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Website: Emackey.com
I am SOOOO tired of people sayin that they "sing, rap or model" and they dont know this BASIC information... Please read it, it may actually HELP you!
1. STOP thinking that people OWE you something!!!
Everyone in business has WORKED to be there!!! You have no idea how much time, money and effort that goes into what people do. With that said, STOP expecting "hook ups". RESPECT the game, PAY PEOPLE! This is how they live, it is how they pay their bills. People dont go into business to do things for YOU for free!
2. Beauty/sex DOES NOT equal value!
People that are SERIOUS about business realize that your beauty and/or sexual favors DO NOT pay bills. So, "models" DONT TRY!!! Your physical attributes are not bargening chips and they will NOT pay a car note!
3. NETWORKING happens when BOTH parties benefit from the situation!
DONT ask or expect anything for free unless YOU bring something of VALUE to the table! For example, why on earth would I give an artist free beats if they dont have a following? If more people know me than you, I dont have anything to gain by "giving you" a beat. The same thing is true for models. Why would a photographer do a shoot for you for free if no one knows you? Trust me, there are MUCH better looking models than you!!! Why would he shoot you for free?
4. INVEST IN YOURSELF!!!
It is so funny to me when people "want to make music" or "want to model" but dont want to invest in themselves! I have invested well OVER $25,000 into my music and fashion over the years. Not including over $30,000 on various projects.
How can you expect to "get discovered" or "get a deal" for thousands of dollars if you arent willing to spend only hundreds on yourself? Think about it, if you are scared to pay a REAL photographer $300 for a shoot for YOURSELF, why on earth would a company spend thousands on you? If YOU dont believe in you, who else will?
5. KNOW YOUR INDUSTRY!
I cant believe that a person can say that they "sing, rap, or model" and have NO IDEA how their industry even works. If you are an artist and you dont know the basics like how to copywite your songs, what publishing is, what a performance rights company is (and their purpose), or HOW TO CONVERT YOUR MUSIC TO MP3 maybe you should READ A BOOK or give it up.
It is 2010, USE GOOGLE and learn how your industry works!
6. BE A BUSINESS that is ABOUT BUSINESS!
One thing that bothers me is a model or artist that doesnt know the BASIC fact that THEY (themself) are a BUSINESS! You need to market yourself, you need to make investments, you need to make improvements and you need to WORK! If you are an "artist" and you have not booked any shows (for YOURSELF), set up any photo shoots, PAID for promotional services (this DOES NOT MEAN paying a Dj to play your music), got cds pressed, serviced any record pools or (and this is VERY basic) actually RECORDED any music WHY ARE YOU DOING IT?
At the same time, "MODELS", why are you doing shoots? For fun? Think about it, you can do 1000 shoots and if all you ever do to market yourself is post the photos on facebook or model mayhem, your "career" starts to be more of a hobby! If you are shooting, you need to be WORKING!!! Get on the road and talk to agencies. If they dont want to talk to you, TALK TO BUSINESSES YOURSELF! EVERY business needs promotion! Talk to local clothing stores about doing print for their advertisements! DO SOMETHING! If you say that you are a "model" just because you took a few pictures YOU ARE WRONG! If that were the case, everyone on facebook would be a model, right?
7. Its NOW OR NEVER!
If you think for one second that you can put your career on the back burner "till you finish school" or till "you have more money", GIVE IT UP! YOU ARE NOT SERIOUS! If what you do is not the MOST IMPORTANT thing in your life, you will NEVER make it!!! EVERY second of every day there is someone out there that does what you do, that is CONSTANTLY working!!! If you are a singer, and you think that 11pm is your "bed time", think about how many other singers will STILL be in the studio WORKING at 3am WHILE YOU SLEEP!
The fact is, EVERYONE is hurting! EVERYONE needs more time, everyone needs more money, EVERYONE HAS PROBLEMS! The people that make it are the ones that are willing to keep working when no one else will!!! I have been around the music and fashion indusrties since 2000 (YES 10 years!) and I can tell you, MOST of the time the people that make it ARE NOT the ones with the most talent. Its the people that WORK the hardest! How do you think that people like Waka Flocka and Solja Boy get deals? Its not cause they have talent its because they were willing to put in the work that others werent!
8. Models, PLEASE STOP with the ATTITUDES!
Understand where you are in your career! NEVER ask if a gig is "paid" if you DONT HAVE A RESUME! You guys are a TRIP! Remember, there is ALWAYS someone that is better looking than you! At the end of the day, if you dont have a few notches under your belt, (for example, features in NATIONAL magazines, features in MAJOR videos or something that you have done on a MAJOR level) PLEASE dont expect (or demand for that matter) to be paid. This is a GRIND, learn to pay dues! That means, take your prissy A$$ to WORK! If someone actually WANTS to use you for a project, and are willing to pay for your hair, make up, and the shoot, TAKE IT! Jump on the opportunity! You have NO IDEA the connections you could be missing out on!
9. RESPECT EVERYONE!!!
You have NO IDEA who knows who, or what they can potentially do for you in the future!!! Dont burn bridges by playing people to the left because of their current situations. You have to understand that YOU ARE NOT the only person that is working! EVERYONE is! That person that you thought that you were "too good" to work with today may become the person that you HAVE to go tru to get to where you want to be in the future... You never know! I have had it hapen a few times actually. People have treated me as if I were a "nobody" because they had no IDEA who I knew or what I was doing. The SAME people HAD to come back to me with their heads down and tails between their legs to ask for a favior!
10. KEEP PUSHING! NEVER EVER give up!
NOTHING about business is easy. Actually, being in business for yourself is much HARDER than getting a job!!! KEEP PUSHING! KEEP WORKING, NEVER give up!
Many times will spend all your time, energy and money trying to get ahead and it will seem like you haven't gotten anywhere. Dont worry, KEEP PUSHING. Remember, NOTHING worth having comes easy! The harder you work, the greater the outcome. It is far easier to buy a Kia than a Bentley...right? If you work hard you can buy a Kia, if you work harder you can get yourself a BENTLEY.
**Bonus** Above all, ALWAYS be willing to listen and learn from others! You can save yourself A LOT of time, money and heart ache by SIMPLY LISTENING to the advice of others that have BEEN where you are trying to get! NO ONE knows everything! EVERYONE can lean!
Hope this helps!!!
-E. Mackey
**SHOOT FOR THE STARZ**
I must admit as an aspiring musician I take these tips very seriously and appreciate the advice. There were definitely some mental notes I took down from this to look into as well and helped open my eyes a little more! Thanks
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