Overcoming Perceptions

Perceptions

Overcoming perceptions are generally a common practice for the average individual whose reputation precedes him.  The perception could derive from a brief encounter, when the person is having a bad day.  It could even come from a generalized category from hanging with a certain crowd.  What about when it comes from the history of your state?

Mississippi 

Mississippi has it own pre-conceived identity.  Most are surprised that we can read, wear shoes, can speak intelligently and some even have a solid education.  Working for the Jackson Convention and Visitors Bureau, I’ve had calls from potential visitors and they want to know if it’s “safe” to visit.  Typically, I think they have concerns about crime, since there has been an increase regarding crime in the news.  Surprisingly, they can identify my voice as an African-American and they have concerns about racial harmony and want to know if a lynching is possible?  Seriously! 

Music in Mississippi

With all of these pre-conceived ideas about our state, it made me wonder how does it affect the music industry as it relates to our state?  Is the factor in securing viable artists?  Do they fear their safety as it relates to their ethnicity?  I guess it’s kind of like any other new thing you want to try, unless someone you know has tried, you may not trust what others are telling you.

I also thought about another pre-conceived ideas concerning music in our state.  We are known for the Delta blues.  Mississippi Mass has definitely made its mark on the gospel industry.  We have other artists such as the legendary Williams Brothers, Canton Spirituals, and Lee Williams just to name a few. 

Musicians in Mississippi 

I guess thinking about this topic, a flood-gate of thoughts rushed through my mind.  What pre-conceived ideas are there about musicians here?  I attended a concert this weekend featuring gospel artist James Fortune and Fiya.  They are an awesome group with major vocal talents.  They performed to tracks.  Did they have a pre-conceived idea about musicians here?  Did they not trust that they were capable of capturing the arrangement on their cd?  If they were in another city like, Detroit, would they have performed to tracks?  Well I guess, I’ll probably never know the answer to that, but the promoter hired a “house” band to fill in where needed.  Well, I won’t say that these were not good musicians, but I will say they did not help the case.  They didn’t seem sure of themselves and didn’t have a seasoned band sound.  So, I guess whatever James Fortune thought prior to coming was magnified by that experience. 

Music Album Credits 

Future promoters please don’t hire a band without experience and solid credits for artist of that caliber.  They are easily accessible through a simple Google search for album credits.  I’ve provided my husband’s.  They are not accurate and missing a lot, but that’s another blog.

It was not a good look and we really missed an opportunity to show what Mississippi has to offer.

(2012).  Giving Credits their Due.  Retrieved on June 3, 2012 from  
     http://albumcredits.com/Profile/732558 

The Light Side of the White House

Images by Haraz N. Ghanba

I usually try to stay away from politics and I realize that technically it’s probably not part of the entertainment industry, but it definitely provides its share of entertainment on numerous occasions.  

I recently saw excerpts of the 98^th White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner with President Obama and Jimmy Kimmel.  It was quite funny.  It’s amazing how they can put aside their positions and different issues and make light of things that otherwise would be very serious topics.

This happened right after the Secret Services’ sex scandal, the now infamous Summit of the Americas.  The President took a jab by saying, “Four years ago, I was locked in a primary battle with Hillary Clinton, four years later, she won’t stop drunk-texting me from Cartenga.”

Meanwhile Jimmy Kimmel took a jab at the Kardashians joking about how last year on the eve of the dinner was Osama bin Laden’s killing.  “Who will it be this year?”  Stating that the Navy Seals should focus on them.

President Obama didn’t stop there.   He took a jab at his opponent.  “It’s great to be her in the vast, magnificent Hilton ballroom, or what Mitt Romney would call a ‘little fixer upper.” 

He also made light of himself. The first term I san Al Green.  In his next term he’s going with Young Jeezy. 

Kimmel joked about the Secret Service scandal.  “If this would have happened on President Clinton’s watch, those Secret Service agents would’ve been disciplined with a very serious high-five.  Palms would be beet red.”  He also poked at Governor Chris Christie’s weight.  “Gov. Christie, you may be misunderstanding the New Jersey slogan.  It’s not the ‘Olive Garden state.’”

President Obama also showed a picture of him when he was first elected and he had black hair.  He then showed a picture now with a lot of gray hair, and then he showed a picture of how he would look in the next term and it was a picture of Morgan Freeman.

Politics will be heating up over the next couple of months with the election coming up in November, but it was certainly a nice break from dealing with all of the issues surrounding the election and just enjoying some humor.

                                                                                       

Two Iconic Deaths of the Disco Era

images by CNN

The deaths this week of disco legends Robin Gibbs, of the Bee Gees, and Donna Summers, marks an end to two important icons in the disco-era.  Personally it carries me back to a carefree time in my life, when I lived the carefree state of California in the city of San Diego.  A time before the modern day conveniences of simple downloads and easy access videos.  The days, in which we waited for signature shows that provided our entertainment exposure, shows like Dick Clark and Soul Train.  This was a time before 106 and park and Friday night videos.

