“Everyone should work for free”

Admit it.

If you’re like most artists, you have this ridiculous belief that everyone should work for you for free.

I know because I hear it from all my friends. Other managers. Publicists. Radio promoters.

Well, the problem is, that’s an unrealistic idea.

Crazy and unfair to boot.

But, before I tear it completely to shreds, let me defend it for a second.

***

Yes, I know where it comes from.

You think people should work for you for free because your music is so great.

And maybe it is. And maybe it isn’t.

The problem is that so many people in this world are DESPERATE to work in the “music business” that they WILL work for you for free.

Anyone can hand out business cards and call themself a manager, even if they have NO idea what they are doing and have never managed a band before.

So of course, someone in that situation is going to have to “work for free” because they have no proof that they can manage anyone effectively.

I know because I used to be one of those people (a new manager, although I always was good at it, even when I had little to no experience).

Of course, when I was starting out as a manager, I was working for free. But that was fourteen years ago.

And, back then, in fact, I wasn’t just “working for free” – I was losing money.

But it was ok.

Because, like many managers, I had a day job and I managed “on the side.” A lot of managers do this when they are starting out.

A lot of people manage as a hobby.

And that’s fine.

But what about when you get past that point?

Sure, I worked for peanuts, essentially “for free” for many artists. Sure, we made some money…but it was peanuts compared to the hours I put in.

And to add insult to injury, after working pretty much for free for four years for one band, that band screwed me over big-time when even a tiny bit of money came knocking from a shady music publisher. Now the band is nowhere and the shady guy got fired from his big, hot shot job at a major studio. Ha!

Anyhow, I digress.

Point is, I think a lot of artists get SPOILED by newbies and believe that EVERYONE should work for them for free.

And sadly, a lot of artists and bands also somehow justify it being ok to fire their manager and screw them out of money when things FINALLY take off after their manager’s YEARS of hard work and making NO money from them. All I can say is karma is a bitch.

But back to my original point…

**

Now, there’s a BIG difference between having a manager that’s say:

1) an accountant by day — and manager by night (or a manager that works from home)

vs.

2) having a professional, full-time manager

I’ve crossed over from that first group to the second (although thankfully I was never an accountant).

Yet, artists seem to always approach me with this thought process, “I’m making NO money. I have no fan base. My songs may or may not even be that good. But I want YOU to work for ME for free. It’s your job to figure out how to make money for me, even though I’ve never made any money for myself.”

Ha ha ha ha ha ha.

and…

#@$#@%

In case you haven’t noticed, there have been DRAMATIC shifts in the entertainment business over the past few years.

Most notably, record companies (and publishing companies) are downsizing more than ever before — to the point where even many of my long-time A&R friends are losing their jobs….and not getting hired back.

With labels (and publishers) signing less talent, that means less money all the way around.

Now….

How do managers get paid?

Normally, the biggest way is from a percentage of your record label or publishing deal advance.

Whereas back in the 1980s or 1990s, it wasn’t unheard of for a band to be getting nice 7 figure deals, that just isn’t happening anymore. So back then, a manager could make a good six figure income if they just got one artist a good record and publishing deal every year.

Flash forward to 2012. Budgets are being slashed left and right. And sure, labels and publishers are still signing bands. But you’re much more likely to see a $50,000 – 360 record deal being offered today than anything in the six or seven figure range.

What does that mean?

That means managers aren’t reaping those big commission checks anymore.

And without them, there is no more “work for you for free ’til you get signed.”

Now you’re just coming to a manager and flat out asking them to work for free.

UGH.

I don’t know what the future is but at an industry event the other night someone told me that “big” and “established” MANAGERS of star acts and well-known bands are now asking ARTISTS TO PAY MANAGERS FOR THEIR SERVICES. Or taking 30-35% commission instead of the standard 15-20%. Because even 50-100% of $0 is $0.

Ha, and to think all these years, I was just AHEAD of my time.

Of course managers are doing this.

Because those big, fat record and publishing advances aren’t there anymore.

And managers need to get paid somehow.

It makes sense.

Any reputable manager isn’t running a charity.

Managers run a business with staff and rent and expenses to pay.

