Idea Pool : Promo and Publicity

[Relic]

If your primary product i.e. your music is not generating a significant amount of cash, then stay as a partnership or sole proprietor for now.

I see so many startup labels, and moreso other forms of business etc file as corporate entities and they're paying that corporate fee every year and they're barely making enough to cover that expense alone.

Make sure you keep good records and receipts for business related items for the recording of this project and trust me, you'll be fine.

AMEN!!! I want to shut my LLC down sooooo bad, all we do is hemorage money, Then this time every year you get hit with fees!
If it werent for intense pressure by people who dont spend or invest any money in my business I would prolly have done whatever it takes to shut it down.
I started thinking that we were real close and that it would make everybody serious about what we were doing. It did.. every single one of them disappeared when they saw they had to spend money to make money, cats I had been doin music with for 10 years or better, gone. lol
It made ME more serious fasho!
Im getting to the point where I'm prolly gonna shut it down and just do this shit for fun. no body wants an old white dude in the market, and I cant seem to get the proper management and marketing people to "see" the vision without spending buku cash(not the rapper).Probably the moment I shut it down ,shit will take off! lol

 

[LDB]

prolly gonna shut it down and just do this shit for fun. no body wants an old white dude in the market, and I cant seem to get the proper management and marketing people to "see" the vision without spending buku cash(not the rapper).Probably the moment I shut it down ,shit will take off! lol

WRONG...FUCK THAT! U need to be messing with like minded serious people. U got skillz son. on the beatz and on the mic. U need to get into hosting mix tapes and shit with that "radio" voice. I'd fuck with you hard on the music tip. Real talk..I'm not just typing over here!

On the other subject....yep..shut that LLC down. It looks good behind your business name but if you're not raking in the doe it makes no sense to me!

 

[Ash Holmz]

yea relic ... u need to stick wit it man .... get togther with stepchild and take it to the next level .... fuc evrybody else... u two just do ur own thang.. shit i would fuc wit yall heavy and link up wit u guys on some partnership type shit if the distance wasnt so far .... step f**cking MURDERED that track i sent him .. and u got the voice to make shit happen on that end... i would love to do some sort of ep or something with yawl... fo realz

 

[Relic]

Word!! Then we'll do that fellas!!

Later....

Didnt finish the post my mommy was calling but...

Just somthing to think about for those who think if they just form a business its gonna be all good .lol.
Shadeed made a point!
And Im always down to work !

 

[God]

Relic,

I'm with the other cats here. You gotta stand up.

AMEN!!! I want to shut my LLC down sooooo bad, all we do is hemorage money, Then this time every year you get hit with fees!
If it werent for intense pressure by people who dont spend or invest any money in my business I would prolly have done whatever it takes to shut it down.
I started thinking that we were real close and that it would make everybody serious about what we were doing. It did.. every single one of them disappeared when they saw they had to spend money to make money, cats I had been doin music with for 10 years or better, gone. lol
It made ME more serious fasho!
Im getting to the point where I'm prolly gonna shut it down and just do this shit for fun. no body wants an old white dude in the market, and I cant seem to get the proper management and marketing people to "see" the vision without spending buku cash(not the rapper).Probably the moment I shut it down ,shit will take off! lol

1. The business that the government and other companies (even OfficeMax) make off people starting a "small business" is actually big business. Kind of like the people that sold shovels during the gold rush. They made more money than the prospectors. Add a tax on that, plus "fees" and you get my point.

2. Whose pressure? I don't know your situation, but if you only have a couple investors -- you can sit them down and hack out an exit strategy for the LLC. You might be just trying to prolong the pain, figuratively speaking, in order to avoid confronting your investors to resolve the issue. Avoiding shit never works, except if it's that psycho ex-girlfriend.

3. Your quote on spending money to make money. That is beyond true. You need to lobby industry cats in nice restaurants, make them feel important and feed their "I came up from the working class" egos. If you need that OASYS synth because it'll complete the project -- then you need to cop that too.

4. Old white dude? Old white dudes RUN the industry. That might be why it's going down the shitter. In any respect, what is your strategy regarding your situation? Did you ground your LLC in reality or on a youthful dream that was sold to you (and all of us) with stories on MTV of Master P and Puff Daddy coming up through music? Or maybe Russell Simmons? Back then, it was harder to start a label, the startup costs were tremendous because it was an "analog" world. But the rewards, because it was an "analog" world -- were pretty damn high too.

