Who is Sikone?

 

  Sikone aka Mickey Mangles has officially signed with Wicked Butterfly Entertainment!  Yes that is two major announcements in two days!  First Black Project Productions and now Sikone.  I have been asked on several occasions who is Sikone?  My answer is always the same; I am still trying to figure it out!

  Known by his trademark Joker style tattoos and verbal skills, Sikone quickly made a name for himself in the West Texas rap community.  In 2005 Sikone started off writing songs for his guitar.  In 2008, the Lubbock, TX legend himself, S.I.N  went out of his way to find Sikone.  He had heard from several different people Sikone could produce bad-ass freestyles in both Spanish & English.  So after listening to several of these freestyles, he asked if Sikone would do a feature for his album.  That combination hit the radio & the streets pretty damn hard.  After that S.I.N. helped Sikone put out his first mix tape "Back from the Dead Again" in 2009.  In 2010 S.I.N.’s Brother Mr. Phil came to Lubbock, TX from Austin, TX & began producing the duo.  This was the beginning of the group Tierrosos.  They dropped their first album the same year but have produced nothing since then.  Sikone was tired of being idle in music and ended up working with a group called The Jokaz in 2011. He signed with them under the alias Mickey Mangles.  The group made the decision to change their name from The Jokaz to S.M.K (Sik Made Killas). To this day it is still unclear how everyone ended up in the group.  S.M.K. really made a name for themselves in both Texas and New Mexico and will be heading out on the National Blackout tour this summer.  In July 2012 Sikone aka Mickey Mangles signed onto Wicked Butterfly Entertainment for his management needs.  Once he returns from the Blackout tour his current Sikone persona will be laid to rest.  In late 2012 we will see the reemergence of Sikone with Wicked Butterfly Entertainment and total devastation is sure to ensue.  You can be sure of one thing and one thing only; there is nothing but world domination on the horizon!

   The next year is going to be huge for Sikone, Black Project Productions, and Draztik.  Look for releases by all 3 in the next 12 months.  Also be on the lookout because these guys will be hitting the road in West Texas/New Mexico.  The next performance you can catch the entire Wicked Butterfly Crew at is "Night of the Wicked" in Albuquerque, NM on July 27, 2012.  Come by the Orchid chamber and check them out!

MMFWFL,

Juggalotus

Secrets to being a promoter

So I was thinking the other day, why is it so difficult for someone to be a promoter for local shows?  After giving it some thought I decided I would share the secrets I have learned so far to make any promoter trustworthy, honest, and successful.  Here is what I have learned:

1. Communicate!  This should be self explanatory but just in case it isn't let me clarify.  In order to have a successful show you, the venue, the ticket agents, and your openers need to know what is going on.  If something changes with the show everyone needs to know!  Make sure you have a list of people you need to talk with.

2. Organization.  If you have great organization nothing slips through the cracks.  You should have your show lineup out at least a month in advance so the artists know when they are supposed to be there to perform.  Most artists no matter what level of success like to prepare to be on stage.  If they are at the venue and have no clue when they are to perform they become very upset.  Sure there might be set backs like last minute cancellations or delays in starting the show.  If a group or artist drops out everyone gets moved up in the lineup.  And everyone should be made aware of the change as soon as possible!

3. Trust and honesty.  Simple answer to this is not to lie or screw people over to cover your investment.  There is risk in doing shows.  Whatever you invest, you might not get back.  If you do not promote the show right or neglect to take care of people you will not have a successful show and you WILL lose money.  Once you work with people and they know you can be trusted they will want to work with you again.  Also if there is an opener that does not meet your expectations talk to them.  If they fail to bring ticket sales, promote, or perform well then don't keep giving them spots on your show!

4. Do not charge people to perform.  As local bands or artists go it takes a lot of investment on their part to make music and be successful, thus you should not charge them to perform at your show.  The one exception to this would be booking a major tour or show (aka major record labels or artists).  And then the fee should be as minimal as possible.  I have found that by giving slots to those who pay will make sub par artists perform at your show.  And as a music fan if I go to a concert and the openers are absolutely horrible I am less likely to see another show promoted by the same person.  You can have your openers buy a certain number of tickets (10-20) and then it is up to them to sell them and make their money back.  Any tickets sold over that amount the artists should receive a portion of the sales (usually $1-3per ticket).  If you do this the need for you to charge artists will not be there and you will not only get a full show but your openers will hustle harder to make it successful.

