What is the missing piece to your journey from making music for fun to making a full time living as an artist/producer?
Recently I sat down to chat with the talented and in demand producer, Ivan Corraliza (aka ill Factor) about his rise from a kid with a drum machine to Grammy nominations and working with the Justin Timberlakes and Gwen Stefanis of the world.
The amazing thing is, the secret to his success wasn’t just “hustle” – it was “give”.
There’s Never Been A Better Time
The landscape of the recording and music industry is changing – and Ivan knows it. The days of the needing a major label and mass radio play to “make it” in this business are over. And that’s what is so exciting!
There’s never been a greater time to be successful with your music than today. – Ivan Corraliza
In our conversation, Ivan and I walked through some of today’s best practices for making a living as an artist as well as the counterintuitive nature of succeeding in today’s crowded climate. In the interview Ivan covers:
- How the days of trading music for money are over (and how to leverage that to your advantage)
- The old model of needing a major record label, radio air time, and a million fans to make a living is antiquated – it’s much simpler than that
- The two most powerful words in success: nurture relationships
- How NOT to approach a famous person (and what to do instead that will make them want to work with you)
- Why focusing on adding as much value as possible (even if it means strategic free work) is the secret sauce to getting great, paying gigs
- How mentorship is the single most important part of Ivan’s (and your) journey
It’s Not About You, It’s About Others
Ivan had a major opportunity walk in front of him one day – the legendary Jimmy Douglas walked into the music store where he was working.
Instead of going up to him (and Timbaland by the way) and saying “hey man, you should check out my beats” or “I’m a super talented engineer, just give me a shot” Ivan did the opposite. He asked Jimmy if there was anything he could do for him!
What could Ivan possibly do for Jimmy Douglas?! But that’s not the point – the point is that people don’t like takers. They like givers.
The moment you realize that if you ever want to succeed at life you have to stop looking out for yourself and instead look out for others, it’s like an entire world of connections and opportunities opens up to you.
This is the complete opposite of the “hustle” and “grab what you can” mantra being pushed by other “successful” people. But it’s the truth.
Check Out More From Ivan
If you enjoyed learning from Ivan, check out his blog and join his mailing list. The dude is creating some awesome resources and he knows what he’s talking about.
Go show him some love and support what he’s doing!
So let me ask you, what is one thing that surprised you about Ivan’s interview or encouraged you in some way? Share your thoughts below!
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My name is Graham Cochrane and I'm the founder of The Recording Revolution, one of the world's most loved audio recording and mixing blogs with over 200,000 readers each month. 
Just wanted to say thanks Graham! I really stay inspired with my music from watching your videos and tutorials. You make it seem so possible to get the best out of my music if I just keep at it no matter what! Create more projects, use the gear that I have, and finish what I start. In other words, you won’t know something is crap until you have created it a few times. After a while, you begin to know what stinks in the long run. And as far as your interviews such as today’s. You and your friends are always so sincere in your approach to make others better at music creation, production, and musical success in general. Thanks so much my friend! I hope I become good enough to meet you someday. I’ll keep learning!
So good knowing that the record labels don’t have the power anymore. Cool interview. Thankyou Graham.
PS: Let the dead bury their dead, and keep following Jesus.
2 Cor 6:14: Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk with them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you
James 4:4 “Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity against God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.”
The message of our master was that salvation is available to everyone now, but his message was not telling us to go and be a friend of the world.
Wow Graham. What can I say ? 2 wonderful Human Beings, connecting and sharing for the benefit of ALL ! I think I read that concept in a treasured old leather bound Book I have………The Book 🙂
God Bless
Dave Dwyer
Cool. So all I need to do is wait for a big name producer to drop into my sleepy seaside town in North Devon and offer to do a remix. I’m sure Rick Rubin goes to Ilfracombe all the time.
Sad to see you missed the point of this entire interview. There are things in life that you CAN’T control (like Jimmy Douglas walking in to Sam Ash) but what matters is what you do with the things you CAN control: reaching out to people, leaving your town for a conference or networking opportunity, being a proactive giver, doing great work, being selfless, taking risks, being a positive person, etc.
I understood that you have to be generous to make value for other people so that they see someone who is not only about money but about something bigger.. but let’s say I find this talented singer and I produce him for free and I find a talented singer songwriter and mix his demos for free when I should draw a line .. because i can’t work for free forever and people sometimes can’t make a switch.. if you did them something for free when you ask for money next time they will get unhappy … Graham I’d like you to answer this question!
This is part of what I call the Freelance Arc. Check this video out: http://therecordingrevolution.com/2013/07/17/how-to-get-paid-for-recording-and-mixing-video/
Thanks again for an inspiring article, again.
