I’m writing this music industry blog and article to chronicle my own experience in the music business. Through these daily blogs I hope to see how I might improve my own opportunities to make money in the music business and increase my reader’s appreciation for how the industry really works.On May 10, 2007 I went to the Streettalk DJ Record Pool Meeting in Atlanta. For details on what a record pool is and how it can boost your music business by helping you break a record, read the Truth about Record Pools & Music Conferences, Talent Shows & Open Mics Book, you can download it at gomusicconnection.com. In any event I picked up Kevin in college park. Kevin is a music producer, an associate for Music Industry Connection, intern at Purple Ribbon Entertainment and Studio Engineer at Stankonia Recording Studios.
The record pool meeting was scheduled to start at 8:00PM. We got there at about 9:45PM. It looked like folks were just rolling up. There were a few street teams putting up posters and passing out flyers. As I parked the car Kevin and I started talking about how a lot of people don’t get it. You know people who act as though they make money in the music business on a regular basis when they don’t or people who want to be famous, but don’t want to put in the work.
Two street team members from Patchwerk Recordings approached me while I was in the car and we exchanged flyers. They were professional and polite. After looking at my flyer for a moment one of the street team members ask was I JaWar, I am I said. He said, “I bought the Atlanta Music Industry Connection Book and it helped me tremendously.” He talked about how the book not only gave him direct contacts to Atlanta Music Professionals, but it gave him information he needed to better position him for success in the music business. I thanked him for buying the book and asked him were did he get it. He said at one of the Music Therapy 101 Music Business Seminars in Atlanta. I also told him he could download all my music business books at gomusicconnection.com.
Kevin and I walked toward the entrance of the Streettalk DJ Record Pool Meeting. I was greeted by 4-Ize, a recording artist in Atlanta and DJ Jelly of the Oomp Camp. 4-Ize is one of the hardest working rappers I see. He has recorded with Ludacris and released a number of mix tapes & cds. DJ Jelly is one of the more successful DJs and music industry professionals. I respect both these cats as they seem to have a strong work ethic, more importantly they treat people as people, are very humble and approachable. Kevin and I stood around for a few moments then proceeded back to the car. As we were walking back to my car we started distributing flyers to people in the parking lot and putting flyers on cars.
I told Kevin it at been a minute since I’d been to a music industry event, as I’d been investing a lot more time building my music business on the Internet. I told him it was good that I got out as it let me know I was headed in the right direction by focusing more of my efforts on building my music business using the latest technology for branding and making money online. He agreed.
A few gentlemen gave us their mix cds. Kevin and I both looked like “not another mix cd.” I actually felt kind of bad, because this guy probably thinks this is the way to go. Unfortunately, his CD looked like the typical rap cd I get from a record pool meeting. It didn’t look like anything I would listen to. Plus as I read through the cd I saw a bunch of major label or very successful regional artist on the cd. I wanted to ask the guy who he was and which song was his, but I he may have felt I was being offensive so I said why bother and kept it moving.
The thing about mix cds is a fan can’t really appreciate the featured artist because their listening to so many other artist they are already familiar with. I think if artist focused on creating timeless music (great music) fans would reward them by buying their music, going to their shows and purchasing merchandise, etc. By creating timeless music artist could then give out or sell a cd single and build a base. If the music was great music the same artist could have introduced themselves to DJ Jelly and politely asked if he would take 15 seconds to listen to their music. Jelly is the type of cat that if you come at him correct, at the right time and have great music he will reward you by playing your music, possibly adding you to one of his successful mix cds.
Two street team members from Patchwerk Recordings approached me while I was in the car and we exchanged flyers. They were professional and polite. After looking at my flyer for a moment one of the street team members ask was I JaWar, I am I said. He said, “I bought the Atlanta Music Industry Connection Book and it helped me tremendously.” He talked about how the book not only gave him direct contacts to Atlanta Music Professionals, but it gave him information he needed to better position him for success in the music business. I thanked him for buying the book and asked him were did he get it. He said at one of the Music Therapy 101 Music Business Seminars in Atlanta. I also told him he could download all my music business books at gomusicconnection.com.
Kevin and I walked toward the entrance of the Streettalk DJ Record Pool Meeting. I was greeted by 4-Ize, a recording artist in Atlanta and DJ Jelly of the Oomp Camp. 4-Ize is one of the hardest working rappers I see. He has recorded with Ludacris and released a number of mix tapes & cds. DJ Jelly is one of the more successful DJs and music industry professionals. I respect both these cats as they seem to have a strong work ethic, more importantly they treat people as people, are very humble and approachable. Kevin and I stood around for a few moments then proceeded back to the car. As we were walking back to my car we started distributing flyers to people in the parking lot and putting flyers on cars.
I told Kevin it at been a minute since I’d been to a music industry event, as I’d been investing a lot more time building my music business on the Internet. I told him it was good that I got out as it let me know I was headed in the right direction by focusing more of my efforts on building my music business using the latest technology for branding and making money online. He agreed.
A few gentlemen gave us their mix cds. Kevin and I both looked like “not another mix cd.” I actually felt kind of bad, because this guy probably thinks this is the way to go. Unfortunately, his CD looked like the typical rap cd I get from a record pool meeting. It didn’t look like anything I would listen to. Plus as I read through the cd I saw a bunch of major label or very successful regional artist on the cd. I wanted to ask the guy who he was and which song was his, but I he may have felt I was being offensive so I said why bother and kept it moving.
The thing about mix cds is a fan can’t really appreciate the featured artist because their listening to so many other artist they are already familiar with. I think if artist focused on creating timeless music (great music) fans would reward them by buying their music, going to their shows and purchasing merchandise, etc. By creating timeless music artist could then give out or sell a cd single and build a base. If the music was great music the same artist could have introduced themselves to DJ Jelly and politely asked if he would take 15 seconds to listen to their music. Jelly is the type of cat that if you come at him correct, at the right time and have great music he will reward you by playing your music, possibly adding you to one of his successful mix cds.
For a list of Atlanta Talent Showcases visit the Atlanta Showcase Blog by Clicking Here.