And don’t forget, most managers are self-employed so we’re all paying for our own office rent, assistants, sick days, health insurance, cell phones, computers, computer repairs, it all adds up. Plus, there is no “paid” vacation time or 401K plan when you’re a manager so you have to build that into your cost of doing business.

Maybe now that you see how things have changed, you’ll stop asking a manager to work for you for free.

(Please feel free to forward this email and this email alone to members of your band or other artists you know. But please do not post it on a web site or blog without asking permission. Thanks!)

Copyright @2012 True Talent Management. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without author’s prior consent.

Jennifer Yeko
True Talent Management ~ True Talent PR

9663 Santa Monica Blvd. # 320

Beverly Hills, CA 90210
http://www.truetalentmgmt.com

http://www.truetalentmgmt.wordpress.com – Read my music blog for advice on making it in the music business

There are two ways to “break” as an artist

1) Tour

or

2) Tour

The only real exceptions to this rule are:

1) “radio” bands

2) pop stars who break through success on a TV show or movie first (think Disney kids).

Now, before you start getting your guitar strings all in a tizzy, hear me out. Yes, there are ALWAYS exceptions to the rule.

But, generally speaking, if you don’t tour, how do you expect to develop a following?

And if you don’t develop a following, how do you expect to make a LIVING from your music?

Touring. Touring. Touring.

“Why is touring so important?” you ask.

Good question.

Many reasons:

1) Touring is the only real way bands develop a fan base. 

Sure, back in the day, there was radio and videos on MTV and now we have all the social media outlets like Facebook YouTube and such, but being in a room, in person, in front of people, singing your songs and playing your music is still the best and only way to develop a true and loyal fan base. As great as social media is, we are still human beings and nothing beats a live concert and meeting the artist afterward.

After all, would you rather get an email from your favorite band or singer? 

Or get to meet them after their show? 

EXACTLY!

Sure, you may even be clever enough to create a YouTube video that gets a million or more hits. But YouTube videos are here today, gone tomorrow.

If you play a show, even if only 10 people are in the room, and you have a nice chat with them after the show, and they like your music, I guarantee they will tell their friends not only how GREAT a band you are, but also how NICE and COOL you were to them after the show. So, when you go back to that town or city, you should have MORE people there the next time. Sometimes you have to start small to get big. 10 now, 20 later. 40 down the road. Then 80. Then 100. Then 200. Then 1,000. You get the idea….fan bases can develop exponentially over time. But it takes TIME. So if you don’t start today, you’re never going to get there.

2) If you don’t tour, how do you expect to ever get signed?

Say you want a record deal. Or just someone to “invest” in your music (that isn’t a parent or family member). Say you give me a CD and I send it to one of my label or “investor” contacts — and they LIKE it. Well, the very next question they are going to ask me is, “How’s the live show?” So, if you don’t tour, there is no “live show” and no fan base. A label’s level of interest goes from HERE….to well, here…because labels know what all of us in the industry know – TOURING BUILDS A FAN BASE. It is an ESSENTIAL part of your career and key to your success.

3) When you play live, you get to meet with and network with other artists and bands. 

And guess what the #1 way an artist gets an opening slot on a tour is? Yup, that’s right. Their friends. That’s why Taylor Swift takes Kellie Pickler out on tour with her instead of a million other artists: because they are friends.

4) If you don’t play live, you’re probably not getting a performance on a TV show.

I was just talking to one of my contacts who works as a booker on a major TV show. He said, “Do you think I’m going to send a camera crew of SEVEN out to film an artist who isn’t AMAZING live?” Of course not.

You may not need a huge fan base to get on a talk show, but if you aren’t playing a show in the next few weeks, how is the booker even going to come see you live to evaluate your show for its TV potential?

5) The only way to get “better” live is to play out often and tour.

How do you get better at something? Practice, practice, practice!

For years I managed a band that had incredible success in the music placement area (thanks to some well produced songs and an amazing promoter in yours truly). And we had tons of label interest. However, whenever we would showcase for the labels, which we did time and time again, after the show it was crickets, crickets, crickets. Our lawyer said, “I think the band isn’t getting signed because of the live show.” They sounded fine live. But there was no energy. The lead singer had no charisma up on stage. No spark. The band played out but they never even went on a real tour. They just played locally and in Los Angeles a few times. So the live show was just “ok” and “ok” isn’t enough to get signed. And A&R guys and labels and even a savvy investor knows that the #1 way to break a band is ON THE ROAD. So, if you want to get better live, play out often and go on tour!

