Thursday, September 29, 2011

Self Destructive Behavior

I had a talk with an old friend recently about what makes or breaks a career. We both laughed at how most of us blame outside sources for this or that when it's usually all on us. The biggest down fall of over seventy percent of artists and musicians trying to pursue a career is self destructive behavior. I've lived through this with several artists. Another way to look at it is self sabotage. Everyone says they want to make it but few people really BELIEVE they can so they subconsciously create all these obstacles for themselves. In order to succeed at anything you have to really expect it to happen and you have to contribute to it happening. It is important to develop your craft and business skills, that goes without saying but you must also develop sound judgement and discernment skills. Most people self destruct largely because they listen to the wrong people. It's always important to seek relationships with people that will build us up, not tear us down. When forging a career, everything matters from how you carry yourself to who you choose to date. It's not always something YOU do that will bring you down. Hanging in the wrong circle is usually the main culprit in the self destructive cycle because there is no one around to tell you when you are messing up. I've seen it all. I've seen ego destroy a career, I've seen over possessive girlfriends run fans away, I've seen artist blow major financial deals simply because of fear . . . etc. The first thing you need to do is take stock of your true inner goals. If this is what you really want, then anyone in your life that does not contribute to this end MUST GO. The people we associate with represent us as well and those people can make or break us. Now what is self destructive is knowing that a particular relationship is bad for us and our career but we refuse to change it. No one ever said that achieving success would be easy. Sometimes we have to make very hard choices but we have to be willing to walk away from drama, dishonesty or ignorance in order to stay on track. Trust me you will much better off if you just clean house. So take a look at your current situation and see if you are practicing any self destructive behavior. Once you recognize it, just change it and keep moving toward your success. Enjoy the journey.

The Truth
All Rights Reserved by Airtight Productions 2011

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Ear Hustlers

In the music industry information and experience are our most valuable assets. We spend long hours practicing,reading, recording and perfecting our craft. This is just a part of who we are and what we do so we don't tend to guard our information as close as we should. What I mean is the knowledge we have learned is worth a whole lot to some one who doesn't know and most people are not willing to put in the time to understand this business the way we have. Beware of the ear hustlers. These are people that pretend that they want to truly learn from you and your experience but only take bits and pieces of your information and pass it off to others as if they have really been in the game for a while. I've had this happen so many times. For a while it was really frustrating because most of the time these people would spend more time in the public than I did. I was always either in the studio, rehearsing or on tour and these people would be in various places passing off the info they got from me as their own so others would think that they were in the know about the industry. I've even had a guy pretend to own MY company in an attempt to impress a woman. This lady called me and said I spoke to your boss and he said blah blah blah. I was outdone at the nerve of this person. Ear hustlers can be dangerous because they are not sincere people at all. If they were, they would have no problem revealing the source of their information to the people they deal with and they would make sure that they were always honest and upfront about their intentions. Another experience I've had is to be in a private conference with someone where I'm educating them on something and then we go into another meeting with other people and this person takes the info I just taught them and try to pass if off as there own by out talking me or making sure they appear in the know. That is some low down stuff. It took me a while to fully understand how detrimental ear hustlers can be. The problem with these people is that they can pretend enough to get someone hooked but once they have convinced you to sign up with them and they've made you a lot of promises, they don't have the skill to truly produce for you and they can ruin your career and waste your time. So I advise every artist/musician to continue to study as much as you can about the business and your craft so that you can see the ear hustlers coming and be careful not to share too much free information with people. Not everyone is as honest and passionate about this industry. It's time that we expose these people for who they are. This is all about protecting ourselves, our music and our success. Enjoy the journey.

