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Roger E Lear - EzineArticles.com Expert Author
The hip hop music industry is full of passion and built on the dreams of individuals seeking creative outlet for their unique expression and income for their refined ideas. While the term "making it" is very different from one artist to another, one songwriter to another and one producer to another, we all have one need in common; that hot beat to serve as the foundation for a great song!
My name is Roger E ... [More]
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- With Prioritization and Focus You Will Get More Accomplished
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] The music business, as with most businesses, is changing rapidly. How does one keep up with all of the changes? How do you take in, analyze and apply all of the latest and greatest ways of doing business, make money and remain true to your art? In this article I'm going to touch on two things which are extremely important and very basic: prioritization and focus.
- Change, Change and More Change
[Self-Improvement:Success] Change is constant and, for the most part, only young children fail to notice change happening. I'm sure they perceive change, yet their ability to adapt to change seems easy. Outside of the occasional temper tantrum, which tend to be more about a possession (such as a toy) then resistance to something new, they are ever quick to adjust and move on to the next thing.
- Change, Adapt, Innovate, Or Be Lost
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] Let me set this up before I get into it. If you are prone to pessimism, this could cause you to give up on your dreams of making it big in the music business. Read on at the risk of shattered dreams. For everyone else, this can stimulate the type of thoughts which breakthroughs are made of. Let us begin.
- Yes Will Come - Keep Asking For What You Want
[Self-Improvement:Success] Are you prepared to persist after hearing "no" to a deeply personal question? What about after hearing "no" twice? OK, how about hearing "no" to the same question five times? If you are prepared to persist in the face of this opposition, then I believe one of three things is true about you:
- Balance the Art and Business of Song Writing
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] Rarely is an artist objective about what they create. The creative process is pure, organic and should be free to unfold. (At least that's what I think.) I have said, "I become one with my creation, not seeking perfection, just a clear sense that when it's done, it's done." That makes sense to me. I love that about art. When it's just about art, I don't care what other people think; I don't do it with others in mind. Whether I'm making a track or writing a song, if it's just about art then whatever comes is how it should be.
- Start the Process As Soon As Possible
[Self-Improvement:Success] Everything takes time, often more than we expect. In 1988 I bought my first four-track recorder and started learning to produce songs. Very basic stuff, but I didn't wait for the perfect time to start producing music.
- Know Your Target Audience
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] This is no exaggeration; I have had this conversation more than 100 times with artists and groups I've worked with: who is your audience? Much can be said about people not wanting to be categorized; however, like it or not that's how things work. Categorizing helps finding a particular thing easier; check the library and see how things are set up.
- Focused on Real Success
[Self-Improvement:Success] In a book I read not long ago titled "Do You" by Russell Simmons, he shared the discovery he made regarding success and the pursuit of "things" as a benchmark of success. He noted an unnamed MC who spent lots of money on a nice car and rims. Inevitably, sometime after the purchase the question shows up; "Is this it?"
- Study the Great Writers and the Craft of Writing
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Music] In 1996 I was doing a hip hop compilation CD. There were 11 MCs and because I value the craft of lyric writing, during the album pre-production stage I decided that we, as a collective, would get together and critique the lyrical content of each song submitted for album consideration. I wanted to ensure quality in content.
- Get Clarity in Writing
[Business:Negotiation] Over the years I've had to sign a lot of documents while doing business, plenty of contracts stipulating the details of particular agreements, duration of service and consequences in the event of contract breach. I was fortunate to receive guidance early in my career from an industry vet who mentored me for a while.
- Do What You Do Every Day
[Self-Improvement:Success] Consistent creative output can be challenging even if you have an established process and habit. However, if you don't have an established process and habit regarding creative output it becomes tougher.
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