6) Touring is part of your “job” as an artist.

Yup, you heard me. You don’t want to be like Steely Dan, do you? It’s SO hard to get attention these days, so if you don’t tour, you’re cutting out a HUGE way you can get noticed. After all, I’m sure you’ve all had friends tell you, “Dude (dudette?), you HAVE to see this band play live. They are AMAAAAAZING!”

GOOD WORD OF MOUTH IS EVERYTHING IN THIS BUSINESS!

You want to be that band.

If you’re an artist who is not playing out and not touring, well, that’s like a painter that says they only use 1/2 of the colors. Or a chef that only knows how to make a few dishes. Sure, you can do it, but it won’t be much of a painting…and you won’t be much of a chef and it certainly won’t be a very good restaurant if you only make one or two items. Sure, you’re still an “artist” if you don’t play shows. But maybe you’re really just a “songwriter” and not a “performing artist.” Do you want to be Diane Warren? Or U2? Each have made millions. But who do you think has made more?

7) You want to get signed? What do you think happens after you make your record?

You tour!

I know we talked about that earlier but it comes up a lot.

Artists say to me all the time, “Oh, but I’ll tour IF I get signed to a label” or “I’ll tour WHEN I get signed.”

Here’s the rub.

Labels don’t want to hear that.

In fact, I bet most labels would laugh if they heard an artist say that.

They don’t care.

Put yourself in their shoes.

You can choose to sign any artist in the world that is unsigned.

Pool #1 has 1,000 artists who want to get signed who are touring, have developed a fan base and are working their butts off.

Pool #2 has 1,000 artists that have either 1) never toured or 2) only played a handful of dates here and there.

Now, put yourself in the shoes of the A&R guys and President of the label.

Why would you even LOOK at artists in Pool #2 when there are already TONS of amazing artists in Pool #1?

Exactly!

What happens after you sign to a label and make an album?

The label puts you out on the road.

Now why would they do that with an “unproven” entity? What if they sign you and you hate touring? Or the band gets along great in the studio but not on the road? If they only sign acts that tour ALREADY, they’ll never have to worry about these problems, right?

8) Money

How do you expect to make any money if you don’t tour?

With CD sales falling, ticket sales (and merchandise sold at shows) are one of the only ways to make money in this business. How much did U2′s tour gross in 2011? North of $300 million. Sure, you’re not U2, but most artists make their living on the road.

9) You need or want a booking agent

Booking agents don’t care if you have a record deal or not.

But what they DO care about is, “How many people can you draw to this show next month in Toledo?”

A key to success is getting a great booking agent on your team.

And you can do that, even without a record deal.

But you need FANS…

And how do you get FANS???

TOURING.

10) You want press?

If you want any real press, you need to tour. Most local and national newspapers and weeklies don’t care much about you unless you’re coming through town soon.

11) If you don’t do it, someone else will

While you’re sitting at home, crying that it’s “too hard” or “too expensive” or “pointless” to tour, other artists and bands are slogging it out on the road and developing fans, one by one.

Think of it this way.

Even if you’re a solo artist or band, and you played for one fan every night, if you played out every night, in a week you’d have 7 fans and no doubt have sold 7 CDs/shirts. In a month, that’s 30 fans and CDs/shirts. In a year, 365 fans and shirts. Of course, any place you play should have at LEAST 5-10 people so do the math.

Sitting at home = no fans.

Playing out = fans every time you play.

Of course, you have to be savvy about touring. Use social media to promote your shows. Don’t know anyone in a city? Find some people online, or buy targeted ads on facebook for the cities and towns you are going to play. Make great and ENTERTAINING YouTube videos to help grow your fan base. Ask your fans to bring their friends and promote your next shows.

12) It’s fun

Yes, playing your music live, in front of people and not a YouTube camera, is and should be FUN. You should ENJOY and LOVE being up on stage, getting to perform for people every night. Getting to see people’s reactions to your songs, your energy on stage, your lyrics…that should all be PRICELESS. After all, isn’t performing one of the reasons you got into the music business in the first place?

***

Now, I can probably add some items to this list but 12 reasons should be enough. Maybe you can think of more??

