The Gameplan...

I know its been a minute since my last blog, but let me first thank EVERYONE for your continued support of the "IAmDanielMoore" MOVEMENT!!!! Since my last blog there's been ALOT of buzz around what we're doing. From our performance on The Monique Show, to our recent performances in New Orleans, DC, Boston, & Atlanta, I'm quickly learning that difference between an independent artist & a major is MONEY!!!!!!!!

The reality is that in order to have mainstream success in the music industry, it costs money. In order to book live shows in different markets you need a HIT song on the radio AND print advertisements in magazines, newspapers, blogs, etc. In order to to get a song on the radio you need to hire a radio promoter which costs ANYWHERE from 20K to 50K for a National Radio Campaign. And EVEN if you have a hit, it doesn't mean people will know your name to come to your show. The DJ may say your name after they play your song, but we all know doesn't happen much anymore. YOU NEED PRINT ADVERTISEMENTS, and in order to get print ads, you need to hire a publicist, which could costs anywhere between 1k to 5k a month depending on who they are, and what they can offer, and we haven't even STARTED on other forms of marketing. (You do the math...)

Now there are ways to get around this. We ALL have local hero's and celebrities in our hometowns who have played local clubs and/or churches to build a name for themselves. Then they link up with people who book corporate gigs, or local promoters for small clubs, festivals, etc. to get out of town dates. Obviously, this is the slow ride up, but in some cases, could be the best way to build your brand.

However, at some point, you will come to that Crossroads where you need radio, print ads, TV, etc. to crossover to that next place in your career. At the end of the day, its costs $$ to move a band and singers around, and you'll find difficulty getting a promoter to fit the bill without mainstream success where they'll feel comfortable making their money back.

This isn't to discourage you, but to encourage you to lay the ground work WITH A GOAL IN MIND!!! Become that LOCAL success story NOW, but DON'T SETTLE FOR IT. Find clever ways to develop multiple streams of income...A HUSTLE!!! Sell your Cd's, sell your merchandise...but draw up a business plan on how to invest your profits to further your career!!! Think of your career as ONE BIG INVESTMENT, and not your primary source of income for everyday living. Then develop a timeline on when YOU think you'll be ready to make those investments we talked about earlier, and START SAVING AND PLANNING FOR IT NOW!!!! Remember..."The sky is NEVER the limit if you hold the universe in the palm of your hands" so be wise, be smart, LIVE OUT YOUR DREAM!!!!!!!!!!!

REAL MUSIC...

Before we get started, let me first say thank you to EVERYONE who's supported the NEW IAmDanielMoore EP. We've been getting a lot of buzz about the EP & I was recently told we were No 2 in the UK, how exciting!!! I did an interview recently where the interview said I'm bringing back REAL MUSIC. Tho I'm appreciative and humbled by this comment, I think its important to define what REAL MUSIC is....

Often times when we hear real instruments with a few chord changes vs sequenced loops, or lyrical substance vs party lyrics, we consider that REAL MUSIC....but to me, that's like saying Stevie Wonder is REAL MUSIC & George Clinton is not!!! The P Funk may be old school to us, but it was the party music of the day, so just because Drake or Lil Wayne may not be someones personal preference, it doesn't make them ANY LESS REAL than Jill Scott or John Mayer!! If a song comes on and it makes you feel good, then its REAL to YOU, which should be the definition of REAL MUSIC..

I think the REAL issue here is artists, musicians, and singers get irritated when they have trouble making THEIR sound relevant for today's audience. They grow up listening to timeless classics, but instead of being innovative, like those artists were, they wanna DUPLICATE what was relevant 20 or 30 years ago. I can relate to this, cuz I too used to get salty when I turned the radio on. I thought what they were playing sucked...LOL. However, complaining wasn't solving anything, and when I did a self evaluation, I found my REAL issue was I thought I was better than them. I couldn't understand why they got they're break before I got mine. I even tried TOTALLY going against the grain and doing what I thought others SHOULD be doing, and as you probably guessed, NO ONE wanted to record my songs. My problem was, I'd developed the "They're wrong, I'm right" mentality, while on my starving artist journey...LOL. Then I read the autobiography of my FAVORITE Quincy Jones and he said..."Ignorance in the name of art is NEVER justified..."

