Bad Economy or Good Opportunity

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I recently had a meeting with a very successful businessman who happens to be my Uncle as well. It’s funny how sometimes when you know someone through your family, you don’t get the full brunt of their business expertise till you see them in that role. In my recent meeting with him, he enlightened my perspective on the current times, and I thought I would share that with you.

My Uncle had always followed our company’s path from a distant, and finally, their was an opportunity for us to get together on a business venture. However, regardless of that, the initial meeting alone really opened up my eyes to the current economic climate.

Lately, times have been rough around the world, especially for creatives. More so than ever before, a creative must be at the top of their game in order to stand out from the masses playing around with everything from Photoshop to Final Cut Pro. Not only that, but because of the economic shift, we now are required to do more, and forced at times to charge less in order to stay competitive. It can seem like an endless struggle at times.

No Excuse!

So we are in a bad economy and that is to blame, right? During the meeting, I realized that all that is, is an excuse. It’s an excuse to assume that because things are not going well in the world, that means it is okay for them not to go well for us. The truth is, there has never been a better time to take advantage of the changes the world is going through.

My uncle is right on top of that. He is currently running three separate big businesses, including being chairman of a huge hospital in the area. What he sees when he looks at the modern era is a time ripe with opportunity. More so than ever before, businesses are forced to change the way they have always done things. Advertising is morphing, Media technology is growing, and the way people interact has changed as well.

Finding a Way

With all these changes, comes a bit of uncertainty, but also a great opportunity to be a leader of that change. As the next generation steps up, why can’t we take charge of the direction of that change? Why can’t we be the ones that figure out solutions to help these businesses thrive once again? In all honesty, we can, if we choose to.

After the meeting, my mind was refreshed, my attitude adjusted, and my focus more on point than ever. If you are out there, wondering how to get ahead in your career, struggling through the day to day battle to stand out, then hopefully this message will help you as it has helped me.

I think the old saying goes, ‘Where there is a will, there is a way.’ Don’t let the doom and gloom in the news destroy that will. Just think of this way. There are more people out there struggling in business, which means, they are more people in need of our help than ever before.

3 Adjustments to Keep Balanced As A Creative Artist

As a professional music producer, keeping your sanity in this crazy digital media age can be an exhausting task. In addition, making real money in this game, can prove to be even more daunting, and if you don’t take the appropriate steps to keep your vision and musical agenda in focus, you may find yourself putting in way more unnecessary work than you have to and enivitably feel burnt out. Over the past few years, I have found some small adjustments that have proved to be beneficial to my creative “headspace” and hopefully you find some relevance for your situations as well.

Being Selective with your Creative Time

Since I started my production company, the ISH Productions, my initial goal was to make music that I enjoyed, and inevitably turn that music into a money making career that would eventually put food on my table and pay my bills. Starting out, I worked on everything I could get my hands on. From hip hop production and beatmaking, recording up and coming artists/ band demos, to scoring music for commercials, independent films, and tv shows.

Basically, If there was any amount of money involved… I was available. I felt like if I turned down even the most meager money making opportunity, I wasn’t being a smart business man, and as long as I kept on making at least a little bit of money, I would eventually have a substantial stash of capital to work on those “bigger” projects that I always wanted to eventually. I came to find out though, that this business model wasn’t necessarily the most beneficial way to go about making that real money, because after all was said and done, I was spending an extraordinary amount of time working on projects for money way below my standards, and was feeling drained for all the hard work I was putting in for below minimum wage.

The way I changed this was to redirect my focus and revisit my intentions in the first place about the music that I wanted to be a part of, and stopped worrying about the money aspect of it all. I mean, I still needed money to keep my studio afloat, but I became way more selective of the projects I took on and the clients I chose to work with. I started setting my standards a little bit higher, and began utilizing the time that I would have spent on unfulfilling/underpaid projects, on more beneficial endeavors like marketing my own business and music that I was proud to show off. Eventually this lead to a catalogue of material that was based more on quality and musical integrity, which eventually attracted clients that were willing to pay me money that was actually worth my time.

Do I consistently follow these standards all of the time? No. Depending on the nature of a project, or the benefits I may get out of it, I do adjust during some of the “slower” months, but I try to enforce them as much as possible.

