Sniper Vs Shot-Gun Approach

When it comes to being able to execute a plan, I find you only really have two options. 

The Shot-Gun or the Sniper approach. 

Shot-Guns - Don't require much planning. Spray and pray. Sometimes you hit your target, sometimes you don't. At least you hit something right?

But are random acts of improvement the best way to increase your success? My guess would be - No. 

And then you get snipers. 

Snipers - Approach things a little differently.

Like a chess game you have to see at least 3 to 4 moves ahead and anticipate what will happen next. Watching your environment, studying your target, adjusting for wind speed. All while the war wages around you.  

Sometimes however, you can use both methods to your advantage. But almost always, it's better to execute your strategy as a sniper.

How do you execute as a sniper? Practice, plan and shot. Then do it again, and again and again. Until you get better at it.  

Keep shooting until you hit the target - Every-time! 

What are record labels looking for?

So, What are record labels looking for?

I've been asked this question a few times and sadly, this is a very good example of a very bad question.

It is like asking me, what is a dinosaur looking for? Well, food, water... Oh, and not to be extinct.

I get annoyed at this question because it shows a complete lack of understanding of the current music environment. A lack of self awareness of what you as an individual can bring to a team or company in terms of skills, value and freshness. Often the person asking this is not thinking what can I give to add value to you but what can I take.

It shows a genie mentality towards your craft and music - I rub my magic lamp and someone else makes my wish for money, power and fame come true. 

But just because it's a bad question, doesn't mean we can't learn from it. And now that I've got that out of my system, let's jump into some lessons from this question shall we: 

Business Smarts

Fact, every business needs to make money or they will become extinct. This is a given. So lets get the money talk out of the way so we can dive into the deeper things. 

If you have no track record of selling even 100 units of anything (CDs, tickets, merchandise etc.) What on earth makes you think you can sell a million units? 

Have you ever even tried selling a 100 of anything to your potential market? It's not as easy as it sounds but it is achievable. And if it is achievable why haven't you done it yet? 

These are fundamental questions any business will ask and if you don't have answers I would suggest you begin looking for the answers fast. You need to show proof that your brand sells or has the potential to sell to a ready and willing audience. You need more than just your mom's approval to say that your talent is real at this stage of the game. 

Does your brand align with the business? 

This requires you to do your homework on the company. A rookie mistake that I see often, is when artists don't know what kind of music the company they have submitted to makes. 

What does this company stand for?

Do I see myself fitting into what they believe and how they operate? 

How do they operate?

How can I see them in action? 

What is their latest release?

These are all questions you need to answer for yourself before you even make official contact and ask them for anything. 

Professionalism

I've written on this before in a previous blog post but I believe it is so sorely underrated that it needs to be mentioned again. And again, and again... Until it sinks in. 

What does professionalism look like? Well, let me break it down for you: 

• Are you as a person able to follow simple instructions? (Think carefully about this one. Because every company has their preferred way of doing things and if you can't follow their instructions you are going to tick someone off)
• Can you email a person when it is requested.
• Call back when requested
• Respect office hours and not call on weekends and after hours without prior consent
• Can you humbly except rejection and thank the person even when it hurts
• Can you backup your claims of being wonderful and amazing through the testimonies of fans and clients
• Have you taken the time to present your product, service or yourself in a manner that is fitting of another persons respect 
• Is all the necessary information about you and your product neatly presented, written down and easily accessible 

In a nutshell, would you approach a CEO of a company you wish to work for the same way as you would approach your home-boy down the street? - Hint: The answer to this should be no.

The irony of professionalism is that none of it requires talent and can be taught, learnt and improved upon. So you have no excuse. 

Originality 

Yes, as the Bible says there is nothing new under the sun. So no matter how different you think you are, your music still needs to fit into some kind of a category and that can be a good thing.  It helps you know who your audience is and what they like and don't like is often clear to those within the tribe. As the saying goes, The Beatles didn't invent teenagers but they did show up to lead them. 

