What its Like Being in Artist Management with Hughes Felizor

((Hughes Felizor- A&R, Artist Manager)

I was lucky enough to gain a recent interview with Mr. Hughes Felizor, A&R for Bad Boy Entertainment and Founder of Tri-Connect Entertainment & Management Inc., through my affiliation with Bad Boy as a Publishing intern there. He is a very busy man and a true “juggler” and I was so happy to get him to sit down for a minute to answer some of the artist management questions I had created for just him, and what he said was really helpful for any aspiring artist manager regardless if they are new or experienced in this line of work.

Q: Hey, please give us your name, title, and position.
A: My name is Hughes Felizor, A&R at Bad Boy Entertainment, Founder of Tri-Connect Entertainment & Management Inc.

Q: What is a typical day in the life for you as an artist manager?

A: Cool. My typical day consist of various follow-ups via phone and emails, discussions of the day's plan with all team members, seeking opportunities for our clients, arranging various studio/video projects, etc.

Q: Has the current economic conditions effected your business?
A: Yes. Today, we are still transitioning away from CDs to newer
available format compatible with the web and mobile devices. Most in
the music industry are still looking for a profitable way to sell
high-quality music online/mobile devices, while maintaining the
product's integrity at 100%. Adjustments made by majors labels, to
protect themselves, have been drastic but there is still a long way to
go; I believe. In an effort to gain additional control of company
assets which mostly reside online now, major labels must set the tone
enforcing various laws for their artists and, own sake. Unfortunately,
current economic conditions push people to acquire pirated music,
usually available before scheduled releases, for free. Free, doesn't help the situation if it wasn't intended

Q: What personality traits/or characteristics does an artist manager need to be a great artist manager and a successful one?
A: You have to be a team player first and far most. Problem-solver, have patience and be able to work under any given conditions. That is the truth.

Q: What part of your job do you find most satisfying? Most challenging?
A: The most satisfying part of the job is accomplishing what was
planned. Its great to see a team of different people working towards
the same goal with same, or greater passion. The most challenging is
finding the right clients; everyone wants to be an artist but only a few work consistently work to perfect their craft.

Q: How valuable is maximizing the effectiveness of an artist’s development team?
A: In my opinion, the team is everything. It is the company's foundation. If its weak, everything else will be as well. Its very valuable to get everyone on the same page.

Q: What type of training or education do you think is required in this position?
A: Besides street education lol, some training in business of course and financing. Understanding how this business works from being in it and that only comes from experience and learning.

Q: Any special advice for someone new entering this field?
A: My advice would be to do your homework because, keep in mind that
whoever you are managing career is in your hands.

Big shout out to Hughes for allowing me to ask him these questions for my blog and readers, it is much appreciated.

You can find Mr. Felizor on Facebook or Twitter @yooggie.

Check out this video " Some People"! I am in it!

I am the lead/model actress and there is more to come from all of us! Follow Campanella's Twitter @CampSince1987 and add him on Facebook at J.R. Superstardom!

Negotiating in Business with Negotiator, Music Director, & Manager D Baker

For the next affair on my blog I wanted to go out and interview a professional that was very active in entertainment in the deal-making capacity and I did. Although very brief, speaking with him made me see how busy the life of a manager and/or director really is in entertainment, whew! So below is just a quick excerpt of the hour long conversation we had between us over the phone and I wanted to share and expose some of that with you this afternoon.

Q: Hi, please state your name and title/position for us?
A: Good afternoon Q, I am the CEO of Getosoul Productions, Founder and Co Owner of The Beattraffickers, and manager of artist Devvon Terrell.

Q: One of the first methods the authors discuss in “Getting to Yes” for use in principled negotiation is called separating people from the problem and they talk about how every negotiator has two interests and that is in their substance and in their relationship. Why do you think people have a difficult time separating the relationship from the substance and aren’t able to deal directly with a person(s)?
A: Emotions flat out. Some people are too emotional or have outbursts as you mentioned or they just like avoiding the whole source of the issue that we’re trying to work out. We tend to look at a person we’re dealing with as the problem that is stopping us from getting what we want and it’s hard just focusing on the issue and not the person in front of ya.

