This week I am committing to myself to spend sometime in thought and respected conversation to see how I can set up Flava News to create win wins with Artists, Fans and Sponsors. I have established relationships around the world that are working with me, want to work with me or want to join the UTAE Movement in showcasing artists. I am committed to supporting artists and introducing fans to some new flava.
There is so much in place right now that I could make moves for Flava News and Artists if I had the money. In the past I tried to push a membership only movement charging just $1.00 per month in the beginning to moving it to $5.00 per month to help put a financial foundation under this movement to better support artists. It worked well at first and covered the expense of the radio show and then died off and life got in the way. But it felt like I was begging for support to support you instead of you seeing the strength you had to be apart of a movement. Do you honestly know if half of you or if even 1/4 of you gave a dollar every month to Flava News…what I could do. Think about it, look at what I have created with nothing. Flava News is not about me. God put me here to serve others and to find ways to support the underdogs.
I have been told time and time again that if I continue to support starving artists, I will continue to starve. Right now, Marc VanClaggett, Black Stax and Monica Monet sustain Flava News. I work hard for them and with them and in turn they provide me the means that I use to exist for you. I don’t go shopping or save towards getting a car again…I put what I earn towards keeping Flava News Alive.
It takes movement to build a movement and it takes working together to keep it existing. It is easier to destroy a movement than to build one.
I do everything by myself. Just think what I could do if I could hire someone to help. Of course someone will say get an intern that you do not have to pay. First of all, I am a control freak and if you do something for free, you really do not have to commit to me or the project. When I can pay, I establish grounds for respect with the ability to have expectations. I advocate that many artists are at the point of quality work, strong work ethics and commitment that they deserve to get paid. So I feel if I talk about it, I need to be about it.
Again, Flava News/UTAE and colleagues, we have the means to support artists around the United States to set up shows of all kinds for all art forms… what we do not have is the financial means to commit that you will walk away making what you deserve financially. My ultimate goal is to be able to start a Flava News Grant Foundation, to help artists with the financial struggles in completing a project.
If we say that we believe in artists, we need to step up by financially supporting their products and or projects. We need to tell our family, friends and networks about them. We need to write reviews of our experience for them to use as marketing tools…We can make a difference for those we claim to believe in!
As Lady Flava of Flava News, I am committed to just that and have working on this since 2007. Just think what we could do together. As my East Coast Sister, April Sims says, “WE Are GREATER than i”
If you would like to make an in-kind donation towards supporting a movement that serves unknown artists, click this link: Paypal
If you have, ideas on how I can be more effective with building the Flava News Movement and UTAE, I am open to hear your thoughts.
Lady Flava News 