Stay in it Relic (your name sounds old, though.

 

[Relic]

Relic,

I'm with the other cats here. You gotta stand up.



1. The business that the government and other companies (even OfficeMax) make off people starting a "small business" is actually big business. Kind of like the people that sold shovels during the gold rush. They made more money than the prospectors. Add a tax on that, plus "fees" and you get my point.

2. Whose pressure? I don't know your situation, but if you only have a couple investors -- you can sit them down and hack out an exit strategy for the LLC. You might be just trying to prolong the pain, figuratively speaking, in order to avoid confronting your investors to resolve the issue. Avoiding shit never works, except if it's that psycho ex-girlfriend.

3. Your quote on spending money to make money. That is beyond true. You need to lobby industry cats in nice restaurants, make them feel important and feed their "I came up from the working class" egos. If you need that OASYS synth because it'll complete the project -- then you need to cop that too.

4. Old white dude? Old white dudes RUN the industry. That might be why it's going down the shitter. In any respect, what is your strategy regarding your situation? Did you ground your LLC in reality or on a youthful dream that was sold to you (and all of us) with stories on MTV of Master P and Puff Daddy coming up through music? Or maybe Russell Simmons? Back then, it was harder to start a label, the startup costs were tremendous because it was an "analog" world. But the rewards, because it was an "analog" world -- were pretty damn high too.

Stay in it Relic (your name sounds old, though.

4.That would be the Rick Rubin/ Russell Simmons days yes..And things have grown waaaay beyond that now.I thought it was reality at the time.I did it all assbackwards really.
*Deep Embarrassed Blush*

3.Ive dumped alot of money into it...ALOT..lol

2.I was saying that people who DONT have any money invested in it, ie, few groupies and fans or other folks Ive been doing the music with for a long time.My artist and I are the only investors.

1. Yes it is big business, when you first start up you get bombarded by things you never thought of buying ..lol.. Like credit card machines and all types of stuff!

Problem is the city Im in has been less than cool to its local scene, anybody here who has "Made it" has had to leave and go to the west coast to do it.
It gets disheartening after awhile, the radio has set itself up to be a P1 station that controls the market from here to GA up to VA, anyhing that gets in its way it "Aquires" and moves it out of the way.
Since the 80's they have shit on local talent, in fact ATL's big stations were just up here giving them shit because they dont support the local scene.

The end reality is that I can no more "quit" hiphop than I can stop breathing and still live.
As Im setting up the current lab its amazing how much gear Ive aquired, so Im still in it but it does feel like maybe this is getting old, there is no outlet outside of the internet..If it were not FOR this site I prolly would be just doing this as a hobby but the fire is still there for now.

 

[LDB]

If I can, I'll be doing something in music when I'm 60! It's a passion and not a bad hobby to have. (I could be merkin' mf's for a hobby...there's good money in that...lol). If it was "all about the money" I would have left this music alone before I even got started.

What's that Gatorade slogan "Is it in you?" If it is it's apart of you, it's like a fire that you can't extinguish...so don't try! My computer and studio is like "crack" I keep trying to get "high high"! lol

 

[God]

4.That would be the Rick Rubin/ Russell Simmons days yes..And things have grown waaaay beyond that now.I thought it was reality at the time.I did it all assbackwards really.
*Deep Embarrassed Blush*

3.Ive dumped alot of money into it...ALOT..lol

2.I was saying that people who DONT have any money invested in it, ie, few groupies and fans or other folks Ive been doing the music with for a long time.My artist and I are the only investors.

1. Yes it is big business, when you first start up you get bombarded by things you never thought of buying ..lol.. Like credit card machines and all types of stuff!

Problem is the city Im in has been less than cool to its local scene, anybody here who has "Made it" has had to leave and go to the west coast to do it.
It gets disheartening after awhile, the radio has set itself up to be a P1 station that controls the market from here to GA up to VA, anyhing that gets in its way it "Aquires" and moves it out of the way.
Since the 80's they have shit on local talent, in fact ATL's big stations were just up here giving them shit because they dont support the local scene.

The end reality is that I can no more "quit" hiphop than I can stop breathing and still live.
As Im setting up the current lab its amazing how much gear Ive aquired, so Im still in it but it does feel like maybe this is getting old, there is no outlet outside of the internet..If it were not FOR this site I prolly would be just doing this as a hobby but the fire is still there for now.

Hey man, I'm going to post some truth -- if I'm wrong correct me -- because I don't know you.