Q: How do you adjust your negotiating approach to account for differences in gender, culture and/or personality?
A: Umm, you just have to go in knowing everybody is different, expect that. I try to respect everyone I come into contact with in business. Talk to them and get to know them a little before if possible. Be open to what they got to say to you, learn to love the differences ya’ll share and use that to ya’ll advantage when you are learning what is gonna make each of ya’ll happy. Right?

Q: Right. How do you acknowledge the other side’s interests as part of the problem and let your interests come alive?
A: I’m really straight-forward, old school so to say, with that being said, I seriously try to deal with the issues that’s going to benefit my team first. I will take up any differences after we have attained what we came for.

Q: What do you think of the process of a brainstorming session with the participants in a negotiation for inventing ideas?
A: That’s a really good question. Both of us brainstorming together in a competitive nature is healthy, I welcome that. I feel we are as strong a team assembled out there… Kinda like were both beating on our chests yelling out for attention lol!

Q: How do you decide on where to meet at for a negotiation or when or who should make the first offer?
A: You know for me that just comes from intuition and experience and just watching the other person, really, just pay attention. I like to meet at one of my comfort zones lol, and uh as far as when and who should make the first offer, I try to gauge where the deal is headed and put what I want out there before the other side. I am learning somethin’ new talking to you about knowing my BATNA before I walk in the door, good stuff.

Q: Negotiating power requires lots of preparation and hard work in advance, but how beneficial is the power of commitment and developing a good-working relationship as sources of negotiating power and leverage? Good listening skills?
A: Super super beneficial! You right, always prepare and be ready for anything that may go down at the meeting. You want to end things on a good note cause these are people you will come in contact again in business… make them want to work with you again. Make it easy. Open up your mind and ears and have a game plan, that’s all your negotiating power right there. Folks want to know you are hearing them. Stay true to yourself and your integrity and be good to others and it will benefit you with wealth and a good reputation.

I would like to thank Mr. Baker for taking the time out to talk with me a bit about negotiating in his world and below is how you may contact him:

Follow D Baker on Twitter: @ MrDBaker, http://www.linkedin.com/in/mrdbaker and visit http://www.and1live.com for more exciting updates! Expect more to come from Mr. Baker and his team in the very near future when I introduce my Artist Note tab on the blog this Spring! Until then, watch these two youtube links videos that he delightfully shared for us to view.


(this video uses a song called And1 produced by The Beattraffickers)


(this video actually made it to Inside the NBA on TNT)

VIPSTAND & Wallace Collins Ask PRO's "What is The Exact Royalty Formula?"

Today I was just randomly googling search terms and I saw this link pop up for a site I haven’t had a chance to visit called vipstand. I ended up opening a video on its site called “ You Are Watching: Publishing Deals and Performance Rights Organizations” (PRO’s) and decided to watch this video uploaded from one of my fav sites, artistshousemusic.org, with entertainment attorney Wallace Collins speaking because he appeared to be relaxed and ready to give us viewers some good insight into his point of view on publishing. 

I liked how he explained owning the copyright in a publishing deal and how much is typically divided in splits. He briefly went over how one may co-own the copyright and get 50 percent as the writer while the rest goes to the publisher and writer, an example of an average co-publishing deal. I didn’t realize how administration deals worked. They get commission for just collecting your money but it is straightforward calculation regardless of how much percent they get.

Collins says the X factor on the publishing side is the PRO’s (i.e ASCAP, BMI, SESAC) and how its not always clear how much they are taking from the money you may make on your songs. He said he has never been told a formula and how much percentage they get for calculating song royalties but he was not trying to indict any of them. I thought the system was doing a good job on tracking these numbers but apparently not! I have heard stories of people signed to separate PROS’s as songwriters and received different monies even when they worked and co-wrote the same record and had the same contract splits. I believe ASCAP is the way to go as far as the signed writer advantages I feel they have over the other two, but more details about them in a later post. That topic can go on for weeks!