Where you can be unique however, is through your point of view. Sharing your story, speaking your truth. Which speaks to a particular world view. When I want to listen to Drake, I listen to Drake. I don't listen to his cheap imitation knockoffs. 

Education 

If you are not constantly learning more about your chosen industry you will get left behind and in todays current times with the Internet, all the knowledge you seek is usually a click away. It is easier than ever to learn more about how an industry works and who the key players in the game are. If you are not taking advantage of this you are shooting yourself in the foot.

For example you can read books like 'All you need to know about the music business' by Donald Passman. Plus many others that can broaden your horizon and perspective of the industry you wish to join.

If you have limited access to the Internet then the library makes an excellent substitute. So with the will to work hard and a library card you have no excuse.

Go and create!

Make a difference.  

The day my elephant became a dragon

Note to reader: The cool title credit belongs to my beautiful wife and inspiring muse, Lauren Lee Aboagye.

Just when I thought Evernote couldn't get any cooler, I remembered a feature that I've been wanting to try out for some time.

Enter The Dragon.

For awhile I used to use a software from Nuance called Dragon naturally speaking.

The software translates spoken word into text. An amazing little tool that can really enhance your productivity. But I've always struggled to find the right time and place to use it because you often need to be in a room so quiet that you can hear a pin drop. Plus there's always that schlep of having to train your dragon first, so that it can pick up on your pronunciation and analyse your sentence structure. The learning curve is kind of steep and honestly a little time consuming.

But now with using dictation in Evernote  I found the perfect tool that integrates both worlds. Dragon and Evernote. The convenience of having my phone in my pocket, and taking notes verbally while on the go is wonderfully freeing.

In fact I'm writing this blog post using the dictation software and the accuracy is pretty amazing.

This really opens up a world of possibilities.

If you don't already use Evernote this is a good reason to start.

If that's what it takes...

“Do what you have to do until you can do what you want to do.” - Oprah Winfrey

Mike Tyson once said: "Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth."

If you need to flip burgers so that you can do more of what you are passionate about, then do it!

If you have encountered a set back then you need to get back up and come up with a better plan.

For years I have worked as an IT Consultant, Business Analyst and Project Manager. And for a rapper it may not be as "glamorous" as drug dealing but it put food on the table and helped finance a number of music projects that have literally changed my life. Allowing me to meet some pretty amazing people along the way and continue to keep the dream alive. 

Use your environment

John Grisham the writer of The Firm use to be a lawyer so he wrote a fiction story using details he was intimately acquainted with.

Steven King use to clean sheets in motels while writing manuscripts which would later turn into novels.

John Legend use to work for the Boston Consulting Group.

Walt Disney use to work at a local newspaper company until he was fired for "a lack of creativity".

Elvis Presley use to be a truck driver in Memphis.

Eminem used to cook and wash dishes for minimum wage at Gilbert's Lodge a family-style restaurant.

J. K. Rowling was a researcher and secretary for Amnesty International when she conceived the idea for Harry Potter.  

Usually, the unexpected flip side is that the environment you are in often ends up being the material from which you can draw from to create the work of art that you are working on.

It's not where you start that matters but where you end up that counts.

The only rule I'd like to add to this is: Please keep it legal! Because if I meet another drug dealer rapper who thinks they will beat the odds like Jay Z and 50 Cent. I'm going to call the cops myself.

The bottom-line is, there is no point lamenting your current situation. For whatever reason you are where you are for a reason and you have the power to change it. The wise thing to do is use your surroundings as the catalyst for change. Use it as the creative fuel to elevate you from where you are to where you want to be.

No Record Deal, No Problem

So, How do you get signed to a record deal? 

In a nutshell...

Doing it on your own is the best way to get signed.

What do you have that a record label would want?

"I have a good voice."

"I can write a good song."

"My mama said I can sing."

"Yo man, I can rap."

"I make dope beats."

If you said any of the things I just mentioned above then you can expect the following.

No. I'm sorry, but that's not exactly what we are looking for. And sadly talent is not enough.

So what are record companies looking for?