I understand that many of you can’t tour because 1) you have a day job 2) you have a spouse and/or kids to support 3) gas is really expensive 4) the economy “sucks”

I suppose that’s why so many artists that get signed are so young. Because when you live at home and have no responsibilities, you can go on tour.

However, even if you have family and financial obligations, you can still play out.

My friend’s brother is married with kids in New Jersey yet they still play out almost every weekend.

Sure, he’s doing it for fun and not to get signed. But if he can do it every weekend with a wife and kids to support, so can you!

***

Now I know I can’t “talk” you into touring.

Artists either “get it” and tour and play out as often as they possibly can. Or they don’t. And no amount of me trying to convince you, especially over an email is probably going to change your behavior (although secretly I hope it will).

Just know that the artists “making it” today are touring. Why, even Katy Perry went on Warped Tour when her first album was breaking. Sara Bareilles rode around in a van even after she was signed to Epic to promote her first album. Everyone tours.

So if you’re not reading this email from the back of a smelly van somewhere…

(Please feel free to forward this email and this email alone to members of your band or other artists you know. But please do not post it on a web site or blog without asking permission. Thanks!)

Copyright @2012 True Talent Management. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without author’s prior consent.

Jennifer Yeko
True Talent Management ~ True Talent PR

9663 Santa Monica Blvd. # 320

Beverly Hills, CA 90210
http://www.truetalentmgmt.com

http://www.truetalentmgmt.wordpress.com – Read my music blog for advice on making it in the music business

What’s the difference between Mariah Carey and me?

Well, for starters, I didn’t just have twins, I’m not married to Nick Cannon and I don’t have $100 million in my bank account….but we’ll get to that a bit later….ha!

****

What’s the difference between being “good” and being “great?”

That’s a good question.

I’ve always believed there is one’s natural ability…and then the effort one puts into something.

Let’s take Mariah Carey as an example. She was one of my favorite singers growing up.

She has an amazing voice and range, right?

I assume she was just born with that…

However, a lot of success in life isn’t about being born with a specific talent, like an amazing voice or eight octave range.

It’s about the effort you put into IMPROVING what you have.

***

Now, I may take a million singing lessons and still never have near the voice of an opera singer or Mariah Carey.

But there is a lot I do have control over.

If I were a songwriter, for example, I could control the quality of the songs I write.

And so can you.

***

Let’s take my teacher friend as an example.

Remember school?

I know it was a long time ago for many of you…and not so long ago for others of you (maybe some of you reading this are even still in school).

Anyhow, remember taking English class? And getting back papers with red marks all over them?

If I recall, much of school was like this.

My friend is a teacher. As is my aunt. As were both my grandmothers. But I digress….

I’ve been over to my teacher friend’s house numerous times and have sat in awe and watched him grade papers for hours and hours and hours.

He just sits there, on his sofa, every night after school, and spends HOURS grading papers.

If you have a friend that teaches, I implore you to go over to their house one night after school and watch them sit and grade papers.

Why?

Because it will teach you this: to learn and most importantly, to IMPROVE at anything, whether it’s English or Math or Social Studies or Science or SONGWRITING, it takes a LOT of mistakes. Doing things the wrong way and trying something new. And having someone correct your mistakes and show you how to make things BETTER!

I consider myself a good writer. I mean, good enough that one of my articles is going to be published in an upcoming issue of Music Connection.

Yet, if I think back, I probably wrote from 3rd grade all the way through high school and four years of college and had millions (ok, hundreds) of pieces of writing critiqued and graded and redlined and I probably got a lot of bad grades before I got better.

Sitting there watching my math teacher friend grade papers with his red pen reminds me of how important it is to keep working on IMPROVING anything you write. Sure, he teaches math but the same is true of English and writing and even if you’re writing songs, you should CONSTANTLY be working to IMPROVE those songs. Write better lyrics. Run them by other artists you know and like and TRUST for CONSTRUCTIVE feedback.

We can and never should stop IMPROVING our work.

Right?

I know I wouldn’t be half the writer I am today if I hadn’t gotten all that constructive feedback about my writing.

What about you?

