Primavera 2016

Yesterday, the IMEXSA delegation and I arrived in Spain Barcelona from South Africa. All in all I think it was something like an 18 hour flight including connections. Side note - Stopping in Dubai is always fascinating, I should visit it sometime. 

Spain is a really beautiful looking place. From their buildings and architecture to the people and culture. It really does have a different energy about it. The fellas are nonchalant and the ladies all walk with confidence.  

Today was the Kick-Off of the Primavera Pro day conference, and it has been fun to take in new sights and sounds. I really do plan to capture it in the new music I am working on. So over the next while I'll be posting whatever I hear, see or smell... On the blog. 

So forgive me for being random but I have been feeling in the mood to experiment more with this wonderful blog space. Maybe we will learn something or maybe we won't but I would love to take you along for the ride:) 

Feel free to comment, share or like when you read something of interest here. I would love to hear from you.  

Diva antics

Why oh why oh why would you want to be a diva?
If you behave like the world should revolve around you do you really think people would want to work with you?

If your attitude is; drop whatever you're doing so that you can do what I say, then the only message you're communicating is that you believe you are more important than the other person. 

"I've been touched by the hand of God so you mere mortals must listen to me."
That becomes a sad state of affairs when you believe that that is what being charismatic is about.

It's not. Being charismatic is about caring enough for the other person to actually want to make a difference in their life. Caring so genuinely that if you are not around your absence is truly missed.

So stop being a diva just because a few people know your name and you have been on television.

Money, power and fame don't make you  better, they merely amplify who you really are. If you are generous, kind and loving you will be more of those things. 

If you are a jerk... Well.

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.

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.

What I learnt from rocking the stage with Gangs of Ballet

And what you can learn from rocking with the best

In April of of this year I had the huge privilege of opening for Gangs of Ballet. An alternative rock band from the warm shores of Durban South Africa. They came to East London to perform at Hemingways and the band really knew how to WOW the audience. 

Here are a few lessons I learnt from them.

Disclaimer - There is so much you can learn from opening for established artists that it's hard for me to even condense what I learnt into a bite size readable blog. However, it's better to share than to keep the knowledge trapped in my head. 

Stage presence 

Years ago our church had a worship workshop clinic that was run by Brad. At the time he was a little known worship leader who was competent on his guitar and had an obvious passion for music. His passion was contagious and regardless of what he was singing if he meant it, he would make you feel it too. Those years of honing his skills have undoubtedly helped him build the confidence to lead the band and most importantly, how to lead an audience. 

Lesson: No matter where you are, always be willing to step up and put your art on display.

It maybe old to you but it's new to them

While having dinner before the show I was surprised to hear that they had been performing their songs for the past 4 years. 

Now that was an interesting point because they had only been in the public spotlight for the past 2 years. So that means they had been performing "underground" building momentum for years prior to their national success. One could say that that time spent honing their sound was what contributed greatly to their current success. 

These guys are so ready to perform that all they asked me before jumping on stage to perform was how many songs do you want us to perform? 

When I replied, "We are here for you guys, the stage is all yours." 

Brad smiled and said, "We'll give you all we've got."  

Lesson: Know your music like the back of your hand, but treat each performance with the respect it deserves because it maybe old to you but its new to them. 

Soldier On

Prior to the band's arrival, much had been made about the departure of their bassist, Hardus de Beer. However, when meeting them and talking briefly about it I thought it was pretty cool that they didn't speak bad of him or view this change as a barrier or a stumbling block. Rather they seemed to use it as a stepping stone and although you could see they were still slightly hurt (It had happened pretty recently), they were determined to soldier on.

Lesson: People will come and go. Stay focused. Stay strong and soldier on.

The Story behind the story

The songs that seemed to resonated the most with the audience were the ones that had a back story. When Brad was telling the story of how a song came about, or where they were when they played the song for the first time it let the audience feel like they were a part of the journey. This approach added character and depth to the set making key songs more memorable. Now when I play the songs in my car I feel like I connect with the band more.

