Those wishing to break in to the music production business must be prepared to work long and hard for little or no money at first. Relentless ambition and the ability to self-promote are prerequisites.
An aspiring producer must become proficient at developing relationships and personal contacts. Securing an apprenticeship with an established producer, even unpaid, can be an important early career move.
Producers need a background in music theory and harmony as well as experience in playing or arranging music. Advising and coaching professional musicians requires a level of authority that is rooted in one's own career experience.
Producers must be familiar with studio techniques and a wide range of both digital and analog recording equipment. A recording engineer is present on professional recording sessions but only to handle the technical details and not the creative ones. Devising new sounds is part of a producer's job.
Producers, while not serving as investors or fundraisers, are responsible for managing the budget for a project. Equipment purchase and rentals, as well as hiring of studio musicians and engineers, must be kept within this budget.
Dealing with creative egos and artistic temperaments requires an unusual degree of patience and ingenuity. A producer who can smoothly manage the clash of wills between musicians will develop a solid reputation as a leader.