Opinion / Blogs
1ns and 2s with Dj-Sticha - No one will do it for you,vuk' uzenzele
19 Dec 2015 at 08:28hrs | Views
Hayi no akuvumi ngithule.Akuvumi ngithule uma ngibona my hard working brothers and sisters being taken for a ride by the same people who claim to be helping them.Which brings us to today's topic
Why the majority of artists in our country poor?
Zimboz are talented as anyone else from any nation in my view.So why then do our artists die poor?
Are they lazy?
Are they financially illiterate?
Are they too dependent on someone else to make a living?,or the just have a fresh batch of bad luck?
I have pondered on this question,and here are my 4 reasons why Zim artists seldom escape the poverty trap.
1.You're a business man.
Zim artists need to understand that they are not just artists or creative beings,they are talent-prenuers.They make their living through their talents,they must concern themselves with all aspects of their bussiness,sales marketing,logistics and even financials.
2.Numbers are not only for accountants.
Getting well versed with the numbers of your business and knowing the difference between mark-up and gross margin,net cash and accounts receivables or payment terms and working capital are not boring concepts only for the accountants.They are logical pieces of information that tell you how much you are creating,if at all.
3.Marriage is for lovers not professional colleagues.
No one was born and bred to ensure that you are successful,no one,you do that for yourself..
I have seen countless talent talent-prenuers(singers,actors,idols judges,dancers,footballers and speakers) sign away their business to someone else.
They sign an agent who earns 25% of their money(off the top) for facilitating a transaction.So merely picking up the phone,taking a booking,sending a contract and getting the often non-complex logistics in order,talent preneurs will pay 25% of every dollar they earn to someone else.That's ridiculous,imagine Standard bank giving away 25% of everything.
4.A TV show does not make a brand.
Many talent-preneurs need to understand that personal branding is not marketing.Just because you are on TV,radio or any other media does not mean you have a "compelling value proposition"
that customers can access you through.This is often why for many of our talent-preneurs,radio or TV is a necessity,without it,they cannot make a living.
So why is Jay-Z amongst the best selling hip-hop artist in the world?,unlike LL Cool J and the likes,he does not,now nor have he ever had a show on TV?.
Why did Michael Jackson set the world record music sales even though he didn't have a reality show on Bravo?
Why does Oskido have an incredible trail of commercial success as an artist,producer,Dj and a record label owner even though he did not have a show on TV?
How did Khuxman's track "MaNcube" become big across the boarders without airplay or a TV show?
The answer is easy:
Each of these talent-preneurs were well versed in their trade and I would argue understood the levers upon which their commercial success rested upon that they didn't need the platform.
Ngeke wazi yin' eyanonis' ingulube,here are some recommendations to our talent-preneurs.
1.Tear the exclusivity agreement.
It's your life,your business.Take ownership and drive it
2.Know your numbers.
Know how many inquiries you are getting,from whom,for what.If they don't book you,ask them why?
That's how you gather market intelligence.Is someone else hotter at that time,better,more affordable?The list is endless,the trick is to find out.
3.Invest in your brand beyond an acting role,radio show or TV presenter gig.
Actually market yourself and do everything with quality............
4.Lastly ke stop living a lie,you still staying kini at the backroom,instead of being your own person,you go in public and pretend to be living large spending cash that you don't have in the name of "ukugcwaliselana",ok bagcwele ke what's next?entertain abantu ngekhono lakho not your private life,ngoba at the end of the day,yibo abajika bakuhleke bethi "lona has been in the music industry for 10 years full kodwa uyabhonka namanje,kayekele lokhu kuyamhlula".
Asabelane ngolwazi,asikhule kwezomculo
Let's do this again on Monday
Okampangazitha umtwana uyabonga
Facebook:Dj-Sticha
Twitter :@DeejaySticha
Why the majority of artists in our country poor?
Zimboz are talented as anyone else from any nation in my view.So why then do our artists die poor?
Are they lazy?
Are they financially illiterate?
Are they too dependent on someone else to make a living?,or the just have a fresh batch of bad luck?
I have pondered on this question,and here are my 4 reasons why Zim artists seldom escape the poverty trap.
1.You're a business man.
Zim artists need to understand that they are not just artists or creative beings,they are talent-prenuers.They make their living through their talents,they must concern themselves with all aspects of their bussiness,sales marketing,logistics and even financials.
2.Numbers are not only for accountants.
Getting well versed with the numbers of your business and knowing the difference between mark-up and gross margin,net cash and accounts receivables or payment terms and working capital are not boring concepts only for the accountants.They are logical pieces of information that tell you how much you are creating,if at all.
3.Marriage is for lovers not professional colleagues.
No one was born and bred to ensure that you are successful,no one,you do that for yourself..
I have seen countless talent talent-prenuers(singers,actors,idols judges,dancers,footballers and speakers) sign away their business to someone else.
They sign an agent who earns 25% of their money(off the top) for facilitating a transaction.So merely picking up the phone,taking a booking,sending a contract and getting the often non-complex logistics in order,talent preneurs will pay 25% of every dollar they earn to someone else.That's ridiculous,imagine Standard bank giving away 25% of everything.
4.A TV show does not make a brand.
that customers can access you through.This is often why for many of our talent-preneurs,radio or TV is a necessity,without it,they cannot make a living.
So why is Jay-Z amongst the best selling hip-hop artist in the world?,unlike LL Cool J and the likes,he does not,now nor have he ever had a show on TV?.
Why did Michael Jackson set the world record music sales even though he didn't have a reality show on Bravo?
Why does Oskido have an incredible trail of commercial success as an artist,producer,Dj and a record label owner even though he did not have a show on TV?
How did Khuxman's track "MaNcube" become big across the boarders without airplay or a TV show?
The answer is easy:
Each of these talent-preneurs were well versed in their trade and I would argue understood the levers upon which their commercial success rested upon that they didn't need the platform.
Ngeke wazi yin' eyanonis' ingulube,here are some recommendations to our talent-preneurs.
1.Tear the exclusivity agreement.
It's your life,your business.Take ownership and drive it
2.Know your numbers.
Know how many inquiries you are getting,from whom,for what.If they don't book you,ask them why?
That's how you gather market intelligence.Is someone else hotter at that time,better,more affordable?The list is endless,the trick is to find out.
3.Invest in your brand beyond an acting role,radio show or TV presenter gig.
Actually market yourself and do everything with quality............
4.Lastly ke stop living a lie,you still staying kini at the backroom,instead of being your own person,you go in public and pretend to be living large spending cash that you don't have in the name of "ukugcwaliselana",ok bagcwele ke what's next?entertain abantu ngekhono lakho not your private life,ngoba at the end of the day,yibo abajika bakuhleke bethi "lona has been in the music industry for 10 years full kodwa uyabhonka namanje,kayekele lokhu kuyamhlula".
Asabelane ngolwazi,asikhule kwezomculo
Let's do this again on Monday
Okampangazitha umtwana uyabonga
Facebook:Dj-Sticha
Twitter :@DeejaySticha
Source - Dj-Sticha
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