The Truth
All Rights Reserved by Airtight Productions 2011

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Drama Free

The music industry is full of ups and downs but it's all about what you make of it. Most people always seem to find something to complain about or blame everyone else for their own shortcomings or failures. These people are usually full of drama and your goal should always be to stay drama free. I work with a lot of people in different genres of music and from all kinds of backgrounds. The one thing that is universal is you get out what you put in. A lot of people say they want to be successful in this industry yet they spend the bulk of their time complaining or bitching about this and that. This kind of behavior creates a certain energy and it isn't good. Whenever I meet someone like this, I try to keep the conversation and interaction brief as to not let it infiltrate my vibe. Music is ALL about a vibe and a feeling. If you don't make music from a sincere, passionate place it shows and it doesn't connect with people. Drama of any sort is never good. If there is an issue, just solve it. We should stay focused on solutions not problems. Everything can be fixed. It's important to all see things on the bright side and try to be a positive source. When you are positive you attract the same type of energy and when you are not you attract the opposite. We have to be careful not to EVER involve ourselves with negative people. You may thing that it's just them but if you have to spend time trying to change them with lots of meetings and conversation you are wasting time that you could be using to move on and do something really great. Some people just like to complain and feel sorry for themselves. You have to wish them well from a distance so that their negative energy doesn't corrupt your space. Anything you want you can have but you have to eat, sleep, breathe, walk, speak and live it every minute. Stay drama free. Enjoy the journey.

The Truth
All Rights Reserved by Airtight Productions 2011

Monday, September 26, 2011

The Reality

I've been doing this for a long time and I continue to learn new things everyday. When I started out I had a very naive vision of how this industry worked and what it took to be rich, famous . . . etc. The more I've worked my way up the ladder and gotten into the true belly of this beast that we call the music industry, I've discovered the truth. The Reality is that this business is no different than any other. It's all about making money at the end of the day. I can remember thinking that all you had to do was win a Grammy and you would have it made. I've been a member of The Recording Academy for a number of years and at the level I am now I've come to a harsh reality. The Grammy only celebrates musical excellence. It means that your musical peers all voted and thought you deserved to be recognized for the quality of your work. It doesn't readily guarantee you anything in the way of financial gain. Now what it does is give you a platform on the largest world stage to be promoted so that people know you and your music and it is then up to you(or your record company, management & publicist) to work it and capitalize on it. It's still about YOUR work ethic. At this level, I've met quite a few people that have won Grammys and they still work a day job or may not even be in music anymore because they couldn't make a living at it. That has been a harsh reality to me because of the mystique that has always surrounded winning such an award. It all goes back to being able to take care of business first and foremost. We have to make great material but after that we have to be very savvy business people to get our music promoted, placed and properly marketed so that we can reap the biggest return on our investment. The reality is nothing guarantees you financial success in this business but smart focused and efficient work. So continue to work towards winning that Grammy, as I am, but just understand that winning an award doesn't guarantee you ANYTHING. The only guarantees we have are the ones we make for ourselves. Enjoy the journey.

The Truth
All Rights Reserved by Airtight Productions 2011

Thursday, September 22, 2011

In The Pocket

I've playing music for a long time and one of the things I've noticed lately is that a lot of cats are more focused on doing their own thing instead of focusing on the groove. I get the pleasure to teach and work with a lot of younger guys and it seems that most of them are only concerned with chops and playing a lot of fills. Well I can't even say it's an age thing because I've actually had the same experience with older guys. It's as if just holding the groove down gets boring to them. Most people that have seen me play like to label me as a showman and I will take that but make no mistake about it. I'm always focused on staying in the pocket. I love to play so I do it with a lot of energy and excitement. I focus all of my energy into making the music groove by keeping my eyes and heart open. What is the pocket? The pocket is a living, breathing thing. It is that sweet spot where a song is just suppose to be. The pocket is about keeping a consistent tempo, groove and connection between the musicians on stage and the audience. The pocket is usually unique in every situation. A group of guys can have a certain kind of pocket together that just works. They may move the tempo here and there but if they do it together then they are still in the pocket. The pocket is about give and take. It's about sacrifice and love. You have to surrender to the groove. If the groove only needs a phat back beat, then just do that. Most drummers don't understand that the pocket is not boring but it is exciting. You should approach every groove by trying to see how long you can go without playing a fill at all so that when you do play a fill it really means something to the music. The pocket is about necessity. If it don't fit, don't force it. Just relax and let it work. So to all my brothers is the craft, the next time you take the stage be sure to focus on the pocket and that goes for EVERYONE not JUST the drummer. Groove is universal. Keep it in the pocket and enjoy the journey.

