Interview with Brian Burton of BBOYZZ Entertainment

The professional that I chose to interview was Brian Burton, who is the owner of BBOYZZ Entertainment. The purpose of his company is to provide management, marketing and promotions for various music artists. He also provides marketing services to various products. He started his business back in 2008 and works with a team of individuals. The majority of his business is run in a similar fashion to being a record label. The main objective of BBOYZZ Entertainment is to bring successful shows to the area. He operates the majority of his business in Central Florida, Miami and Fort Lauderdale but he also has clients and partnerships all over the world.

Throughout our interview, we discussed various methods that he uses while conducting negotiations for his clients. Words of advice that he gave me was, "Never handle business unless you have contracts from both parties."

The first step that Brian recommended is to conduct a lot of research on the people and business that you are working with prior to ever agreeing to meet with them so make sure that they are someone that you want to become involved with.

One of Burton's #1 Rules is to never make an agreement without having some form of physical interaction with the other parties, whether it be face to face meeting or via Social Media such as Skype. He feels that this gives you a better understanding of the person that you are working with so that you can know exactly whom you are conducting business with. This is his way of falling for some others "Dirty Tricks" of concealing their identity behind the Internet.

When he gets to the negotiation process, he always prefers to allow other parties to throw out a price first. This allows him to see how serious the other parties are so that he can begin to negotiate and make the best deal for his business. In the end, this helps him to come to a mutual agreement with the other parties.

Burton's method of Separating the People from the Problem is to never consider a deal to be personal; work with a contract at all time. He also advised that you need to be able to understand the transaction and not allow friends and/or family to take advantage or not provide any benefit to you. By having confidence in the product/service, other will not be able to find a route to take advantage of you.

When determining the Best Alternative to a Negotiated Agreement, Burton feels that it's crucial to persuade and be efficient to what you want and ensure that everyone understands the benefits of the deal. To avoid damaging the relationship, he advises to remain truthful at all times.

I truly enjoyed speaking with Brian Burton because he not only gave me advice to use when I begin making negotiations for my own business but he also provided me with real life examples to be aware of when I begin my deal making process.

--- Jackee Walker

Is Relocation An Option?

As we all complete our education is our desired feel, we come to the point where we have to decide whether or not we want to relocate. Some people have reasons that they can't just relocate themselves whether it is due to family, finances or just fear of the unknown.

Years ago, people would relocate to provide a better life for themselves with a better career but with the recent downfall and instability of the economy, it's becoming a lot harder to do so. Depending on your career industry of choice, you may see relocation as the only choice in order to make real money. When finances are already an issue for job seekers, it takes them longer to come up with the money to afford the move.

Some things to consider when choosing to relocate are listed below:

•   Look for a job that may be willing to fund, or assist, with moving expenses. There are still some companies that are willing to help when someone has to relocate for perform that job. According to Miriam Salpeter, "Sixty-five percent of firms surveyed offer relocated employees full reimbursement."

•   Consider if the job requires you to work on site or if you can work virtually. Some positions will allow the flexibility to work from home. There may be times that you have to commute to the office for particular meetings but you may be able to do them via Video Conference as well.

•   If there is no other way to do the job unless you relocate, consider doing something in a similar field that you may be qualified to do. There may be a risk in making less money but if you're able to take on a similar job, then you may be able to work on building experience that may move you into your desired position within the same company. At that point, you may be able to get the company to help out with your moving expenses at that time.

•   If all else fails, postpone your dream career. You can always look into other career fields that you can work in your current area. Then later on, you can find ways to get to your desired industry. In the meantime, you can work on networking and expressing interest with those who can help you to get where you want to be career-wise.

It can be discouraging when you can't always find the career of your dreams in your area or because you can't get to where that job is located. But it’s best to keep every possible solution in mind. Everything is all about timing so it may be best to wait for a better opportunity for you to take on that role but it’s never too late to start somewhere.

I truly hope that these tips help out anyone that may be thinking about relocation.

