This is where it's at
{/Yo 88 Keys!
Saturday, August 22, 2009 ( 11:35 PM )
Labels: another wack rapper gone bad, Don't those tight pants cut off your circulation?, Find another hobby, Jesus hates you
0 Comments:
{/
( 1:58 AM )
For the last two weeks, I have found myself in the midst of several conversations that have been centered around hip hop, wack rappers, and starting out in the NYC scene. With these conversations have brought endless thoughts and ideas about the aforementioned.
These ideas, solutions, and semi-rants stem from not only these conversations, but years of immersion in the music scene (hip hop, gangsta rap, & beyond), and my many years of experience in PR & Marketing, which by the way, I am back at, after doing the non-prof bs. These are opinions of my own.
We can agree to disagree.
If you are offended because you are a pocket-raping-promoter, wack rapper, or just an idiot in general..
You can shove a razor sharp tree trunk up yours.
For those of you starting in the biz:
Paying to get on an open mic roster and then having to sell tickets on top of that is ridiculous, when the artist themselves only gets to present half a song and does not receive any beneficial rewards from the event itself! Paying @200.00 to get on an open mic roster and having to sell tickets on top of that, is even more REDICULOUS. If the promoter is not offering you anything in return, such as media coverage, email blasts, or recognition in some form or another, why pay? WHY PAY?!!?
These promoters are raping you and your pockets.
Let me clear my throat
*AHEM*
THESE PROMOTERS ARE RAPING YOU!
For those of you who want to be taken seriously and actually HAVE talent, here are some invaluable solutions.
Solutions:
a) Promote yourself
-Have promo material with you AT ALL TIMES, b/c you never know who will be sitting/standing in the audience that night that will give you the necessary tools, resources, and connections that will take you to the next level. This includes business cards, fliers for upcoming events, and media
PAUSE!
Take the time to create a media-worthy CD. This meaning that you have an actually CD with an ACTUAL CD label in an ACTUAL CD CASE with a PRESENTABLE cover (not some bs you printed out on your mamas circa '94 Printer). The way you present yourself will be the way you will be perceived.
-Make a press kit.
90% of press kits are thrown in the trash and simply disregarded b/c the artist has not taken the time to create a professional press kit that includes all of the essential ingredients. Think of this as if you were starting your own business. You must promote yourself in a professional manner, at all times.
b) Seek out REPUTABLE promoters that have REPUTABLE events that create REPUTABLE results
Feel free to check out my girl Ad the General @ http://www.myspace.com/adt
One of the artist, Darq, that participated in a showcase that was put together by Ad and N.A.N was recently nominated for an Underground Music Award. That is an example of a REPUTABLE promoter that created and CONTINUES to create a media buzz for the artists that do these showcases.
Attend the event a few times to do what I call, "market research". What type of audience attends the event? Is this event drawing the same crowd? What is the sound like? What type of acts grace the stage? Is the promoter professional?
Talk to people sitting at the bar. Talk to the bartender.
c) Collaborate with other TALENTED and DRIVEN individuals to create UNIQUE events that showcase your work as well as others.
These ideas, solutions, and semi-rants stem from not only these conversations, but years of immersion in the music scene (hip hop, gangsta rap, & beyond), and my many years of experience in PR & Marketing, which by the way, I am back at, after doing the non-prof bs. These are opinions of my own.
We can agree to disagree.
If you are offended because you are a pocket-raping-promoter, wack rapper, or just an idiot in general..
You can shove a razor sharp tree trunk up yours.
PART IFor those of you starting in the biz:
Paying to get on an open mic roster and then having to sell tickets on top of that is ridiculous, when the artist themselves only gets to present half a song and does not receive any beneficial rewards from the event itself! Paying @200.00 to get on an open mic roster and having to sell tickets on top of that, is even more REDICULOUS. If the promoter is not offering you anything in return, such as media coverage, email blasts, or recognition in some form or another, why pay? WHY PAY?!!?