The Truth
All Rights Reserved by Airtight Productions 2011

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Keep Moving Forward

It is important that we learn from our past. Learning from it doesn't mean that we dwell on it. We are all a sum total of our experiences, good and not so good. It is our experiences that give us wisdom and discernment. We have to be able to keep moving forward. The best way to do this is to allow yourself to be validated by your own experiences and not by what others say or thing. One of the biggest mistakes we make in this industry is not realizing our own power. We pretend to move forward while only standing still or moving backwards because we are constantly waiting for others to validate us when we are already ahead of them in so many ways. When we commit ourselves to moving forward, we don't allow people to sidetrack us with hype or lies because we are too focused on looking ahead. Keep in mind that others can see our gifts and potential as well but instead of helping you move forward, they will make you think that you need them to achieve something when the truth is that they really need you. It all goes back to knowing who YOU are and being confident enough in your ability to do whatever it is you have set out to do. I don't mean arrogant but confident. There is a difference. You can be confident and humble. Just be careful because it is the humility that will make people think that they can take advantage of you and cause you to not move forward. I have surmised that all the things I've ever wanted are and have always been within my own grasp. I know what to do and how to do it. The key is not falling for the shortcuts or being afraid to work and stay focused on my own visions. I have developed a keen sense for weeding out BS. I am now able to keep moving forward without ever really telling anyone what I'm doing. I've also learned to do more listening than speaking. This also allows me to keep moving forward because if you listen long enough people will tell you all you need to know. So stay focused and at all costs, keep moving forward. Failure is never an option. Enjoy the journey.

The Truth
All Rights Reserved by Airtight Productions 2011

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

A True Partnership

OK here we go again. The age old question of who works for who. Does the manager work for the artist or the does the artist work for the manager. Even though a lot of managers like to get off on telling people what to do, they actually work for the artist but let me modify this a bit. The real truth is that it is a true partnership or at least it should be. The manager can't make money unless the artist is making money. Artist/Manager relationships are like any other relationship. The two people have to be compatible. They need to have a shared vision and be able to trust each other. It's truly like a marriage and you have to be very discerning when choosing someone to help manage your career. The one thing that has to happen is that both parties have to be equally vested in the relationship. You can't have a full time artist with a part time manager or vice/versa. There has to be a committed amount of daily time invested from both sides to help further the cause. When this kind of work and commitment are present, there is less time for confusion. We have to always develop partnerships with people that work with us so that everyone feels like they are an integral part and has as much to gain or loose in any situation. So remember the NEW answer to my first question is managers and artists work for each other, it is a partnership. Enjoy the journey.

The Truth
All Rights Reserved by Airtight Productions 2011

Monday, September 19, 2011

Develop Strong Alliances

I know that we all keep hearing about how the music industry is changing and how now is the best time to be an independent artist or company. This is all true but the one thing we have to be sure to do is to continue to develop strong alliances. I recently attended a meeting of very successful industry professionals that have decided to form an alliance to build a home for artists, producers, musicians, writers and just all around creative people. Now I have been to a lot of these kind of meetings before but my past experiences were not as beautiful as this one. The one thing you have to realize is being successful requires balance and diverse input. You can't have a good alliance with ALL creative people and you can't have a good alliance with ALL number crunchers. You have to bring everyone to the table. This meeting I attended was a combination of various people with years of experience in several different areas of the music industry ranging from production to non profit and everything in between. The conversation was not just about being famous or getting rich but creating wealth and opportunity. This is what a great alliance does. It serves a much larger vision and purpose. When you have a group of people sitting at the same table with a like minded purpose and goal, then you can truly have success. This is just like building a pro team. No one player can cover ALL positions so you have to draft the right talent to cover the right position and this is what a great alliance is all about. Once you have the right team and the team lays out a plan, then you have SUCCESS. I am looking forward to seeing how this alliance is going to work. I am sure you will be hearing more about this team in the very near future. Until then, go to work on forming your own alliances. The more great teams we have the better off this new music industry will be for ALL of us. Enjoy the journey.