Robin Gibbs was one of the singers and brothers that made up the iconic group the Bee Gees and created the signature “Saturday Night Fever” sound, as well as other 70’s sounds.  They brought us songs like “Stayin Alive,” and “Jive Talkin.”   Their 1979 album, “Spirits Having Flown” had six no. 1 hits, the only group in pop history to write, produce and record that many consecutive chart-topping singles, according to the Hall of Fame.

Donna Summers was the Queen of Disco.  She gave us dancing tunes that will forever be etched in our minds when we see a disco light.  She defined the disco era.  Her sultry voice coupled with strings, synthesizers and a fluid dance beat created the movement.  Her tunes were a bit too racy for some with her heavy breathing.  Her music really introduced machines as a part of music.  Her influence can still be heard today, just listen to Lady Gaga's "Born this Way."  She gave us tunes like “Bad Girl,” “Love to Love you Baby,” and “She Works Hard for the Money.”  She had a sexiness in her music that went right along with the carefree era that existed during that time.

It was time when we had to listen to music on the record player with vinyl records.  My older sister, six years my senior was my exposure to music.  She kept the records safely tucked away in her room and I would wait for her to come home so that I could listen to them.  She was my link to the “big-girl” world and would teach me dances like “The Hustle.”

I can still see the big bright flower Donna would wear in her hair, and hear the smooth harmonic voices of the Bee Gees.

http://www.cnn.com/2012/05/20/showbiz/robin-gibb-dies/index.html

http://www.cnn.com/2012/05/17/opinion/coleman-summer/index.html

Legally Speaking with Kamel King

image courtesy of Frascogna Courtney, LLC

I had the awesome opportunity to speak with entertainment attorney Kamel King of Frascogna Courtney, PLLC located in Jackson, MS.  I have several connections to Kamel, although I don’t know him personally.  I actually grew up with the show his father created,  “Black Gold,” a local weekly musical entertainment show that featured the latest music and local dancers.  It was my first encounter of the entertainment world.  I actually had a neighbor whose twin nephews were on the show and when they would come to visit, I thought they were celebrities.  This was Jackson’s version of “Soul Train.”  His firm also represents legendary gospel trio “The Williams Brothers,” which employs my husband for their studio recordings.  Lastly, we both attended the most prestigious Tougaloo College, that prepared the both of us with a solid foundation to pursue our dreams.

He shared that his father also had a record label at one time and did concert promotions.  So obviously he was influenced by his father’s endeavors in the industry.  I’m sure his father had enough influence for Kamel to be successful in the business, but Kamel wanted to pave his own way.  He attended Mississippi College School of Law, successfully passed the Mississippi Bar.  His pursuit of excellence has definitely paid off.  He is currently the attorney on the road for The Williams Brothers, the Director of Operations of Blackberry Records, which is owned by the Williams Brothers.  He is also the Sales Manager of Terminal Recording Studios, which is where my husband records with the Williams Brothers.

Yolanda: What are some common mistakes made by artists, as well as, managers? 

Kamel:  Not getting an entertainment attorney (we both chuckle).  This is not for my own gratification or to seek financial gain, but you need a competent person who knows the “lay of the land” early.  The internet can teach you anything you want to know, but it can also give you a false sense of security.  It’s the same as any other professional business.  You may be able to brush your teeth and floss, but you can’t do what a dentist does.

Yolanda: For those who know they need an entertainment attorney but have a fear factor of what it may cost, is there such a thing as a fair cost?

Kamel: Most definitely! In my career the artist is the biggest obstacle.  I’ve had to educate them that they don’t have to be independently wealthy to secure competent counsel.  I tell them an old adage I learned from my boss.  “You can’t eat the elephant all in one bite, you have to eat it in pieces.  I identify their immediate needs and address them first.  It is better to go to an attorney with $300 and say this is what I have now, then to have the fear factor and never seek counsel.

Yolanda:  Do you have any tips for a new artist?

Kamel:  Yes, educate yourself, surround yourself with a good team, a good accountant, booking agent, manager and yes an entertainment attorney!

Law and Entertainment

Laws, rules, and regulations govern the world.  They have been developed, amended and revised based upon different situations since our existence.  It is advantageous to be familiar with them to ensure you are in compliance and don’t suffer the consequences of violating any of them.  This holds true especially for the entertainment industry.

It is important to understand the laws and regulations that govern our industry.  Entertainers are exposed to a high influence of lawsuits because of their financial status.  This also holds true for people on the opposite side of the industry to know their rights, as one woman learned after claiming the movie “The Help” was based on her life.  This movie was an adaptation from the novel written by Jackson, MS native, Kathryn Stockett, about 60’s era black maids and the abuse they often endured from upper class white women who employed them.  Ablene Cooper, Stockett’s brother’s maid, sought $75,000 in damages stating her likeness was used in the book without her permission.  The case was thrown out due to the one-year statute of limitations elapsing.  Ms. Stockett gave Ms. Cooper a handwritten note accompanied by the book in 2009 and the law suit was not filed until 2011.