How then do we find success in then in the music industry without compromising our artistry?

Well...we have to adapt not just the sound of yesterday, but the mentality as well. THIS IS SHOW BUSINESS!!!! We work for the people, they don't work for us!!! No matter what genre you're in, or what capacity of SHOW BUSINESS you're in, YOU ARE AN ENTERtAINER!!!!! If you only plan on doing the music that YOU wanna hear, then don't count on making a decent living at it. I'm not saying totally change you're uniqueness and do what the industry thinks will work, but I am saying to craft your art where the average consumer will PURCHASE what you put out !!! This is difficult, and may come thru trial and error, but its the reasonwhy people STILL pay to Sade, Anita Baker, Frankie Beverley, Elton John, Stevie Wonder, James Taylor, etc. REAL MUSIC is simply what the CONSUMER believes is entertaining....

Songwriters...

The music business, like any other career you embark upon, has NO guarantees, but unlike most careers, its one of the few in which you don't need any credentials to get in. Anyone can wake up in the morning and say..."I am a producer" or "I write songs." The real tripped our part is, whether or not you can make it in the music business has NOTHING to do with your musical talent. It has EVERYTHING to do with whether or not you can get or songs heard by the right people. If u accomplish this, and take time to LEARN the business, you can become very successful and make A LOT of money!!!!!!! Thats why I thought I'd take time to give some helpful tips in having a successful career in production & songwriting!!!

1. WE WORK THE PEOPLE...that's why they call it ENTERTAINMENT BUSINESS!!! Quincy Jones says, "Ignorance in the name of art is NEVER justified!!!" Its pointless to sit at home and write songs that only YOU like, and expect to make a living. Either you're writing songs to shop for other artists, or you're an artist trying to get a deal, or work you're building your career from a grassroots approach. EITHER WAY, consider your demographic (or the demographic of the artist) when writing your song. What do THEY wanna hear?? What will they sing along too?? In writing for other artists, consider the colors of the artists voice!! Are they famous for a certain subject matter or theme in their other songs?? Even consider how they phrase their words, or the rhythmic flow of previous songs!! Your song should sound like, THEY wrote it...otherwise it will be difficult for that artist to sell your song in their vocal performance!!!!!!!!!

2. CLEVER CONCEPTS cause MEMORABLE SONGS!!! We all know presentation is EVERYTHING!!! So if you send a song with a titles or concepts that are OVERLY used, you have a higher risk of your song being passed over. However, song titles like I Kissed a Girl or Thriller automatically make you turn your head, and wanna hear more. Don't be afraid to play on a persons curiosity. Think like an A&R. Whats a clever concept that stir up enough attention for people to wanna hear about it in an interview?? What song title would "LOOK" cool in the limelight?? If its a female artist with a large female demographic, what could be the next "anthem" like Beyonce's "Irreplaceable" or Jill Scott's Golden ?? Or if its a male sex symbol, what do the ladies wanna hear??

3. COME OUT THE BOOTH AND GET YOUR SONGS HEARD!!! Here's the hardest part of the game. Some writers have make it by doing the grassroots thing as an artist, and eventually linking with a camp or a famous producer. Others have gone after publishing deals, etc. The reality is, if you're not connected with someone that matters, its gonna be a long hard road. Even Dian Warren, started with a publishing deal...however, once you get that FIRST LOOK, the rest of the way is determined by YOU!!! And the more hits (not just placements), but radio singles you have, the more say you'll have on how your career goes from that point. So, go to the industry parties and network. Don't be afraid to get your feet wet with another indie artist. It's possible someone may hear that song, and wanna rerecord it.

Because you don't need credentials to get in the music business, the possibilities of success are WIDE OPEN!!!!!!!

DECIDE....