 We will have better tracking systems in the future so you know you are getting your exact money the first time around and worldwide changes need to occur so the whole planet is in sync in royalty tracking because business is international. And you shouldn’t have to wait to see what your co-writer received on a record in a check to know you may have been cheated and for them (the PRO’s) to give you the difference. I will be checking out future videos on this site and even some old ones already uploaded about music publishing, indie labels, and copyrights (fun and informative videos alike) and so should you!

http://www.vipstand.me/en/online-videos/play/Us-beRRxYdk/Publishing-Deals-and-Performance-Rights-Organizations.html 

Financing...Major Publisher...Good Venture Move

I recently went back to visit one of my favorite company sites, ascap.com, and saw a brief article about getting financing for your music publishing company and I happen to know a few entrepreneurs with young companies in the music industry who themselves are trying to decide on whether or not to sign a deal with a major publisher in order to guarantee success.  Most of these companies are new record companies, including my own that I am in the process of developing. Some people I have spoken with are up and coming producers/songwriters like myself who are unsure of starting their own small publishing company or not let alone where to get financing for one.  The title of this article is called “ Getting Financing For Your Music Publishing Company”, a fitting and simple title that helps searchers in their quest for knowledge on the topic.

            I am a fan of making joint alliances with other companies, my company itself will be a partnership and joint venture, so I am in support of signing co-ventures, as long as things remain fair and equal! The article talked about the advantages that major music publishers gain from adding on a record company and that includes their “creative expertise” that they would have otherwise lost out on if they didn’t sign with them. This may help them tap into undiscovered talent and boost their own revenues. It is also an advantage for the small record company, producer or songwriter because this venture will help decrease their financial and administrative worries while allowing them to focus on their creative side and business goals. That is a big burden lifted! Later on the article brings up the topic of song financing and ownership and how signing with a major publisher usually means they [major publisher] will pay a certain amount of financing on an annual basis which in turn will be used to sign songwriters that is selected by the new partner. Both companies will then own the copyrights to songs written by their signed writers, and I see this as a very beneficial move for a company without the financial backing or industry connects at first and for its roster of writers, producers, etc.

            I also learned from reading that sometimes both partners will co-pay the advance although its usually the major publisher who funds all the advance money that is due to the writers. I love advance money and I wish there were more ways to obtaining advances, but as a fresh artist or songwriter or producer, one needs to know advanced money is on the brink of distinction and is not handed out like it used to be to a newly signed artist or writer or whoever. In terms of sharing income for these songs, net income could be split in an equal amount between both companies but can be shared solely based on how much each party pitched in to the advances to their signed writers in their co-venture. I really liked what I “heard” from this article and this isn’t a bad direction to head in as a new indie record label by any means…great way to get yourself and your clients ahead in this tough game from a music publishing POV. 

http://www.ascap.com/music-career/articles-advice/ascapcorner/corner5.aspx 

The Recording Academy..the Academy Every Musician Needs to Be a Part of!

Hi! The professional association I wanted to research and learn more about this month turned out to be one of the best trade associations and one of the most esteemed in the entertainment industry. The National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences, Inc!  It is a trade association for music professionals.  Also known as the Recording Academy, it was founded in 1957 and is based in Santa Monica, California. The association has instituted award programs such as GRAMMY and Lifetime Achievement awards. It also helps to support young people and musicians in crisis with arts-based education through its MusiCares Foundation and their Grammy Foundation. Neil Portnow is the President and CEO of the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences, Inc.

(grammy.org)

I really am a fan of their Grammy Museum and would like to visit it someday in L.A. because this place literally goes back in time and past the present into the future and celebrates all forms of music, the creative process and is an interactive site. I enjoyed reading about MusiCares and their services and how they provide medical, financial, and personal emergencies in confidentiality for music people. Barbara Streisand is the 2011 Person of the Year for MusiCares.  This is directly impacting the music industry. The academy has many sponsors (ie Gucci) and throws many events in support of various relief efforts in America. They also formed GRAMMY U, a community designed to help college students prepare for work in the recording industry through programs, networking and performance opportunities! And my graduate school, Full Sail University, is a part of this amazing community, whoo!

