Friday, December 4, 2009
Self discipline.
Travelling around South Africa it ’s astounding for me to see that the thing replacing skill in Mzansi is swagga. Gone are the days where skill and originality took precedence over what’s out there or what’s hot. I always encounter youths that ask me, “What does it take for me to make it in this music bizz”. It’s simple…..SELF DISCIPLINE. It’s the easiest thing to do yet the most difficult too. It requires you to look into yourself and to be honest with yourself. It’s requires you to acknowledge your weaknesses and to even more build on your strengths. It requires you to indentify your CAPACITY. Self discipline deals with the self and stripping yourself down on all levels of being and being honest. It’s a skill…in my opinion. Self discipline when cultivated teaches you to expand your mind and tap into the Infinite and indentify the unlimited power that you possess. Relating to hip hop self discipline gives rise to skill, that then with time through assimilation of experiences gives rise to style (individuality). Self discipline is a life skill. How are you gonna “make it” if you don’t have basic self discipline tentants to for example, wake up early, discipline your mind to read and listen, discipline your body to adhere to your mind, discipline your spirit so to be in tune with nature, yourself and The All.
So skill in my opinion is more than busting those multi – syllabills, throwing down triple click flares and being an ego-driven idiot or doing being able to do air flare combos. Skill is the abilty to listen, learn, assimulate then create.
Skill is infinite……
So skill in my opinion is more than busting those multi – syllabills, throwing down triple click flares and being an ego-driven idiot or doing being able to do air flare combos. Skill is the abilty to listen, learn, assimulate then create.
Skill is infinite……
Article by Christie Z for artists and dj's.
Hey there....
I found this article on www.turntablistnetwork.com and just found it interesting to share.
Compiled by Christie Z (Tools of War)
& Sondra of Premiere Artists Group
Peace all, Sondra and I brainstormed on some fatal mistakes DJs make that lead to career slumps or demise. We also added some things we see artists doing that have led to bigger success.
Do's for your consideration:
1. Be on top of your business. Don't leave it all up to your manager.
Be involved in all decisions. Make sure you are getting cards, keeping contacts, building e-lists etc. If you leave everything to your manager - they leave with the contacts - not you.
2. Promote yourself! Geometrix, Quix, Neil Armstrong, DJ Pone (SF) do it and it appears to be working out well! Through their emails you see them building, getting more gigs, establishing a name an brand.
3. Stay humble! Kool Dj Red Alert, GWT, Jazzy Jay and on the younger tip Q-bert, Craze, etc. - I have never heard any of them get big headed. Esp. with the legends, they are grateful to remain in the game and they know a lot of great DJs who had to get day jobs. Humility is attractive. Cockiness or arrogance is going to drive people away.
4. Be responsible for yourself when you get a gig. You are responsible to be at the airport on time, with all the traveling documents, intinerary, your crates, needles, etc. Be sure to have all the contact numbers, know where you are staying, how long you are DJing, what time you go on, etc.
5. Read your itinerary and don't call the booking agent off hours for stuff that is written on the print out in front of you.
6. Let your agent know when you have other projects or products coming out. Promoters want to book DJs who have something to push or something new out.
7. When possible, hire a publicist.
8. Party rocking is always a plus since it's hard to get anyone to fly you in for a 15 minute showcase. You need to be a well rounded DJ today, to get solid bookings.
9. Always ask the promoter what music they want you to bring, if you are party rocking.
10. Keep an honest bio. If Craze is a 3 time solo World Champ but you won 3 times with a team, that doesn't make you a 3x World Champ too - say "co-champion along with... [the other members of the crew]" instead. We gotta start being honest in the bios because an embellished bio will lose the support of your fellow DJ friends. I know it's competitive but if it looks like your embellishing, it can also look like you aren't content with your own achievements.
11. Always ask to approve any flyers, bios, blurbs, etc written about you. You should make sure that a promoter doesn't spell your name wrong, put the wrong crew up, has your proper achievements, etc.
