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