Simple. Three things: PPD

1. PROOF

This can come in many forms but the two important ones are Social Proof and Profit Proof.

If you say something online, on your website or social media (and you should have both) do you have an engaged audience that cares and will respond?

If you put on a show or release a single can you turn a profit? 

In today's current market, even a little profit is better than none. Are you turning out tunes and shows consistently and keeping records?

2. PROFESSIONALISM 

Honestly, I believe that this is the most important of the three because it can determine your success in the other two areas. 

It doesn't take talent to arrive at rehearsals on time. 

It doesn't take talent to do what you say you will do.

It doesn't require that special "X" factor to show up and put in the hours of work that is required to hone your skills.

But it does require professionalism to do those things and respect other people's time and space.

Calling someone you have never met at odd hours or sending them a text message on a Sunday is not very professional is it?

Do whatever you can to stick out in a professional manner. Showing courtesy and respect for the other person.

3. DATABASE

Do you have access to a database of fans (names, email addresses, cell numbers etc.) that are ready and willing to pay for your music? 

If you do. How big is this database and how quickly can you grow it?

If you can start showing numbers that would impress your local bank manager, then I think it's safe to say you're on the right track. 

But wait a minute, if I could build a team that could do all of that what on earth would I need a record deal for?

Exactly!

However, sometimes you need to scale quickly in your business and standing on the shoulders of a giant makes sense if you need to reach those high and lofty goals. 

Other times small is beautiful.

And Joint Ventures mean more if both parties will benefit.

If you are not bringing any of these three things to the table, then you don't have a leg to stand on. And if you can't manage your on business correctly, how will you know if a record company is doing it right?

So either way, being entrepreneurial is key. 

So I'll say it again.

Doing it on your own (first) is the best way to get signed.

Help us pick artwork for our new single

I have always liked the idea of involving people in the creative process. Most of the time as an artist you get lost in your own ideas and imagination. Which is fun, but it does get a bit lonely. So to take the time to stop and show people what you have been working on is always an eye opener. You get to hear other peoples perspectives and see things from a different angle. This I believe, almost always leads to creates better art.

Currently, I am working on the Soldier.Lover.Poet EP and have re-recorded some tracks that have been great performed live with a band. The first single to be released will be "Makin' it Happen". 

And I would love to have your input on the cover artwork.

Take our survey by clicking here. 

How to reach the summit of your dreams

Honestly, I'll probably look back on these days and realize that they were part of the tipping point.

I have often found that conferences, workshops, seminars and the like are a great catalyst for motivating me to change gear or broaden my perspective. But if you are also like me and live far away from any major cities [East London, South Africa is not exactly a hot spot] And add to this a full time job and 2 small kids, that gives you very little margin to attend such functions. 

Enter the Internet and its wonderful opportunities

I recently signed up for Michael Hyatt's online webinar, The Influence & Impact Summit. And I must admit that I've been blown away with how cool it has been to enter into Hyatt's world of friends who are successful business people, best selling authors and leaders in their industry. 

I have always thought his tag line as "Your Virtual Mentor" was a good one and with this Summit he takes the position as a virtual mentor to new heights. Giving us great insights on creating a platform, introducing us to his influential friends and even going as far as opening up and interviewing his lovely wife of 37 years. 

The highlight for me

Was definitely the great line-up of speakers but top of my list has got to be his interview with John Maxwell. I've been a fan of his for many years and I always find it insightful when he is interviewed. Michael's questions were very thoughtful and thought provoking.  

What I also found really great was the positive attitude and willingness to share that each of the speakers presented. 

There is not much time but you might be able to catch a few of these interviews while they are still up. Or you can catch Michael's latest launch, How to skyrocket your impact. 

In Summary;

If you are really looking to make an impact in the world around you and achieve a higher level of success in your life, then finding great mentors is essential. 

And as the saying goes: "When the student is ready, the teacher appears." 

So the question is: Are you ready?

For Free Money, Click Here

7 Really Cool opportunities all creatives should know about.

Now that I hopefully have your attention. I think that it is safe to say that nothing ever really comes for free and there is always some investment of time, passion and petty cash required to fully take advantage of any situation. 

