I have been involved in the booking, management, artist development, producing and recording industries for almost 30 years.
One message I always relayed to my artists and new performers, was never step on anyone or hurt them on your way climbing up the ladder to number one, because if you do, they will never forget, and no one stays number one forever, and on your way down, they will never let you forget.
Always lend some words of wisdom to those that you can and give them a helping hand up.
Re: DON'T STEP ON ANYONE ON YOUR WAY TO THE TOP Comment by Lakenya on Friday, March 23, 2007 at 10:42:02 PM
I was thinking about that yesterday. Though being honest and clean isn't the easiest way to the top, I don't want to ever have to be successful and have people coming out of the woodworks talking about how bad I was to them. You know? There are so many artist today crushing each other now because of thier lack of talent (yet they are accepted) Sometimes it's just so hard to see through it all. And for advice sake what's with up-and-coming producers and artists being exclusive with who they want to help out or work with or whatever beased on the market? You have to jump through they loops to get somewhere in the first place.
Whatever happened to thinking outside the box with talent? The Generation before me had The Jackson 5, Michael Jackson, Prince, Run DMC, Stevie Wonder, Patti LaBelle, Ray Charles, James Brown etc- list is endless- people who can be called real stars. But I look at my generation- Female MCs are extinct almost, Rappers copying off of each other. R&B isn't what it used to be. I look at today's so-called Superstars and see no one amazing or different. There are bunches of J5 wannabe groups, Michael Jackson wannabes (I'll never say the names but it's almost every R&B male singer). There are wannabe divas and all of that. I think that's resulted from so many people being stepped on because their image isn't "in". That used to be not how you did business. And I'm so glad to see that some people in my generation are feeling the same way.
I just want to know how can that be changed how can actual hidden talent find their way. I'm just so tired of it all lol. And just watch- my future children with have the better entertainment. I'm so jealous lol.
Re: DON'T STEP ON ANYONE ON YOUR WAY TO THE TOP Comment by Confederate Starz on Saturday, March 24, 2007 at 6:42:06 AM
Dear Lakenya,
Thanks so much for responding. I am glad that what I said in few words made some people think. You really hit that one on the head, correct, in today's industry there are so many that could care less whether they are honest or professional in working their way up the ranks in this dog eat dog industry.
My dear, the words in my vocabulary, and from inception how I built my company is by REPUTATION. MY REPUTATION IS ON THE LINE WITH YOURS AND YOUR REPUTATION IS ON THE LINE WITH MINE. REPUTATION IN THIS INDUSTRY CAN EITHER MAKE YOU A STAR OR BREAK YOU. MY REPUTATION IN THIS INDUSTRY PROCEEDS ITSELF, AND IF MY ARTISTS DON'T REPRESENT ME PROPERLY, WE'LL I CAN'T AFFORD THEM, BECAUSE WITH THE SWOOP OF ONE OH OH, BOO BOO, I'M SORRY, I WASN'T THINKING, I MADE A MISTAKE, IT COULD COST ME YEARS TO REBUILD MY REPUTATION BACK WITH MY ASSOCIATES.
Another term to remember in this industry, and we've all heard it "I have paid my dues". In todays society the translation would be, I've jumped through hoops, I dove through fire, I did everything asked of me, I took less money to build a name, I've paid my dues, I've done my time, now it's my time to SHINE.
Most artists do not understand, they sing the blues that we've paid our dues, you as a manager or agent or producer have no idea what we've been through. LOL, that artist may have paid a few dues with hmmm, maybe one or two management firms, but, on our end, Oh man the dues we pay. Artists that have no name locally, regionally, or internationally, but, the EGO "I'M THE BEST DAMN PERFORMER YOU'VE EVER HAD, I PUT ON A BETTER SHOW, NO ONE CAN OUT DO ME ON A STAGE" Okay, this first leg of our engagements, there are 4 in our band. You can get us $1,000/musician per night. Now, my wife, the artists wife, works with our band, and will travel with us and she needs to make $1,000 per night also. So, $5,000 starting out, yes, that will work.
Now, us band mambers have a question for you the manager. How are we going to get to the engagements? Who's going to provide and pay for the transportation. We want 2 meals with drinks while we do the sound check. And, I'm the leader of the band, so who's going to pay the band members?
WAKE UP CALL FROM MANAGER: Hey, guys, guys in the band, may I have your attention...... Question? Who knows you? How many prior engagements have you performed over the last say 3 years? What major acts have you opened for? How famous are you and just how much money is your claim to fame worth?
BET YOU GUESSED THIS ONE RIGHT. SILENCE IN THE ROOM, DEAD SILENCE. This was not a made up scenario, I have went thru this a while back with a professed to be famous, fighting his way to the top superstar. Moral of that story, a professed to be superstar that hasn't performed in years, that suggested in no uncertain terms, take those generic videos off your site, they are an embarassment to me.
LOL, My response, Schreeching, and enraged, I said, "YOU SHOULD BE SO LUCKY AS TO BE AS GENERIC AS CHICAGO, CROSBY STILLS NASH AND YOUNG, EMERSON LAKE AND PALMER, URIAH HEEP, BOSTON, ALICE COOPER, ETC.