Some of my standards are as follows

•No speculative deals – These “spec” situations, in my own personal experience, have never really amounted to anything substantial. Most of the time if a client tells you that they don’t have money upfront and is promising you money on the back end of a deal, chances are they aren’t putting a lot of effort in promoting there music in the first place, and your likelihood of making any money back is slim. I feel like, unless the artist is someone you truly believe in and has a sound so special that you just cant turn it down, your time is probably better served elsewhere.

•Get it in writing – Some of the more annoying projects that I have been a part of stemmed from a lack of communication. When I was just starting out, I always had this stigma that if I hit a client with a contract or paperwork of any sort it would ruin the creative “vibe” and would come off as too professional too quickly. After all as a producer, it is important to have a positive relationship with an artist to truly be creative and free. But I learned, at times the hard way, that not discussing certain aspects of a project at the jump, actually created more of an ill vibe than if I had just put my expectations in writing and brought them to the table before any production even started. Having contracts and preliminary consultations about artist/producer expectations is a great way to save some headaches down the road.

•Price Menu – I have found it beneficial to have my standard pricing for different types of sessions already mapped out, so I am not taken by surprise. Think of different package deals that you have come across in the past or anticipate in the future. For example, your hourly rate for recording vocals may be different if an artist wants to also lease or buy an instrumental for you. Plus these package deals may also entice clients to spend more money and time with you without feeling like they are getting ripped off.

Creating “Sacred” Space

As a music producer, your studio, whether it be in your home or at another location, should feel like an extension of you. Where other areas of your life may be chaotic and disorganized, your studio should be clutter free and represent the ideal environment to get those creative juices flowing. It should be the place you go to escape all of the other madness.

Recently, I read an article in Tape Op magazine that mentioned how in India, the only places that you are required to take off your shoes were at religious ceremonies/locations and in music studios, due to the fact that these were considered the holiest of places. I found that quite interesting and started to really analyze the way I situated my creative space. Now I’m not saying that I take my shoes off before I lay down some drums, but I do recognize the sanctity and beauty in the place where I create my music, and try and create an energy that reflects this.

Some things that may help create this type of energy may be the following:

Remove things in your studio that just seem to take up space and don’t really have anything to do with the creative process i/e: Papers, boxes, empty crates, broken equipment, etc. Eliminating this type of clutter can make your creative space feel more open and inviting. Have things on hand to set the appropriate moods for certain sessions. Dim lighting, candles, incense, etc. are great ways to spark the creative senses and spice up the session.

Keep your business out of the studio. The majority of the time “business” talk is the antithesis of the creative vibe. Contracts, legal banter, and even brainstorming sessions on upcoming projects can cloud the area in which you make music. Keep your studio space strictly for working on music. This separation has enabled my studio to really become that place of refuge.

Forming the Right “Band” of People

Before making music on my own, I was fortunate enough to grow up playing in bands. One of the more successful bands that I was a part of, Philip’s Head, taught me a lot of things about the importance of working with other like minded musicians and creative people. There was a real family vibe to our creative processes, bouncing ideas off of each other, testing them out, and having fun in the interim. This friendly and inspiring creative atmosphere didn’t come immediately though. We went through a bunch of different musicians and lineup changes trying to find that perfect “fit.”

Sure we were looking for talented musicians first and foremost, but the right fit had more to do with the interaction between all of the members of the band, and less to do with how skilled you were on your own. Musicians usually have an easy way to determine the “connection” between other musicians, and practice it regularly. The process is called “jamming.” Jamming is an opportunity for a group of musicians to grab their instruments, plug them in, and just play. Improvising and vibe-ing off of one another. The key component of a good jam session is listening. You could be the most gifted musician in the world, but if you can’t put your ego aside and listen to other members’ creative contributions, you will undoubtedly fail as a band.

This give and take mentality also hold true in the production realm of things. As a producer, you are almost undoubtedly spending tons of time on your music, which leaves very little time to promote, market and manage your career as a music salesman. In this business, teams are an essential element to your movement. Reaching out to some friends or even “jamming” with other producers and creative teams can help you better manage your time and help out on those bigger projects you keep putting off.