(grammy.org)

This association is important to me and affects my industry because as a songwriter and musician, they are responsible for creating the most coveted award in the music industry, the GRAMMY award!! This institution is highly revered and respected amongst music professionals and music lovers alike. Even the website is hip and fresh and you can download music applications and even purchase Grammy gear at www.grammy.com The website (along with grammy.org) has everything from the countdown to the Grammy’s and the nominees to the latest music news and even has Grammy radio which plays all your favorite Grammy nominees and musicians. This academy is an arts advocate and its mission statement is “to positively impact the lives of musicians, industry members and our society at large.” They have incredibly lived up to their mission statement and well beyond with all the strides they have made in reaching out to those in need in the music field, and also in continuing to honor excellence with the sought after but rarely attainable sign of achievement in the arts & sciences…the Grammy award! I’m off now to become a Grammy 365 member, yippee!

www.grammy.com

www.grammy.org

Motivational Social Media Entrepreneur Speaker Influences Passion in Others

Hey everyone I am back and for one of my most recent class assignments, we were told to visit the ever growing so popular website TED.com. TED.com is “ a small non-profit devoted to Ideas Worth Spreading” as it says on the site. After viewing TED’s Executive Director’s Chris Andersen’s speech about what they represent and seeing how great that was, I was excited to see what other videos were available through their theme tab. I checked out their Best of the Web series and found, after looking and watching clips of a few of their listed videos, one from a Web 2.0 Expo with an entrepreneur speaking named Gary Vaynerchuk. Upon clicking on this video, I was immediately drawn to his hyper and boisterous outwardly attitude about people not doing what they love to do. During the beginning of his speech he was discussing his family’s wine business and why he left to start his own thing because he wasn’t happy and I realized that I actually shop at the Wine Library in NJ that his family owns! I even saw the link to his Wine Library TV on their website…very strange. I didn’t even know he was a relative of this family business until he said he was from Jersey and mentioned this. You really do learn something new everyday.

Gary knows how to reach and inspire his audiences through his passion of wanting other people to do what it is they want to do and that there is “no excuse not doing what you love” as he says. He gets his inspiration from just people in general and his user base online.  He stressed the importance of networking and getting yourself and your business talked about so much that your brand just builds. Gary explained having a business model and making cash along the way as you work 9-5. He has inspired me to stop saying I don’t have the time or money to work in music or entertainment the way I want to. That to build your brand, you can work your regular day to pay your bills and when you come home, in the after-hours, that then is the perfect time to work on your aspiring business venture. Very true.
He talked about asking yourself the question “What do you want to do everyday of your life?” Now countless people have spoken about this very topic but he speaks from an angle that makes you want to listen to what he has to say. He is relatable, interesting, funny and right to the point. From watching Gary on stage and listening to his words I get where he is coming from and why he is so successful and how I can do the same thing using some of his tactics such as BUILDING BRAND EQUITY IN YOURSELF! He spoke about how legacy is greater than currency and to really think about what you would want your grandchildren to learn about you in years to come. He made me think about the value of PATIENCE and that to make something of yourself you have to hustle. You have to put yourself out there and expose the good and the bad and just network on all the social media sites. I understand that for people to cater towards you, you have to be and do what YOU are about and not try to turn your company into a mere reflection of someone else’s. It is not always healthy to compare especially if you are a new company but that is difficult to do because its natural but then you start imitating this other company and lose your own vision and focus for your unique brand. Other companies will always be an influence but your company should not be a splitting image of any company.

(ted.com)

I agree that one has to work hard if they want the big houses and expensive jewelry or as he says, if you want to own the piece of the Jets! Overall, Gary Vaynerchuk’s speech was intuitive, persuasive, and has provoked me to want to stay as driven as I am now for later on in my pursuits for my own distinguished future business projects.

Read Gary's brief bio right here!
http://www.ted.com/speakers/gary_vaynerchuk.html
View Gary's TED.com speech here!
http://www.ted.com/talks/gary_vaynerchuk_do_what_you_love_no_excuses.html
Check out the retail website!
http://www.winelibrary.com
Come here to view Gary's consulting site!
http://www.ted.com/talks/gary_vaynerchuk_do_what_you_love_no_excuses.html