Posts tagged music
Joanne Marcano (AKA "FocusedDiva")
Your awesome Tagline
I’ve been dying to do a post about artists who half-ass. Actually PEOPLE who half-ass. But right now, its artists b/c I heard some real disappointing music coming out of this city on the weekend. People…Will the cycle ever end where DJs or artists or managers or labels put out music without a proper strategy. Especially when you’re breaking a new artist? Will my children’s children (I have none) be subject to this foolishness?
Gosh, read a friggin book. You can’t fool the consumer. They…we…I know when you only give 70% of yourself to your work. The only person that will pay the price in the end, is YOU. PERIOD!
Here is some homework for you. Listen to your favorite record, doesn’t matter what genre. Listen to the record and before you put out your record, think to yourself “Does my song hold a candle to this one?”, “Is my record timeless?” - If the answer is “YES”, well keep moving and do us proud. I’ll tell you know, people aren’t doing their homework.
Ok, that is all for now. Anything more will cost you and chances are you all think you know better anyway. Lol. The Marcano Managment Group - Holla if you want a plan.
Good luck!
You know what…..post coming soon. Lol. Half-assers, its your fault.
UPGRADE!!!
I’m always proud of this guy. I really can’t say much more than that. Mista Vybe put out a really dope blog post yesterday (and another out today) where he speaks about having to take a couple steps back in order to go several forward. Very few people actually get that.
We use our challenges as strength. Bottom line. I really recommend you check out the post. I think we have all been there.
ONE STEP BACK, TWO STEPS FORWARD!
I know exactly what you’ve been wondering to yourself. “Where the hell has Vybe been?”, “How come he’s on Twitter and Facebook regularly but there’s much less updates on his Official Blog?”, and my personal favourite, “Where’s the new music?”. Well, I’m happy to formally announce that my little hiatus is over (obviously – since you’re reading this lol), and this blog post contains the answers to all these questions and more (well more or less) in this blog post. Read on to get the scoop, as I tackle the burning questions one by one.
Okay, so the hard truth on my recent whereabouts is not that easy to explain, but to sum it up in one sentence, it comes down to this simple statement: “Sometimes we need to take a step back in order to take two steps forward.”……….(more)
We got this Vybe. Steady rising to the cream of the crop.
On the road to Montreal. Yes we’re going in early. Gotta prep. Gotta eat. Gotta *whispering* Shop. Lol. Crazy thing is, there is a Habs game at 3pm, so Montreal will be madness. Geez.
Anyhow, to the conference. This is going to be amazing. Clinton Sparks is perfect for the keynote. Dude has a crazy resume and a hot ass record right now. “Favorite DJ” ft. DJ Class and Jermaine Dupri. I call this the DJ Unity Record. I was telling Jester (also a member of Clinton’s Smash Squad DJs), “That is how you make a record”.
Ok…off to Montreal. Montreal, don’t sleep. Conference has a great panel. Book your One on Ones and stay and listen to how a professional gets the job done.
Lotsa Love
Jo
One of my favourite joints to ride to right now - Big up my bredrin Doc JonesHD!
P.S. - Why is Jully Black not HUGE worldwide yet??? SMH
Family Business Part 1: Keep It In The Family
Family Business has its ups and downs. Depends on the person and the situation. My motto for a long time was “Don’t mix family and Business” - especially after my first experience Managing family ended badly (to this day we don’t speak). Pretty sad, but not everyone has the ability to keep Business as Business and Personal as Personal.
A few years after dealing with the outcome of the “bad family Management break up”, my other cousin Mista Vybe approached me to Manage him. People, I shut that down instantly. I was not messing with family at all. I was SO done because I learned my lesson the last time with the other family member.
Eventually, after much observation of Mista Vybe and how his Business was being handled (or lack thereof) with Promoters and himself, I began to get really annoyed. I didn’t enjoy watching him make bad choices. Yes, some of it could be the family pride, (in our family we stand by the notion that “no one will make us look like fools”), or maybe it was just literally not wanting him to have to keep enduring bad Business situations. I’d say both.