I had the pleasure of sitting with the legendary Anita Baker once and she was sharing some of her early experiences with me of when she 1st started out. After she first recorded "Been So Long" the label sent her out to a jazz festival with George Duke. Once she got there, the band kinda half learned/half played the tune, cause no one knew (or cared) who she was. As u can imagine, the show didn't go so well. Duke pulled her aside afterwards and asked, "If u REALLY wanna be an artist, you need to DECIDE RIGHT NOW!!!!!" From that point on, Ms B took control of her career!! She DECIDED not to allow any musician, sound engineer, manager, label executive, etc. run over her EVER AGAIN. She perfected her craft, learned the BUSINESS of music, and everything she needed to know about audio & stage production. That DECISION turned from the girl from Detroit that nobody knew, to the 8 time Grammy Award Winning Artist she is today!!!

This principle doesn't just apply to music, it apply's to every aspect of our lives!!! This story reminded me to be fearless in EVERY decision I make. NO ONE defines or runs my life but ME!!!!!!!! I've DECIDED to be successful, be a loving father, and to live a happy life!!! I'm making constant improvements within myself to accomplish these goals!!! In a nutshell, I've also DECIDED not to let ANYTHING of ANYONE stand in my way...How about U???

Education Backwards...

Thanks to social networking sites, I've recently reconnected with classmates that I haven't see or heard from in years!!! As we reminisced about "simpler times," I couldn't help but think about our backwards education system. How come you work so hard to do well in school, only to find yourself in debt when you get out??? How come so many people don't work in the field they have a degree in??? Whats wrong with this picture???

!st - From elementary to high school, I was taught to do my work, and not to disrupt the other students. If I had a question, ask the teacher....if I asked one of my classmates, especially during test time, it was considered CHEATING!!! Then as I got older, everything was about TEAM building. We'd have workshops where we'd break into SMALL GROUPS to complete the task at hand. Working together in the professional world wasn't considered cheating, it was encouraged!!! BACKWARDS

2nd - After grade school, I was encouraged to go to college. At a university, you pay anywhere from $10,000 to $30,000 a year to get a degree that validates your skill level. Now understand, college freshman are a PRIMARY target for credit card companies, not to metion department store charge cards are especially attractive to students!!! So let's say you weren't the best student in school, but you open up a credit line (and a charge card) anywhere between $250 to $500. You pay the minimum balance on each your cards for the next 4 years you are in school, and you come out with a decent credit score somewhere in the 600s. You shouldn't have a problem getting an apartment or a car after school, you just have to worry about the next 3 to 6 years it might take you to pay off your $40,ooo to $120,000 in student loans. However, you're in better shape than your STAR classmate who got a scholarship, but never opened any credit lines...they'll have trouble finding an apartment and/or purchasing a car without a co-signer, because they don't have a history of credit...BACKWARDS

3rd - At minimum, we spend 12 years taking core classes in grade school (English, Science, Math, etc), but spend very little time building financial intelligence. A high school senior can do Algebra & Calculus, but does he/she know the difference between a W-2 and a W-9??? If they aspire to be a entrepreneur, do they know the difference between a S Corp, a C Corp, & a LLC. They study hard to get a good paying job, but do they know that this country operates on currency & not money??? That our currency IS NOT backed up by gold & sliver, so the value of a US dollar is less than $0.70??? Think about it, your prepared to get job, but if our banking system goes haywire one day, instead of money, you'll receive an I.O.U!!! How come students aren't prepared for this when they walk across that stage and get their diploma??? Say it with me this time....BACKWARDS

Sadly, non of this will change anytime soon, but the good news we live in the Information Age. Our forefathers died trying to get this kind of information, in an effort to create a better future for all of us!!! So in their honor, lets not take it for granted. Turn the TV off every now and then, and increase your own financial IQ. As u talk to your kids about safe sex and good grades, talk to them about IRA's, taxes, and retirement plans. Theres an old saying "If u wanna hide something from someone, put it in a book and place it the library where they can get it for free!!!" BACKWARDS

Get Started...