The Truth
All Rights Reserved by Airtight Productions 2011

Thursday, September 15, 2011

Focus On The BIG Picture

As I grow in this industry it never ceases to amaze me how mislead most of us our when it comes to knowing how to achieve success. Some of us don't even know what success really is. Being famous does not make you a success because to be famous and broke makes no sense. We have to be able to focus on the BIG picture. As a musician I have played and continue to play with some of the greatest artists but I realize that the likely hood of me becoming wealthy as a sideman is pretty slim. No gig lasts forever and even if you have the best gig, the money you make compared to the money that the artist or the managers and attorneys make is nothing. We have to stay focused on creating opportunities for ourselves to not only be the on stage talent but we have to also be able to operate in an administrative capacity. As songwriters and producers we have to pursue ways to get our music placed in film, T.V. and commercials as well as placing value on the knowledge we have acquired from our years of experience. We have to look at ourselves as a brand or business. Being a drummer is just one phase of my business persona. I'm also a producer, writer, educator, mentor & music business consultant. I have the skills to serve as a road manager, manager or promoter. We have to utilize ALL of our skill sets to achieve the BIG picture. We have to be able to make money while we sleep not just when we play a gig. So take time to break down your skill sets and begin to diversify your talents so that you can truly achieve the financial success and independence you desire. Enjoy the journey.

The Truth
All Rights Reserved by Airtight Productions 2011

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Plan Ahead

I once heard someone say, "Those that fail to plan, plan to fail." This is so true, especially in the music business. Our business is based on product, promotion and results. To have a successful career you have to have a plan. I'm not even talking about the "I want to be a star"plan. I'm talking about the practical side of what you need to achieve success. For most independent musicians the live show is still the best way to  build a fan base and sell product, but how do you do this? The first thing you have to do is make a plan. Step 1: You have to record a CD or have something to sell. This is a business and without product, you are not in business. To be booked on festivals, concert tours or T.V. shows you have to have a CD. So you have to record a great CD that is reflective of who you are on stage. The key is being able to make a record that is an extension of who you are live so that when people see your live show and they buy your CD there is consistency between the two. Step 2: Once you have your CD, you have to do hundreds of mail outs. The mail out will include your CD and press kit. I know that today we have EPK's but it's still good to send a hard copy press kit along with the CD just in case the promoter is a bit technically challenged. You should find a club and festival guide that will show you dates and times for all events. Most festival people book a year in advance and they usually start booking acts in late summer to early fall but by December, most festivals are done with there booking for the following year. Remember this is all about planning ahead. The more mail outs you do the better. It's a numbers game. If you send out five hundred and you get thirty to respond you are doing great but you have to keep sending them out. It would also be a good idea to hire a publicist or some one that can get your CD reviewed in magazines and online music sites as well. Every bit of promotion helps when it comes to getting booked. The bottom line is ticket sales. The festival promoter has to book acts that he or she knows will fill the seats so if you are promoting yourself and you have great reviews in several magazines and you have a strong Internet presence, then they are more apt to book you. They will feel that people know you or at least there is some level of buzz being created. You have to always look at least a year out if you want to stay busy and make money. The same goes for music education and applying for grants. The work you do now will be for the next season because there is so much paper work that has to be filed and signed off on. The key to success in this business or any other in to plan ahead. It is already September so go and get your mail outs going! Enjoy the journey.