12. Have mixes, dvds, vinyl, t-shirts whatever to sell. This is how you up your money even when very little is being offered.
13. Be sure your agent does not turn down anything without asking you first. If you are your manager or agent's only client and you can't take the gig, you will probably be able to throw the booking over to a friend so they can benefit. At least you can keep the gig within your crew or circle of friends.
14. It is always an extra nice gesture to bring the promoter who hires you a gift (maybe one of your cds, whatever).
15. Rack up the frequent flyer miles whenever you can. This will come in handy if you eventually want to go on vacation, fly a friend, or upgrade yourself to a better seat in the future.
16. Always be sure to include on your webpage, myspace, music you sell, the bottom of your emails, your phone message, etc. who to contact, if not yourself, for bookings. You should also include upcoming gigs when possible.
Don'ts for your consideration:
1. Don't cross your booking agent aka "biting the hand that feeds you." Keep it professional or get out of that business relationship.
2. Don't take advantage of your DJ status. Don't roll in with 15 person crew. Generally it's 4 or 5 max. It's best to ask in advance how many comps you can have. Those friends who make a fool of themselves at the door or in the event, reflect directly back on you. (As a former door person, Christie Z has seen pro quarterbacks throw a fit over having to pay a $5 or $10 cover and that is sooo trifling. It always looks good to simply compose yourself and pay. You will appear professional and successful- and the promoter can feel embarrassed about the mess up on the list - not you. If you act like you have no money to get in the event - you will look like you have no money - ie. appear like you aren't getting gigs.
3. Never play before you get paid.
4. Don't run up the room service bill on the promoter's tab.
5. Do not converse/agree to anything with a promoter when you have an agent. Hand them your card and tell them to "call my agent."
6. Don't bring your girlfriend with you to work...for a multitude of reasons including having to worry about guys hitting on her, her getting jealous about fans, etc. And don't let her manage you. (CZP notes that there can be exceptions to this rule, of course, and some of you have really cool girlfriends who don't cause you any drama. Mix Master Mike's wife manages him and that seems to be working out well.)
7. Never let your manager be your booking agent.
8. Don't call your agent and tell them that your rent is due.
9. Don't get drunk/high prior to your set. A promoter likes the least problematic artists. This can be especially problematic if you are judging a battle.
10. Don't talk smack about other DJs - it will bite you on the butt later.
11. Do not assume that because you are a US or World Champ that gigs are going to come to you automatically. You have to work hard and so does the team around you. Craze and Qbert, in particular, have really great teams behind them.
12. Don't cancel shows after they've been confirmed by you or your agent or ask for more money after you agreed upon a price.
13. Never tell a new contact to go to your site for music and bios. It seems natural to do but the message the agent or promoter or media gets is that you don't want to do the work and you want them to work harder to find out about you. It's not a good first impression. Send them what they are asking for, you can always include the link then but only after you gave them what they needed. There person who asked you for the info is not going to have the time to check everything out - he/she will be busy working - that's why they asked it from you directly.
14. Before you turn down a gig because "it's not enough money" think again. There is one legend, and I wont say who, who has a theory. I know some DJs will want to set a standard for how much they get paid but that might lose you gigs when your really need the money... This legend, if he has nothing else going on that night, will spin locally for $200, $500 whatever, even though he can command thousands. Many other DJs will do this too. His theory is that even if he's just getting some grocery money, that's a connect he made with the promoter (who will probably look out for him again) and that's a whole bunch of new people who are now fans and will spread the word.
15. Do not write to people asking for them to send you all of their promoter contacts or sponsor contacts. Go to their website and find the email or email page and pitch yourself that way.
16. Don't drop names when pitching yourself to a promoter, sponsor, etc unless someone tells you to do so. You might mention someone they really had a bad dealing with and you could end up unknowlingly negatively associating yourself with that person.
