Leap Of Faith

Most of us have been on a particular journey for most of our lives. When we were younger, our dreams and goals had no limits but as we became older and a bit more jaded we began to second guess almost every thought and opportunity. I can bear witness that it truly takes a leap of faith and a little bit of insanity (LOL) to truly follow your heart. No one can tell you ANYTHING about your journey. It's all about how hard you are willing to work, well let me say that differently. It's about how much you are willing to believe in who you are and what you want. I have dealt with the leap of faith concept for my entire life. From the time I was eighteen and decided that I was going to pursue music as a full time career, I had people telling me it couldn't be done but I just believed. I've always been presented with opportunities that seemed unreal or to good to be true but I would never ask too many questions as not to talk myself out of it. As long as I have a round trip ticket and I can make and/or learn something, I'm in. It seems that when ever you say you want something the spiritual powers in the universe go to work to make it so but you have to do your part. You have to step out in faith that whatever you want will happen. The biggest fear is living outside of our comfort zone. Comfort can be one of the biggest enemies of progress and success because when we become too comfortable with where we are we become afraid of loosing what we THINK we have so we are less likely to take risks. I believe that the cycle never stops. Whenever I get too comfortable, I will get this little voice telling me it's time to do the next thing, it's time to move to the next level or phase and it has taken an immense amount of faith to continue to listen to that voice but it has never lead me wrong. It is a must that I continue to grow and get new levels of exposure and knowledge and the only way I can do that is to keep putting myself in new more challenging situations. This sharpens the skill level, character and intellect. It all starts with being fearless and having the courage to take a leap of faith. Regardless of what anyone tells you, you can attain ANYTHING you want. It's just about how much YOU believe it. Remember, the bible says it only takes faith the size of a mustard seed to move a mountain so there is an incredible power in true faith. Take your leap TODAY!

The Truth

All Rights Reserved by Airtight Productions 2011

Trim The Fat

One of the quickest ways to reach a goal is to first decide what it REALLY is you want. I mean in the music industry we end up doing so many different things to make ends meet, so to speak, that we kind of dilute our focus. It's time to trim the fat. We need to look at what things are contributing to the manifestation of our goals and what things are not. Once you make this decision, trim the fat with extreme prejudice. These things are nothing more than distractions but it takes a strong constitution, a strict will and a pure heart to do this. It even includes limiting your associations. Most of us are doing or have done gigs with what we term as Major artists and we have always looked at own projects as side things. It's no wonder that we have no problem getting another "gig" but our own projects never seem to fully materialize. It's because we only see them as side things. Have you ever thought, "That "gig" may be some fat that needs to be trimmed." I've done the Little Richard gig for 16 years. For all that time that gig was my priority. It took precedence over EVERYTHING. I finally had to be able to put it into it's proper place. It is an honor to work with and learn from a legend but there comes a time when you have to invest something into building our own house because as long as you give someone else full control of your life then you will never have what YOU want. As I said sometimes certain situations can serve as crutches or just be excess fat that needs trimming. It's a scary prospect being out here on your own but how else do you really expect to be the guy that owns the company, calls the shots, BOOKS the gigs...etc. You don't get to be that guy without taking risks and having unshakable faith. Now this is not for everybody. I do understand that but we all can take stock and trim some fat to help move our lives and careers forward. Start trimming TODAY!

The Truth

All Rights Reserved by Airtight Productions 2011

Discernment

I've talked a lot about success and what it takes to achieve your goals but the one thing I haven't discussed is discernment. Discernment is defined as the ability to judge well and success in this business is largely based on judgement calls. As I move through my career I continue to realize how important discernment is. We have to use good judgement at every turn especially as it relates to people and how we allow them to operate within our lives. The hard thing to face is that most people are only concerned about themselves and their own agendas. No matter what you do for them, they are only out for self. It has taken me a long time to understand that I have to be very careful about who I work with and who I allow into my creative and personal space. As artists we come from a very pure place. We wear our emotions on our sleeves and are mostly very honest and some times vulnerable people. Now this honesty is what allows us to make art that connects with people which in turn drives this industry because at the end of the day, nothing REALLY connects like THE TRUTH but that is a concept that most people are not that familiar with. I've had a lot of acquaintances but very few true friends. The way to judge or take stock on your relations is to analyze what theses relations are based on. If most of your relationships are only based on what you can do for others but these relationships are not reciprocal then you have a problem. We can't allow ourselves to be used and taken advantage of. This is why discernment is so important. We have to be able to size up a person's true intent from the start. This is actually very easy to do. You just have to listen, observe and deal with the truth that is put before you and not the truth you want to see. I've been guilty of seeing the things I wanted to see and not seeing what was really right in front of me. You see, I am an eternal optimist but I've had to learn to be more discerning as not to jade or corrupt my optimism. Bottom line ... when people show you who they are, just believe them the first time. It is not our job to babysit or change ANYONE. So let's stay on task, create great art and be very discerning about who and what we allow into our personal and business space.

