6 Stupid Things Artists Do to Mess Up Their Careers

 

Greetings NJO fam! As we NJO folks in the USA prepare to “parry” and celebrate Thanksgiving, I thought a lot about what Thanksgiving meant to me (it is about family) and the interview I heard Jay-Z give on the Howard Stern show about his life and music; and I was inspired to write an article titled ‘6 Stupid Things Artists Do to Mess Up Their Careers!’

Y’all got my back? I’m about to go in. “Let’s gerrit!”

6. Playing Father Christmas: This boils down to money management, and to me, is one of the most important things I hope you take away from this article. Many artists, when money starts to flow begin “dashing money” as if they are Father Christmas. Truth is, they are not. You are NOT Father Christmas. With the exception of your parents, your attitude towards anyone who asks you for money is to teach them how to fish so they can fish for a lifetime, your siblings included.

Ask for accountability and when large sums are demanded from you, ask to see a business plan that shows a return on investments. Abeg make una no give me the Naija culture thing o. That is why I am saying this. The culture of “dashing” people money has sucked many artists dry to the bones. It also can and does create a perpetual cycle of poverty, especially for those you help. What happens when your music career ends? God forbid, what if something terrible happens to you? Who will help those that have become completely dependent on you? Where will the money come  from to help you? Help those you love to be independent. It is good for you, for them and society at large.

5. Living Above Your Means: Most artists who enter the industry enter broke. If they sign to a label, they live off borrowed money that MUST be repaid. Yet, the “effizy”wey “awon boyz” and “girlz” dey do is mind blowing. Especially as an emerging artist, your “yapayaskiness” should start and end only in your music videos. Your videos are not meant to be taken literally. Many in the industry put up a front of having wealth. The truth is, they don’t. Stay true to yourself and live within your means. Anticipate and invest in the future when your music, most likely, will become irrelevant. NOTE: Very few artists have a career that can reach ten, talk less of five years.

4. Not Being Business Savvy: Many artists want to be signed to a record label and be BIG! Yet, if you look at any business model around the world or even NJO that you visit daily, you will see most started small and then became big. Be willing to learn about the business of music, start small and get yourself to where you can be attractive to a big label, if you decide you still want that. As an artist, you owe it to yourself to know about the business of music. 99% of music has nothing to do with how talented you are. There are many super talented artists that will never see the light of day. Music is mostly business which includes connections. Therefore, it really is reckless of you to not be about the business of your music and building connections. Ever wondered how a lot of “crappy” music gets played on the radio/TV and yours as great as it is doesn’t even hear word? It’s called connections. A friend of a friend in the industry, entertainment lawyer, producer, music executive etc. hooked it up. There are many examples in Naija’s industry. In Yankee, Rihanna and Estelle are examples. Stay talented and build your connections so when the opportunity knocks, you can are ready. If you are not part of the elite or connected and have no clue where to begin, read this Ask Ms. Uduak article on networking.

Also, signing agreements with a label, manager or publicist does not free you from your obligation to be educated about the business of music. You should be able to understand basic business principles and know how the music industry works. If you haven’t already, read archived Ask Ms. Uduak articles on NJO and also allocate time each week to learn about the music industry, on and offline.

3. Baby Mama Drama: In the past, a Naija man could have many baby mamas and the focus would be on the woman and less on the man. Today, especially if that man is an artist, society comes down HARD on him. Naija no be Yankee where artists like Lil’ Wayne can have many baby mamas, do drugs, go to prison and still come out an American hero. Indeed, we saw how Naija “does it” with 2Face. The press, fans and public ate 2Face alive for his fathering of several children with several women. As talented as 2Face is, he became the butt of most jokes and insults. Luckily for him, he has been able to do a 360 spin and is slowly but surely cleaning up his public image. As an artist, if you can’t control yourself and you keep popping babies left and right, beyond the immense stress such drama filled life brings, you might not be as lucky as 2Face to gain the forgiveness of your fans and the public. Definitely put a lock on any baby drama tendencies.

2. Health: What good is it to have all the money in the world but lack good health? Worse, what good is it if you’ve work so hard and you about to make it but you lack good health to enjoy all of your hard work? Take care of yourself. Working almost 24hours a day pushing your music with no rest is a guaranteed health time bomb waiting to explode.

1. Ignoring Family: Next to the “Not Playing Father Christmas” point I made above, this is also one of the most important points to take away from this article. FAMILY MATTERS. The life of anyone in the entertainment business, especially those who have attained success, can be lonely. You don’t know who is or isn’t real. Yes you have fans but you also have haters, plenty, waiting to stab in the back given the slightest chance.

For artists who “get it,” you understand that as much as you appreciate your fans, your fans are not your family. Your music, as beautiful as it may be, evokes emotions in your fans based on THEIR OWN  life experiences that has nothing to do with you. Yes, your talent excites and conjures up positive emotions in them. If you’ve got good looks, your looks might even have some hearts throbbing. But, stir up the wrong emotions and the same people who said you were the best thing since slice bread are gone. It is what it is.

In addition, just as you grow, fans do too. Sometimes, their growth means they evolve, emotionally, to where your songs no longer do it for them. When that happens, they move on.

Your family, on the other hand, stays through thick and thin. Regardless of the repercussions, they are not afraid to tell you the truth about YOU. They got your back and love you whether you are in the village eating fufu and isi ewu on an old tattered mat in a hut; or you are on stage rocking a crowd of millions.

Your family has or will endure your long hours in the studio, touring, travels and time away from them. Reward them with giving them attention at the slightest opportunity and making them priority. Call home, often, to speak with your family and share your experiences. If you are married, your down time should not be spent hanging with the colleagues you already work with 24/7. It should be spent home with your spouse &/your children.

Take your arms and wrap around them, now. As you climb even higher on the music ladder, bring them even closer, hold on tight and never let go.

Have a fantastic Thanksgiving, whether you dey Yankee or not, and go make it happen!

Cheers,
Uduak

Ms. Uduak Oduok is the founder and principal attorney for UDUAK LAW FIRM. You can follow her on twitter at www.twitter.com/uduaklaw. She is also the President & CEO of Ladybrille Media Group, Inc. She has over seventeen years combined experience in the fashion and entertainment industries and will be answering your NOT JUST OK basic Business of Music Questions. Have a question for Ms. Uduak? Send an email to uduaklaw@gmail.com with the subject heading “Not Just Ok Music Question.

Source: www.notjustok.com