Makin' It Magazine

When it comes to any business, one thing will always be true. You are your biggest investment. The time and money you put into yourself is directly reflective of how seriously you take yourself and how seriously other people will take you. The truth is technology is evolving so fast that what used to cost thousands of dollars can now be done for a little over a hundred bucks. There is no reason for anyone to claim to be a model and not have comp cards and photos, with tools like digital cameras and Photoshop so easily accessible. There is no reason for a manager, promoter, or producer not to have business cards when you can easily get 1,000 full color for just $35 (www.NeedCDsNow.com). How can you call yourself a rapper and not have a single song recorded when there are so many programs that will let you turn your home computer into a virtual studio. When you approach a label or agency that is interested in your talents or services how seriously would you expect to be taken, when you don’t even have the basic necessities for conducting day to day business in your given field.

The best advice I can give you is “Quit being cheap, and break bread.” How are you gonna to try sell me your CD that has the title scribbled over a Verbatim logo while you wearing $150 pair of shoes and then have the nerve to tell me with a straight face that you’re the next thing to blow. N***a please! You obviously care more about your feet than you’re your music career. You can get 100 CDs duplicated with thermal printing for just 89.99 (CJC Media Services 678-212-3042) That’s like a model who doesn’t take care of her body or an engineer who doesn’t stay up on the latest gear. What would your impression be if you went to record your demo at a studio charging you $45/ hour and when you walk in see them cueing up a four track recorder. (LOL)

No matter what your goal is in this entertainment industry you have to realize that someone will be investing money into you. Whether it is a modeling agency, a record label, a fi lm company, or just your fans, they will be spending time, money and resources on you. You can’t expect them to do this when you don’t do it for yourself. You have to constantly develop your market and promote yourself. You are your greatest product and your biggest investment.

Note: For those of you who are serious about your career or business, advertise in the Makin’ It Newsletter for as little as $35 and be seen by 10,000 people who are interested in your goods and services. Perfect for studios, Open Mics, managers, producers, directors, entertainment lawyers, dj’s, choreographers, graphic artists, photographers, promotions & printing companies, media duplications houses,engineers and many others.?