Mixing Business With Pleasure

As I begin to embark on my journey as a talent manager, current entertainment drives a lot of my views as to how I would like to conduct business and what type of artist I would like to manage. I recently took a look at the new VH1 show Love & Hip Hop Atlanta. Although the show is drama filled and in a lot of ways classless it was full of artist/management relationships that really helped me see the dangers that can happen when you mix business with pleasure.

We all know the music industry is filled with temptation, long nights, and sometimes really good and trusting relationships. The fact of the matter is it's still business. On the show you have female rapper Rasheeda who is married to her husband of 12 years but he's also her manager and independent record label. Then there is Joseline, trying to break into the industry by working with hit producer Stevie J. She's created an intimate obsession with him and could potentially be pregnant with his child while he has a family of 15years that he is also trying to keep.Then there is R&B singer/songwrittwer K. Michelle. K. Michelle entered the music seen in 2008 releasing a mixtape and her debut album. Her relationship with her then manager turned from business to intimate and then ended violently. Which left her contracted to a label she did not receive support from that jeopardized her career.

I don't draw judgement on these ladies because for whatever reason we can't help who we love. I do feel though these relationships become toxic on either end when you mix business with pleasure. The music business is tough as it is. I firmly believe that as a manager it should be your duty to keep your artist focused on the business as much as possible. When you feel you can't do so then that is your unsaid duty to find someone who can. If as the manager you become the distraction then to me you aren't doing your job.

Check out info on the show here: Love & Hip Hop Atlanta

Running a Business for Mutual Benefit

I recently did an interview with Lesley Hardy CEO of Events Of Distinction ATL (EOD). Lesley runs a lucrative event planning and party promotion business serving the Atlanta, GA area. Atlanta is known for its vibrant nightlife and current growth in the industry of entertainment, to many this is the perfect place to have a business like EOD.  There’s plenty of potential clients along with plenty upscale and emerging venues.

During my interview with Lesley we discussed the aspect of negotiating and deal making in regards to how her company conducts business. Being that EOD host events from corporate meetings to day parties, negotiating is how everything happens. From choosing the right venue, food, drinks, cost, etc. everything has to be negotiated in order for EOD to produce the best event possible.

One of the biggest aspects of business for EOD is the concept of mutual benefit. “ We always want to make our clients happy, but we also want to keep our business happy too” says Lesley. In the business of planning and promoting you are always at the mercy of your client trying to meet their every demand, request, and vision. When I discussed the structure of EOD I found that this business has to consider the benefits of their clients, themselves, and the companies they outsource. As Lesley pointed out “This means that we have to make decisions that please everyone and makes for win win situations”. 

This was a new discovery for me. Some businesses such as EOD have to consider themselves, those they serve and those that in turn serve them. It definitely made me more aware of the fact that events, large meetings, parties etc. are opportunities for companies like EOD to bring in business and clients, but to also develop business to business relationships because everyone can gain something in the process.

Please check out Events of Distinction ATL online here: Events of Distinction ATL