My affiliation with the company Pixel Mobb is an example of how the right creative minds can help execute those bigger projects that you wish to tackle without losing your mind. For example, when I am working on music for specific artist now, I can reach out to my “band,” and ask for assistance in putting together a video package, developing album art, or designing a website.

On the flipside, they also know they can call on me to create voice-overs for commercial they are working on, or develop a custom jingle or instrumental for their prospective clients. This enables the team to create more quality custom projects for clients, and cross promote to alternative markets that would almost be impossible to do without the right team.

In conclusion, your ability to stick to your standards, setting up a creative workspace that works for you, and reaching out to other creative people to share in your goals, can help you achieve more in the long run, even if it takes a few “jam” sessions to get it right.

Pay The Writer, or Anyone Else Who Works for You

This is my first post. I will keep it short and sweet. Some may call me a visionary, some call me crazy. Some people will say I am a wonderful warm hearted loving caring individual, some may call me a self absorbed abrasive asshole. Either way. They are probably wrong, and right.

Value is measured in many ways. Not just monetarily, not just time based also in intangibles. That is something you can’t always prove but you know it works, we all know it works. Until you don’t have it. For example we don’t know air is around us until it is removed from us and we gasp heavily at that realization. If you are a creative of some type at some point someone will question your price, your worth and your value. If they are making money directly or indirectly and you have a hand in it. You are valuable. Most wouldn’t go a moment without pay. Why should you?  Never forget that. Charge what you are worth, it is your job to supply the utmost in superior work, it is also your job to find clients who understand this and willing to pay for it. Nothing more nothing less.

“It can’t be that expensive, it only took you 15 minutes. Ya, it took my 7 years to figure out how to do it in 15 minutes.” A recent quote I read somewhere on the net.

Have a wonderful life now. Always do your best no matter what.

Harlan Ellison (who wrote for Star Trek, the Outer Limits, Route 66 and so many more) puts it in total perspective for everyone. An old video but still very relevant.

Image on Flickr by Gierszewski

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F… The Money, We’re in it for the Love

The purpose of this blog is for the members of Pixel Mobb to speak our mind, and that is exactly what I am about to do. The truth is, I have a confession to make, and it may sound a little crazy.

I am in this business b/c I love video production. Nothing else matters, not even money.

I have been doing video production since I was about 19 or so. Even before that, I was addicted to movies. And I mean addicted. I have watched more movies from different time periods, genres, and countries then most. I am a walking encyclopedia on film directors (though my memory is hazy now and again), and I have always wanted to make movies.

Sounds great, right? Well, believe it or not, it took me a long time to actually come to terms with this. The reason is, since I was young, every educator, friend, family member, and society in general, put an incredible value on money. That is not to say anyone was particularly greedy, just that money was an important factor in decision making. What restaurants you ate in, what clothes you wore, what sports equipment you had, what car you drove, etc. Money seemed to give all of the people who had it very nice things.

It was easy to derive from a child’s perspective that money = happiness. However, the road of life would teach me a much different story.

Hacking my Own Path in Life

Film makers, for the most part, do not make any money. They have to survive, struggle, and put it all on the line just to get a chance at making a living doing what they love. So when it came time in my junior year of high school to apply for college, I decided I would try to get into a great business school. My logic was that I can always use business skills, and if I had money I could make a movie. Even though my Father suggested going to film school, I laughed it off. ‘There is no money in film, and I can always do that later.’

Two years passed by and I got extremely sick with Crohn’s disease. This was back in 1998, so it was a rather unknown disease to the masses. I lost over 60 pounds in a few months, and had to drop out of college. In early 1999, I had surgery to remove one foot of my intestines, sew up my bladder, and remove a fistula. After this close encounter with a life changing illness, my mindset completely changed.

I realized I should not waste time doing what I thought I should do, and stick to doing what I wanted to. Life can disappear at any time, so I might as well make the most of it. I transferred from the University of Maryland business program to the School of Visual Arts in NYC to major in film, and headed down the road toward my dream.