The Truth
All Rights Reserved by Airtight Productions 2011

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Give & Take

It is so interesting to me how music and personal relationships are so much a like. I recently played a show with another drummer and we had a ball. I've had the pleasure of doing double drum shows for a while. With the Little Richard band, we have had two drummers for over ten years. I have had some experiences where it just didn't work because in order for two drummers to exist on the same stage and in the same musical space, there has to be a lot of give and take. Not unlike any other relationship, someone has to lead and someone has to follow and the roles will change depending on the song or situation. I find myself making all kinds of sacrifices when I'm on stage because we are all there to serve the music or song and not our ego. The truth is very few musicians have actually mastered this skill. It truly is like any other relationship. You have to have trust, honesty, love and a commitment to a common goal. Now I know that some one will read this a say I'm taking it too far but I'm not. They say (perfect) practice makes perfect but that doesn't just apply to a particular skill. It also applies to our everyday lives. If I practice sharing and being compassionate in every aspect of my musical and personal life then it will just become a regular part of who I am. As musicians our on stage personalty is just an extension of who we REALLY are and if we are able to mature in our musical world we will also see growth in our other personal relationships and vice/versa. As a drummer, I am charged with leading the band by directing the energy and pace of the show. I've heard people say that the band is only as good as the drummer. This is true on more than a skill level. If the drummer has a BIG heart and is truly there to contribute to the musical relationship by driving the groove, listening intently, leaving space & making eye contact with everyone especially the person out front, then this will infiltrate the band and the music. It's truly like any relationship, what you get out is solely based on what you put in. I must admit that I've sometimes been better at managing my on stage musical relationships than I have my off stage ones but I've learned that they are the same. I've learned to put the same passion and effort into ALL of my relationships as I put into my musical ones. Music is truly a living thing and we are all blessed to be able to share it with others so let's always attempt to do so without ego or negative energy. It's all about give and take. Life is about love and love is about creating something beautiful and we all have a chance to create love everyday through our music and art. Enjoy the journey.

The Truth
All Rights Reserved by Airtight Productions 2011

Monday, September 12, 2011

Who Am I?

Having a career in the music industry can make your head spin. When you started out everything seemed so clear. You had the drive and a definite plan. You were not jaded and you knew who you were or at least who you wanted to be. As time moved on and you began to really be confronted with living and learning this business. It was not always easy to maintain your drive, innocence and individuality. You now find yourself asking the question, "Who am I?" Well everyone has to answer this question for themselves but I will give you a road map to help guide your there. The only reason any of us get side tracked is that we allow other people into our lives that don't fully believe or buy into our vision. As artists we like to dress differently, create from our hearts and we just see the world through a different prism. Somewhere along the way some of us have allowed others to tell us that the way we see the world is wrong. They say that we have to grow up and stop chasing dreams or they make condescending statements about what we do. We also start families and feel like we have to conform to some conservative way of living. This is all crap. You can't get away from who you REALLY are. You can pretend or try to suppress it but eventually you will have a breakdown or a breakthrough. Either way, something will have to give. Who Am I? I am an artist that enjoys life and pursuing my craft. I am a creative being that has faith that my talents, gifts and work ethic can sustain me and help create a comfortable and high quality of life for myself and my loved ones. As we get older we have to be careful not to allow people to patronize us or pretend to believe in us. Thoughts are things and they do manifest into reality. Any one in your life that doesn't believe in you with every thought or breathe, needs to be put out of your life. This doesn't mean that you want someone to worship you but you have to know that the people in your life can support you with no doubt or at least without standing in your way even if they don't fully understand. It's also important to understand that who we are changes as we mature and it's OK to be you. Never make excuses to anyone for who you are or what you like. To deny your true self and visions only leads you to an early grave driven by stress, regret and resentment. So go and answer the question for yourself. "Who Am I?" Enjoy the journey.