Needless to say, I paid my dues, and him, lol, well, he went on his way. Then as management firms, we wear a lot of hats, accountant, homeroom teacher, nurse, maid, psychiatrist, marriage counselor, protector of artists, on and on and on.
Ah, yes, my dear friend, thinking out of the box, something I always do. Something labels have lost sight of over the years. In racing, if every race car driver was the same, there would be no such thing as a race. In this industry, if every singer or songwriter was identical in style and sound and composition, "DAMN WHAT A DULL AND BORING LIFE THIS WOULD BE". Quality always takes first place over quantity. Honesty always takes top honors over deceit.
A friendly reminder, Everyone started somewhere, and everyone had a vision or goal of where they wanted to go. Back in the day you worked hard to build your following and success. Too many artists of today, want their career handed to them on a gold platter and are clueless the steps necessary to take to get to the top.
No one in the industry needs to do someone elses complete job for them and provide room service. However, let's put this dog eat dog, turn your back and I'll stab ya so you don't get further than me attitude, and lend a helping hand. Give someone some advice, point them in the right direction. You don't have to do it all, just give them the best of the all of you that you can, encourage them, and move on to your career.
Helping others, lending a helping hand, teaching, directing, or educating them a little doesn't cost you that much out of pocket. They hit #1 on the charts and for your 15 minutes you spent lending them a hand, they'll hunt you down and tell you what difference you made in their life.
Hidden talent is never truly hidden. Jump, leap, smile, get someones attention. Be professional in all that you do. Have the drive and determination and commitment to know that no matter what anyone says, I WILL SUCCEED. NOTHING WILL STOP ME.
I'M GONNA HAVE TO CLOSE UP SHOP HERE. BUT, IF YOU LIKE, I SHALL RETURN.
NEXT TOPIC OF DISCUSSION ON THE HORIZON, HOW BOUT I GIVE A LITTLE THOUGHT TO;
OMG, WHO TOLD YOU THAT YOU COULD SING?"???????? THEY MUST HAVE BEEN DEAF WHEN THEY CAME TO THAT CONCLUSION.
WELL, FRIENDS, I HOPE THAT HELPED A LITTLE. PLEASE KNOW, I WILL NEVER GIVE YOU ALL MY SECRETS, BUT I WILL GIVE YOU BITS AND PIECES OF WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW TO DEVELOP YOUR OWN STYLE AND SUCCEED IN THIS INDUSTRY.
HAVE A GREAT DAY.
TILL NEXT TIME,
SEE YOU AT THE TOP
HUGS,
SHER
Re: DON'T STEP ON ANYONE ON YOUR WAY TO THE TOP Comment by wordmiester on Wednesday, April 18, 2007 at 1:20:00 AM
Is bribery considered hurting people? LOL
This is so true. I mean I've been on the bottom so long I have seen them all fall and those who fall on their feet are the ones who genuinely are about the music and are happy to pass the baton on to the ones coming up!
Re: DON'T STEP ON ANYONE ON YOUR WAY TO THE TOP Comment by Nicholas Cameron on Wednesday, April 18, 2007 at 9:23:51 AM
"I just want to know how can that be changed how can actual hidden talent find their way. I'm just so tired of it all lol. And just watch- my future children with have the better entertainment. I'm so jealous lol."
Regardless of the way you slice it, Talent is only part of the equation, and in a world where only strong survive (and we're talking about winning)---you have to excel in every other area of life to 'get to the top' (wherever this 'top' is).
So here's my two cents: Forget about changing the world---and trying to create a place where everyone makes it----rather change my own perspective, so that I expend as much energy into my talents as I do the fundamental laws of prosperity----PERSISTENCE, DETERMINATION, FOCUS, and a "YOUR NOT GONNA KNOCK ME DOWN' attitude.
As for what Confederate Starz has written, I couldn't agree more, within just one additive: Do not step on any toes... and help as many people as you can, as if maybe one may climb to this "top" before you, and be the hand that really takes you there.
Re: DON'T STEP ON ANYONE ON YOUR WAY TO THE TOP Comment by Lakenya on Sunday, April 22, 2007 at 8:51:28 PM
A random rambling thought here: Talent is only part of the equation. I remember hearing on the radio that talent only accounts for 5% of it all. 95% is business which just proves my point that there is no such thing as the Superstar anymore (No matter how much you throw the term around). I was telling my mother the other day that if everyone stopped focusing on the cars and the mansions and the jewelry and who's better than who and focused on the art itsself of being a musician or artist or whatever, then America can have an affect.
I don't really feel like elaborating on that right now, but America used to have that hard working standard. We used to have primary reasons for wanting to be go somewhere- where did it go?
Back to the 5 percent: When you think of it like that, what is the point of trying hard? And what is the point of not stepping on anyone? Just look like everyone else in Hollywood and get a chance. ;D Just steal dance moves, techiques, singing styles, be a total copycat and become part of the majority of so called "the elite". It's that 95% business. But I won't lead you on to thinking i know what I'm talking about, but when your idols are acting like the fans should, then it's not hard to understand. A solution? Well it really up to the artist though. And I think that if you have the mind, it shouldn't wait until you have enough money to rebel against the commercialism.
(exhales)This is just a rant because I've experienced writer's block in two stories and three songs lol. So I'm going to stay on here until I can remember what I was going to write and what the beats sounded like lol .
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