The Truth

All Rights Reserved by Airtight Productions 2011

Staying Inspired

One of the hardest things to do in this industry is to stay motivated. Being that most of what we do is creatively inspired, everything can effect our situation. Staying inspired can seem to be impossible some times. We have to have an unshakable commitment to our purpose. There is inspiration to be found in everything and every situation, you just have to keep yourself open. In life we are going to deal with ups and downs but it is all about perception. When success is the ONLY option, nothing can shake you. It is important to develop a creative work ethic. Creating should be as fundamental as breathing and don't always try to create under the pressure of trying to create something based on money. Stay true to YOUR heart, passion and energy because the inspiration that you have is exclusive to you and if you don't give it life then it can't be valued by you or anyone. I know that life can come at you fast with bills, children, spouses and just plain living but giving up should never be in your thought process. I've seen people fight for years to accomplish something and give up just before their breakthrough was about to occur. The only way to open ANY door is to keep kicking it. It may not seem that it is moving but it does move with every kick and the only way it stops moving is if YOU stop kicking. Understand that the closer you get to achieving your goals, the harder it will seem and the pressure to give up increases but you must stay focused and keep your heart pure. Stress is an enemy to inspiration. Stress and inspiration are actually both powered by the same thing...your brain. Remember it's all about how we choose to look at it. Some people may see something as a setback but to stay inspired we have to be able to see that same something in a positive light. You can find growth and inspiration in all experiences good and not so good. It's all about being committed to staying on task. Don't put undo pressure on yourself. Just breathe in and breathe out and remember that waking up everyday is inspiration enough to succeed. Stay Inspired.

The Truth

All Rights Reserved by Airtight Productions 2011

Isms

I'm always traveling and participating in different situations all over the world and the one thing that still amazes me is how musicians, of all people, can be so prejudice sometimes. We have a lot of isms as it pertains to the music we play. For instance: I recently had a conversation with a guy that pretty much plays Jazz all the time and he commented on how he didn't play many Blues gigs because that wasn't his thing and the music was watered down and simple. I then had a conversation with another guy that was asking my opinion about forming his own Blues band but he was concerned that the so called Blues purist would not accept his sound because it may have a little different slant. All of this to me is ridiculous because the truth be told, we are all pulling from the same musical bag. No matter what type of popular music you play whether it's Blues, Jazz, R&B, Pop, Funk, Country, Hip/Hop or Rock & Roll, they all are fundamentally based in the Blues. So to say that you only play this or that only limits you. To fully grasp any American musical art form you must have an understanding of the Blues in form, feel and emotion. All of the other forms of American popular music are derived from the Blues so if you don't master it you are truly "faking the funk" in whatever music you are playing. Music is not about prejudice, it is about freedom. The freedom to play what you want the way YOU hear and feel it and as long as it is done with quality, sincerity and respect, you can do no wrong. All of those people with hang ups about what they can't play or who is or is not the greatest this or that are just full of crap. Drop all of the isms and realize that ALL music is good music. You should be able to find and respect the groove in everything. George Clinton says that everything is on the one and this is true both literally and metaphorically. The one is that thing that connects with people's soul and there is a one in all music. You just have to be open to find, explore and appreciate it. So remember the Blues is the foundation on which we all stand. Let's respect it, study it and grow it by understanding that there is no need for isms. Just play and enjoy this gift of music.

The Truth

All Rights Reserved by Airtight Productions 2011

Social Networking: Necessity or Addiction?