If you're trying to be a "record company" in this climate, think again. It's hard as hell. I bet there are thousands of "rappers" in Charlotte that have "record labels" and "albums" with beats supplied by the nearest cat with an MPC. They release an album and think they're the shit, when the money man behind them is probably some dealer laundering cash that's just using the "artists". For Atlanta, the scene is even bigger, and they have really good talent there. Think of it this way -- If I was a record rep, would I really venture to Charlotte -- or would the cats in Charlotte try to find ME?

How the hell are you going to break through? It's hard enough with the scene I described.

The best thing I think you can do is really be honest with yourself and see if there are other ways to make "it" work (if that's what you want). What about using your production skills by finding a hot chick from your neighborhood that can kind of sing, and work with her to make a 4 song demo that is professionally honed, has great songwriting. Melodyne will be your friend in that endeavour.

The con of such a thing is that if a record rep found your "artist" they would try to "steal" her from you -- unless your songs are hot and you're a songwriter or own some part of the publishing. If you're just a guy that re-records her songs and produces them, you're creating a gift for an A&R rep that's basically gonna steal your artist and songs from you. This is why "managers" that start representing an artist are replaced when the artist becomes fodder for a label. The manager is quickly replaced and "bought out" for a small sum (15-30K).

Or if you want to stay in rap -- survey the landscape and see how you can differentiate yourself for the copycats that all look and rap the same in your area. That's why rappers like "The Cool Kids" (http://www.myspace.com/gocoolkids) were signed -- they're "different." (I think they're Pharrell copycats, but they're DIFFERENT than the dude that has an "album" and lives down your street.) They also knew how to get TO the people that could make them successful.

If you think the "Cool Kids" suck. Well that illustrates my point, they suck - but they got TO the people that need to make their careers successful.

Moses went to the mountain -- the mountain didn't come to Moses.

 

[Relic]

Hey man, I'm going to post some truth -- if I'm wrong correct me -- because I don't know you.

If you're trying to be a "record company" in this climate, think again. It's hard as hell. I bet there are thousands of "rappers" in Charlotte that have "record labels" and "albums" with beats supplied by the nearest cat with an MPC. They release an album and think they're the shit, when the money man behind them is probably some dealer laundering cash that's just using the "artists". For Atlanta, the scene is even bigger, and they have really good talent there. Think of it this way -- If I was a record rep, would I really venture to Charlotte -- or would the cats in Charlotte try to find ME?

How the hell are you going to break through? It's hard enough with the scene I described.

The best thing I think you can do is really be honest with yourself and see if there are other ways to make "it" work (if that's what you want). What about using your production skills by finding a hot chick from your neighborhood that can kind of sing, and work with her to make a 4 song demo that is professionally honed, has great songwriting. Melodyne will be your friend in that endeavour.

The con of such a thing is that if a record rep found your "artist" they would try to "steal" her from you -- unless your songs are hot and you're a songwriter or own some part of the publishing. If you're just a guy that re-records her songs and produces them, you're creating a gift for an A&R rep that's basically gonna steal your artist and songs from you. This is why "managers" that start representing an artist are replaced when the artist becomes fodder for a label. The manager is quickly replaced and "bought out" for a small sum (15-30K).

Or if you want to stay in rap -- survey the landscape and see how you can differentiate yourself for the copycats that all look and rap the same in your area. That's why rappers like "The Cool Kids" (http://www.myspace.com/gocoolkids) were signed -- they're "different." (I think they're Pharrell copycats, but they're DIFFERENT than the dude that has an "album" and lives down your street.) They also knew how to get TO the people that could make them successful.

If you think the "Cool Kids" suck. Well that illustrates my point, they suck - but they got TO the people that need to make their careers successful.

Moses went to the mountain -- the mountain didn't come to Moses.

I think G that intially the record company thing WAS what we were going for, again I have been doin this stuff for a long time, but in this case we went about it ass backwards.I guess I got excited.

At the time(02-03) like I was saying we had like 5 different artists all wanting to do the thing, problem I was all artist and no business and everyone is looking to me to do all this for them..ie:Learn all the gear ,learn engineering,learn computers ,learn the net, learn the business, learn photoshop, you get the idea do everything for them...

Now Im still interested in all that, but I am not interested in wearing all the hats , and Im sure not interested in being the little red hen who does all the work and everyone else eats while Im broke. In the short amount of time where I was reeeaally puttin in effort for these cats I encountered lots of snakes and what not including those within the camp that had been friends for years (the adage dont go into business with friends and family is true!).

