Big names like Kanyewest started creating beats and selling them to local rappers before he reached fame. Making a living from creating beats takes real skill and you need to be able to market your talent to build a reliable customer base, so you can make money consistently.
To really make it you need to be serious at what you do and that means having the right drum beat maker equipment and being an avid collector of new samples, effects and drum sounds. Nowadays, anyone can make a simple beat, but taking a beat to the next level is not so easy. A simple drum beat needs samples and effects layered on top to make it sound hot. A capable drum beat maker can take a basic drum loop and create something different and hot.
Create beats with a passion and don't be scared of trying something new. To build on your skills, find a beat that you like and try and replicate the sound. Think about how you can change it and even try and make it better. Expand your music listening to other styles so you can learn new beats.
To build up clients you can take an existing song and remix it to create a new sound. When you produce beats for other artists you need to think about the whole song, and this will help you do this. Additionally, it's another way to get known by other artists and sell your material.
Expand your style of music and make other beat styles so you can expand your client base. The fact is, making a beat is just the beginning. It's fine to sell beats to local acts, but the real money is when you get good at music production.
You're talented when you can work with singers and rappers and create music. If you can work with another musician and make great music, that's when people talk and you suddenly get pushed into the limelight. Don't think about collaborations just yet. Professional producers work on their music daily and aren't afraid to throw away ideas that don't work.
Making fresh new beats that sound good is hard and you will probably make a few that flop. It's best to move on and not dwell on it. If you get frustrated coming up with new ideas, go for a walk, listen to music or go for a drive. Get ideas from other music styles.
You will create awesome beats once you get into the flow of making beats everyday. Sure you might have fifty not so hot beats for every one good beat, but it doesn't matter. Keep all your beats even if they're not so hot. On a day that you're stuck for a beat you can pull out your old files and rework some loops.
