Failure IS an option; Quiting is NOT

First of all, I want to tell the world that ted.com is an excellent resource.   It is packed with wonderful individuals with vision and amazing ideas.  Personally, I could get lost for hours just listening and watching the videos.  Upon watching the video by ted.com’s Executive Director Chris Anderson, I realized how important a resource for the world this really could become.  Chris spoke with the passion of millions and it was clear that he really believed is the unleashed power of video.  It makes one realize that the power of spoken word in a visual setting is powerful. 

Ted.com has a list of videos that it describes as “Best of the Web”.  How the website makes the determination of what qualifies a video as one of the best escapes me, but one this is for sure, JK Rowling’s speech at the 2008 Harvard University Commencement had a profound effect on the rest of my life.  The speech, entitled “The Fringe Benefits of Failure” on Vimeo, provided a rare first hand glimpse into the life progression of the author of the Harry Potter series.  I have to admit that, even at the age of 40, I am a HUGE fan of Harry Potter having read all of the novels often more than once.  Every now and then I will see one laying around the house and I will pick it up and read it again.  HUGE FAN.   Going back to the video, the thing that left a lasting impression on my life is when Rowling told the graduates “not to be afraid of failure.”  This statement rung true with me because of the path from which I came.  I have failed once or twice in life.  Truthfully, I have failed many more times than that.  However, I got up and I kept going.  It was the struggles in my life that has lead me to this point in my life.  This video served as a validation that better is on the horizon.  The passion that she spoke with still resonates with me.  This video is more than a motivation to graduates.  It is a motivation to the world. 

Concert Production: Managing NOT to be a fan.

I can remember the date well.  Mainly because it was my Alma Mata's Savannah State University's Homecoming.  This homecoming was special because it marked the first time in my short career of concert production that I was not assigned to set-up and load-out.  I was so excited that I was finally getting the chance to showcase what I had learned.  Today, November 12, 1994, I was a production assistant.  I can almost hear the laughter.  It may not sound like much to those who have been is the business for a while but, to a college student, that was a BIG deal. My duties for this day was to manage the backstage areas.  By doing this, it meant that by default, I would have a lot of face time with the artists scheduled to perform.  And lo and behold, two of my favorite artists, and the hottest artists out at the time, were performing that night.  Outkast and Wu-Tang Clan were in the building and, I must admit, I was a little star struck.  That was strike one.  Now that I have done this more than once or twice, I see the importance of placing your personal feelings, positive or negative, aside.  The problem stated when Method Man arrived at the venue solo while that rest of WU went back to the hotel.  So, Method and myself get to talking industry and his new album Tical,  pre-released that very day, and one thing lead to another and I found myself doing things that normal college student do.  However, as a professional, it was out of line.  This one seemingly harmless event set in motion a roller coaster of conflict for that night.  However, I believe in the code in with we live by "what happens on tour, stays on tour" so I won't go into details.  Just know that whenever you do industry, keep it business.  Don't be a FAN.

Have Gun Will Travel

A lot can be said about the “gangsta rap” sub-genre.  Some may say that it is degrading to women.  Others say that it is poisoning the future of African-American youth.  Still some may refer to the music as mind-less and void of actual art.  But, no matter what one may think of the genre, one fact remains.  Gangsta Rap is a multi-million dollar industry.  And as such, its artists must be managed.

But how do you manage the seemly unmanageable?  Especially when you consider that the “artists” of this genre are self-described “gangstas”.  As an executive, personal manager, PR professional, etc., where do you draw the line between an artist’s antics being profitable and when their behavior becomes bad for business? 

Consider the recent arrest of gangsta rapper Waka Flocka Flame.  Here’s an artist that is no stranger to law enforcement. Waka Flocka joins the growing ranks of rap artists arrested firearm violations.  Waka was charged with carrying a weapon in a prohibited place.  That place was Atlanta’s Hartsfield Airport.

So, what is the ultimate job of an artist manager?  Is it to prevent situations like this from occurring?  Or, is it to finesse the problem?  Maybe it is to guide the media into reporting it in a positive light.  Most of job descriptions that I have found do not include the title of babysitter.  However, for a drama and stress free working experience, maybe it should.  But, on the other hand, how and why should you try to limit the actions of an artist when, more often than not, it leads to a larger revenue stream which translates to a larger piece of the pie for the manager. 

I say that to ask this one question.  What are the ethics of a “gangsta”?  Should we as industry professionals even care when dealing with a genre where jail time equals dollar signs?  Maybe whoever said, “there’s no such thing as bad publicity” was right.  I know it seems that way, at least when it comes to hip-hop, because the artists always seem to bounce back bigger and better.  No matter what you take on this is one thing remains to be certain.  The madness must be managed.