Stay The Course and Put Your Package Together

24 Sep 2013 Leave a comment

by Lady Flava News in Flava's thoughts... Tags: , , , , ,

Flava1

I thought I would share some thoughts with you tonight…In the years that I have been known as Lady Flava I have met some absolutely amazing creative souls in person and online…I have experienced some of the most hardest and hurtful experience of my life in working with artists but at the same time, I have experienced some of the most blessed experiences too.  I have had to learn the hard way that the arts & entertainment industry is not necessarily an honest and sincerely arena to be apart of and is full of ones looking out for self and willing to pimp others for self gain.

But as I make it sound hard and ugly and trust and believe I have seen only the tip of the ugly in this industry,  I too have been challenged by some of the BEST in the Indie arena that has taught me, mentor me and some even have believed in me.  I call what I do, God’s Calling.  It was not a life’s dream or even a goal…When I built Flava Coffee house 10 years ago…becoming a cheerleader and an advocate for artist came natural to me and honestly I found it challenging along with being so very exciting.

I share publicly my thoughts and conversations I have with industry people to help make you think…but it is also from spending time processing my own feelings on the topics I bring forth.  I have stayed my course, even when I stop to  tweak things, needing to make it fit into what my world can provide and to keep it where I will continue to love what I do.

Always talk about the fact, you never know who is watching and better yet, who is really paying attention until that day they reach out and let you know.  I have been blessed time and time again by this experience and in so, it has opened up doors for myself and in turn, it has opened up doors for some of artists that I am involved with.

So today, I tell you and I encourage you to stay the course.  Put together your best package and be prepared to present it upon request or opportunity because you only have 1 time to make a first impression.  Push yourself to learn and grow, push yourself to be better than you were the day before.  Step outside your box and outside your comfort circle to expose yourself to the unknown to really know where you stand in the arena of the form creativity you have chosen to be apart of.

I will encourage to start today if you have not already started,  make it a priority to set aside money for your craft…the free options can only take you so far and at some point you will need money to work from to move you forward.  Take things to the next level as we talk about so frequently.

Always believe in yourself and be honest with yourself in what you create…find a neutral person to review your work/ project/ product to give you feedback on it’s relevance, quality and sell ability.  Once you step outside of yourself, you need it to be able to make it make sense to others for them to follow you, show support for you and then to dig in their pockets to show their support even further.

Do not half ass it…I saw a post that said, “if you put in half the effort be prepared for half the results.”  I see too many great talents that do not have the business part of their craft down and you need that if you want to be able to make money from your craft.  I encourage you to have your package ready and continue to update it as you evolve.

At times I felt like I have begged people to pay attention and to get involved in what I to this day still believe in, I believe in building a movement with others to take things further for artists…But in my dream and goal of building a movement, it has at time felt like I failed…but I stayed the course and in doing so it has opened up doors for me that I could never have imagined.  As I check the stats for my radio show…as of tonight, this is what is shows at 10:00pm on September 23, 2013…95,144 global listens…To me , this feels like a great achievement,  and for those artist that are played on FNRadio, that means you have had the potential to be heard by my global following.

This week takes me into an exciting time which I had not seen coming.  I am so excited to explore a partnership those higher up in the industry to gain more knowledge, hands on experience and being able to advocate for select artists to be able to take their music to the next level.  Let me just say that God is Good and doors are opening up.  I am deserving at this point in my life as I have built a known name and strong brand as a supporter of independent artist.  I have been open to absorbing all the knowledge that has been shared with me to grow into a recognized industry professional.

Stay the course…do it right…get your business package together…have a great attitude and be able to talk about who you are and what you do…be ready when the doors open to step through…and remember that you have only 1 time to make a first impression.

As my business partner Jace ECAj says, “Forward Movement”

Lady Flava
Flava News.FNRadio.Marlex Records and…TBA
Seattle, WA

My Thoughts on What Might Hold Some Creative Souls From Moving to the Next Level

01 Sep 2013 Leave a comment

by Lady Flava News in Flava's thoughts... Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Success-Failure-Sign

My beginnings of cheering artists began within the walls of my business, Flava Coffee House-Seattle, WA to establishing a globally recognized personality as Lady Flava of Flava News, I try to process why artists struggle to get beyond where they are today.  One day I will write a book and include my thoughts and observations in detail but this is just a taste of what I feel holds them back.

1)     Faith that they can and are deserving.

2)     Willingness to financially invest in themselves.

3)     Not understanding they are a business.  Not having the tools in hand to conduct themselves as such when faced with a potential business connection (whatever that may look like.)

4)     Not doing the needed research.

5)     Not working as a unit, as a team with the understanding of what needs to be done and what each person involved needs to commit to for the common goal.

6)     Be personable not personal…Be comfortable in talking to people and share what you do…give them enough to draw them in, then point them in the direction for the experience of your art online and in person.

7)     Lack of respect and support from the fans that claim to believe in their talent.

8)     Targeting the wrong audience who time and time again show their lack of support.

9)     If your approach as proven to not work, have the ability to think outside the box, to find creative ways to do it different with the possibility to obtain favorable results.

10) Karma (not being right by those that support them, using people.)

11) Showing lack of appreciation.

This is just a short list of my observations and opinions…

As you can see, I have put some thought into this.  I love the passion behind the creative souls…I too ponder why I am not able to make moves like I feel I should at this point in the game.  I have people tell me all the time that they love me, believe in me.  I was once told by a business mentor figure that I need to stop supporting starving artists and seek out those with some financial means to pay for my services.  Build my success and then reach back to help those that I am really passionate about.

I believe in building together for a common goal…that numbers are more powerful than struggling in going it on your own.  Recently I was told by a East Coast colleague that the reason some people don’t join with me is because they are waiting for me to build my own success before they get involve.

As I think about who I am and what I do in support of artists, I think about the similarities that artists and small business owners have.  At what point do we get it right after years of investing time, money, energy and perfecting our craft?

Do we project our shortcomings on others or do we accept responsibility for what we lack and do something about it?

Supporting artists that are not in the mainstream spotlight is such a challenge.  I love the challenge and feeling the passion.  On my journey as an artist cheerleader and mentor, I understand there is a need for so much more that goes beyond the passion and perfecting the craft.  Some artist will get it and some will never.  Some artists are easy to support and others aren’t.

Do we live in a world of people that live off the “I” factor or the “WE” factor.  Do we really not understand that needing money to grow is really NOT a TABOO topic, it is a necessary means.

I would love to hear your thoughts as to what I shared on this blog.

ALL ARTISTS START AS AN UNKNOWN CREATIVE SOUL…It starts with them as to how far they will go…

~Lady Flava of Flava News/Flava News Radio~

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