I remember someone asking me..."Are u a finisher or a starter??" Honestly, at that time, I was neither!!! I was working ALl THE TIME. From gigs to church, then back to the studio, I was running like crazy, making money, but getting NOTHING done!!! Yes, I was able to pay bills, & and provide for my new born son, but STILL had nothing tangible to show for all my hard work. I moved to ATL to become a recording artist, but I was surrounded around people who constantly said "not now" or "your not ready yet." From an industry perspective, the neo-soul movement hadn't happened yet, so there wasn't a viable market for what I do. Then from a personal perspective, I didn't have any extra money to play with, so how would I pay singers & musicians??? Book the studio??? Etc...

Then I began reading the Rich Dad, Poor Dad series, and Robert Kiyosaki told the Bill Gates story in a way I'd never heard it before. Microsoft puts out updates ALL THE TIME, but he didn't wait until it was PERFECT to release Windows into the marketplace!!! He's constantly perfecting his product EVERY year, and making money in the process (so much for my lack of capital excuse). My perspective started to change. I started booking sessions, calling musicians, and EVEN found a production partner. Once I got started, I ran into some bumps in the road. I quit the church I was working at & the club I'd played in every weekend for the last TWO years had closed. I felt kinda stupid actually, but it didn't stop me!!! I kept writing songs, singing horn arrangements into my phone, and recording demos. I found a NEW church job that had offered me a salary including benefits. In addition to the club hits, I was getting from production calls from artists, & every extra dime I had went into paying for SOMETHING for this project, because "quality" was my main concern...

Long story short, that new born I had is now 7 years old, and my EP is JUST coming out!!! So...whatever that idea or goal is that you've been putting off for WHATEVER reason, stop what your doing, and Get Started!!! Silence every "I don't have...," & every "I'll just wait until..." and motivate yourself to dedicate AT LEAST 5 min out of every day for your destiny. If that seems unreasonable or too difficult, then I'm sad to say, you're not really serious about what u wanna do. Personally, I feel like I haven't scratched the surface of my dream, but I'm proud to say I've graduated to becoming a starter, striving to be a finisher...

When Tragedy Becomes Reality...

It's been a tough last few days for the Mo'nique cast & crew, as we mourn the tragic loss of our co-worker Maureen Allaben. i remember she told me once..."You really look like you're having good time behind that keyboard!!!" Tho I didn't know what may have been going on with her behind closed doors, it's good to know that my energy shined a light within her while she was here with us...

That got me thinking...we're always promoting self motivation, self esteem, and the belief that if you change your mind, you can change their reality...but what about people whose reality has already turned into tragedy?? What about the kids who've never left their neighborhood, or never even seen a highway, and no one's there to tell them there's a WHOLE WORLD OUT THERE beyond their block??? Or the wife beaten every time she steps foot in a church??? People have lost they're jobs, homes, children, etc...and I believe we have to have more to offer them than "hang in there" or "if u can see your life differently, it will become different!!" Don't get me wrong, hope is NECESSARY, but even tho hope in itself may keep u from sticking a needle in your arm or pulling the trigger, people STILL wanna feel like they're not in in by themselves!!!

So whats the solution??? At some point, our conversation has to move from self esteem & self motivation, to us becoming a COMMUNITY again!!! Dr. Martin Luther King once spoke of his dream of hope, but it takes a community to continue to carry out his vision. In this world WE ALL have a small piece of a HUGE pie, but it's gonna take us working together to make it happen!!! We must connect again despite our generational differences!!! We must be concerned about other peoples children and not just our own!!! Smile at people, say thank you the next time someone holds the door for you. Remember your waiter's name when you go to a restaurant, and give them a GOOD tip!!! Don't wait till the teacher has to call your house, go meet them, and offer your support while NOTHING is wrong. Offer to go to the next AA meeting with your close friend. Even if they say no out of shame, the fact that you offered shows that you care!!!

Bottom line, our time on earth is short, and you'd be surprise how a random act of kindness may shine a light in a VERY dark place in someone else's life....RIP Maureen