--- Jackee Walker


Sources:
How and What to Negotiate When Relocating for Work

Normalcy vs Fame

Which would you prefer:

To be Famous or to live a Normal Life?

According to Merriam-Webster's Online Dictionary,

Famous means "widely known... honored for achievement"

Normal means "occurring naturally..."

I've had this debate with many of my friends numerous times are it's always been something to stun every one's thought process. We can go back and forth discussing all the pros and cons of being famous but we always realize that there is a price to pay.

We can either be rich and famous and have every detail of our person life exposed  for the entire world to see and criticize... Or we can just settle for living a normal life where we do the same things everyday (Wake up, go to work, pay bills, etc...).

But one thing that I've always wanted to know "Is there a such thing as being rich without the fame?"

We automatically associate the rich and famous to mean the same thing but there are famous people who aren't rich... As well as there are rich people who aren't famous. Is it possible to have either of two and still live a normal life? I believe that there is but I'm not rich nor famous (yet) so I can't really say which is better...

But, let's take a look at how the different lifestyles are viewed...

Celebrity Couples, such as Beyonce & Jay Z, are still getting heavily criticized due to people not believing that Beyonce was actually pregnant with their daughter, Blue Ivy. Some say that she used a surrogate to have the baby while she still states that she gave birth to her daughter. No matter which route that she took, she still has a child that she has to take care of. People are so skeptical to her actions that they have actually created videos on YouTube to "prove" that she was never really pregnant. I love Beyonce, just as much as the next Diva, but I personally don't have the time to do that much research to show whether or not she is a liar. But my point is, If Beyonce was not a celebrity, nobody would ever give two thoughts as to whether or not she actually gave birth to her own daughter. What motivates everyone else to give so much of their opinion when it comes to what Beyonce chooses to do with her own family? Are we wrong for caring so much? Would it make much of a difference if she decided to come out publicly and say that she has chosen to use a surrogate instead of experiencing another high-risk pregnancy (past miscarriages have placed her into that category while being pregnant)?

Singer Jessica Simpson has also received negative feedback from people regarding her pregnancy. People have suspected that she is pregnant but not wanting to share the details with everyone. I have yet to see why that is a problem for everyone else. She is a grown adult who is able to make her own decisions whether or not she wants to share everything with the general public. Paparazzi don't make it any better because they basically stalk these celebrities to try to find out all of their personal business. And sometimes, a person could just be gaining weight not due to any procreation practices.

Now, lets look at a person living a "normal" life...

There is a great number of couples who choose to have a surrogate mother so that they can have children of their own. There person reasons can vary from possibly being infertile, being in a same sex relationship or other various medical conditions. Yet, we do not hear about their stories on television or even read about them on the blogs. The only way that we can find out about these people is if we were to do old fashion research. But then, we still may not be able to find out exactly who these people are because most research will only provide us with numerical data of such cases. There aren't any petitions being passed around of people demanding to find out who these patients are and they aren't being followed around by other people wanting to know their stories. The question that comes to my mind is, "Is the only way to be able to have a family without everyone knowing is to live a "normal" life under the radar?

Even think about legal issues... There are thousands (if not millions) of people incarcerated at the moment. Nobody is out lobbying for their freedom or trying to find out whether or not they are truly innocent. But if you're "famous," all of your fans are willing to raise money to prove their "innocence." Many celebrities choose to believe that they are above the law but they soon realize the truth once they have been assigned a DC number (Department of Corrections ID). There are many people who are not given fair court trials because they simply cannot afford suitable legal representation to help them. They are left to just rely that your court system will provide them with proper justice and look for them. But that rarely is the case. Due to this issue, there are many cases where a defendant is proven innocent after they have served extenuating periods of time behind bars. Would this be a different scenario if they were Rich and Famous? Does Money really Talk? Take a look at The Innocence Project for various cases where people have been wrongfully convicted for a number of reasons.