Jennifer Yeko
True Talent Management ~ True Talent PR

9663 Santa Monica Blvd. # 320

Beverly Hills, CA 90210

http://www.truetalentmgmt.com

http://www.truetalentmgmt.wordpress.com – Read my music blog for advice on making it in the music business

Maybe the reason you aren’t more successful is because of the decisions you make

I see it time and time again.

Great artists who haven’t “broken through.”

And I often wonder why that is.

Of course, there are many factors that go into becoming (or not becoming) a success. Luck, timing, etc.

Now, we’ve already discussed in previous emails how you “create your own luck” by basically working your butt off.

And of course, there is just “being in the right place at the right time.”

A lot of life is random. Winning the lottery. Getting a disease or getting hit by a drunk driver. Working at a dotcom that turns into the next Facebook or Google or what have you. Good things can happen to bad people and bad things definitely happen to good people.

But at least 50%, if not more of life is created by the decisions you make.

I see GREAT artists making POOR decisions all the time.

They sign deals with shady people or companies.

They don’t work hard enough.

They don’t make their music better.

They don’t tour or play out enough.

They hire terrible publicists or lawyers or managers or promoters or music licensing people who don’t know what they are doing (or who don’t have the connections to do what really NEEDS to get done).

Or they don’t hire anyone at all, which is even worse.

They throw their music into music libraries with hundreds of thousands of songs in them….and sit around waiting, and waiting…thinking that will do something…thinking that something will happen from being passive, when 99% of the time, it won’t.

Great music won’t rise to the top unless you have a cheerleader for it.

After all, isn’t that a LOT of the reason artists want a major label deal?

Uneducated artists don’t invest their own money in their own careers. Yes, even Snow Patrol, Imogen Heap, Katy Perry, Taylor Swift, all those artists invested their own money (or had families that did) for years and years until they broke through. Rich parents aren’t the key (although they can obviously help a LOT). Many acts work their butts off at minimum wage jobs to get enough money to record with the “right” producer. Or to get enough money to tour. I’ve seen it. I’ve managed those acts, in fact. I’ve also managed the “lazy” ones that thought a record deal would fall in their lap because they wrote a few good tunes. Guess what? It didn’t…

I see artists all the time that hire the wrong manager and wrong team members time and time again. And wonder why it “hasn’t happened” for them yet.

I can’t MAKE you make good decisions (in life and/or with your music career).

I can’t MAKE you hire the right manager or right promoter…or even the right band members.

I can’t MAKE you go on the road.

I can’t MAKE you work on your songwriting skills and VOCALS to make them better.

But I do know, if you don’t learn to make better decisions, you’re going to be stuck neutral for a long, long time.

Jennifer Yeko
True Talent Management

9663 Santa Monica Blvd. # 320

Beverly Hills, CA 90210

http://www.truetalentmgmt.com

http://www.truetalentmgmt.wordpress.com – Read my music blog for advice on making it in the music business

10 amazing tips from a successful artist

1. From a creative point of view, try to learn how to curb your emotion and create what works for people.

2. Follow your hunch but don’t be over inspired by something that might only be personal.

3. Write and produce what’s in demand. That in itself is an art form.

4. Business is simple – give people what they want and not what you think they need. That’s how money is made.

5. Don’t be offended by the word “no”.

6. Don’t be offended if you’re ignored. Your track probably did get listened to.

7. Nobody owes you a living.

8. If you’re an unknown writer or artist and you want to get your music listened to by the people that count, you’ll sometimes have to pay out of your own pocket to get this done because it takes time and patience to get material listened to. There are no guarantees that come with that. Why should there be? Those people have acquired their contacts and knowledge through years of dedication to their own craft and their reputation is important in sustaining those relationships for your benefit as well as their own.

It took me years to understand and appreciate that, don’t let it take that long for you.

9. Songwriting is a numbers game. If you’re good, you’ll keep popping them out. You’ll improve the overall quality of your work and your knowledge of the bigger picture will expand and then all will become clear.

10. Don’t be precious. Be helpful, but stick to your guns.

-Jonny

Thanks!

Jennifer Yeko
True Talent Management
http://www.truetalentmgmt.com

http://www.truetalentmgmt.wordpress.com – Read my music blog for advice on making it in the music business

A quote I love & a great story about a movie being made & can you answer this question?