I spend a lot of time on line via facebook, twitter, linkedin, reverbnation ... etc. As an independent business owner the Internet gives me access to an almost limitless market. It seems that being on line a few hours a day is a down right necessity or is it an addiction? I guess it can actually be both. Truth be told, if I didn't feel like I had to put in daily time on line to maintain and grow my brand then I probably would be doing something else with the time. There are pros and cons to social networking. Some of the pros are being able to expand your fan or consumer base worldwide at a key stoke, keeping people aware of your brand in a way YOU choose, basic advertising with low over head and being able to stay in the loop of where the pulse is as it relates to your particular area of interest. Some of the cons are getting distracted by things that are unrelated to motivating or growing your business, dealing in social circles that you know you shouldn't be in just because you happen to be on line, not being able to keep your focus on the BUSINESS of social networking and allowing it to become to personal and being just down right nosy reading every little post about when someone chooses to use the bathroom or how cute their kid's are. Now I understand that we all have different reasons for being on line and networking and this is inevitably the answer. As a professional, before investing any time on line, decide exactly what your social networking purposes are and STICK TO THEM. If you want to deal in personal issues then maybe have and alternate sight to do so but even then as a business person that is a waste of time. We are out here on the web to do BUSINESS so let's stay focused on the necessity of having a strong; positive web presence and let's stay away from the frivolous addictions that can come with this medium of communication. Just remember, you are what you post so let's stay digitally focused. See you out there.

The Truth

All Rights Reserved by Airtight Productions 2011

Knowing Your Music History

I've heard a lot of people complain about how today's music lacks soul and doesn't connect with people like the music of the past. Now I know that every generation feels that they had the market cornered on musical style and expression. The one thing I have noticed about a lot of today's artists is that most of them do not know their music history. I mean if you are an R&B or Pop vocalist and you haven't studied Marvin Gaye, Donny Hathaway, Aretha Franklin, The Isley Brothers, Chaka Khan, Stevie Wonder etc... then you are missing the whole point. Music today is more about reaching a certain corporate end than making any real artistic expression. In the past making money was always the bottom line but it was understood that the music had to be quality and no link in the chain was taken for granted. That's why the music of Motown, Stax , Chess Records and Philly International sounds as fresh today as it did all those years ago. Now the reason we need to study the music and artists from the past is so that we not only know about the music but the circumstances that created the music. When you look at history and the struggles that were going on in society you see that the best music was created because the music was just an extension of the times they were living in. Music was a life force filled with love, hate, lust, compassion, fear, hope and redemption. So when people bought records they did so as a way to help move their life along a better path via a hot Motown dance groove or to a strong Philly message song. Simply put, the artistry was king. Now in today's microwave society, we are more focused on gimmicks and quick sales than on the quality of the art itself. I guess this actually says a lot about where we are in society. The truth is there are a lot of quality artists making music today in all genres of music but the buying public dictates what is hot and what is not. For the most part fluff still rules the day. If we want to see a change then we have to support this new generation of quality artists the same way we support the fly by night gimmick records. So take some time and study the music that came before us so that you know where we came from and this will help us define where we are going.

The Truth

All Rights Reserved by Airtight Productions 2011

Choosing The Proper Direction

Success is a life long pursuit and along the journey we encounter course corrections. We all come to certain crossroads in our lives and careers and the results we get are all based on choosing the proper direction. The music industry, like many others, is in a state of flux and rediscovery so this is actually an opportune time to plot a new career direction. When doing so understand that you can not operate from the old models at all. This is an entirely new landscape and we our the pioneers on this new frontier of independent opportunity. As we get older our decisions become more vital because we don't have as much time to make stupid mistakes or decisions. Our age and experience should grant us with wisdom, honestly and a certain purity of heart when it comes to plotting the right course for ourselves. Take stock of your life and career. What's really working for you? What's not? As an artist,musician or business man what are your most valuable skill sets. Not just your preferred skills but what do others consider valuable about your skills? Once you decide what those skills are, you can plot a shorter more direct path to your next level of success. It's all about order. We are all good at several things but we can only really master and focus on one thing at a time. Prioritize your skills from strongest to weakest. You can use them all but allow yourself to focus honestly on your stronger skills so that you can use those attributes to open the door and create a path for you to utilize ALL of your skill sets. Just remember success is just about being honest with yourself and choosing the proper direction. Now go on down your path. There is no more time to waste.