Lesson: Story telling makes a difference to your approach with an audience. Use it wisely and use it often. 

Listen to the Gangs' New Single on Deezer - ALWAYS Or buy it on iTunes by clicking here. 

The Road back to South by Southwest 2015

It has been nearly 3 years since I was last at the Mega Music festival know as South By Southwest (SXSW). A lot can happen in 3 years, but the fond memories of the people I met and the music and knowledge shared are still very real to me.

As I head back, I have a mixture of emotions and a whole host of thoughts and questions. Will I meet up with any of my old friends? Will I make new friends? What if it doesn't live up to my previous expectations?

All of that and a bunch of other silly things, like did I remember to pack my toothbrush?

But once I have had a chance to quiet my mind and sit still and reflect on the journey ahead. A few things become clear.

Things change

That is a certainty in life and and as the saying goes change is the only constant. So learn to go with the flow and ride the waves.

I am blessed

This is the opportunity of a lifetime and I am very greatful to IMEXSA and DTI for making this opportunity a reality for independent artists. I am greatful to God for my talent and allowing it to open doors.

Maximize 

The phrase carpe diem (seize the day) comes to mind. When a once in a lifetime opportunity presents itself again, pun intended, you do what you can to make it keep happening and take full advantage of it.

Enjoy the ride

Every bump, every turn, every pothole and every fork in the road is all a part of the journey. There is no point finding fault around every corner. Just enjoy the ride.

For the record...

It's not your record or album or EP that will make your career as a musician happen. It is actually your Tour, or lack of one that can make or break your career. 

It has been the secret weapon for creating music careers for years. From Elvis, to The Beatles, to Beyoncé and Drake. It is their tours that make their careers really take off.

They have all put in their 10 000 hours. So should you. 

So as Steve Blank, the Godfather of the lean start up entrepreneur movement would say, "Get out of the building" 

For most artists that can be translated as "Get out of your bedroom."

80/20 Principle might be the answer you've been looking for

I must admit, I've been intrigued with this concept of the 80/20 Principle for a long time. 

If you haven't heard of it perhaps you should read up about this Pareto Principle in more detail. It could just be the answer to the question you never knew you have been asking.

“Conventional wisdom is not to put all of your eggs in one basket. 80/20 wisdom is to choose a basket carefully, load all your eggs into it, and then watch it like a hawk.”

- Richard Koch 

Life before the Internet

A dark time indeed...

But it existed. And we survived. I recently had the unfortunate event of being disconnected from the the Internet and cell phone network towers for about two weeks. 

Having no network connectivity felt like I was thrust back into the dark ages... Knowing smoke signals would have come in handy. 

This got me thinking of how dangerously vital the Internet and Network connectivity is to my business and my way of life. 

I also noticed how people really get upset when you don't respond to their messages and calls. 

So where am I going with all this? Honestly, I am not quite sure because it's not like we can ever go back. It would be like going back to using candles and fire instead of electricity. In a country where power cuts are a reality we don't need to imagine life without electricity and how awkward things can be without it.  

One of my favourite authors John C. Maxwell, doesn't use a computer. But he has written and continues to write more books than most tech-savvy aspiring authors could dream to write in a lifetime. Click here to checkout his latest book.

The technology on this computer that I am writing on, my HP, Intel Core i7, along with Cubase 5 and Reason 5 software is more technology power than the Beatles had when they recorded at Abbey Road. 

It's not the tools. It's the mind state that matters most. 

I will never forget coming home one day after failing a class test. I tore up that exam paper vigorously and threw it in the bin in front of my Dad. To which my Dad gently responded: "The rubbish wasn't on the paper, it was in your head."

Don't blame your tools. If you can't drive then make a plan or make enough money to hire a chauffeur. 

Electricity, Cars, the Internet, Social Media, they are all here to stay. 

So we need to embrace the changing landscape or find ways around it to use it to our advantage. 

NO MORE EXCUSES!

Go and create something worthwhile. Regardless of the tools you have at your disposal. 

You already have more than you realize.

Go! Create!