They're not ready.

For many artists the struggle is real.  Just when things seem promising, the gift looks more like a curse.  The road less traveled is a journey.  There are many hardships along this road, but there is also a light so bright at the end of the road that you have to wear sunglasses as you approach it.  One of the biggest problems about this road that I am finding is that it becomes even harder to communicate to people where you are.  If you are an artist and reading this blog, have you ever tried to explain to others what is going on in your life and the person or people that you are speaking to are looking at you like you are speaking another language? 

I was born and raised in a small city in western Pennsylvania.  Hip-hop has been here in the community, but the area has yet to embrace it.  The talent is here, but the opened minds are not.  Sometimes I feel like this town is two decades behind the rest of the world, but as aspiring artists, you cannot let your area be the reason for your lack of success.  Twenty years ago, people thought hip-hop wouldn’t last and they were wrong.  It’s now a billion-dollar industry with 80 percent of the fan base being white.  Hip-hop is here and hip-hop is now.  It is more than music, it’s an art form and it is also a culture.

When I speak to aspiring artists and entrepreneurs I have found one common ingredient, belief.  Yes, the road less traveled is a road without a secure paycheck, but it can also be the same road to big dividends, job satisfaction, and overall happiness. 

I can’t speak for the area that you live in, but in my town we have a ton of youth that have a musical talent with no guidance or even a platform to showcase their talent.  What then happens is these kids put their passions on the back burner, because who wants to be discouraged or not taken seriously.  We have to encourage our youth and others who have dreams of being the next big thing.  Why not? 

Question: What is the difference between being ordinary and extraordinary?
Answer: Just a little extra. 

It is great for people to want to be kings and queens of their community, but honestly what is that going to do for you at the end of the day?  Go for it!  Leave the nest. Or…stay and try to be the trendsetter.  Some places just are not ready for change.  Some places don’t want to see the minority rule.  Some places want to get the youth involved, but don’t allow them to become engaged.  Some places are just that; some places.  Not every place is the same and not every mind is closed.  Do you, and I repeat, do not let your area be the reason for your lack of success.  So what is holding you back?  Most of the time it’s you.  They may not be ready, but the important thing is that you are.

The Struggle is Real.

“It’s darkest before dawn.”  It’s only a matter of time.”  “This is my year.”  This is some of the things that aspiring artists say to themselves to gain motivation and more or less to keep themselves sane.  I mean seriously, how many flavors of Ramen noodles are there?  How many payment notices can I ignore before termination?  As an artist your creativity and passion has led you down a dark road.  A road full of wrong turns, rats, and so many forks in the road that would make you feel like you’re in a maze.   This folks, is the road less traveled. 

On this road the naysayers will come in numbers and their voices seem louder at times.  On this same road the peanut gallery travels and misery finds company.  The artist is a true believer with no factual strategies to success and every man with one eye trying to lead the blind.

Many times as an artist you feel like you are running a race that’s finish line seems to get further as it gets closer.   The music industry is a complex beast.  It’s trendy and at times too hip to hop, but who doesn’t like music.  That is like not liking food.  Music is food for the soul.  Have you ever heard a good song and got the chills? 

There comes a time when your confidence has to take over and that’s when you apply the “Side Rear View Mirror Theory”.  What this theory means is that you have to realize that things are closer than they actually appear.  This same theory is what gives artists drive, it demands dedication, and it gives artists the feeling that if they quit now, they’d only be quitting on themselves.

The road less traveled can sometimes feel like a rollercoaster, but the important thing is to enjoy the ride, because at the end of the day, nothing is guaranteed.  Just take a moment and ask yourself, “What motivates me?”

Protect Ya Neck

True hip hop heads know that the title of this blog is paying homage to one of hip hop’s greatest groups, the Wu-Tang Clan.  Yet, this particular blog has little to nothing to do with that actual song and much more to do with protecting yourself.  When most of us look at the entertainment industry we see all the fame, fortune, glitz, and glamour, but in all reality, this is a dirty business; filled with crooks, thieves, shysters, and swindlers.  Aspiring artists spend countless hours honing their craft and pour their blood, sweat, and tears into trying to make a name for themselves within the industry known as the “show business”.  However, a major issue for most artists is that their business is not ready for the show and if you don’t know the business, then it will show and others will be hovering above like a vulture in the desert.

I constantly preach about “minding your own business”, because there are so many ways to leave yourself exposed in this business.  If you’re not ready for the fame and fortune, it will most definitely show.  Folks, here’s the thing.  The reason I try to stress the importance of knowing your business and having a strong support team is because even when you have dotted all your “i’s” and crossed all of your “t’s” there is still a great chance that someone is going to test you.

I have recently reviewed a few podcasts pertaining to entertainment law as I try to gain a better understanding of the music industry and look to pass on this knowledge to the next person.  The information I found was great.  If you are planning to take a run at the industry, then this information is definitely something worth noting. 

The first podcast I listened to was called “IP Law Concentration” from the Intellectual Property Law Podcast Series by Suffolk University.  The second podcast I listened to was an Entertainment Law Update Podcast titled “No Copyright, Sherlock?” by Gordon Firemark.  The third and final podcast that I decided to check out was “Music Licensing” from the Business, Entertainment, Sports & Technology (B.E.S.T.) Law Blog by the ARC Law Group.

With the combination of these three podcasts I have found that clear ownership of your works and products are very important.  As an aspiring artist you should know the difference between a copyright and trademark.  A copyright is a form of protection for original works of authorship.  A trademark is a shorthand description of your brand, which identifies and distinguishes the source of the goods of one party from those of others.  In short, a copyright protects your work whereas a trademark protects your brand. 

What I also found in my research is that intellectual property has significant importance to our economy and this shows as the U.S. Supreme Court now looks at cases involving IP law.   

If you do the research you will find that a lot of the inventions and products we use today do not give credit to the original creator.  “Why is this?” you ask.  This is because the original creator was either taken advantage of or their idea was stolen.  This is something that has been happening for centuries.  And you can trust and believe me when I say that it is still happening in 2014.

This entertainment business can be shady at times, so make sure that you’re not left standing alone in the dark.