5.  Be nice.  Now don't be a pushover but understand that every person involved in the show is there to make you money.  So be nice to them!  It isn't that hard to hang out with your openers or anyone else for that matter.

6.  Live up to your promises.  Make the venue/headliners payments when they need to be paid.  Don't ask for more time.  If you can't afford to do a show, don't!  Sometimes doing 3-4 big shows a year is better than doing 3-4 crappy shows a month.

7. Promote.  Do not rely on anyone else to promote the show.  It is your money.  So relying on your openers or the booker from the tour to do promotion is not what you need to do.  If you are unwilling or unable to give the time needed to hit the ground yourself then do not promote or book shows.  For every minute your openers are out promoting and selling tickets you should be out there at least double but most likely triple that.

  I know it seems easy to be a promoter but I can tell you it isn't.  It is super stressful, very complicated, and in many cases a complete toss up for a profit.  That is why if you do not love doing it you shouldn't.  I know some major labels and they have lists of promoters/bookers they will not work with.  Many of these are for reasons I have stated here.  If a major booker constantly comes to a city and gets screwed they will stop coming to that city.  Now I am not saying I am an expert at all.  I only am telling you what I know from my experience.  So take it for what it's worth. 

Remember when we were little we had the Golden Rule: Treat others how you want to be treated.  That holds true to this day.  If you do these things and follow that rule there is absolutely no reason you can't be successful.

Peace,
  Juggalotus

WB making moves in Texas!

  So Wed I made it to the studio again with Dratik the Terrible.  We did a track called Love me/Hate me.  It is the latest in a long line of hot tracks we have produced in the studio so check it out!  While in Lubbock I also met with Mickey Mangles aka Sikone to work out some contract details.  Nothing is official and in ink yet but look for a huge post soon about that situation.  While there I also met with a new artist named Selfmade.  He gave me two CD's to check out and I hope to have some more details about him in the near future.

  Now as Wicked Butterfly moves forward there are some huge releases on the horizon.  Be on the lookout in the near future for a huge mixtape called the WB Boyz.  This will include every artist signed to Wicked Butterfly Entertainment.  It will be the worlds first introduction to the company and artists that I am bringing to the world.  The Southwest has been slept on and that is all about to change.  Then later in the year look for the debut release for Draztik the Terrible called Between heaven and hell.  That will be released at the end of the year and will destroy any ideas you might have of the wicked shit.  Mickey Mangles is currently working on new material but be on the lookout for a full release of Refried Beans, his most current release which gives a great look at his career both solo and a part of the groups Tierrosos and Sik Made Killas.  He is also going out on the Blackout Tour with S.M.K. this summer so check him out as he comes to your city.  Selfmade is in the studio as well making new tracks for your earholes.  So be on the lookout for all that flavor in the next few months.

  Thats the news as only I can give it.  I will say if you are an artist or promoter looking to book any of these guys hit me up!  They are all available for collabs and any shows you want them at.

MMFWCL,
  Juggalotus

Wicked Butterfly Entertainment

  Ok so the music blog has taken a very strange turn this year.  In January my intention was to get interviews with artists and make my blog the best place for information for my audience.  Since then it has morphed into a monster!  I have a friend Draztik who wanted me to go to the studio with him and check out what he was doing.  So I went.  We made a song that blew us away.  Next thing I know he wants me to be his manager.  I was cool with that even though I had never considered doing anything like that.  So we started making music weekly at the studio.  Then he hits me up to possibly do a Juggalo Jump off show with DJ Clay.  I was like ok and I started looking for a second headliner.  That lead me to meet T.O.N.E-Z.  He was a cool dude who was down with coming to Texas for the first time.  Well Clay didn't work out and I had to call T.O.N.E-Z and break the news.  He was cool and said if I still wanted to do a show he was down.  This led me to jump feet first into the music business.  So I started planning the show, once again not having any experience what so ever in this.  It was definitely a learning process and in the end I lost my butt financially.  But the good news is I learned a ton and made a lot of connections in the business.  So here we are May 13, 2012 and I am now running a blog, planning a CD release and working the studio for the album, managing a schedule for Draztik, Working full time, and now starting a promotions/booking/management company for artists in West Texas and New Mexico.

  So I am here to officially announce that my new company Wicked Butterfly Entertainment is official.  As of today my roster includes only Draztik the Terrible.  But due to the show and connections I might possibly be adding 5 more groups to the mix.  I can say officially that the Tripola Boyz from Lubbock are the newest members of the Wicked Butterfly family.  We hope to have the contract worked out soon and be able to add them to the roster.  Thanks to Mickey Mangles I have a new company logo:

Look him up for Graphics, Beats, and performances!

