How My Climb to the Has Put Me in the Uncharted Waters
I get told NO a lot whenever I am speaking to casting directors, A&Rs, and execs when pitching my records for placements. Most times I never get a response as I am told that these people are busy and have higher priorities. Other times I am speaking with indie labels, managers, and artists who don’t have the funds to hire my team for their record. So that puts us in a very particular space as we continue to grow our skills, network, and net worth.
Most conversations with artists usually begin with “let’s work” or “send me some beats.” Yet end with “can you be my manager” or “can I sign with y’all.” It was comedy at first as I witnessed time and time again artists completely give up their leverage for beats to join my team in hopes that they could grow their careers. I even had one manager ask if I could be his mentor, while his artist was still on the phone. As always its flattering that people appreciate what we do but we’re looking to grow our business and just signing anyone isn’t going to do it. This may be my ego talking but I can always tell when listing my accolades or stating what Room380 is capable of intimidates someone. The blank stares, confusion, or my favorite the “oh shit! What did I just get myself into?” eye brow raise. However, a majority of those conversations never move toward me sending an invoice. Again, flattering but we’re just trying to grow.
Through Clubhouse, Instagram, Facebook, and Vampr I’ve been able to meet more and more decision makers that could walk us into bigger projects. I always approach every conversation with what we can do for them. We understand most A&Rs have an artist they are trying to develop so offering something way bigger than a few beats gets the ball rolling. However, I have been told that the catalog we currently hold isn’t enough to speak to one of the big three. At least not yet. Disheartening of course but the most frustrating part is not receiving advice on how to do just that. Do these complete strangers who I address by their monikers owe me that? No. I understood fully when I started this company that I was going to have to travel through a lot of dark areas before finding the light. My understanding of that doesn’t make it any easier. Especially when speaking with my team about opportunity after opportunity only to come up short. A motivational speaker has become a skill that I’ve become accustomed to having.
I’ll keep pushing as always trying to find the answers I seek. One foot in front of the other with my eyes forward. It’s great knowing that we can do way more than the average team of producers for an indie artist yet, most that I speak to don’t have the budget; or at least tell me they don’t. It’s challenging having meetings and brunches with industry insiders who deem us not ready. We will be one day and I may look back at these times as the training we needed to elevate.
Until then, I’ll learn how to appreciate being lost at sea. Not going to lie, the views aren’t half bad.