Just looking at these scenarios, it's pretty obvious that there is a downside to choosing either lifestyle... You can be Famous and struggle with trying to live a normal life... Or you can be "normal" and not able to afford the "luxuries" of a rich person.

But is it truly possible to be Rich and not Famous? Can you honestly have an endless (definition is constantly changing) supply of money and live the life that you truly desire?

I hope this jogs your mind a little bit and provides you with some friendly debates while pursuing your future careers and lifestyles.


--- Jackee Walker

NARM: The Music Business Association

NARM is the National Association of Recording Merchandisers. On their website, they have up to date posts of current events of what’s going on within the association as well as things going on within the entertainment industry itself. They are known as the Music Business Association. The mission statement of the association states "NARM advances the promotion, marketing, distribution, and sale of music and entertainment by providing its members with a forum for diverse meeting and networking opportunities, information, and education to support their businesses, as well as advocating for their common interests."
 This association has been around for over 50 years and continues to expand their community to all aspects of the music industry that generates commerce. The association provides man benefits to its members such as scholarships to students, opportunities to participate in the Give the Gift of Music Campaign, and free seminars and presentations. A problem that the industry faces is the battle to remain current and up to date against all the negativity that comes up. Many stories that come out may not give the entertainment industry a flattering look but many of them can be seen as very informative. This association is perfect for artist managers so that they can continue to view media stories of other artists from a different view. These can help them to keep a close eye to their clients and help them to avoid negative feedback from the public and well as help them to prevent bad stories being put out about them. With the entertainment industry constantly shifting its focus to keep up with all the new and popular trends, this association is the best way for all professionals within the industry to stay ahead of the game. They also give them the proper insight so that that can keep up with their competition and remain relevancy within the industry at all times.  --- Jackee Walker

Inspiration: Thandie Newton... Motivation: Russell Simmons

I've chosen to view a video of actress Thandie Newton on TED.com. In Thandie's speech, she talks about "Embracing Otherness..." I find this really inspiring because she shares how she grew up being biracial. I'm not biracial but I took from this regarding my career in the entertainment industry. Being that I did not grow up surrounded by people in this industry, I did receive some push back from my family when I told them what I wanted to do. Being that I was stepping out to do something completely different from what I was naturally use it, I had to get over my fears and learn to do what makes me happy. Now that I'm sharing with others my goals, I have receive lots of positive encouragement from my family and friends.

Looking at the major names of the industry, you see mostly men. I used to think that this industry may not be cut out for women to be powerful unless they're artists. At one point, I had to look at the big picture and think outside the box. My revelation made me realize that I can become just as powerful as those men that I admire, if not even more. Of course when pursuing a career in any competitive industry, you have to be willing to outwork the next person. There's lots of times that I would get frustrated and think about just settling for a "normal" career but that's why I look for others that inspire me, such as Russell Simmons. I find it easier to "snap out of it" by looking at all the various speeches that he gives by searching for him on YouTube.

Knowing that so many people are intimidated by the abilities of Russell Simmons, I listen to his various lectures to see how it can relate to me. One that I've recently been enjoying is his talk at Rutgers University. I feel that he gives just enough information to the audience to get their minds flowing so that they can then focus on themselves to find their passion.

Revamping Your Image

As you continue to become the person that you want to be, various things about yourself will change as well.

Take a look into a typical college students' closet... You'll see a plethora of jeans, t-shirts and sweatshirts... You'll also see the occasional party clothes for a night out (after studying, of course)... But once that student has graduated, they can no longer wear those jeans, nor party clothes, on a job interview. In order for students to avoid the last minute search of more professional attire, students should begin their Closet Revamping no later than the start of their Senior year. This gives them ample time to gradually improve their wardrobe and find out what works for them as well. Below, I will provide you with a few simple changes that can assist in making changes.

1. Start by purchasing new accessories. Ladies can buy more conservative jewelry such as smaller hoop earrings and studs. Decorative jewelry should be saved for special occasions. Guys can just start by purchasing nice (quality) neckties and belts. Remember to match your shoes with your belts for a more polished look.