  I am always interested in musicians or rappers to add to the roster so if you are interested hit me up at wickedbutterflyentertainment@gmail.com.  I am also promoting and booking any shows in Lubbock, Amarillo, or Albuquerque so if you have a show you want here let me know!

So there you have it the back story of the birth of a new music company!!

I hope for great things in the future and thank all of you for reading my blog and sticking with me through this year!

Juggalotus

T.O.N.E-Z and Mars in Lubbock, TX

Whats up fam!  I am here with my official play by play of last weekends T.O.N.E-Z and Mars show at Jakes in Lubbock, TX.

  Friday my cousin CJ and I drove into Lubbock to pick up T.O.N.E-Z and Big Ian from Faygoluvers.  Once we finally met face to face it was like we had been homies for ever.  Fri night we chilled out and ate at this bomb Mexican place called Mar Y Tierra.  It was some of the best mexican food I have had to date.  Then we headed back to the hotel and chilled out.  On a side note the folks at the Red Roof in are the bomb!  So we chilled out all night just waiting for Sat and our hella busy schedule.
 
  Saturday finally came and we were up and at the breakfast by 8:30!  It was really good.  Had some fruit waffles and OJ.  Then we got dressed for the day and headed to the mall for more Promo.  We spent about 2 hours at the mall passing out flyers and having CJ filming T.O.N.E-Z meeting and taking photos.  While out we decided it would be a great idea to have my cousin shoot a music video for T.O.N.E-Z new track "Spotlight" off his High Voltage album.  We spent a little time at the studio that me and Draztik do our music at.  T.O.N.E-Z was able to meet our music producer Scott and get to see where the magic happens.  Then we had to go back to the hotel and pick up my boy Jay and my wife.  We all went out to lunch and had steak and seafood.  We dropped T.O.N.E-Z off at the hotel so he could catch a nap and it was off to Jakes for soundcheck.  All the openers were there and soundcheck went well.  Back to the hotel to get T.O.N.E-Z for the meet and greet.  It was a very intimate meet and greet with a few people there. Took T.O.N.E-Z back to the hotel so he could get ready for the show.  I went back to Jakes cause it was showtime.  We delayed the start about 30 min so people could trickle in.  Finally at 8:30 pm Worlds Kollide Records hit the stage for a devistating 20 min set.  After them came my homies Black Project Records, 806 Outlaw and Narkotixx, theyhit the stage and left nothing off.  After that the SKSCC crew hit it followed by Sikone aka Mickey Mangles and both of his groups, Tierrosos and S.M.K., the crowd was live.  Then my artists Draztik hit the stage for his first ever appearance.  He seemed nervous at first but once he fell into a comfort zone he killed it.  DRP was supposed to be next but fell ill and was replaced by Leaders of the Lost.  They did a really good set and had the crowd prepped for T.O.N.E-Z.  Once T.O.N.E-Z hit the stage it was obvious he was in his zone.  He killed old tracks, new tracks, and everything in between.  I overheard some in the crowd saying it was the best live show they had ever seen and I can't say I disagree.  After he left the stage the club cleared out.  Not sure why everyone left cause Mars was still having his set.  We got the people that had gone out for fresh air back in and Mars hit the stage.  He did his set and killed it for the 30-40 remaining people (much love to him for that).  The show was over.  I had finally had my first show and while financially it was unsuccessful there was a lot of good things that happened.

  So the show was over and all of the remaining audience and all of the openers still there were able to hit the parking lot and be in the T.O.N.E-Z video!  We hope to get that released the next few weeks so be on the look out for that.  Thank you to all the Fam that came out and supported the show.  I appreciate all of you and love each and every one of you.  Thank you to all the acts that performed without you I would have had no show.  Mars and Mastamind is next so be on the lookout for that info!

  All in all it was a good show.  Some things on the horizon for me, well I have 2 more groups that might possibly fall into the Wicked Butterfly Family, Mars and Mastamind will be in Lubbock July 12 to kill the underground scene, and Draztik has his album we need to finish and get out to you guys in Dec of this year!  So it will be a busy summer for your boy Juggalotus.  Be on the lookout as I post new info here and please go show any shows here in the Lubbock/Amarillo/Albuquerque area  underground scene some love.  The promoters around here hustle hard to make this area a viable stop on any Psychopathic tour and if we can't show them how strong the family is here we might never get any of our big family here.

Peace til later,

Juggalotus