This is a solid case of Ms. Cooper not knowing the law for intellectual property.  This is not to say that Ms. Cooper is wrong or Ms. Stockett is right, but because of her lack of knowledge, she didn’t even have the opportunity to prove her case.  This happens far to often with naïve young artists and writers.  They don’t have the proper guidance to get their works copyrighted or trust others to look out for their best interest.

The terms of a contract constantly cause legal woes in the entertainment industry.  I can’t count the times that I have agreed to the terms of different websites without reading and completely understanding the terms of the agreement.  One case that seems so elementary is Huang Hoang, an actress that sued IMDb over an age revelation.  IMDb breached their contract with Ms. Hoang and violated laws on consumer protection are plausible enough to proceed with her case.  Junie Hoang, her American stage name, signed up for a Pro Account, which she disclosed her real age, 40.  The website published her real age, which she claims has cost her acting jobs.  The allegation of the breach was based upon the premise of IMDb’s privacy  policy, which promised customers that it would “carefully and sensibly” manage how information about customers is “used  and shared” and that IMDb “will always  comply  with applicable laws and regulations.”

A few words can change the whole context of a sentence or terms of a contract.  It is very important that an organization have a complete understanding of their contracts to avoid legal issues like this. 

There are also lawsuits for things that seem trivial, like misspelling a name in the credits.  This may seem trivial to an onlooker, but if a person has worked diligently to create a respected and recognized name in the industry, it is a big deal!  Tina Turner went through hell with Ike, but in the end, all she wanted was her name.  She knew that she could rebuild everything that she had lost, if she could keep her name.  Her name meant something in the entertainment industry.  Recently, German director Uwe Boll was sued by producer Rob Van Ronkel, spelled Rob Runkel, claiming the misspelling was not an accident.  He had a dispute with the Director and felt like it was misspelled on purpose. 

  Credits are very important in the entertainment industry.  It is essentially their resume.  It confirms the validity of their career. One should truly consider the legal ramifications for every aspect of the industry.  Entertainers work very hard to establish themselves in the industry and should just as much concentration in protecting their careers.  

Artist Management

The role of an artist manager is really to do anything to further the artist’s career.  This can involve a well defined career plan or ironing out the tedious negotiation of a contract, suggesting a different outfit or contributing to a lyric idea or change or providing constructive criticism for a recording.  This can also range to even more personal management, like keeping different love interests at bay, or making sure they have their favorite food on hand. 

The artist manger must be multi-faceted.  They have to be a planner, an organizer, a confidant, a strategist, a traveling companion and a friend.  They are involved in every aspect of their life.  This is a tough job and everyone doesn’t have the personality or skills to handle the job.  They must definitely possess the desire to serve to be a good artist manager.

There is one area that the artist manager does not have complete control over, that can truly affect the artist’s career, their personal choices.  Too many artist and entertainers have made bad personal choices that have virtually ended their careers.  The artist manager cannot choose their love interest, how much they drink, if they choose drugs or other abusive habits, or live a lavish lifestyle that their finances cannot support.  This is a risk in taking on artist management.  You may have complete faith in their abilities or talent, but you never know when their personal choices will affect your paycheck.

 

The latest and most tragic example is Whitney Houston.  She had the talent to tame a lion with her voice, but made some very bad personal choices that virtually destroyed her career.  I’m sure her manager urged her to change her habits, advocated rehabilitation and many other interventions, but to no avail.  The drugs destroyed her voice.  She had so many people rooting for her, but no one could restore the vocal chords no matter how much we cheered.

  

Artist Management

Our first assignment in our class posed the question, what artist would you like to manage?  I  know there are thousands of people that I could have chosen, but I chose Stan Jones.  Stan Jones is an Artist, as well as a producer and songwriter.  He actually has numerous awards for his Songwriting and Producing.  Some people may wonder why I would choose him over all of the superstars in the gospel industry.  Well the first thing you have to understand is we have been instructed to make our goals attainable.  Stan Jones is attainable to me.  I know him, he was my husband's best man in our wedding and on top of that he is so talented and a joy to be around.

Our text, This Business of Artist Management, gives us the ingredients to a successful artist/manager relationship.  One of those ingredients is compatibility.  Regardless of my creative ideas and contacts, we have to be able to work together.  This makes for a great potential working relationship, since we've already conquered the first.  I don't expect him to consider me without the education I am receiving at Full Sail, because the one thing that I have learned about him is, he is professional when it comes to music.

Another factor in choosing him is his work ethic.  Our text tells us to take creative inventory of the artist's abilities.  Evaluating Stan Jones' ability, I know that he has the potential to become a greater influence in the industry as an Artist.  He has a unique sound and style.  He is not trying to be like anyone else in the industry.  Material is definitely not an issue, he has numerous awards for his writing, which increases the opportunity for long-term record deals, which he is negotiating a new deal now.  His Physical Appearance is an asset.  He is a clean-cut handsome man with a great style of his own. He definitely has the Total Image Package. He is a stellar guy with a strong work ethic and lives his image.