17. This happens in the b-boy world more often but when you hear that a promoter is bringing a DJ in, don't undercut the DJ and tell the promoter you will do the gig for free. That's a dirty move and you can bet, if that DJ loses the paying gig and finds out why, they are going to make sure they don't support you in kind words, references, in the future. You need the support of your peers.
18. I have observed DJ friends, who we all know and love, gain fame and success but lose contact with their original fan base. Please don't let this happen to you. Managers who are not down with the artform or the culture but only about business can end up allowing this to happen. And I see it happen all the time. You should have a heavy hand, as noted before, in picking your booking agent, publicist, what is said in your publicity, who it reaches, everything. You should really keep updated emails of your fanbase so they know you are reaching out to them weekly, monthly etc. * One email a week at most - if it's the same info. You don't want to annoy anyone or jam up their inbox.
19. Until you are up there in stature, it might be hard to insist that you get a traveling companion for gigs. Some promoters, esp. the underground supporters, can't afford that on top of what they are paying you + flight + hotel + per diem + ground transportation etc.
20. Don't talk to or write to agents, promoters etc. when you are angry. Calm down, behave professionally, even if they are in the wrong. Going at someone with the aggressive tactics one might use in the streets is going to ensure that you wont be getting more gigs and that person is probably going to warn the other promoters, managers, industry people as well. If you are going to burn a bridge, be careful which one it's going to be.
21. Don't stand on stage or demand to be backstage if you don't need to be there. Most promoters are too nice and don't want to ask anyone to move or leave (you all know I will). The stage looks messy and a true professional does not need to be on stage, backstage or in the camera angle all of the time. You'll look like your desperate for attention. Afrika Bambaataa never came backstage at one of my DMC events. He hung out in the crowd, surrounded by friends and fans and enjoyed the show. Now if the godfather and now self-titled "Amen Ra of Universal Hip Hop Culture" is humble enough to stay in the crowd, can anyone say that they are too good to do this too? He sets a really good example.
22. Don't leave your crates, bags, needles etc. unattended. How many times do people try to throw their stuff on stage like it will be safe there.. that's why I don't let people stand on stage. The less people on or backstage, the less things are missing.
23. When offended that you are not being recognized, don't say to someone "Do you know who I am?" It usually comes off as abrasive.
24. If you are not part of the show, have nothing to do with the show - please try to support, don't demand to be on a guestlist and don't run around asking for free things like t-shirts, vinyl etc. You will make yourself recognized but not in a positive way and people will remember you as the person whos always scrounging for free stuff. And never ever ever ask to get in free for fundraisers.
OK - God willing, someone will benefit from this. Some might not agree and there can always be other circumstances that might actually work but we both figured these are some things to put out there for consideration and preparation for past, future and present champs. Feel free to add as you see fit.
Because we care!
Peace!
Christie
(I re-edited this to list all of the Do's and Don'ts together)
Edited by - ChristieZPabon on 06/04/2006 08:46:49 AM
I found this article on www.turntablistnetwork.com
Compiled by Christie Z (Tools of War)
& Sondra of Premiere Artists Group
Peace all, Sondra and I brainstormed on some fatal mistakes DJs make that lead to career slumps or demise. We also added some things we see artists doing that have led to bigger success.
Do's for your consideration:
1. Be on top of your business. Don't leave it all up to your manager.
Be involved in all decisions. Make sure you are getting cards, keeping contacts, building e-lists etc. If you leave everything to your manager - they leave with the contacts - not you.
2. Promote yourself! Geometrix, Quix, Neil Armstrong, DJ Pone (SF) do it and it appears to be working out well! Through their emails you see them building, getting more gigs, establishing a name an brand.
3. Stay humble! Kool Dj Red Alert, GWT, Jazzy Jay and on the younger tip Q-bert, Craze, etc. - I have never heard any of them get big headed. Esp. with the legends, they are grateful to remain in the game and they know a lot of great DJs who had to get day jobs. Humility is attractive. Cockiness or arrogance is going to drive people away.