Anyway, best believe I finally took the job. Mista Vybe and I have an amazing relationship because we share the same drive and passion. Is it DNA? Who knows? Whichever, we’re blood family.
Just to set the record straight, because I don’t want anyone thinking or saying that I favor Mista Vybe more than Jester… As much as Mista Vybe is immediate family, so is JESTER. We’ve been friends for over 12 years; we know each other very well; we’ve supported each other in all our Music Industry endeavors and most importantly, we trust each other with our lives. WE are family. I will do whatever it takes to get him what he wants. Most importantly, I bust his chops as much as the rest. (All in the name of love, of course.)
I love hearing stories of mothers, fathers, siblings, cousins or long-time friends being the Representative or Partner to a family member. Good stories that is.
The Marcano Management Group is a family unit. On a personal level (“The Cousin Connection” - Mista Vybe + myself and Jester + Doc Jones HD), and on a Business level. Positive and effective family support is the most important thing to me and possibly could be for you too.
Look out for my follow up T-Blog “Family Business Part 2: When To Keep Your Family OUT Of Your Business”. Oh boy, I’m going innnnnnnnnn on this one. *Rubbing my hands together with an evil grin* I’m definitely looking forward to this one.
Lots of Love
Focused Diva
xoxoxoxox
Photo courtesy of IndieHipHop.net “Artist Management - When Do You Need It?”
The first time I saw this photo, I thought “Artist and Manager relationship”. (Don’t ask me how I did that. Lol.)
Can you tell which one is the ARTIST and which one is the MANAGER?
ARTISTS (and this applies to DJs, PRODUCERS, etc. too): Have you ever felt like you’ve wanted to put a rope around your Management/Representation and wrangle them back to their role? Have you had Management who was acting like they were more the Artist than YOU?
Well you’re not alone. I’ve heard a million stories about this and I witness many Management DO NOTS every day.
This is the way I see it…
ARTISTS: In any Management relationship you’re supposed to feel like you’re Number One. It doesn’t matter if your Management has TWO clients or TWENTY clients, you are entitled to feel like the MAIN PRIORITY.
MANAGERS: the majority of your role is behind the scenes. It’s the ground work; the phone calls and building the foundation so your Client has a long and effective career. Sometimes you play the role of mother, father, brother, sister, therapist, bail bondsman (hey, it happens!), etc., but its supposed to be a trusting relationship. Managers have to be comfortable enough to know that their own spotlight may not come unless their Clients do well. But what’s wrong with that? Anyway, whether you’re a Suge Knight or P. Diddy type of Manager, know that as long as you represent an Artist or DJ, THEY ARE THE PRIORITY.
So Artists, when seeking a Manager make sure that - whether they have a full time job or not - YOU always feel like you’re the prize pig (I mean that as a positive and encouraging term).
Lastly, before moving to the work, Manager and Client, make sure you both feel like you can trust each other. You’re going into a marriage (so to speak), so both of you have to do your part to maintain a strong relationship. Above all, don’t forget: HAVE A CONTRACT AGREEMENT!
If you have any questions or comments on this topic, hit me up.
Letter with Love
Focused Diva
xoxoxoxo
WARNING! WARNING! PROCEED WITH CAUTION.
LOL. I think this is a great sign for me, FOCUSED DIVA!
I am definitely an educated black woman.
What does that mean you ask? Well, I’m educated enough that I’m confident in my words, my decisions, my business, my clients, my friends and of course, myself.
Come on, try it out. Ask me anything and you’ll see exactly what I’m talking about.
I love this song. No, its not because its from my client/cousin, Mista Vybe, it just has every element of Carnival on the Road. Yeah so Trinidad Carnival is over. There is a whole world of Carnivals still to go. Mista Vybe coming with his loads of hits to a Carnival near you.
Take a listen to “MAD AGAIN” (DOC JONES HD ROADMIX). Doc Jones HD is one of the most talented drummers and producers to bless my life. He works hard, goes to school and still manages to put out nothing short of hits.
Check out the song. BUT YOU MUST LISTEN AT A HIGH VOLUME for the full effect.
Lots of Love
Focused Diva