These promoters are raping you and your pockets.
Let me clear my throat
*AHEM*
THESE PROMOTERS ARE RAPING YOU!
For those of you who want to be taken seriously and actually HAVE talent, here are some invaluable solutions.
Solutions:
a) Promote yourself
-Have promo material with you AT ALL TIMES, b/c you never know who will be sitting/standing in the audience that night that will give you the necessary tools, resources, and connections that will take you to the next level. This includes business cards, fliers for upcoming events, and media
PAUSE!
Take the time to create a media-worthy CD. This meaning that you have an actually CD with an ACTUAL CD label in an ACTUAL CD CASE with a PRESENTABLE cover (not some bs you printed out on your mamas circa '94 Printer). The way you present yourself will be the way you will be perceived.
-Make a press kit.
90% of press kits are thrown in the trash and simply disregarded b/c the artist has not taken the time to create a professional press kit that includes all of the essential ingredients. Think of this as if you were starting your own business. You must promote yourself in a professional manner, at all times.
b) Seek out REPUTABLE promoters that have REPUTABLE events that create REPUTABLE results
Feel free to check out my girl Ad the General @ http://www.myspace.com/adt
One of the artist, Darq, that participated in a showcase that was put together by Ad and N.A.N was recently nominated for an Underground Music Award. That is an example of a REPUTABLE promoter that created and CONTINUES to create a media buzz for the artists that do these showcases.
Attend the event a few times to do what I call, "market research". What type of audience attends the event? Is this event drawing the same crowd? What is the sound like? What type of acts grace the stage? Is the promoter professional?
Talk to people sitting at the bar. Talk to the bartender.
c) Collaborate with other TALENTED and DRIVEN individuals to create UNIQUE events that showcase your work as well as others.
Seek out venues that are close to transportation AKA accessible & one that fits your budget
d) Host your own radio show on a REGULAR basis with INTERESTING & RELEVANT content.
e) Create a visually-pleasing website and secure a domain name.. People need to find you outside of social media and vice versa.
f) Utilize the wondrous world of social media effectively. Facebook and Twitter are great mediums to begin to build a fan base and create a buzz for your music/art/etc.. But utilized INCORRECTLY, this may backfire on you and become a complete waste of time.
g) What is your motivation? What drives you to do what you do? Whatever it is, identify where you're going with this passion of yours and make the necessary moves to do what you have to do to become successful. Envision success, and what that means to YOU, and take action...
h) Think outside of the box. Fuck what everyone else is doing and/or trying to do. Do you! Find your niche, practicepracticepracticepractice, get your shit together, find a mentor, and...
"Do do do your thing" -Kosha Dillz!!!!
<3
Natalie J
0 Comments:
{/Just do it!
Friday, August 21, 2009 ( 9:19 PM )
After careful consideration and much prodding, I have succumbed to the masses.
Genuine Drafts AKA Plug+Play was manifested by Art Haüs, my grassroots venture that connects artists, musicians, and non-profit organizations in a sincere effort to create sustainability through collaborative & meaningful actions. Some projects that we are currently involved in include a documentary produced by my girl Marthalicia, raising money through collaborative art & events for an NGO located in Cambodia, and a local non-profit by the name of Sue Rock Originals .
Here you will find articles written by myself, as well as others, event flyers/info, super dope art, short films by my artistic goons + moi, dope music, interviews, etc. Most of my musings are related to hip hop and/or community organizing, as those are the "worlds" I tend to dwell in, but for the most part, I find myself to be quite the eclectic NYC dweller, so you may find musings of the extraterrestrial form around these parts. Different, yes, different...
Enjoy & thank you for the support...
Peace, <3, and more <3....
Plug + Play Baby!
Labels: Feeling myself, realness, the new new
1 Comments:
This is AWSOME!!!! so clean and perfessional! awww
By 
(m)2, at
August 22, 2009 at 11:13 AM