4. Be responsible for yourself when you get a gig. You are responsible to be at the airport on time, with all the traveling documents, intinerary, your crates, needles, etc. Be sure to have all the contact numbers, know where you are staying, how long you are DJing, what time you go on, etc.
5. Read your itinerary and don't call the booking agent off hours for stuff that is written on the print out in front of you.
6. Let your agent know when you have other projects or products coming out. Promoters want to book DJs who have something to push or something new out.
7. When possible, hire a publicist.
8. Party rocking is always a plus since it's hard to get anyone to fly you in for a 15 minute showcase. You need to be a well rounded DJ today, to get solid bookings.
9. Always ask the promoter what music they want you to bring, if you are party rocking.
10. Keep an honest bio. If Craze is a 3 time solo World Champ but you won 3 times with a team, that doesn't make you a 3x World Champ too - say "co-champion along with... [the other members of the crew]" instead. We gotta start being honest in the bios because an embellished bio will lose the support of your fellow DJ friends. I know it's competitive but if it looks like your embellishing, it can also look like you aren't content with your own achievements.
11. Always ask to approve any flyers, bios, blurbs, etc written about you. You should make sure that a promoter doesn't spell your name wrong, put the wrong crew up, has your proper achievements, etc.
12. Have mixes, dvds, vinyl, t-shirts whatever to sell. This is how you up your money even when very little is being offered.
13. Be sure your agent does not turn down anything without asking you first. If you are your manager or agent's only client and you can't take the gig, you will probably be able to throw the booking over to a friend so they can benefit. At least you can keep the gig within your crew or circle of friends.
14. It is always an extra nice gesture to bring the promoter who hires you a gift (maybe one of your cds, whatever).
15. Rack up the frequent flyer miles whenever you can. This will come in handy if you eventually want to go on vacation, fly a friend, or upgrade yourself to a better seat in the future.
16. Always be sure to include on your webpage, myspace, music you sell, the bottom of your emails, your phone message, etc. who to contact, if not yourself, for bookings. You should also include upcoming gigs when possible.
Don'ts for your consideration:
1. Don't cross your booking agent aka "biting the hand that feeds you." Keep it professional or get out of that business relationship.
2. Don't take advantage of your DJ status. Don't roll in with 15 person crew. Generally it's 4 or 5 max. It's best to ask in advance how many comps you can have. Those friends who make a fool of themselves at the door or in the event, reflect directly back on you. (As a former door person, Christie Z has seen pro quarterbacks throw a fit over having to pay a $5 or $10 cover and that is sooo trifling. It always looks good to simply compose yourself and pay. You will appear professional and successful- and the promoter can feel embarrassed about the mess up on the list - not you. If you act like you have no money to get in the event - you will look like you have no money - ie. appear like you aren't getting gigs.
3. Never play before you get paid.
4. Don't run up the room service bill on the promoter's tab.
5. Do not converse/agree to anything with a promoter when you have an agent. Hand them your card and tell them to "call my agent."
6. Don't bring your girlfriend with you to work...for a multitude of reasons including having to worry about guys hitting on her, her getting jealous about fans, etc. And don't let her manage you. (CZP notes that there can be exceptions to this rule, of course, and some of you have really cool girlfriends who don't cause you any drama. Mix Master Mike's wife manages him and that seems to be working out well.)
7. Never let your manager be your booking agent.
8. Don't call your agent and tell them that your rent is due.
9. Don't get drunk/high prior to your set. A promoter likes the least problematic artists. This can be especially problematic if you are judging a battle.
10. Don't talk smack about other DJs - it will bite you on the butt later.
11. Do not assume that because you are a US or World Champ that gigs are going to come to you automatically. You have to work hard and so does the team around you. Craze and Qbert, in particular, have really great teams behind them.
12. Don't cancel shows after they've been confirmed by you or your agent or ask for more money after you agreed upon a price.
13. Never tell a new contact to go to your site for music and bios. It seems natural to do but the message the agent or promoter or media gets is that you don't want to do the work and you want them to work harder to find out about you. It's not a good first impression. Send them what they are asking for, you can always include the link then but only after you gave them what they needed. There person who asked you for the info is not going to have the time to check everything out - he/she will be busy working - that's why they asked it from you directly.