Four great years later, I graduated with a bachelors, a thesis film, and a dream of being the next Steven Spielberg. However, I also was engaged to be married, and needed a place to live in with my wife to be.

Since I was not the next Spielberg yet (except to my family of course), no one was paying me for my talents. I did not want to do weddings, batmitsphas, etc. I wanted to create movies, but I needed money. I could not see how to make money yet with film, since I wanted to write a script first. So instead, I got a job from a friend at Jiu Jitsu doing mortgages. The market was hot, there was a lot of money to be made, and I was good at it. I figured I could get rich doing this, pay for my life, and then make a movie later on.

A few years later, the market crashed, and so did the mortgage industry. Suddenly, after chasing the money, I was back where I started, with bigger bills, trying to figure how to make money with my video skills. Luckily, right before the company collapsed, I got together with my partner Chris, and he showed me the emerging relationship between the web and video. He asked me what the hell I was doing at a mortgage company when I had this video talent, and that lead to a partnership and the creation of Pixel Mobb.

Truth was, I could not see the money with the video. All I saw was the unknown that lay down that road. How could I pay my bills? How could I make enough money?

Two years into the business, trying to make as much money as we can, and my partner and I are once again involved in the same discussion….

How can we make more money doing what we love?

We seem to have to choose between No clients and small clients, neither which alllow us to reach our full potential. What happened to the childhood equation of money = happiness. All chasing money has gotten me is more in debt, and wasted time.

Then, like lightening from the heavens above, it came down and struck me. My partner had mentioned it on many occasions, but each time we ran into a tight month, we ignored everything we said in order to make that money. However, once this thought hit me, I felt a relief like no other. It was exhilarating, like a warm truth protruding from deep in your soul to give you that incredible feeling of freedom. Sometimes, it just takes a certain way of looking at something for you to move past it and let out a giant exhilarating yell…..

Arrrrrrrrrrrrrrhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What hit me was a simple, yet fantastic thought.

‘Fuck the money, I’m in it for the love.’

It may be a bit crude, but it is so true. When I thought of my journey, I realized I had got into this to do what I love for a living. I made a decision after a life threatening illness, and somehow, years later, got lost chasing money again. Sure there were going to be tight months, rough times, and a giant struggle bigger than any I had ever taken on. The bottom line that I realized is, there were going to be all these things ANYWAY. At least I would enjoy what I was doing.

Truth is, money does not = happiness. Society teaches us, both in words, and in example, that money = security. Security = happiness. Therefore, we can ASSume that money = happiness. This though, is the wrong order to look at things. Instead, try looking at it like this.

Happiness = Doing what you love. Doing what you love = a great job. A great job = money. Money = security. In another words, worry about your happiness first, and the rest will follow. If you worry about money (the last step), then you will never get there cause you will skip the necessary beginning steps.

A Freedom Like No Other

Since this hit me, I felt a freedom like never before. Just because someone had some work that I ‘could do’ no longer meant I ‘had to’ do it. If I didn’t enjoy doing it, I skipped it. Instead, I spent my time widdling down our services, our target market, and our focus to what we truly excelled at and enjoyed.

Now, our company’s reputation has grown because the work we have put out since is filled with love. It permeates from the production pieces we create because the joy put into the projects is recognizable by anyone. Simply put, we are having fun doing what we do and it is starting to pay off.

No more wasting valuable time chasing money that never accumulates. No more time taking whatever comes my way out of fear nothing else will. No more do whatever I can to make money, instead it’s doing whatever I can to do what I love.

Many people will tell you this is all a fairy tale. That at the end of the month, when the bills come due, doing what you love won’t matter. I can only strongly suggest, just for a little while, you put that advice to the side, and chase your dreams. Understand, you may not look like a genius for doing so for some time. You may not feel like you are taking the right path every step of the way. However, after it is all said and done, and you can finally taste the joy of doing what you love every day of your life, you will wonder why everyone else isn’t doing the same thing.

At least I did. As a matter of fact, it feels really good to say it. Fuck the money. Fuck your bills. Fuck being a slave to your debt. Simply live below your means, do what you love, and watch everything you ever imagined and more start to come your way. It’s amazing how one little change of perspective can ignite an entirely new outlook on life.

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