The following is a contribution of wonderful advice and suggestions from SAMMIE ROBERTS (featured in the “Jazz” section during 3rd quarter 2008).

***PLEASE, ONLY FOR SERIOUS ARTIST WITH PASSION AND A VISION***

These are just a few ideas that will help us begin to TAKE back and break down barriers, face fears, remove doubts created and perpetuated by the music industry for centuries that have divided artist and created a sea of self-centered individuals that are fearful verses fearless, used, manipulated and chewed up themselves, however due to their “failure” to GIVE…
They are and remain EMPTY.

1.  Increase Your Paid Gigs by Being Committed to GIVING

To make the impact I will share an illustration:  Why do companies “give” away products, services and information? To get you hooked?  WRONG.  Stop thinking about yourself for a few minutes, it’s because they believe in, are committed and passionate about what they have to offer their i.e. brand, quality, excellence.

What about you? You have done this before…ever have a great experience that inspired you?  You talk about it; you give it away, whether it is a movie, a meal, fragrance, body lotion or whatever!

So, approach ALL of your previous and recent venues and past gigs…every last one!, offer to GIVE them a FREE performance date after if they book a paid show or gig. Be sure to be flexible and agreeable.  Do not be unreasonable with the paid show fees or increase it needlessly.  Set fair limits.  Second gig should be scheduled within 15 days of the paid performance and should take place within 60 or 90 days.

Give your best to the free show or gig.  DID I SAY FREE SHOW?  I meant GIFT performance.  Use it to sell CD’s, merchandise, etc. DON’T worry about how you will pay the band or artist for the free gig.  YOU WILL.  Each member should be committed to this and share the vision.

You will have repeat performances year after year, earn and gain respect of those that book you and they will pay what ever you ask because YOU’RE FAIR, YOU’RE A GIVER and NOT GREEDY and that you value your craft and art so much that everyone deserves to have it, that’s why you SHARE IT! You become a good getter, because you are a good giver.  “Giving is getting in reverse”.

2.  Top 40 ARTIST EXCHANGE PROGRAM

Simple… YES, it’s about giving again! Remember that’s how you get and grow.  Scenario:  I’m in California and want to perform in Seattle.  I have a venue in California that I perform several times a year and want to avoid over saturation, so as I book a few dates, and then I recommend a Seattle artist on the London Top 40, and the Seattle artist does the same for me.  LIVE BOLD and take it a step further.  The Seattle artist can reduce cost by staying at my home in California.  I’m going to Seattle so I lodge at the Seattle artist residence. Don’t people do this when they swap residences so that they get a chance to experience America while the American experiences Paris?  IT WORKS.

3.  Artist Lodging Exchange Program

Scenario:  An artist is performing in Los Angeles, has music business in Los Angeles.  Why not connect with and network with a fellow artist?  He/she/they stay at the home of a local artist.  (From Sammie:  I currently have a 2,000 sq ft. location, 8 rooms - 3 bedrooms, 1 Music Room, 3 full bathrooms, atmosphere for rest and practice.  So, why would I share?  We build a community, learn, grow and share successes with each other!)

THANK YOU SAMMIE!  I APPRECIATE YOU!  Love, London

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The following is from yours truly, London Garcia.

I correspond back and forth with many of the Top 40 artists with advice, tips, etc.  Many ask about what to do to move forward, getting management/representation, and alot of other things that almost everybody is seeking.  This was my response to the most recent email:

My advice in going about this…..

Always go UP for advice.  Meaning……go to people who have had more success, who have what you want, who have been where you want to go, who have the type of manager you want, who perform where you want to perform.  Don’t follow the advice of someone less successful.  Be compassionate and loving with those people.  Listen to them (unless it’s unhealthy for YOU).  But if they haven’t been where you want to go, they can offer support, but not solid advice.  It’s just the truth of the matter.  And let go of any preconceived notions that any of these people (the ones you seek UP) are unattainable.  Nobody is unattainable.  They ARE you.  They also started somewhere.  They just happen to be in a different place on their path to success.  THAT’S IT.  And if people don’t make themselves available to you or you can’t seem to reach them, well….2 answers….either they are not the right resource or it’s not the right timing.  You never know really what’s going on in their world.  Just move on…for now, or for good.  No need to force it.  That’s wasted energy.  Your talent and passion is far too precious to be impeded by lack of good energy.  It’s very simple.  Life wasn’t meant to be this struggle.  The quicker you can start believe that everything you need is available to you and easy to get, the quicker those things will start showing up all around you.  It happens for me all the time.  When you hear people say, “Well, you CAN’T just call so-and-so……you just don’t do that”, acknowledge their comment (which is not the same as AGREEING with them…….it’s just acknowledging that they said what they said and THAT’S IT), but take any comments like that and anything else that DOES NOT serve you and let them keep going down that stream of comments, let those run right on down that theoretical river, right on our of your head, and out of your life.  Why accept anything that doesn’t serve your best interest?

You don’t necessarily need to follow the exact path of any one person.  I believe that you take pieces of many people’s paths and it creates your perfect and unique path.

So whatever you do, my friend, just keep seeking UP.  It WILL work out.

And…NEVER, EVER, EVER, EVER, EVER, EVER, EVER QUIT!

NEVER.

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The following is a contribution of great resources from Eleanor of THE WHISPERING TREE (featured in the “Indie” section).

I wanted to share some resources with the fellow top 40.  As I mentioned a few weeks ago we are writing a business plan to attract investors for our album and promotion of the album.  I found some free resources which offer assistance to owners and prospective small business owners with planning, financial management, and all that jazz.  I think this is amazing, and I can’t believe I didn’t know about it!  We will be meeting with someone soon to go over our plan.

The link for NY is:  http://www.nyc.gov/html/sbs/nycbiz/html/home/home.shtml
Every state offers some kind of assistance to small business owners.  You could also check out:  seedco.org

Also another great resource for people in NY is The Actors Fund, a not-for-profit which helps people in the entertainment industry.  They have a free health clinic staffed by volunteers (for all the un-insured artists out there!) and they also offer networking, career planning, and lots of workshops.  You have to prove a certain amount of earnings in the industry, or proof of some kind (CDs, contracts, even letters from venues you have played at…they are very accommodating and helpful).

The link is:  www.actorsfund.org

THANK YOU ELEANOR!  I APPRECIATE YOU!  Love, London