14. Before you turn down a gig because "it's not enough money" think again. There is one legend, and I wont say who, who has a theory. I know some DJs will want to set a standard for how much they get paid but that might lose you gigs when your really need the money... This legend, if he has nothing else going on that night, will spin locally for $200, $500 whatever, even though he can command thousands. Many other DJs will do this too. His theory is that even if he's just getting some grocery money, that's a connect he made with the promoter (who will probably look out for him again) and that's a whole bunch of new people who are now fans and will spread the word.
15. Do not write to people asking for them to send you all of their promoter contacts or sponsor contacts. Go to their website and find the email or email page and pitch yourself that way.
16. Don't drop names when pitching yourself to a promoter, sponsor, etc unless someone tells you to do so. You might mention someone they really had a bad dealing with and you could end up unknowlingly negatively associating yourself with that person.
17. This happens in the b-boy world more often but when you hear that a promoter is bringing a DJ in, don't undercut the DJ and tell the promoter you will do the gig for free. That's a dirty move and you can bet, if that DJ loses the paying gig and finds out why, they are going to make sure they don't support you in kind words, references, in the future. You need the support of your peers.
18. I have observed DJ friends, who we all know and love, gain fame and success but lose contact with their original fan base. Please don't let this happen to you. Managers who are not down with the artform or the culture but only about business can end up allowing this to happen. And I see it happen all the time. You should have a heavy hand, as noted before, in picking your booking agent, publicist, what is said in your publicity, who it reaches, everything. You should really keep updated emails of your fanbase so they know you are reaching out to them weekly, monthly etc. * One email a week at most - if it's the same info. You don't want to annoy anyone or jam up their inbox.
19. Until you are up there in stature, it might be hard to insist that you get a traveling companion for gigs. Some promoters, esp. the underground supporters, can't afford that on top of what they are paying you + flight + hotel + per diem + ground transportation etc.
20. Don't talk to or write to agents, promoters etc. when you are angry. Calm down, behave professionally, even if they are in the wrong. Going at someone with the aggressive tactics one might use in the streets is going to ensure that you wont be getting more gigs and that person is probably going to warn the other promoters, managers, industry people as well. If you are going to burn a bridge, be careful which one it's going to be.
21. Don't stand on stage or demand to be backstage if you don't need to be there. Most promoters are too nice and don't want to ask anyone to move or leave (you all know I will). The stage looks messy and a true professional does not need to be on stage, backstage or in the camera angle all of the time. You'll look like your desperate for attention. Afrika Bambaataa never came backstage at one of my DMC events. He hung out in the crowd, surrounded by friends and fans and enjoyed the show. Now if the godfather and now self-titled "Amen Ra of Universal Hip Hop Culture" is humble enough to stay in the crowd, can anyone say that they are too good to do this too? He sets a really good example.
22. Don't leave your crates, bags, needles etc. unattended. How many times do people try to throw their stuff on stage like it will be safe there.. that's why I don't let people stand on stage. The less people on or backstage, the less things are missing.
23. When offended that you are not being recognized, don't say to someone "Do you know who I am?" It usually comes off as abrasive.
24. If you are not part of the show, have nothing to do with the show - please try to support, don't demand to be on a guestlist and don't run around asking for free things like t-shirts, vinyl etc. You will make yourself recognized but not in a positive way and people will remember you as the person whos always scrounging for free stuff. And never ever ever ask to get in free for fundraisers.
OK - God willing, someone will benefit from this. Some might not agree and there can always be other circumstances that might actually work but we both figured these are some things to put out there for consideration and preparation for past, future and present champs. Feel free to add as you see fit.
Because we care!
Peace!
Christie
(I re-edited this to list all of the Do's and Don'ts together)
Edited by - ChristieZPabon on 06/04/2006 08:46:49 AM
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