With that disclaimer out the way allow me to introduce you to some of the COOLEST opportunities I have come across in my years as a Creative Director at Dynisty Entertainment. 

And over the next while I will be digging deeper into a few of these golden opportunities to help you maximize your advantage. So stay tuned and come back to this post whenever you think that money is the stumbling block, because it isn't.  

Limited thinking is your greatest enemy as a creative. 

If you know where to look there are plenty of people and places ready to support your art, if you are ready to present it in a professional manner. You just need to be bold enough to ask the right questions and follow through on what needs to be done.  

1. Arts & Culture Trust (Nedbank)

This is a great initiative that I have personally benefited from and have seen the value of their funding. They have a great funding model and in the early stages of developing this blog I received a huge boost from their funding. It really did allowed me the chance to structure my organization better. It is well managed and the individuals really do care about the arts. If you meet the criteria it is definitely worth checking out and they have a great informative newsletter worth signing up to.

To access their website Click Here.

2. TriggerFish Story Lab 

This is a crazy cool opportunity for people with an animated story to tell. The growth opportunity is tremendous and the fact that The Walt Disney Company is involved is enough for me. They offer you the chance to work with their animated studio in developing your screenplay if your idea is selected and passes the different phases. 

To access their website Click Here.

3. NAC (National Arts Council of South Africa)

Every year the National Arts Council of South Africa issues out a call for proposals for projects. Last year alone they funded 279 applicants to the tune of 17 Million Rand. And the thing is most countries have an equivalent of an Arts and Culture Department that needs to facilitate and develop the creative arts Nationally and in your local area. It is always worth while finding out more about their criteria and processes. There is usually a lot of paperwork and red tape to get through but don't let that put you off completely. 

To access their website Click Here.

4. The Red Bull Music Academy

Without a doubt, this is the coolest Music Academy I have heard of. They offer you the chance to travel to some of the music hot spots in the world. The application process is lengthy and the questions are quirky, challenging and honestly... fun to answer. It is a highly sort after Academy for those in the know so start applying early. Alumni get access to the Red Bull Music Studios around the world so that alone is a great incentive. SA stars who are Red Bull alumni include DJ Black Coffee, so you would be in good company. 

To access their website Click Here. 

5. National Film and video Foundation (NFVF)

The National Film and Video Foundation supports potential Directors, Producers and Screenplay writers from developing to established levels. I have only heard good things about the support they have give developing talent. And even though not everyone can receive a grant they do give you plenty of opportunities to apply and can also help point you in the right direction. 

To access their website Click Here.

6. SAMRO Foundation Concerts SA

If you are a songwriter you should already be connected to a Rights organization. If you are not I encourage you to do so pronto. Often when you dig a little deeper, sign up for their newsletters and just generally show an interest. You will find that they sponsor or back organizations that benefit you as a musician and songwriter. The SAMRO Foundation is one such place and Concerts SA is geared towards getting artists on the road and making money. 

To access their website Click Here.

7. Independent Music Exporters South Africa (IMEXSA)

Last but definitely not least, is my personal favourite organization that helps Independent Musicians, IMEXSA.

The Independent Music Exporters South Africa is an organization that works with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI in South Africa). They offer independent record labels and artists the chance to develop themselves  and improve on their business network by helping them attend some of largest festivals and conferences in the world. CMJ in New York, Primavera Sound in Spain, South by South West (SXSW) in Austin Texas, WOMAX in Budapest Hungary and MIDEM in Paris France. All really great festivals that can give your business a boost.

To access their website Click Here.

Again, most countries have similar organizations that are specifically designed to foster and develop the arts. Now that you have an idea of what to look for, keep your eyes and mind open to how you can get yourself in a position to access these opportunities. Grants are great because if you use the money correctly and wisely, then you don't have to pay it back. You only need to pay it forward. 

Do you know any other cool organizations that are worth mentioning and sharing with others?

Leave a comment below.