Deciding What to Sell

The music business, like most others, is a costumer based business and the concept of supply and demand is still the cornerstone of success. Even though music is a creative art and isn't a precise science in terms of knowing what will work and when, we still have ways to determine what the public will buy from us. Most of us are good at doing several things and we are usually working on trying to build and brand all of those things at once but I regret to inform you that we are spinning our wheels. Even though we may be good at several things so are about a million other people. We have to determine what it is that we have to offer to the public that is unique to us and once we make that discovery that is what we have to build on. I mean you might think that you are a great singer or producer but the thing that really gets people's attention is your live performance and stage presence. So what do you do? Well what you have to do is take a step back and reevaluate your focus. If people are going crazy over your performance or if their is something you do in your show that is a unique selling point, then that is what you have to build on. The truth is that whether you realize it or not every time you perform, your show is selling that thing anyway. You have to be a smart enough business man/woman to recognize what it is and jump on it while it is hot. Don't be bummed out because people like you as a high energy performer but you want to be an R&B crooner. Just accept the fact that they like something that you do and the thing they like is truly unique to you that's why they are there. The other important factor is understanding how this increases your value in the market place. Once you have discovered what sets you apart and you further define and refine how to market it, you become a more valuable commodity because the only place people can get what you do is by booking YOU. So if they want your unique gift that they know people will pay for then they have to meet YOUR price because you have now carved out an individual identity. Look at Lady GaGa for example. Before she focused on her gift of image and live presentation she was just another good singer in the mix of thousands of others but when she decided to focus on what was unique to her then it all clicked. Even though her music was always great she had to find a way to set herself apart and that for her was through image and presentation. Take time to listen to what your public is saying they REALLY like from you. Now this doesn't mean that you loose your identity or soul trying to be someone you are not or trying to be everything to everyone. There is something that you do every show that keeps people coming back for more. Find out what that is and build your brand from there. Enjoy the process of refining your brand. Success is yours!

The Truth

All Rights Reserved by Airtight Productions 2011

Staying Ahead Of The Curve

When choosing a path to success we have to decide whether we want to lead or follow, create or imitate. The people that have the best results seem to be the trail blazers, trendsetters or taste makers. The only way to be one of these people is by staying ahead of the curve. In order to do this you have to pull back far enough to see the entire landscape or playing field. When making creative or career decisions you can't just focus on what's happening now. You have to be able to see past what's in your face. Every industry has a process from conception to realization and this process involves a lot of critical thinking and planning. Being a visionary is a must. If you try to just stay current then you are already behind because the things that are being marketed as current are already at least a year old if not older depending on the time it took to fully develop the concept and get it market ready. You have to be able to see what's next and the way to do this is to just be honest with yourself. Start with the information you get from every performance or encounter. Every show is a chance to gather valuable in site on how to sell your product. Now staying ahead of the curve not only applies to your art but your mind set, image and physical state as well. There is nothing worse than to work for something and realize once you get there that you are out classed because of the so called intangibles. It is important to understand where you want to be. If you want to be a millionaire, famous musician or successful entrepreneur you have to stay up on every part of your game. You have to act, look, dress and perform for where you want to be and not for where you are. Remember staying ahead of the curve requires vision because the things you see are not yet visible to everyone. You have to make them a reality and to do so they must first be a reality to YOU. So start living in that space TODAY. The music industry in like a wide open frontier and there has never been a better time to establish new things on all levels, creatively and otherwise. Remember, when you are ahead of the curve, not everyone will be there with you so you have to have an unshakable faith and belief in what you are doing. When they catch up you will have already attained your success because you would have gotten there first. Stay courageous!

The Truth

All Rights Reserved by Airtight Productions 2011

Independence

With today being the Fourth of July, it really got me thinking about the concept of true independence. I've worked in a lot of different situations with a lot of people and I've been privy to quite a few musician conversations on the subject of independence. It is interesting that we all speak about being independent or just having the freedom to choose what we want to do with ourselves, especially in our careers, but most of us are missing the mark. The first step to TRUE freedom and independence is to understand that we are not defined by what we do. Being a musician, producer, educator and songwriter are things that I do it's not who I am. It's important that we are able to define who we are. I listen to musicians that work with various major artists talk about how sometimes the person they work for can be a bit unfair. They go on and on about how this person is just damn near evil. I've noticed that this type of conversation occurs mostly when there is no work (LOL). I find it funny because these same guys will talk about the artist they work for but still covet the association even when they know that they are no longer benefiting from the relationship. This my friend is nothing more than self imposed slavery. Now don't get me wrong I am living this myself. I have to constantly remind people not to introduce me just as Little Richard's drummer because playing that gig was great but it was only one of the things that I've been blessed to do and it doesn't define me. To truly garner respect and grow a brand it is vital that we not allow ourselves to be co-oped by any situation. We must always know who we are and what we stand for. Just because you are associated with someone who is famous doesn't give them or their existence any more importance than yours. This doesn't mean that we have to be disrespectful. It's all about knowing the truth and as it has been said, "The truth shall set you free." So let's continue to focus on maintaining and building our own independence. Remember we are not at all defined by what we do but who we are. Happy Independence Day!

The Truth

All Rights Reserved by Airtight Productions 2011