‎”If you really want to do something, you’ll find a way. If you don’t, you’ll find an excuse.” – Jim Rohn

I just love this quote! Because every day I receive emails from 2 kinds of artists:

1) The artists that complain they have “no money” and can’t be successful – yet they want someone (like me) to work for them for free. Ha ha!

2) The artists that somehow figure out a way to get money to make a CD. And not just to record a CD – but to market and promote it.

After all, if a tree falls in the forest and there’s no one to hear it, I’d argue that it doesn’t make a sound.

Likewise, I would argue that if a great CD is made and the artist didn’t put any money aside to promote it, it will make no sound. No impact.

The choice is yours.

Choose wisely!

****

And, if that doesn’t make enough of an impact, how about a story?

I have two friends that are screenwriters (well, one is more a friend of a friend…but you’ll see my point shortly…)

They’ve both been at it a staggering amount of time – 10 years. Yes, 10 years and nothing has happened….well….

One entered a bunch of online screenwriting contests. He won one. His movie is now being made into a feature film called “Snow White and the Huntsman”. He made $3 million dollars (from that and another script he sold). All because of one contest he entered. His movie is starring Kristen Stewart (of “Twilight” fame) and Charlize Theron.

I told my other friend about this and told her she too should enter contests like the one he entered. I even sent her a link to the contest that he entered and that got him the $3 million dollars. She said, “I can’t afford it.” I think one of the contests was expensive, like $500, and sure, that’s a lot of money these days. Yet, she spends that same money on trips home or vacations or other things she finds “important” but she won’t put a few hundred dollars into something that WORKED for my friend because she “doesn’t have the money.”

My 1st friend will no doubt continue to make millions selling his scripts.

Sadly, my other friend will probably never sell anything.

Not because she isn’t talented. But because 1) she won’t put her money where her mouth is 2) she won’t even try something that is guaranteed to work.

Why would someone sabotage their career like this?

I don’t know.

Maybe she doesn’t believe in herself enough. Or, maybe, deep down, she knows she doesn’t have “what it takes” to make it in this business. Either talent or drive. Or both.

I don’t know.

Now…

Which person do you aspire to be?

Jennifer Yeko
True Talent Management

9663 Santa Monica Blvd. # 320

Beverly Hills, CA 90210
http://www.truetalentmgmt.com

http://www.truetalentmgmt.wordpress.com – Read my music blog for advice on making it in the music business

Read this!

http://jeninesjots.wordpress.com/2011/08/23/living-your-life-of-greatness/comment-page-1/#comment-23

Want to be successful? Step # 1 – How long does it take you to…

answer your emails?

Because every successful artist I know answers their emails right away.

RIGHT AWAY.

Often within seconds or minutes of receiving them.

In fact, many executives I know, including Presidents of labels and huge companies, and heads of A&R, respond to their emails within minutes.

How long does it take YOU to get back to someone?

***

I once wrote an artist asking her when she wanted to schedule a time to chat.

Now mind you, this artist is very famous. She was on TV for YEARS and YEARS. And you know what?

She wrote me back within SECONDS saying, “How about NOW?”

What’s the expression? “There’s no time like the present….”

Well, if you want to be successful (in your music career AND in life/business), ANSWER YOUR EMAILS RIGHT AWAY.

Return you phone calls promptly. By the end of each business day!

I’m frustrated as artists sometimes take weeks or months to get back to me.

Wow, really?

It’s no wonder you haven’t gotten anywhere…

Labels and managers and people in life don’t think it’s “cool” that you’re playing hard to get.

Rather, they take it as a sign that you’re 1) disorganized 2) don’t care or 3) aren’t on top of things.

I used to do it too – take a while to get back to people. And while I’m far from perfect, I know that replying to emails right away is what gets me more business – not waiting hours, days, weeks or months!

Don’t fall into the trap and sabotage your own success by ignoring your emails. (Believe me, I’ve been there. Dumb, dumb, dumb!)

Answer every email as it comes in and see how things change!

You’ll be glad you did!

Jennifer Yeko
True Talent Management

9663 Santa Monica Blvd. # 320

Beverly Hills, CA 90210
http://www.truetalentmgmt.com

http://www.truetalentmgmt.wordpress.com – Read my music blog for advice on making it in the music business

It doesn’t matter how talented you are….

It’s doesn’t matter how talented you are.

