Call Prep Guide - Making The Most Of Our Call (and Music) Together!
Heyo! Glad you’re here…
Please read the ENTIRE guide & share it with ALL decision makers before your call! This may include management, label reps, cowriters, private investors, family, your close friend you confide in, etc.
It is extremely important you do not skim or skip sections. This is made with care and attention to ensure our call can be solely focused on YOU, and this guide will answer a LOT of questions you likely have.
First off, I just wanted to say thanks for reaching out and taking the time to go through this. I made this guide to give you a deeper look behind the curtain of working together, and to answer as many questions as possible. LOTS to dig into, and I want to keep it as brief as possible, so let’s cut to it!
Ultimately, the purpose of this call is to see if my team and I can truly help you. We will use our call to dig deeper into your current situation, where you need help, and exactly what will help you get the best dang result.
If we feel 100%, mega-hyped that I am the right person to help, I’ll break down a custom tailored process that makes sense for YOU, and then link you up with my management to lick in all financial/business/royalties terms. My job is to focus on the creative, and i make zero decisiosn when it comes to budgets. Thats all handled by David from Stateside, hes a fricken awesome cutie pie and will call you once our convo wraps!
If I don’t think we are a fit, I’ll likely know someone who is the right fit and send you to the right hands.
How To Make Sure You Get The Most Out Of Our Call (& We Don’t Have To Cancel!)
• Please only take this call if you are SERIOUSLY considering hiring my team and I. If you are in the “window shopping phase”, or not specifically interested in my energy on your songs, I politely ask you cancel. You can do so by clicking on the event invite you have.
• I show up to calls fully focused and attentive, and ask you do the same. Do NOT take the call while in the middle of other activities like shopping, at the gym, driving, on a run. Please rechedule. Trust me, if we get on the phone and you’re in the middle of blending like 10 smoothies or driving, I’m gonna request we move to another time and i’ll be lowkey irritated lol.
• You need to respond to the confirmation text you got ahead of our call. It’ll be from a 503 area code, and if i do not hear back I will assume the call isn’t happening and cancel it.
• Make sure ALL decision makers are on the call. Trust me, it’s hard to communicate the nuance and detail we discuss on a call, to somebody a day later.
• If you did NOT send a link to your song(s) when reaching out, you MUST send something for us to hear in advance. Even a voice memo of whatever you have is TOTALLY okay, but we can’t understand where the song is at only by discussion. I promise, i do NOT judge a work in progress. :) If you have no songs even partially written, and want to start 100% from scratch, that is the only exception. Please send it to jhnmclucas@gmail.com , it’s jhn, no “o” OR my cell +1-503-970-2505 (whatsapp for international)
• You do not need to make a financial decision/investment on the call, but being prepared is definitely the best option. We can’t hold discussed timelines and black out our calendar without a commitment.
My #1 Philosophy When I Care For An Artist’s Song…
A Look Behind The Scenes…
What’s it like working with John? Well, here’s an [optional] BTS Video you can check out from 3 minutes into the video to 20 minutes! This is a deep dive 20 minute video, mostly uncut of John producing a vocal session with Lia Farrington. You get a full sense of John’s approach to coaching the artist through certain moment’s, getting nuances he needs out of the vocal performance. Also, he is terrible at dancing. It’s not his speciality.
You can skip this video if you’d like, this is here purely to get a peek into John’s approach and energy in session. Start 3m in!
John Producing A Vocal Session In Real Time
What Our Awesome Artists Say…
Frequently Asked Questions
Don’t skip these! This will save you time by answering questions you already have and many you may not have thought of yet!
Who is involved in John’s team?
Okay like, of course the answer is "depends" but thats no fun nor is it super helpful.
The “base team” tends to be myself (production, mixing), an additional co-writer, an assistant engineer (to clean up and organize sessions prior to final mixing), and a mastering engineer.
Within that, i don't go to the same people for each song, so thats why i hesitate to say "i work with XYZ person" and then i think someone else is a better writer for your songs. Hopefully that makes sense!
We have more than enough contacts for more unique needs like an orchestral arranger, session musicians, studios to rent in major cities, and really anything else given a few phone calls. We gotchu!
How does the process typically work?
Well first thing, we have our call at our scheduled time with you, me, my management, and any other deicison makers on your end. If all of us agree we are the right team to help you smash this next project, my management will handle all the business discussions and secure a deposit.
