Quality songwriters and killer musicians. The formula for all the hits of the golden age
60's, 70's and 80's! Just ask Don Kirshner.....Fats

The ability to consistently inspire people to perform beyond what they believe are their limits.

Fattys?

Originally posted by Cedar Flat Fats:
Quality songwriters and killer musicians. The formula for all the hits of the golden age
60's, 70's and 80's! Just ask Don Kirshner.....Fats

Fats as usual came close and/or surpassed my answer:
A great phone book! e.i. players, writers,engineers, rooms, ect. When you make connections keep those numbers and stay in touch. Make a list of all the great players in your area, and what they're good at. A list of rooms, of rental gear.
When you have a new client, nothing looks better than calling the cats that make you look great.

Originally posted by Bob Olhsson:
The ability to consistently inspire people to perform beyond what they believe are their limits.

Yep, I agree totally, this is the one tool (talent) that makes a producer the real deal... the rest of the BS could easily be left to any good mananger type meatball.

The balls to do the unexpected.

Originally posted by Fletcher:
The balls to do the unexpected.

As in picking a great song? Working up a great arrangement?
Coaxing great perfoemances?
In todays corporate enviorment, I would agree that this has become "unexpected".
Great players , engineers, ect can help create an enviorment that lets the unexpected happen.
Chaos Theory anyone?

When chaos theory becomes Chaos Magick... :eek:

"Any sufficiently advanced form of science will appear indistinguishable from Magick." - Arthur C. Clark...

...remember this also works in the obverse...

Greatest tool is Trust.

1. platinum ears (and the space between them)
2. golden tongue (see entries above)
3. eyes of steel (to stare down the a$r creeps)

cheers
max
newcastle, oz
(soon of paris, france)

plus the fatties, of course, and fletcher's balls

and love for music...