2. Take advantage of off-season purchases, Most stores mark down winter clothes during the summer and they discount the lighter clothing during the winter. It's easier to purchase this way so that you're not blowing your budget just to look nice. Depending on the location that you live it, winter time staples are pea coats, usually in a nice tone such as grey or black.

3. If you must spend more money on anything, it should be on your shoes. A lot of people establish their first impression based on the shoes that the person is wearing. Look for what is comfortable rather than what is popular. Not everyone will have the same taste in shoes so you can view a larger variety by shopping in stores such as DSW (Designer Shoe Warehouse); they over one of the largest selection of the latest trends of shoes for discount prices.

4. Dress shirts are an easy way to change up a look with a traditional suit. They come in a variety of colors and styles that lean to the ability to mix things up. Its easier for women to find their size but look for comfort when purchasing. Guys should get professionally measured to find out the correct size that they need. Nothing looks worse than a shirt that is either too big or too short. Stores such as Men's Warehouse and JoS. A. Bank Clothiers have plenty of professionals who can give you the correct measurements and recommendations for dress shirts.

5. When it comes to buying suits, its easier to start out with the basic colors (black, navy blue and brown). You can easily match any shirts with these colors. No need to purchase 10 suits because you can also give yourself variety by purchasing dress slacks and sports coats (for men) and skirts and blazers/sweaters (for women). Once you get more comfortable wearing business suits, then you can begin exploring other colors and prints.

Things that you always want to take into consideration is to keep hairstyles neat and simple. Your hair should complement your face and not become the focus of who you are.

Hopefully these quick tools will help with your transition from College Senior to Working Adult.

Importance of an Electronic Press Kit

Think about what you need to do in order to obtain your dream job… Most people feel the need to obtain a degree. Some intern or maybe start out at the bottom of the totem pole… No matter what route you take to land your dream job, there’s always one common thing that everyone needs to have and that is a Resume.

According to Merriam-Webster’sOnline Dictionary, a resume is “a set of accomplishments.” Most resumes come in various formats. For a more corporate type of job, many people create a resume that contains their education, work experience, reference, etc. But when it comes to a career as a music artist, your resume takes a completely different form. The way that most artists are able to summarize what they have done is be developing an electronic press kit (epk).

 A press kit is simply a resume for a music artist. Most of them contain the following: bio of the artist, photos, samples of music, a list of performances, and any accomplishments that they may have. Just as anyone can post a resume online to sites just as Monster.com or CareerBuilder.com, music artists can also have an online presence via an electronic press kit.

Before the big move to technology, most artists would have all of this printed out in a tangible format to present to other music industry professionals and it was just known as a Press Kit. Now that we can practically find anything via the use of anything electronic, many artists provide access to their EPKs via a website, digital file to be sent, cd, along with contact information. Jonathan Ostrow, of Music Think Tank, recommends that artists have a physical press kit along with their electronic press kit.

Examples of some electronic press kits can be seen at the following websites:

-       Power Press Kits

-       Performer Magazine

The benefit of having these available is that you are no longer considered to be out of touch with anyone. If you live in Orlando and are trying to gain immediate attention of a music executive in New York or even California, they no longer have to wait for you to send a tangible item to them to review. You can instantly send them your epk so that they can review your work. A lot of music industry professionals believe that “Time Equals Money” so they want to move quickly when it comes to working with any music artist.

Something that you want to make sure that you do is to have quality items within your press kit. Photos should be high resolution and your music should be professionally recorded. This helps others see that you are worth the financial investment if you are willing to invest your own money.

Ostrow also suggests that you provide a cover letter with your press kit. Just as when applying for a job, your resume would be provide with a cover letter so the same rule applies.

Presentation is key when you are making your first impression on anyone that you come into physical contact with. If you are not able to physically meet someone in-person, your press kit must speak volumes for you and your talent as a musician. No matter what you may or may not have accomplished, all artists should take advantage of their press kit.