Successful artist or weekend hobbyist?

This blog is going to give the secret to making it in the music business, hell any business for that matter. 

The secret is this, surround yourself with people whose primary goal and focus is helping you get ahead.  Not pushing their own agendas, projects, or ideas.  Artists should hire a good manager who will do everything in their power to help the artist make money (if the artist makes money so does the manager!).  The manager of course will have a contract that has percentages of the profits on shows, merchandise, and appearances that go to them for their time and effort in promoting, finding shows, setting up merchandise deals, etc.  Most contracts have options to cancel if you are not satisfied with their services, if they don't be wary.  Your manager will have a majority of control of the business side of  your career, this is what you want.  If they are a good manager they will handle all business affairs, while including you in the decisions, with your best interest in mind.  They will help you hone your craft and produce the best possible product to market you effectively.  I can tell you from experience there in no artist in the world who can handle both the business and creative side of things.  It is way too much for one person or two people to do.  At the same time a manager should help you with the quality of sound and production they should not take over what you write, how you write it, or any part of that process. 

Over the past 6 months I have watched as people close to me surrounded themselves with "friends" that were helping them in the music business.  These so called friends may have had the best intentions when they started out but as I have watched I see these people doing everything except helping the artist get ahead.  In most cases the "friends" are riding the artists coat tails to fame and notoriety while doing nothing to help that artist get ahead. 

In a few cases their lifelong friends have managed to drain the artist of their money while doing nothing to help them get money back.  They do this by stretching the artist in too many directions, get them involved in things that are not relevant to their careers, or have them running and doing shows that are not benefiting the artist. 

Some of these so called friends are what I call part timers or hobbyist in the business.  They will put in minimal effort, finances, and time to the project they are working on with the artist.  By doing this they force the artist to pay for a majority of the albums, shows, or merchandise out of their pockets while barely doing enough to "make it work."  I have said many time that there a only a few traits an artist must have to be successful.  Those traits are:

-Commitment
-Willingness to invest in themselves
-Natural talent
-Willingness to learn and adapt

That is the most simplified list.

The last thing these "friends" do is drag you into their drama filled lives.  They will fail to pay rent and get you kicked out of houses or apartments.  They will make it a point to make drinking, drugs, and living the "rock star life" the number one priority.  They will allow their personal trials and tribulations to ge tin the way of doing what is best for the artist.

It was said to me not too long ago that the music business was just like any other business.  The example I was given was an author and editor.  Authors are wary of trusting editors to edit their work.  They are worried the editor is more concerned with making money off of the author.  When in reality a qualified and great editor will do everything in their power to make that author successful.  By doing this the editor will make more money over the long term.  This same principal applies to musicians, athletes, or anyone else who must market themselves to make it.

Please don't think I am naive to the fact there are shitty managers out there who do take advantage of artists.  I understand that any business can be abused.  I would ask all of you artists this simple question, what are the people around you doing to help you?  If you cannot think of a long list of things they are doing to pitch in and promote you as an artist, maybe it is time to change your circle.  I know a lot of you have life long friends that you wouldn't want to cut ties with.  But if those people are weighing you down and hurting your career why would you want them around?  Your manager should be your friend and closest confidant.  They should be the one you talk with about where you want your future to go knowing they will work their ass off to help you get there.

If you have 10 different projects going on with close friends how do you have time to complete your solo work?  How are you finding the money to support all of those projects?  How many of those projects are you in with part timers? 

If you are the only person putting 100% effort into your career and projects while others are just along for the ride it should not matter how long you have been down.  This is a business first and foremost.  If that isn't your focus then you need to reconsider what you are doing.

Do you want to be a successful artist or a weekend hobbyist?

Why local Hip Hop is failing

Since I have moved to Tucson I have noticed the same thing I have noticed in any city I have lived in for the past ten years, Local Hip Hop artists refuse to support other artists in their cities.  There seems to be this accepted understanding that if you or your friends do not like another group of people you have to do everything you can to stop them from making moves.  I understand that the complex mix of envy, jealousy, fear, anger, and loyalty drives this idea.  The local hip hop scene is dying a slow death because of this philosophy. 

  The solution to this problem is quite simple, whether you like the music they make or not you should have respect for the fact they are trying to make it just like you.  The other day on Facebook the guy who runs the Tucson Rap page posted a cypher which had 4 white guys on it as part of his Southwest Cypher Series.  Almost immediately another rapper posted this:

 "Y'all need to stop showing these whack white boy rappers and focus on artists. The only true artists in tucson are EMG, EZ Goin, the Kennedy's and efresh. Stop showing this stupid typical tucson rap because that's why no one gives tucson love."

This is exactly what I am talking about.  This guy has a few people he supports and because of race has decided the guy on that cypher are whack.  It is a fact one of the best rappers in the world is Eminem and he is white.  I think it is time we move beyond the idea that a persons skin color makes or breaks their ability in Rap and Hip Hop.  Why does it matter if the guys on the cypher are white?  It doesn't.  Stacc Styles is one of the best chopping rappers in this city.  Crookyd is hands down one of the best battle rappers here.  They have been asked to perform at shows and have been the only Tucson rappers on the bill.  This isn't by chance it is because they work constantly on their craft.  They don't make cheap ass music or music videos.  The hustle hard, make quality music, and always have their eyes on what is important, their career and what they want to accomplish.  That is how you succeed.  They also show love to anyone trying to make it and actually doing the work needed to make it.  Rap isn't a hobby, I have said it before, it is a business.  In order to succeed you need to do anything and everything to make it.  Deprive yourself of sleep and other things to make your dreams happen.

There have been times I have heard people say "I would love to see the headliner but I don't support the locals on the show so I am not going."  How does this make any sense?  You should be buying tickets to shows for the headliner not the locals.  Who knows if people gave someone they heard was whack a chance they might actually dig what the guy(s) do.  If local scenes continue to get shows of 25-30 people and by the time the headliner is out you can count the fans on your hands because the fans only came to support their friends then rappers and other artists who can give you exposure will not come to town.  Then nobody wins.  Small or big a national tour can get you exposure and fans nationwide.  If any artists refuses to see that then it is time to quit and get a 9-5 job.

There is a movement by some on social media to "support locals" and that in words is great.  But the same people who post such things do not back up that idea with actions.  What they in turn are saying is "Come support my friends because I think they deserve it, but I will not return the favor."  As local shows refuse to support one another the entire movement fails.  Not until we can all band together and support people because of their hustle, abilities, and drive and stop hate because of envy, jealousy, fear, anger, and blind loyalty will the hip hop movement in any city begin to see success and love from anyone outside of that city. 

MMFWFL,

Juggalotus