Music Production: Should You Do Everything Yourself?

In a world where we can all sit on our own and write/produce/release a record without stepping outside the door it's easy to forget the value of getting someone else involved. Truly technology has advanced to the level where we all now have the facility to compose record, mix, release and promote our material. Even though being an autonomous, independent, self-motivated professional is one way to function in our present day entertainment industry, I’d like you to also consider the PROS and CONS of DOING EVERYTHING YOURSELF from start to finish VS getting other input/help/expertise along the way.

IDEAS:
if your production or artistic intent is crystal clear, you probably wouldn’t want anyone else's opinion or ideas to detract or change it. But on the other hand, if you use a more open approach by getting collaborators involved, the production process of a song can be faster, more exciting, more detailed and helpful. Someone else's opinion of your track, or their input to it can change things for the better – be it musically, vocal or instrumentation wise. Or it could just be you choosing to be open to general suggestions about the project. Ultimately IF the suggested input works, it takes the pressure off and opens the project up to more possibilities.

EXPERTISE:
There's an old cliché about being a jack of all trades and master of none. Sometimes your work will benefit from calling in someone with specific skill to assist your project on to completion. That could be as simple as getting a friend with better keyboard/guitar skills to play your synth solo or backing melody line, giving out your track for someone else to mix, or taking the finished product to a mix/mastering engineer before you release it. You will need someone with fresh ears and mind to look impartially at the project at hand. And remember - YOU could also be one of these experts yourself on someone else's project.

FEEDBACK:
Positive or negative, constructive or blunt, feedback and opinions from those around you can bring you out of your isolated production bubble and into the real world! The availability of social media makes it easy to share work in progress with fans, rivals etc. This way you can gauge the impact of your music and in return, from the feedback received, take (OR IGNORE) artistic/technical advice given.

FINANCIAL:
Clearly some of the options listed here will involve money which you could save if YOU DO IT ALL BY YOURSELF (Gba!!! LOL) but I’d like to suggest that negotiating a barter trade that might involve reciprocal work, features etc. instead of hard cash. Ensure to exchange favors where you can, but also consider how using the paid professional services might ultimately bring rewards later especially if it makes your project better.

CREDITS:
produced by X, mixed by Y, mastered by Z - credits like these can give your work an identity and credentials beyond just your own. This way, you are instantly widening your potential audience to everyone else who might appreciate who X, Y and Z are. Since people naturally tend to make connections between music they like, a healthy list of credits and collaborations can add authenticity and help build interest in you and your work.