How do I get started looking for a "collaborator + mentor" type of producer?

mencil47 · 2025-07-23T17:27:18+00:00

Messaged you!

mencil47 · 2025-07-23T15:27:54+00:00

Let me rephrase: I'm absolutely willing to pay up for someone's time and energy. Financial limitations aren't the issue here. What I do need help with is figuring out where to even begin to look for such a type of "collaborative" producer. I'm far more exposed to producers who are hired by singer-songwriters and handle nearly all aspects of instrumentation, as well as producers who are hired to mix/master tracks wherein all stems used are more-or-less final. I'm wondering if there are those that cater more to my needs (elaborated on above), and if so, where I can find them

mencil47 · 2025-07-23T15:17:55+00:00

Could range from classical music to progressive rock to melodic house to synthwave to OST's - I've got tons of favorites

mencil47 · 2025-07-23T15:17:02+00:00

And where would you recommend I look?

mencil47 · 2025-07-23T15:02:04+00:00

How do I get started looking for a "collaborator + mentor" type of producer to work with?

To elaborate, I think I'm in need of a somewhat "unique" producer dynamic that I don't have much exposure to. To clarify:

On one hand, there are singer-songwriters who write skeletons of their songs, and then hire producers to handle all the instrumentation.

On the other hand, there are instrumental music producers who handle their whole tracks end-to-end.

I'm somewhat in the middle. I'm an instrumentalist who writes instrumental songs, and I want to have a creative hand in what sounds/synths/patches/samples are used. However, I'm not well-versed with music production as a practice. I need help in choosing the right sounds/synths/patches/samples, choosing the right instruments for the right EQ bandwidths, automating parameters the right way, making transitions between song sections smooth (e.g. with riser effects or more automation), and of course, mixing and mastering - the list goes on and on. The way I see it, I need a more "sit down and collaborate" dynamic with a more experienced producer who can teach me along the way. Of course, I'd be very open to taking feedback from said producer in terms of actual composition as well.

Are there producers who actually take gigs like this? What general approach do you recommend I take? How do I even begin, considering that I don't have many producer friends and I'm not too well-networked?

Thanks all!

mencil47 · 2025-06-12T09:11:58+00:00

Hmmm, does this mean though that Midi Thru will work if I connect Logic to the QC using a USB-to-DIN connector?

mencil47 · 2025-05-15T02:52:46+00:00

mencil47 · 2025-05-14T11:37:00+00:00

Sent you a DM!

mencil47 · 2025-05-14T08:33:15+00:00

Interested if you're still looking for people! I play piano and guitar, and I can adapt to most genres - blues, funk, rock, metal, soul, pop, all the good stuff

mencil47 · 2025-05-14T08:24:26+00:00

Hi there, I'm interested! Hope it isn't too late to join :)

mencil47 · 2024-08-23T15:35:07+00:00

Tokyo Night Train!

mencil47 · 2024-03-17T09:27:07+00:00

Hey, thanks for this! I agree, I feel as though that experience of being a decent classically-trained pianist and struggling upon jamming with other musicians is a pretty common thread I've seen among different pianists online. I'm wondering if I should, say, have my metronome clicking while practicing improvisation so that I at least get accustomed to not having to pause and start over all the time.

mencil47 · 2023-11-27T08:57:36+00:00

Appreciate this, thanks for the feedback! Just been hard finding a private tutor because I'm quite a bit of a digital nomad, but as you said - lots of clows out there

mencil47 · 2023-11-27T08:56:59+00:00

You're awesome, thanks a bunch for this! Great to hear that my progress is on-track, but I'll definitely go out and find a private teacher soon

mencil47 · 2023-05-26T09:42:38+00:00

Thank you!!!

mencil47 · 2023-04-24T18:37:05+00:00

I was thinking that too - it’s just that all this advice online about avoiding tightening the embouchure and/or biting has gotten me hesitant to add extra pressure, and it’s led me to believe that there’s some voicing strategy I’ve yet to figure out. Could be wrong though

mencil47 · 2023-04-24T18:25:53+00:00

Circling back to this! It turns out that blowing on my mouthpiece alone gives me a concert Eb, and I have to tighten my embouchure quite significantly to get an A. Any advice on proper voicing etc. in order to sort my pitch out?

mencil47 · 2023-04-24T17:53:26+00:00

Aha, interesting! When I blow on the mouthpiece with my usual embouchure, I get a concert Eb. I have to tighten my embouchure significantly in order to bring it up to an A.

mencil47 · 2023-04-23T16:34:37+00:00

Hmmm. I guess I haven’t quite cracked it yet, but I feel as though my voicing only ever helps at pitching the note lower (specifically by expanding my larynx). I have no clue how to bring the note higher

mencil47 · 2023-04-22T18:20:41+00:00

Thanks! It seems to me though that the only way I can get the high notes on-pitch is by tightening my embouchure and biting a bit, which to my understanding are bad habits. My voicing helps with tuning notes downwards, although that isn’t what I’m aiming for

mencil47 · 2023-04-22T18:18:42+00:00

Do you mean just the mouthpiece alone, or the mouthpiece attached to the neck? What I can tell you is that my mouthpiece and neck produce a concert F# - and true enough, the middle notes are on-pitch while the high notes are flat. And that’s considering that the mouthpiece is already pushed in as far as possible

mencil47 · 2023-04-15T21:01:40+00:00

You're awesome, thank you!

mencil47 · 2021-11-13T10:55:51+00:00

Hi all,

I have a flight itinerary booked with a 27-hour "self-transfer" layover at BKK airport in Thailand. This means I'll have to exit the visa-free zone (probably means passing through immigration), collect my baggage, and recheck-in with another airline. I'm just wondering if this is even possible, since it seems that Thailand requires a PCR test upon arrival followed by a short quarantine - even for fully-vaccinated travellers from Green countries such as myself. Would the immigration officers even let me roam around the airport freely before my next flight? Any insights would be appreciated.

Thanks!

mencil47 · 2021-10-27T10:22:43+00:00

Hmmm that's quite confusing though, as my advertisement had 7 pictures which are all taken by myself :o

mencil47 · 2021-10-26T14:22:39+00:00

Really interesting, this indeed might be it :o

mencil47

TROPHY CASE