Professionalism....NO EGO!

Being an artist or musician requires a certain type of professionalism that keeps the individual EMPLOYED with opportunities. Nowadays, it takes more than just a pretty face, talent, and a nice song to be successful in the music industry, but it takes sacrifice, commitment, practice, and HUMILITY to SURVIVE. There have been many artists who had “talent”, without a doubt, but E-G-O was the deciding factor of their career.

Harvey Mason Jr., songwriter and producer, tweeted, “Got the real deal in the booth today friends. Love working with talented people who can seriously sing, have great ears and are friendly. Wow.” In 120 characters, Mason gave the keys to success for an aspiring independent artist.

Successful Tip #1: Talent is a MUST. If a great product is going to be produced, the artist must be versatile in musicianship. Mastering your craft can achieve you great success. Practice your vocal techniques or instrument AT LEAST one to two hours a day. Gain experience in the studio because this is where artists hear his or her true voice. Get a mentor who will be honest with you about where you are as an artist. PERFORM, PRACTICE, PERFORM, and PRACTICE! The more experience you gain in front of an audience, the better your stage presence will be on the platform.

Successful Tip #2: Listening is CRUCIAL. This is the area many artists make their mistake. EGO opens the door to a mindset that states, "I don't have to listen to you, I have mastered my craft." This then leads to arrogance, and later on, UNEMPLOYMENT because no one has the desire to work with you. Instead, go into every situation eager to listen and learn because the professional has reached longevity in his or her career. If you don’t understand a concept, lay your pride aside and ask questions! Your gift will not be call into question if you do this. A great artist LISTENS and LEARNS! An egotistical artist TALKS and DIRECTS.

Successful Tip #3: Your Attitude determines many relationships or the lack thereof. The entertainment industry is based on RELATIONSHIPS! Opportunities are usually afforded to those individuals who have networked and developed long-term relationships. However, many artists who have reached some success tend to develop a bad attitude that, in the long run, is detrimental to their career. To avoid the attitude trap, switch places with the person whom you are working with. Would you want to deal with your attitude? Keep a positive attitude that allows the atmosphere to be conducive for creativity. Be HUMBLE by not making everything about you but about the TEAM. Be sure to keep a positive reputation. The industry is SMALL and people will deliver information about you to professionals whom you aspire to collaborate with on your project. If you master a great attitude, you will reach great heights in your career.

Remember to remove any signs of EGO because it stands between you and your desired career as an artist. Apply the abovementioned characteristics to your everyday practice to ensure you are an artist executives, producers, and industry professionals would like to work with and spend money on. It’s up to YOU!

Your Royalties?

Many artists have a dream of becoming the next International Star like Beyoncé and Lady Gaga. Their record sales are immeasurable and their talents are numerous. Did I mention they are RICH? “Of course,” you may say, “and they have a major record label backing them with millions of dollars.” That’s a great point, but their money is also made from being an artist and songwriter. Therefore, they receive ROYALTY CHECKS.

I don’t know about you, but have you witnessed the epidemic of struggling independent artists? One answer to this problem is simple: Independent artists lack the understanding of copyright. One day I asked an indie artist,  “Are you registered with ASCAP, BMI, or SESAC?” The response I received was, “What is that?” After a long blank stare, I began to explain that these organizations are performing rights groups who are responsible for making sure you are paid when your music is played on the radio, sold in stores, appear in movies, or performed. For instance, when you get in the elevator at work and your favorite song plays, that artist receives a royalty payment from the music in the elevator.

An artist who does NOT copyright their music CANNOT receive a royalty check. Many people are unaware that once a song is placed on paper, it is copyrighted. However, it is advised that you register the material to assure that you are the owner. An artist must know the two types of copyrights. When you see the © symbol, that stands for a music composition copyright. If the symbol (p) is shown, that symbolizes a sound recording copyright. For example, if you wrote a song titled “A Struggling Artist” and recorded it, you are the owner of the music composition and sound recording.

Do you want to make money? Educate yourselves on the copyright laws and organizations that protect who you are as an artist. Get out of the norm and write songs to shop around to major artists and record labels that could launch your career. Before you do this, MAKE SURE YOU COPYRIGHT YOUR INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY!