Published September 30, 2019 by Slick for SFR Beats for SFR Beats
Read over the first 3 steps from the last few weeks ok, so you will know how to get to this final step of having the opportunity. I will use my experience being hired to do a major show for #1 Billboard charting R&B artist Keith Washington. This is the secret to going from a "promised" opportunity.. to an actual experience.
It is 1 month before the show… Keith goes over the details of what he needs, and asks me how much would I cost. Now… I've seen artists really screw this up… some will say they will perform for free. Big mistake. Some will say they charge the same amount the person they are talking to would get paid. Bigger mistake. You want to first understand how much time you have to dedicate to meet their requests, consider how much you have made in the past, and charge slightly below what you think you should make. If they shy away from paying your fee, kindly walk away and explain why. You will either infuriate the wrong person, or earn the respect of the right person. Marinate on that if you need to.
Next, once you two have agreed on the price and terms, the ball is in your court. You want to get started learning whatever you need to early. For Keith Washington's show, I had to learn 10 songs, including horn parts to special custom arrangements. Not the easiest task considering I have a fulltime job (making beats for SFR Beats lol). So I knew I had to pace myself..get started early, play the songs as much as I could (in the shower, in the car while driving, etc)... just to get it stuck in my head. You want to be as prepared as possible.. And you want to be able to do this on your own, without bugging the person hiring you too much. Leave them alone… unless you really have a question they haven't already answered.
Artists at this level demand perfection..or at least close to it.. With so many other options at their disposal, you want to be the one they think about.. The one they know will deliver.. The one they know will return their calls / texts.. .the one that will do everything you say you will.. The one that will show up early and never late..the one who is fully accountable and will take credit for not only the good things but the bad things.. The errors.. The mistakes… Artists and other power players at that level need you to be almost robotic.. Emotionless.. Someone they can consistently count on to deliver at the same level every single time. That only happens with the first step.. Practice.. And through this fourth step..integrity, honesty, and initiative.
This fourth step is probably the most challenging because it reflects overall character traits of the individual. But remember everything is a decision. If you know you face some of these issues, change starts with awareness. Being aware of any particular weakness gives you the opportunity to get better at it. Maybe you need to set reminders of when to practice.. Maybe you need to write down a to-do list every day. Or maybe you just need to answer that important phone call every time…. Instead of waiting until it's convenient for you to answer. The point is, once a power-player puts an opportunity in your lap, it's up to you do earn it. Show them that they can trust what you say.. Trust what you do, and trust you will give them the value they initially saw when they heard you at that open mic.
Next week I'll go over a bonus: how to handle the actual show come showtime (including my own experience performing with #1 hit R&B artist Keith Washington).
April 15, 2024 by Metro Boomin, Billboard, YouTube
- Stay consistent
- Care enough to take the time
- Strive to do better than the next
- Switch it up sometimes
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April 08, 2024 by Slick, SFR Beats
Most mid to pro level microphones will have a handy EQ setting built onto the mic. Here is when to use it..
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