We have a very straightforward onboarding process to walk you through getting stems, lyrics, chords, and other info prior to our start date.
Then we sit down for our initial conversation to carefully craft the sonic vision of the song.
Depending on if you're remote or coming in person for part or all, it can vary a bit, but here's a general flow order regardless of location:
1-lock in a baseline track idea, just enough to comb through the songwriting if needed and solidify lyrics/melody.
2-develop the instrumentation to be as close as possible to final before vocal sessions.
3-cut final vocals!
4-vocals are out for edit and i work to finalzie and refine production.
5-final mixing, and doing any final tweaks or notes together whether IRL or on a call.
6-final master and delivery!
Through the whole process we keep it very collaborative, and we REALLY want to make sure we hear your thoughts and perspective. We are here for YOU, and this song is a part of your life forever. We want you to love it forever!
Keep in mind, this is tailored and modified based on your needs, so if something doesn’t quite make sense, it’s okay. We are writing this in a void and don’t know who is reading this… Hi!
How do I send files to you to get started?
We walk you through everything during our onboarding process, we got you! Typically we make an online webpage where yo ucan send all files in any format through to my computer, so its just drag and drop!
Do I need to use certain platforms/software for us to work together smoothly?
Nope! We pay for the streaming services in order to get you your song in real-time, in full resolution, so we just need you to show up and click the special link.
How long does it typically take to complete a project from top to bottom?
Singles are typically 4-8 weeks. EPs are 2-4 months, and albums are 4-8 months. There are a TON of variables going into these estimates, but it’s a solid ballpark to expect!
How much support is there in helping with songwriting before we get into production?
As much as you need! We frequently end up cowriting in some capacity, or calling on our awesome network of writers to help as needed. After hearing the demo and chatting we will make sure to clarify who would be involved and at what capacity within your song.
How do you make it work being in a separate location?
We use Zoom as well as hi-res audio streaming software to get the screen and song to you in near-real time. Through this, we can refine the song together like you’re together in the same room, through the wonders of the internet (magical fairy dust begins to shimmer)!
Do I have to make a financial decision on our call?
No, but we do not promise any turnarounds or timelines until you have spoken with our management and placed a deposit. Please be aware that any timelines we say are possible on the call are only valid for that day and that conversation. You cannot have us say we can start in 4 weeks, ghost us for a week, and then come back and say you're ready. Sorry, that time has been booked and you gotta wait longer.
Does John & his team really handle everything as a one-stop shop?
Yup! That’s the benefit of assembling a fantastic team of specialists. We all know how to flow together perfectly within our focuses, and can take care of songs from top to bottom!
Why aren’t your rates online?
Investments vary wildly between projects, and it would truly be a disservice to throw out a number without knowing more info. You may be partway through recording and production, or you may be starting from a voice memo, which are very different to care and nurture! Even the kind of style of the song, the kind of instrumentation we agree it needs, so many factors lol.
That’s why we have a 2-minute form and phone call process, so we can be confident we are bringing the best dang solution we can, and not including anything unnecessary.
Is this service for everyone?
Truly, no. If you are looking for quick demos, to just record vocals and have your buddy in audio school mix it, want a slobbering button pusher to hit record over and over, or are looking for the quickest way to crank out a “meh” song, then no this probably inst a fit.
If you are serious about the work and time it takes to make a memorable, long lasting song, you want a deeply collaborative process, and you have an overall “let’s make it happen and crush it” intention with your music, then you’re in the right place.
I’m afraid I can’t afford your service… should I wait?
Here’s the truth - if you’re reading this, you’ve probably been looking at multiple production teams similar to this deciding what’s right for you...and searching for the cheapest solutions have probably left you frustrated, overwhelmed, and even more lost than before the search began!
Let’s be real, your music is a life long part of you and your story. It’ll be out there forever, and the worst thing would be to be embarrassed by what you put out to the world.
Think about it… If you are getting a massive full back tattoo, that’s a pretty important decision. That’s not something you would leave in the hands of your buddy who just started dabbling in drawing shapes with ink. You certainly wouldn’t trust the incumbent, uninterested guy who doesn’t give a shit. It’s going on your body forever, and this better be a piece of art you can stand behind when you’re 87.
We absolutely will not offer you ANYTHING unless we deeply believe you are perfect to come into our world. And the only way to know is to jump into the call headfirst!
Thank you for taking the time, and we look forward to diving deep on our call together. Remember, you’re just one song away…
John & The Team