@Benjamin & Dave:
About 85-90% of building up a business (no matter what business you’re in) is based on personal relationships.
I started recording people for free in August 2015 and intend to do this till June 2016. I offer them the POSSIBILITY of recording a suitable Demo for them for free on a ‘once in a lifetime’-base. In return, I get to practise and develop my recordingskills. This what I tell them because it is the truth. Worstcase scenario: I screw up, their weekend is ruined for nothing and I didn’t learn a thing! The chances this will happen are practically zero. Even if I fail, after this weekend THEY will know how it should not be done. So they did get something out of it, even if it wasn’t what they dreamed of. Please remember, I didn’t guarantee it would work out perfect.
Besides that, I tell them about my way of working AND what they get from me after I finished the mixes, which are:
1) a 24bit mix (their mix and my mix)
2) a 32bit floating mix
3) a 16bit submix ‘mastering’, so they will have an idea how it will sound at least.
4) all the original recorded tracks. This means, before editing etc.
In return, I would like to use their songs as references for artists, who would like to work with me.
When they come back after a few months and need additional mixes etc., I refer to our agreement and point out that this is an additional service and needs to be payed. Since I gave them the original tracks, they can also do the work themself just to find out, how much time I spent on their production. And please, believe me, when I say, I do the utmost to make the best possible production for me at that pericular moment out of their material.
The other possibility, is to work with fellow-musicians and offer them, to record one of their songs for free. Since most of them (hobbyists included) cannot/will not spent thousends of dollars/euros on recordings or don’t feel comfortable in a big studio, because they don’t have recordingexperience, yet, they gladly accept my offer. Side-effect: you will get extra recording and further productionexperience FOR FREE without going to school (or put into practise, what you picked up along the way). Conditions as mentioned before…or whatever suits you.
Coming friday, I will visit a small local singer/songwriter festival, because two female-singers I work with, will have their first public appearance as a duo. They founded their collaboration AFTER they worked on a few projects with me, for which I offered them the recording-‘payment’. In january I recorded one of their songs, which will be played on friday as well. Since they are well-known in this small and close community, I hope, they will spread the word about my little home-and mobile studio and the way I work. I am not talking big money here, I talk about, mainly, amateurs, who would love to have their songs recorded by someone, who takes and treats them and their work as something special…which it is!
Yes, I won’t become a millionair with these kind of jobs, but when I do the best I can, I will be the first recording-guy in their community. This will offer me more opportunities than walking into Rick Rubin (although it would be great, ofcourse ;-).
Don’t just focus on the money, because people like to work with people, who will respect them for who they are (and what they do) and then they are/will be more than willing to pay for it as well (in time).
Now, did I make money with this approach, I hear you ask. No, not one penny (please, remember my planning till june2016). Instead, I worked with singers (f/m), singer/songwriters, pianoplayers, several rockbands and even a heavy metalband. I will work with a cello-player, record a cello-concert at our local musicschool (solo and ensembles) for internal use and several other small projects.
When I will do my job right (not even perfect), who do you think, they will call, when they need someone for their next project?
And who will get the pianoplayer to play for free on his next production?
Have a wonderfull sunday!
Awesome interview Graham. Nurturing relationships really IS the key! I’ve been doing this for awhile and it really does work. It’s not about YOU and how good your music is or isn’t – it’s about YOU being a trusted and reliable source that people can count on when they need you. Yes, you have to be good at what you do. But more often than not, it’s been my experience that things like trust, tenacity and humility go a long way in any business, the music business is no exception. I’m actually working on some epic sound effects for TV promos with a publishing company who I’ve made a great connection with because I simply asked them how I can help. They actually passed on the music that I submitted, saying it wasn’t what they were looking for. Then I asked them what else I could do for them? How else could I be of service? Great points made here – thanks for this interview Graham!
You bet Adam!
Love this thanks so much for doing this interview and sharing so much of your experience. Always truly inspirational stuff!
I love these interviews. The principles you guys discussed sound a lot like selfless service (what we call doing “seva” on our path). Theres a level of commitment and also faith that is required to get your mind to follow you to do things that don’t make “sense” on paper but actually pay you dividends in return and often from places you hadn’t thought of before. Thanks for making these “free” videos. Its your attitude and commitment thats lead me to take a few of your courses as a result.
Thanks for the kind words Ryan
Hey Graham, could you please do a video, blog, or Simply Recording podcast about the best way to advertise yourself as a mixer? I recently posted two adverts on Craigslist, but don’t know where else to do it.
So not only where to advertise, but WHAT to say and basically the best way to market yourself.
Love the content, time, and effort you put in to helping people be better mixers and most importantly: musicians.
Best,
Stephan
Generosity is indeed a powerful thing. Too many people focus on what they can get out of a situation rather than focusing on what they can give to others.