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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.

Why I don’t enter TV Talent competitions (Pt.2)

Editor’s note: This is a guest post by my good friend Bukani Duba. He is an artist, songwriter and producer. His last project The Sweet Science is available here. Connect with him on his Twitter or Facebook. This is part 2 of a 2 part series. Click here for part 1. 

1.       It is better to define yourself than to be a ‘made man’.

Calm down, I’m not talking about the Mafia’s ‘made man’, I’m talking about one who is created by the industry. One who is advised to create a whole new persona – a new image, so as to rack up publicity. His music is whatever the masses want and his rep is created and carried by the label.

Last year, I would hang with Zwai Bala, the Z from TKZee and frontman of Bala Brothers Productions. I would sit in on his meetings, gaining first-hand experience in the dealings of a seasoned veteran in the industry. We’d have studio sessions and I learned more than I ever thought possible, from my former mentor – and what a mentor he is. But one thing that always stuck with me was the stigma of being ‘Zwai’s boy’; everywhere I went, people recognised me as that – I had no rep of my own. I had not earned the respect of the contacts that I made – there was no reason for them to remember my name. I am eternally grateful for his mentorship, I would not change a thing, but I knew that I had to make my own way.

Record labels do that to the undefined ‘diamond in the rough’. If you don’t know your style, know yourself or how far you are willing to go for fame (your limits), they will define all of that for you.

The real reason we make music is to self-express and hope the listener identifies with what we’re saying – the message we’re portraying. How tragic would it be if you didn’t even have your own voice for that?

2.       I don’t feel like I’m ready just yet.

There’s nothing like getting into that sweet spot of creating your own music and actually being able to make a living out of it. South Africa is a strange crowd to deal with and the industry is fickle. The trends are all over the show and to try and follow them would always leave you one step behind – so instead of following, one must lead. That’s what I’m working on. I’m still developing myself as a singer-songwriter, instrumentalist and record producer. Maybe I’ll make it or maybe it’s not ‘written in the stars’ for me but there’s always room to grow and learn. I want to gain as much experience and knowledge about where I’m going before I decide to take off. You wouldn’t go overseas without contacting someone you know over there, or trying to find a safe place to stay, researching the good, the bad and the ugly about where you are going, would you? So it shocks me how many people would walk so blindly into the ravenous entertainment industry – it’s ravenous, believe me, I worked at SAMRO last year; you would not believe the amount of rip-off deals (would-be record deals) I saw, that people ignorantly signed. But I digress.

3.       Others made it without winning a competition

The bulk of the industry is made up of artists who worked hard and grinded for their fifteen minutes. They know what it took to get where they are, so they don’t take it for granted. They are proof that it is possible to make it, hence this emphasis people put on TV competitions as the golden ticket to success.

So in conclusion,

TV competitions, it has to be said, have given numerous successful artists their ‘lucky breaks’ and who’s to say that it won’t happen for you or someone you know? Just remember that luck is 2% opportunity and 98% preparation; luck favours the prepared. I’m just gonna let God work on me and trust that I will become the man and musician that He has meant for me to be. I could be years off the tangent or I could be closer than I think. All I know is that when I’m ready, you’ll know…

In the meantime, it would be remiss of me not to mention that I am working on a new concept EP / mixtape – called Material due for release later this year, dealing with the issue of Materialism and its subsequent themes.

Feel free to listen to my single Red Dress, and let me know what you think.

Also, feel free to add your opinions on this topic in the comments section below.