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

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

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

All Rights Reserved by Airtight Productions 2011

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