The Truth
All Rights Reserved by Airtight Productions 2011

Thursday, September 8, 2011

It's Never Too Late

As I celebrate my birthday today I'm reminded of how much of a blessed life I've lead and how the blessings continue to flow. The interesting thing about getting older in the music industry is that no one wants to. (LOL) It sure beats the alternative. In American popular music, you are usually discarded after twenty five and I know a lot of people who subscribe to that system but I beg to differ. A career is developed over a life time and it's never too late. I tour the world with a lot of artists and a few of them are in their seventies. What amazes me about these older guys is that they can put a real whooping on any twenty something artist when it comes to the stage. This is because of their years of experience. You see getting older is a good thing because you get better with age. It's like a fine wine. Especially in today's musical climate, there has never been a better time for older artists to stake their claim. The truth is that for a musician,  you are not really in your prime until you are about in your mid to late thirties or around forty. I was always told this by musicians that were in their sixties and up. The reason is that by forty you have lived, played and worked enough to truly know who you are, what you want, what makes you valuable and how to get what you want. The problem is that for most of us, by the time we figure this all out we think it's too late to act on it so we just settle for whatever life we've made and get old even faster. The key to growing old gracefully is understanding that it's never too late to pursue your passion or to start something new. It's also good to reinvent yourself every now and then as we discussed in a previous blog. So as I celebrate my birthday, my gift to you is to let you know that as long as there is breathe in your body, it's never too late to embrace and pursue your passion. Enjoy the journey.

The Truth
All Rights Reserved by Airtight Productions 2011 

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Stay Focused On YOUR Agenda

One of the hardest things to do in this business is staying focused. There are just so many distractions and no guarantees. It's always easy to start out with a definite focus but when you get down in the trenches it becomes next to impossible for some people to stay on track. The thing that I've always been guilty of is investing more time into developing other people's visions than I invest in developing my own. You have to learn to stay focused on  YOUR agenda. I've always been able to see talent in people and bring out the best in them. I guess that's why producing comes so natural to me because it's really all about understanding artists and what makes them tick. My experience has been that I've always jumped into situations with both feet trying to help someone else realize their own agenda only to get half way there and have them give up own themselves so then I'm stuck playing psychologist and cheerleader to their agenda while not focusing on my own. Take it from me, all of the scenarios may be different but the end result is always the same. You can't help anyone that doesn't want to help themselves and you can't help anyone else until you help yourself first. I discovered that if I stay focused on my own agenda then I would attain a level of expertise, reputation and success that would truly enable me to help those who are really serious reach there goals as well. It's OK to be a little selfish when it come to your career agenda because no one else is going to care as much about you. It's been proven that I know how to help people become better at what they do whether it's music or other wise because I understand how to motivate but if I'm not using my skills to reach my own goals first then I'm wasting time. By doing it for me first, I have evidence of what can happen if you follow this or that versus just hype and rhetoric. So I chose sometime ago to follow my own agenda and I advise you to do the same. Always be fair with people and honest but never sacrifice your vision or agenda for ANYONE. Now go, refocus and stay on task. Enjoy the journey.

The Truth
All Rights Reserved by Airtight Productions 2011

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

Seize The Moment

I usually end all of my posts with,"Enjoy the journey", because I think that it's more about the journey than it is the destination. People often tell me that they understand but there is one key element that they continue to miss. Enjoying the journey is all about seizing the moment. As a musician I really love what I do. After twenty plus years of playing and performing, I still enjoy it as much as I did when I first started. I enjoy it so much that I can't help but smile and emote when I play. My main goal is to support the artist or band I'm playing with to the fullest of my ability. Now what I've noticed is that a large percentage of musicians are just going through the motions. Their is no excitement in their playing and they are not fun to watch because they have lost touch with why we do this. When I play I try to live only in THAT moment. This allows me to free my mind and open myself to all the creative opportunities around me. Living in the moment always me to fully focus on communicating with the musicians I'm on the stage with at that moment to create impromptu beauty. Even though you can rehearse the notes and a show, if you are not putting it ALL on the line every time then you are cheating yourself and your audience. Now I know that we are all different but I believe that everyone has their own "thang" so to speak. Don't try to cope my vibe, find your own and live it each and every time you are on the stage. You should be able to perform at the same level for thirty people that you would for thirty thousand people. It's all about living in the moment. I understand that people can be a bit taken a back by me sometimes because I come to play EVERY time. It doesn't matter what the gig is or what style of music. I'm always there to help create a magical experience for myself and the audience. The feeling I get from being able to divorce myself from all things but what's going on in THAT space is exhilarating and for anyone that doesn't get it, I offer no apologies. So the next time you perform, don't think or focus on ANYTHING but what's going on in your musical space at that moment and watch how much beauty you can create. Once you've experienced it, you will never go back. Take it from me, it keeps you healthy with no stress or physical fatigue. Living in the moment even helps you feel and look younger than you are. Seize The Moment and enjoy the journey.

