I mean how to close a sale. Most people don't know this. Or the art of negation. But yea let's talk. How do you find your first client that will pay 5k for you to produce their album. I know it took me 3 years and a ton of hustle, so I think this would be a good starting point.
Want to close a sale quickly
then say "yes". Seriously, the sooner you say "yes" the sooner you close, the more revisions, terms and negotiating the harder the close is going to be. Most of this is going to depend on you and your client of course and what you and they are willing to settle for. Put things in the favor of the client you'll close everytime
Finding clients that'll pay 5k to produce an album
Go for those who are making money, those who have established a fanbase, 5k is a drop in the hat for them, it's a write off for them, it's nothing to them. I don't know who you're targeting client wise, but if it's hiphop and they have no name 5k isn't going to pushed in your direction unless you have a track record. If you can't prove why the 5k is relevant they aren't going to spend 5k.
5k because you're going to make the beats, mix, master and assist with the writing... No, we want to know what happen to the last acts that used your services. It's still dumb because you can't control your clients success unless you take on the role of a song plugger, manager or marketer, but it still makes the client feel good knowing that your past clients are going somewhere
Pay attention to charts, local charts and especially bands and acts that tour. If they tour, they are generating an income and that's who you want to target "if" you're trying to produce an album
Finding the client is simple, them actually feeling your material is worth the price that's a different story
It takes years to reach this level
Maybe, for some it does for some it doesn't, it depends on the person's resources and circumstances