The Truth

All Rights Reserved by Airtight Productions 2011

It Takes Courage To Advance

One of the hardest things to do in this industry and life in general is to change. We know that it almost always takes changing something to move to a better place. As musicians and artists, change is usually something we fear so for the most part we become complacent and just settle for what we have, not realizing that life is always about taking risks and having the courage to move out into the unknown. I'm am personally faced with making these kind of decisions ALL the time. I travel all over the world doing many things in many different capacities and the more I see the more it becomes evident that I need to make certain changes. Now these changes can be in association, location or focus. It takes a lot of self confidence and courage to decide to uproot and move yourself to a new market or to even tackle something at the next level. The truth is sometimes it may seem as if you are going backwards. For instance: I'm tasked with relocating one of my main recording studios to a west coast market. Now this means I have to find new real estate, set up in the market and be able to generate income to sustain in this new market. Some say, "Why move!?" I have certain personal, career and financial goals that can't be met where I am now and changing or moving doesn't mean you leave what you've built behind, it simply means that you are expanding your territory, raising your visibility and earning potential. We all SAY we want certain things in our careers but very few of us have the courage to make the necessary changes it takes to advance. Never make changes based on other people either. It's cool to have a support system but at the end of the day YOU are going to have to make it happen. Sometimes people have good intentions but they are consumed enough with their own lives and goals and you and your goals become at best a part time interest for them so stay enCOURAGEd. Just focus on what you want and have the faith and courage to pursue it relentlessly.

The Truth

All Rights Reserved by Airtight Productions 2011

Reading Between The Lines

I've read a lot of articles and reviews of my work and lots of people's work over the years. Most recently I participated in a few festivals and I had people that where friends of the music send me the articles. Now the one thing that I thought was interesting was that very few of the articles really captured the WHOLE story. Now I know that in an article you have limited space and you have to get to the high points to keep the reader interested but I still feel that it is the writer's duty to paint a TRUE picture for those that where not in attendance. The biggest thing I gleaned form these articles was the importance of reading between the lines. Let me explain. In one article this guy paints a picture of how the festival was dreary except for one or two performances but he wasn't in attendance for the ENTIRE festival. He showed up late one evening and stayed all day on the next day. It was also evident that his opinions may have been politically motivated because I personally witnessed some of the greatest shows I've seen yet there was no mention of them in the review. I guess my point is for us as artists and musicians to understand that reviews and articles are cool but they don't define us nor do they most of the time even tell the whole story. It is important that we learn to read between the lines of all of it including flattery. It is largely media manipulation. I mean how can you truly cover an event and not see ALL of the acts that take the stage or at least try to see as many as you can to give equal and balanced coverage to all involved and to paint the most accurate picture for the reader. The truth is even though journalists' are suppose to write from a non-biased point of view, very few actually do. If it is someone they like personally then they paint a better picture. Even if that person is not as good as some other artist or performer. At the end of the day it is all politics and BS. Just don't let yourself get too caught up in it. The bottom line for us is what we get paid and how any press or whatever is going to contribute to the advancement of our career. We must remember that we are in control. I mean without us what would they have to write about. So keep your head up and always read between the lines even if the lines are flattering. Don't believe the hype either way. Stay focused!!!!!! And to the journalists' out there, please make an attempt to write honest non-biased stories that will help our careers and don't get involved in the ego game. We perform; you write, that is it. If you want to perform then put down the pen and join us on stage and see what we do. Just be FAIR!!!!!

The Truth

All Rights Reserved by Airtight Productions 2011

Dealing With The Front Man

I'm just back from touring for the last month. It was interesting because within one month I toured or performed in five vastly different situations. Each situation required a different level of musical prep and emotional understanding. The one thing I was thankful for was my years of experience knowing what to deal with and what not to deal with. The biggest thing is understanding the front man ego. (This applies to male and female). I've worked with Little Richard for the past sixteen years and there is no bigger star in the galaxy. The main thing to understand when dealing with a front man of any sort is that you are there to give them what THEY want, even if they don't know what they want. (LOL) This sounds strange I know but it is true. I can't tell you how many times I've had an artist try to tell me what they wanted but had no clue on how to communicate it technically or otherwise but the front man ego won't let them admit that they don't know. So I've just learned to be observant of everything from their off stage personality to there body movements and gestures on stage. IT IS VITALLY IMPORTANT TO ALWAYS KEEP YOUR EYE ON THE FRONT MAN. Their actions truly speak louder than their words. You should always adopt this motto, " They may not always be right but they are never wrong." The front man can do no wrong. At least that's the way they see it so if we are going to exist in their world and truly give them our best then we must believe it too. Never take any of their rantings personal because most of that is just to keep you off center. Just be confident and most of all be well prepared and just relax. Music is nothing but fun. Most of the time front men can be very insecure so they feel like enforcing their will over us validates their importance to the world. (LOL) Just go with it. Don't allow it to stress or affect your performance. These are very special people and for those of us that also double as front men, just keep in mind how we feel sometimes and let's do our best to be fair with the musicians we deal with. Now go have a great show and remember they are NEVER wrong.

The Truth

All Rights Reserved by Airtight Productions 2011