CD, such as finding the studio, hiring the technicians and sending the demos to labels. These are the producers who mostly stay at their office.

This means the first thing you need to do before approaching a producer is decide what kind of producer do you, or dies your band, need. If you have a very specific musical vision, you may not need a producer that specializes in creating a performers’ sound. Conversely, if you have a lot of technical expertise with mixing and recording, you probably don’t need a studio producer. The important thing is to find the producer that complements you, not one that doubles up on your strength. Besides being a wasted resource, it’s a sure fire way to butt heads.

Once you determine the best producer fit, you need to be creatively and professionally ready. You need to be musically on top of your game. And the only way to do that is to perform as live much as possible. Playing in your garage is good practice but the best bands have the best stage presence and are able to connect and interact with their fans. And that only comes from playing in front of an audience. If you write your own songs sure you have enough material to fill a CD. If the producer likes you music, they may want to record an extended CD to shop around to labels.

Lastly, make sure the producer you approach has a good reputation. Ask around and look online. A little advance research can safe time and hassle later on.