So no..Im not fool hardy enough to try and start a label at this point, especially in this market.
At this point Im kinda wanting just to be a production unit that develops an artist and their sound and then gets some sorta deal with an indie to maintain some creative control.
Now if thats not possible in todays climate then maybe just do the above and keep getting that finders fee money.

Either way the BIG dream isnt what Im looking at anymore at all.
If you were a record rep you could do alot worse than comming here and picking up talent, they are all desperately in need of direction and are sooooo on ATL's dick its sick, standing out here isnt hard at all in fact. But that being said if you do stand out expect to take alot of heat because everyone wants an ATL clone here.(I love ATL but you get the idea).

So thats where Im at today as of this post, its all subject to change.
Working with cats here and reading and learning from cats like yourself is a real bonus and keeps me motivated. Just wish that I had been where I am now, and known all this stuff 10 years ago.

I have np going to the mountain,but if moses would have been blind, God still would have have to tell him in which direction it was . lol

 

[God]

I have np going to the mountain,but if moses would have been blind, God still would have have to tell him in which direction it was . lol

Judging from your statements, I can only surmise the following:

1. You need to assess whether you can cut costs or reduce losses on investments that you have made that may be consequential in NOT adding to your bottom line. For example, are there any portions of your business affairs where you have not made a justifiable return on investment? In that case, perhaps you should reconsider.

2. Find a target. Are you trying to get in with Definitive Jux? Are you trying to be a Down Souf indie? What kind of indie producer do you want to be. Define that, and then create a list of objectives to accomplish that goal.

3. What "real life" obstacles do you have? Are you paying child support? Mortgage? Car payments? Are you barely breaking even with your job? Do you need to work in Charlotte? Can you afford going to L.A. or NYC to shop your demo? What contacts do you have? Can you have leverage those contacts? If not -- what are other ways you can get your artist's music exposed to the general public?

Don't count on local radio -- unless you have an already established following and have friends at the station who are "loyal" to you. Read between the lines.

4. Have a TOP NOTCH demo ready. One that you don't have to make excuses to the cat listening to it like: "uh, I should have mixed down that kick drum, etc."

This is all I can write right now -- if you have questions, feel free to bounce them off me -- preferably in another post on this topic.

 

[Da IllFellaz]

^^ i hear ya .. thats why im just gathering facts at the moment .. my brother has an llc and he handles his shit pristinely.. although he is in diffrent area of business (retail and merchandising of electronic devices..ipods,cell phones,games ..etc) so his experience will not be the same as mine. I just tryin to get some feedback from cats that are doing the llc thing specifally and what there experiences are. Particluarly someone like nomics or PA thats is roughly in the same boat as we are..

LDB .. what do u have if not an llc? .. a corp, a sole propietership, a partnership?

if you are serious about your music (which i knwo you are), you should definitely open up n LLC. ive had mine for almost 4 years now and its worked out pretty well. you can write off everything you have purchased for the company. equipment, marketing, travel expenses, registration fees, etc. we also have a company bank account so EVERYTHING we purchase is on our monthly statements. come tax time, its all there.

its actually a partnership now wit my partner DJ Deuce. we signed our first artist last month and are out there pushing him out there to different labels through our lawyer. when the labels see n official company, they take you more serious.

also, liability wise, LLC means Limited Liability Company which means jsut that. you only lose what you put into the company. they dont go after personal assets. however, after a certain time, you gon have to show true income. the IRS can picture it as a HOBBY instead of n actual business. so make sure you got something coming in, whether studio time, beat sales, dj services, whatever. it make shit much more legit. it takes 5 years for most new businesses to make a profit. THIS IS OUR YEAR!!! HAHAHA!!

i know you know all this already Ash. i dont even know y im explainin it to you.

 

[Ash Holmz]

^^ thats wassup fam! .. how did u go about getting a lawyer .. through word of mouth or did u like just open a phonebook and start dialing? ...

 

[Da IllFellaz]

for those who dont know, this music shit is RUN by lawyers!!!!


my partner got n ill connect. hes actually green lantern and fat man scoops lawyer. he cost dough every month but dude is worth it. he used to be Head of A&R at Loud Records back when Pun was still around. he helped push Still Not A Player..
now hes n entertainment lawyer in the city. very down to earth n mad cool. knows his shit on top of all dat which is the most important thing.