chapter3

The Music Gladitator Manual

A must read for any artist or label wanting to succeed in the music industry

3 REALITY
“Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.”

There are lots of music gladiators with dreams of having their own music label and being able to take the music
business world by storm as an independent artist and/or company. But, before starting on your quest, realize that it
is easier to think and dream then it is to actually work on creating your dreams into reality.
Creating a dream into a reality depends on you knowing what you want! In other words, in life, you receive
according to what your focus is on. Not on what you want.

Therefore having a clear vision is what you will need to get yourself excited, eager and ready to get into action.
Conversely, there is some confusion, which exists about what is actually required to operate a successful label
and/or to become a worldwide known artist or label. Let’s become aware of these issues now.
Realize that knowledge alone is useless in the pursuit of any goals unless it's backed by a definite plan of action.
Unused knowledge is only potential power until it is used to obtain your goal. Having information about the music
business allows you to know what you are venturing into.

This way you can strategize in a coherent manner to achieve your status as a champion in this business.
The following will provide you some basic wisdom and information, which will assist you in your undertaking.
Knowledge is equally powerful when starting your own record company to sell CDs and/or create a successful
artist.

Let me re-iterate this, if you think there is a magical answer, phone number or key to succeed in this business, stop
watching the “Wizard of Oz” or the “Wiz” because there are no yellow brick roads to the land of stardom within the
entertainment industry. And your music is not going to sell itself regardless how great your song is.
This is a business of dreams, beware:

This business has plenty of “fraud sharks” which will take advantage of your desire to become successful, by
making your desire into their reality for or to generate cash for their pockets. Music industry Bamboozlers to play
on your eagerness to reach quickly and your desire of fortune and fame.
I call it the attack of the music demons. They attack whenever you’re on the right track to reaching your goals and
then throw you for a loop of some type.

The following information is design to assist you in competing within the music arena where you as a contestant.
• Stay focused with your plan and let nothing get in your way. And double-check everything about any new
identities entering into your music career path. In other words, be careful regarding strangers entering your camp.
• Allow yourself 18 to 24 month time frame to develop a story which an A&R person can’t resist. Once this is
accomplished, you will be glad you took the long and hard way to accomplish your goal. After all, there is no easy
way to success. In fact, it’s still amazing how many local musicians and performers truly believe they can go from
basement or garage to a national recording star in one big step. Not even the greatest gladiators walked into an
arena and became the champion of Rome in one day.

Only if there were more articles representing how an artist sold thousands of CDs weekly before signing to a major
label. This would identify the need of working hard before fame generates.
If a gladiator would not motivate him or herself to work hard in training and understanding before stepping inside of
an arena, there would be a death. And the one to die would be the weaker of the two, which in this case would be
the person who would not train. Lacking the motivation to do whatever is necessary to win made him or her for the
event, the weaker of the two.

In summary, unless you can maintain a positive attitude, you will be in for a rude awaking and give up too soon.
This is because success will not come to you on a silver platter. If you think so, you will be wasting yours and
everyone else’s time involved with your career.
To succeed within the music industry, it will take skills, concentrated efforts, determination, integrity and hard work
to achieve your goal.

Working to achieve your goal is like working 40 hours a week for someone else plus overtime.
Overall, it’s hard work!
Let’s not forget another important part of reality, besides a message for the wise.

GET IT IN WRITING:

When it comes to the dealings with others in this business, just write it down in such a way that all parties involved
can understand, detailing as much as possible and have both parties sign and date it.
Each of you should get a photocopy of it, and keep it somewhere safe against the possibility of future
misunderstandings. Even (some might say especially) with friends. Read examples of music contracts before you
try putting one together yourself. A decent contract doesn’t need to be over-complicated, as long as it is
understood and interpreted correctly.

But it should always include three things:
1) what each party is responsible for accomplishing, 2) the conditions of payment (use real numbers in $ or %, and
outline when payment is due), and 3) when the contract ends (i.e. a certain date, level of sales, or total amount
paid). As a rule, don’t ever sign a contract which doesn’t fulfill these criteria at a minimum. Get legal advice... the
money you spend is insurance against future hassles. It will also assist you with preventing possible suffering from
the music demons also known as Bamboozlers.

Complements of JaHMa.net Written by; Kenneth Bosket

M.B.A.

Opportunity does
not come once in
a lifetime.

People chose not
accept various
oportunities
because of their
fear, combined
with the lack of
committment and
competitiveness,
which is needed to
be successful.