Sy Muhammad
I work in the entertainment business. I am a film director/producer, promoter, a sometimes also a business broker for artists and enthusiasts. I started a company named JAMI MARL FILMS named after an old nick name of one of my sons. I spend a lot of time doing my best to be a conduit for the independent artist. It doesn't always work out, but for the most part, it's rewarding.
I truly care for the Indie artists as I am one as well. We really have no one at all representing us so we have to support others, especially those of us who have made a name in the business for ourselves and or our interests.
Over the years in the entertainment field I have seen them come and go, I've made all the mistakes one could make and have certainly witnessed mistakes of others. Some of those mistakes so bad that the artist is catapulted right out of the business. The Music and Film/Video business can be a cold and deeply emotional. It does not care about you, doesn't take notice that a loved one has died, doesn't care that you need this or that. It just wants from you and 1% of artists who try to get in the business even make it or make it long enough to say "I've done something".
Six (6) years ago I made a deal with a rap artist to do two videos, one for free and the other for pay, right after. I did the one free video for him, and then he disappeared on me. I wasn't mad, I just kept it moving. I only had a DV camera at the time and had not taped anything in about a year. I was a bit rusty, not that he would have noticed. Fast forward six years later, 3 months ago. I was contacted via youtube by an artist requesting my services to direct their music video. Upon talking to the artist over the phone, he went on to explain that he was a man of humble means with a lot of responsibility, namely his son. He asked me if I could work out a payment plan for his video. I said yes and worked out a plan of $100 every other week until the amount was paid or at least at 90% paid. He agreed.
I didn't mind doing this. I did it once before for an artist and it worked out really well. We arranged for him to come in, sign an agreement and pay his first payment. The day arrived, I met him on the corner of Cecil B. Moore Avenue in North Philly. As we walked and talked toward the studio, I kept thinking "I know this guy but from where?" We got to the studio and sat and talked and when it was time to pay me, he didn't have the money. So I'm thinking why is he here? But still, I was nice, and we set a different day for him to pay his first installment. I also mentioned to him that I would give him a free web promo which is generally about one minute long, and the artist gets to promote whatever he wants. It takes all of 10 minutes to do it, so half the time I do this for artists for free anyway. He was very interested in this and wanted to do it right away.
I told him to wait though, and see how everything works out first. While at home later, it hit me who he was. I realized he was the guy who gagged me 6 years prior. I sent him a very polite email explaining to him that I remembered and forgave him. I went on to explain that I would still honor the agreement but would not give him a free web promo until he was paid in full on his music video payments and further that I was going into this eyes wide open. I never heard from him again. This told me that either he was embarrassed and or he was truly trying to get me again. No problem.
Last month a famous music producer associate of mine played for me tracks of new artists he was putting on his compilation CD of which he sells millions of copies every time. The rapper's name and tracks came up. I told the producer about my dealings with him. He at first decided to deduct the artist from the project but I asked him to reconsider and just keep his eyes open in his dealings with the gentleman. So he changed his mind but later re-decided to drop him anyway.
There is an obvious lesson to learn here for all new artists. You never know who you will revisit down the road, you never know what will happen to and for business associates you encounter along the way in the future. Although there are unsavory people in this business, they survive only because they are really good at being bad people and it's their drug. It's best to be as honest as possible, as humble as possible and to take care when you are dealing with other artists. Your career may rely heavily on their decisions in the future. Everything you do today will impact you tomorrow. Sounds corny, huh? See for yourself.
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