The Sounds You Hear

I grew up in the music business with great music from all genres. My groups were Sly and The Family Stones, War, Mandrill, Tower Of Power, Jimi Hendricks, Buddy Miles and countless others. The artists were vocalists and musicians. They had to be accomplished on their instrument because the competition was fierce and each concert a musical battlefield where no prisoner would be taken.

The average concert time for acts was two to three hours. The album you had was never as good as the live performances. When it was their turn to go on stage they brought the thunder and the lighting. Ticket prices were at tops ten dollars, a far cry from the $40 – $100+ tickets of today.

Fortunately, your can still experience some of that magic with the Rolling Stones, Aerosmith, Ozzie Osborne, Earth Wind & Fire, Parliament Funkedelic and many others from my era.

That brings us to the sounds you hear.

Today’s performers—if you can call them that—with a few exceptions are a manufactured video and CD experiences. Their live performances will never be better than the CD. Their CD performances are augmented with pro tool vocals and in some cases they are not even singing the lead vocals. When they perform live you are hearing their digital self.

The one advantage to that is you do not get a two to three hour show. The average performance today is about 60 to 90 minutes. During that period don’t look for a lot of stage poise or charisma, since most of these acts have no artist development teams from their labels or management teams. I am saying all this to hopefully encourage the true fans of music to get your music appreciation by going through your parent’s collection of records and collections (which are readily available at your free library). Treat yourself to studying the music of the 50s, 60s 70s and 80s. To your surprise you will find you know some of the music because over the last ten year my music has returned with a vengeance through movie sound tracks. New things last a little while but good things last forever.

Let me know how you make out on your music appreciation adventure. If you are lost for titles, or where to get started, drop me a line.

So you say you want to be in the business

For more years than I care to mention, whenever I meet a new prospect trying to get in the music business they all say the same thing: “Mr. Sutton, I have the hottest beats.” Or, “I have a platinum CD on my hands. Or, “I have the video all in my head. Or, “Nobody can rap like me. Or, “I am made for the business. Or, “I am the next big star, etc.”

Telling a professional like me that is like telling a beautiful woman you would like to have sex with her. She has heard it before and you will have to do better than that.

It is the same with me.

I will attempt to give a mini free consultation on what your presentation should include. Firstly, it’s the music business–with the focus on business. Although the music is important, professional people in this business have professional resources. They have songwriters, producers, background vocals and artist developers. Their primary concerns are can they sign a non-problematic artist with no restriction and that has a basic head for business.

If you are meeting with someone be on time. Be well groomed from head-to-toe. And if you are a female be sure to dress conservatively and travel with a mature chaperone. Bring a professional press kit and multiple copies of your CD to leave with the interviewer. Make sure you have a full disclosure package that will outline your business relationships. List your manager’s contact information along with your attorney’s contact information if you have one. If it’s your parent that will be helping you with your decisions, then make sure they are present. Be sure to offer required copies of your entire legally binding contract if there is serious interest from your interviewer.

If the interviewer is going to listen to your project while you are
present, be sure to let your music speak for itself and only speak
when asked a direct question. Trying to hype your music at an
interview can’t help but could definitely hurt your chances.

If the interviewer doesn’t show heighten interest in your project at
the time show no emotion and always thank them for their time and
consideration no matter how you think the meeting went. The more you focus on the business aspect of what you are doing the closer you get to getting in the business.

Keep an open mind so that you can take advantage of any opportunity that presents itself and make the interviewer aware that although your have your favorite aspiration you would be willing to be a songwriter, background vocalist, producer or musician if that would help the interviewer immediate goals.

Lastly, before you attend any meeting pull yourself away from the
radio and MTV, VH1 and BET videos. Alas, you have a basic formula forgiving a first great impression. Good Luck—and let me know how you make out.

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