Not who you know..
April 28, 2010
Many people have quoted the famous saying
“It’s not what you know, it’s who you know”
Since the first time I heard this I thought that this can’t be true, in some ways it is and in some ways it definitely isn’t. But in the world of business many will prove to you over and over again that this saying couldn’t be more true. I have to say I myself have managed to prove this saying to be true, but I hold firmly to the belief you have to know a little something too.
So many times I’ve seen situations in real life and in TV land and thought how did they get there or why is this person successful, I am sure you have thought these things over and over again too. Sure enough I have come to the opinion that again the saying rings true, they must know somebody and sure enough with a bit of research it turns out to be true.
No place is this saying more evident than in the music business. Half if not the majority of acts who are successful have got to where they are due to having the right connections. Even record companies nowadays are requesting that you don’t send them demos directly, but through somebody they know a lawyer, manager, producer even accountant, eerrrghh what is the world coming to an accountant!!! The fact is that you may know how to write a great song or sing a lovely melody but if you don’t know the right people you aren’t getting off level one.
Due to our favourite place not on earth, the internet, we have a number of things to influence this saying. Access to the right people has now become a lot easier and due to technology high quality competition has grown at a ridiculous rate. Therefore I suggest that this saying is not untrue or out of date but needs an appendix, I suggest the following is added.
“It’s not what you know, but who you know & IF YOU’RE WORTH KNOWING!”
This may seem a bit cruel but take it like ill tasting medicine, it might bit hard to swallow but it will do you good in the end. If you look at it logically if someone is worth knowing and has the ability to change your fortune, stands to reason lots of people want to know this man/woman. Not only is their competition to get to the recording, management or publishing company there is competition to get to the person who could get to to them. Ask yourself why should he help you, because you’re good? The industry is not about finding something good unfortunately it is about finding something great and in the absense of this something that is viable.
There are a number of things that would make you worth knowing, the obvious is being the best at what you do, as well as being a great guy/girl and all the personality stuff. The other and more important in my humble opinion is that you show you are already successful in what you do. Success attracts success, haven’t you noticed that rich people like to hang out with other rich people? Success doesn’t mean that you are already a millionaire, although that would help, but you have proved that with a small investment you are already showing you can generate a following, you can book gigs, you work well in videos you are already a successful act all you need is an additional financial boost and you will be an internationally financially successful artist.
“How do you show yourself as these things?”
We go back to our favourite outer world place the internet. The thing is it takes a certain type of person to do these things, if you are not willing to graft, chances are you aren’t the right type of person. You need to be enterprising, willing to take a risk and committed, because not only are the tools out there, they are out there FOR FREE! Even with the right tools some will still not want to do the job, or commit to seeing the job through til the end. For those who are willing use Facebook and Twitter to build your following, use your search engines to find clubs up and down the country to book gigs, use You Tube to show off your self on video. One of the key ingredients is drive you have to have the drive to do these things. I heard a funny saying from someone about a passionate wannabe artist.
“I love music so much I will do anything to make it, except do it myself!”
In closing I suggest that you get moving on all areas of the saying, learn as much as you can about the industry and the artists and major players that exist, get to know some great people and refer to the first part learn everything about them, but first and most important make sure you are worth knowing or you may find you get all the right answers but none of the action!