The Truth
All Rights Reserved by Airtight Productions 2011

Thursday, September 1, 2011

Stop PLAYING Business

As musicians and artists we are mostly focused on making great music and creative product. We spend the bulk of our time cultivating our skills and talents so we don't always make time to truly focus on business. We end up thinking that we can approach the business side of our career with the same compassion that we approach the creative side with. By doing this we end up building businesses that do great work but don't make us enough money, not because we our not skilled but because we are not ALL about our business. I submit to you today that it is time to stop PLAYING business. We do shows, write songs, produce records . . .etc, and when people hire us they won't settle for anything less than our best yet we constantly allow clients to treat us with disrespect. Let me explain. I run a studio and in this business I'm usually working all over the country either performing, recording and/or administrating. When people hire us they brag about how great the product is but it seems that people just have a problem paying what the product is worth and even when you settle on a price they feel like they can take forever to pay you. Now they don't seem to realize that you have over head that has to be met to insure that you can deliver them this great product. Well here's a news flash: THEY DO REALIZE IT! The issue is that we are often too nice to people. We give away too much free advice or information. We don't make people see the value of our years of experience therefor they attempt to pimp us and pay us slowly or try to hustle out of paying the full amount. This only occurs because we are nice people and we are PLAYING business. From now on we have to be firm about our business. Always do a written agreement that states what the project is and what's to be expected from both you and the client. Be sure to include a firm payment schedule and define the time of completion. Most clients don't seem to understand that time is money and when they don't pay on time and prolong the schedule, they are taking money from you because you are now wasting time with them when you were supposed to be done and own to another client. It some case you will have to decline a project or be prepared to shelve it. When it come to recording, mixing, consulting . . .etc, DO NOTHING THAT YOU HAVEN'T BEEN PAID FOR. If you have a payment schedule and the client misses, give them a few days grace but anything pass that and you have to stop working until they pay. When clients know that you are this serious about your business, you won't have any issues and your bottom line will reflect it. You need to also be careful about charity cases. If people want to be in this business, it's not your responsibility to pay their way or give them a free ride. As much as you want to help people, you only enable them by not making them pay their own way into the game. Your time and experience are worth a lot and don't fall for the hype speech's and promises. I've had too many artists make these promises when getting something for nothing only to diss you when the product is done. Now what I mean by diss is things like not properly crediting your contribution to the project and making it appear that they did it all themselves and when you make a mention of your spec deal or compensation they get an attitude as if they have done as much as you when they didn't pay you a dime up front. It's best to just do good business and for anyone that can't do business the proper way then don't work with them. Some have even told me that I give away too much in my blogs but I see this as good business because it's education for us as artists and for potential clients. Understand that my book will discuss these topics in much greater detail and that piece will cost money but sharing is never a bad thing. This is how we learn from each other but malice and disrespect can no longer be tolerated. Let's stop PLAYING business and get OUR money. Let the hype men make speeches and the dreamers dream while we get PAID. We are not dreamers, we are visionaries. We make dreams a reality by LIVING them not talking about them. Now go take care of YOUR business. Enjoy the journey.

The Truth
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