I know that may come as a shock to a lot of you.

But it’s true.

Why?

Because success in life, especially in the entertainment business, isn’t about talent.

It’s about drive.

Hard work.

Stamina.

Luck.

And sure, you can “make” your own luck by working your ass off.

But the reality is, how talented you are in terms of singing and writing songs is probably only 10%, maybe 20% of it.

If you think about it, you know I’m right.

People complain all the time that the songs they hear on the radio “aren’t that good.”

Just proves my point.

Yet, the reason why most of those artists have songs on the radio and you don’t is because they’ve worked their asses off.

Now I know someone is going to point out some example that is an exception to the rule.

But the reality is, you and I both know lots, maybe dozens, of incredibly “talented” artists out there who never made it.

And many of them maybe even got signed to a record deal at one point.

Most of them did not.

But what matters isn’t how talented you are…

It’s how hard you work.

Sure, Katy Perry is a massive, massive star right now. She made what, $45 million dollars last year?

But she too tried and failed at several labels before getting signed to Capitol. And released records on her own with the help of her father’s backing before she even got signed to that first deal. And she still toured her ass off on Warped Tour when her first album was breaking.

So she may be rich and famous now…but she paid her dues and played at Hotel Cafe just like hundreds and hundreds of other artists on the Los Angeles music scene.

So, you want to be successful and “make it” in the entertainment business?

Forget talent.

If it you have it, that’s great.

But it’s all about HARD WORK!

Comments re: Paying for your music career

Hey Jennifer. It finally hit home for me what commitment means over the past better part of a year.

*Rather than hope for a wealthy benefactor, I committed to taking on many many extra private music students to pay off loans and save for both practical needs (like a car) and career investment (like a recording project). Plus I’m learning through teaching.

*Rather than whine about playing covers, I committed to playing as many cover gigs as I could get. I’m getting loads of ideas for my originals. Plus I just played a venue this week I never dreamed I’d be playing 6 months ago, where I’ve seen some of my fave famous artists play!

*Rather than whine about having to do the business, I”m learning it. The raw unglamorous stuff.

*Rather than play in the snow all day, I worked on booking gigs all day. Cut and paste are your friends.

*Rather than not pay attention, I’m paying attention to what I put in my body and invest in my business in terms of time and money.

*Rather than settle for less, I’m striving for more: I could stop here, but what if I…???

The ironic thing is that all this hard work doesn’t feel as bad as I thought. I’m making a lot more money, getting a lot more gigs, networking a lot more contacts and I feel like I’m on the road to somewhere really great.

Plus the teaching and performing and relationships forged through it all are very rewarding.

Making the best of where you are really is the way to go. Sure, I still make mistakes, even stupid ones, but the momentum is with me. Often you just have to make an executive decision and just do it rather than wait for the perfect moment!

Thanks for continuing to kick us artists in the arse! K

—– Original Message —–

ORIGINAL ARTICLE BELOW:

Here is a great article about ways to pay for your music career:

http://musicians.about.com/b/2010/01/06/paying-for-your-music-career.htm

Too often I hear artists complain and whine that they are “broke”.

Well you know what?

Most successful artists came from nothing.

NOTHING!!

Literally they were dirt poor!

Even pop stars like Britney Spears.

That “being poor” drove them to be successful because they worked their A$$ off.

Sure, there are lots of rock stars like Jon Bon Jovi who came from relatively well to do families growing up.

But many artists came from nothing.

So you can either complain and whine that you’re broke – and do NOTHING about it. I guarantee you’ll get nowhere in life with that attitude.

Or, you can get off your tail, work your butt off and become hugely successful in life.

What’s it gonna be?

Excuses?

Or success?

Jennifer Yeko
True Talent Management
9663 Santa Monica Blvd. # 320
Beverly Hills, CA 90210

~Music Marketing~Music Licensing~Music Publicity
www.truetalentmgmt.com

““Take a chance. If you never take a chance, then you’ll never know the outcome. So basically, as an up-and-coming artist, you’ve gotta keep hustling and keep trying. Send your demo to people in the industry you respect.’”
HI-Tek

“Don’t wait for a label: be an artist without a label. The days of waiting to be discovered are in the past and labels want to see a bit of initiative. Get out there and play.’”
Richard Zito, Senior VP, A&R