Using New School Tools For Old School Ideals

Eighteen years after receiving my Bachelor’s Degree, I decided to give it a go towards a Masters. In about a week, I will take a walk across another stage, shaking hands with another department head, while receiving another pretty piece of paper in a snazzy looking black folder. Though my Masters journey will soon end, the knowledge gained during that time will last a lifetime.

I initially enrolled in the Master of Entertainment Business program at Full Sail University so I could gain insight on making my television show (Will’s Christian Spotlight) bigger and better. Since enrolling, I have learned of new technologies that could propel my show concept to national, and even international, recognition and viewership.

One such technology is streaming video. This media avenue allows maximum exposure with minimal overhead. No longer will I have to struggle to get airtime on television networks. Now, I can have my recorded shows placed on any of hundreds of streaming sites in many different countries. Though the possible channels are many, two sites in particular are The Australian Christian Channel (www.acctv.com.au) and Streaming Faith  (http://www.streamingfaith.com). Both sites offer VOD (video on demand) and live streaming services over the internet. The average price to get started is miniscule compared to securing airtime on local, and especially national television stations. Furthermore, the possible viewership of online television dwarfs the same demographic of conventional TV. If you think about it, it’s a lot easier for someone to retrieve your latest show with the “on-demand” feature than it is for someone to watch your show at odd hours of the viewing day on TV.

Will’s Christian Spotlight aired for the first time on January 13, 2005. At the time, streaming television services were not available. The only way to get the word out was on conventional TV. Now, times are different, and options are limitless. I thank Full Sail University for opening my eyes to the possibilities of the NEW digital world!

Business Funding Resources

Starting a business is a major part of living the “American Dream”. Having the freedom to call your own shots and run things the way you see fit are main draws for potential entrepreneurs to step out on their own. However, the hurdle that most of those potential business owners are not able to clear is finding the capital to bring their dream to life.

This month (the last in my quest of a Masters Degree in Entertainment Business), we discuss ways to acquire the necessary funding for starting a business.

Believe it or not, even in this economy, there IS money out there for entrepreneurs. You just have to know where to look. Here are a couple of resources for beginning that search. The website http://www.eda.gov has a plethora of financing and investing information. One such opportunity listed on the site is a Waterfront Economic Development Grant which is awarded to the organization that finds the best way to preserve and advance the economic vitality of a waterfront community. This grant is worth $1,500,000, yet only $300,000 will be awarded to the chosen entity. The powers that be who are making the selection require the grant recipient to be a municipality, a Native American organization or an institution of higher learning, just to name a few.

Another funding opportunity can be found on the http://firstnations.org/default2.asp?id=69 website. However, this may not be for you if you’re not of Native American descent. This site gives Native Americans the tools needed for finding those elusive business grants and loans. For instance, the First Nations site lists several grants under the Native Youth and Culture Fund. One particular grant, The Owens Valley Paiute Language Program, awarded $20,000 to the Bishop Paiute Tribe of Bishop, CA for starting a language instruction and cultural enrichment class for after school and summer programs.

So remember, whether you’re the next superstar restaurateur or an Indian tribe trying to keep the kids culturally connected, there IS money out there to get you on the right path. You just have to know where to look!

Business Plan Development Done The Right Way

Business Plan Experts Paul Grant and Barbara Corcoran

In my last blog, I wrote about investing gurus Paul Grant and Barbara Corcoran. Grant and Corcoran are experts in business plan development, and they both have had hundreds of business plans come across their respective desks.

One segment of business plans that Grant and Corcoran both feel are the most important is the Executive Summary. Grant, the author of “Why Business Plans are Not as Important as you Think”, feels that “the most important part of the business plan because it is what the investor will actually read if they want to invest in an entrepreneur’s company.” Corcoran, the author of “If You Don’t Have Big Breasts, Put Ribbons on Your Pigtails”, and, a “Shark” on the ABC Network show, “Shark Tank”, believes that investors receive a plethora of business plans, so the Executive Summary should be effective in telling your story.

For the business plan for my company, Spotdog and Angel Productions, I will follow the advice of Paul Grant and Barbara Corcoran. My Executive Summary will be the toast of the business plan town. Of course I will include the facts, figures and particulars, however, a large portion of my time and effort will be spent creating a “poem” of an Executive Summary. Initially, I felt that the financial segments of the plan would be what most investors would focus on. As Grant and Corcoran both believe, investors want to know about your ideal far before they look through your plan to get to the financials. If this is true, than the Executive Summary has to grab, and keep, the attention of the potential investor(s).

As a potential business owner, I don’t want my time and effort to go for naught, and my business plan placed in the round, plastic liner encased file cabinet on the floor! 

The Art of A Successful Business Plan 

Business plans are a necessity for entrepreneurs that are trying to turn a dreaminto a reality. Many of those aspiring business owners haven’t the slightest clue as to what investors are looking for in a potential business partner. A helping hand in the form of business plan experts or workshops can make a huge difference between a successful business plan and a flop. Paul Grant and Barbara Corcoran are two such experts in the field of business plan development.

Paul Grant, in an article titled, “Why Business Plans are Not as Important as you Think”, stated he is an experienced entrepreneur and former director of Capital Partners. He is also the founder of The Funding Game and NextMentor Mentoring Program. Grant believes business plans are not what investors focus on when considering potential investment opportunities. He states that the executive summary is “the most important part of the business plan because it is what the investor will actually read if they want to invest in an entrepreneur’s company.” He gives advice on how long a business plan should be. He has found that plans should not be more than 20 pages because, “many investors do not read business plans.”

Barbara Corcoran is a television “shark”, an investor on the hit ABC show “Shark Tank”.  She got her start as a realtor, and later penned a best-selling book titled, “If You Don’t Have Big Breasts, Put Ribbons on Your Pigtails.” Barbara seconds the sentiment of Paul Grant concerning an eye-catching Executive Summary. She feels that investors receive a plethora of business plans, so the Executive Summary should be effective in telling your story. Corcoran also warns that far too many potential business owners “overestimate…(the company’s) addressable market. Instead, she gives the advice of strategizing as if 100% of your market was captured.

http://bpexpertviews.blogspot.com/

Retrieved on August 4, 2011 from: http://thenextwomen.com/2010/08/26/why-business-plans-are-not-as-important-as-you-think

Brad Macmayer: Publicist/Marketing Director at A2Z Entertainment

BRAD MACMAYER
        The hook goes, “…and it feels like money, money, money…”! Chances are you’ve heard the song “Buzzin” by Los Angeles-based rapper Mann. He is an up and coming star that has made a name for himself in the US and abroad. But this post is not about Mann. It’s about the man behind Mann. His name is Brad Macmayer, and he is Mann’s publicist. His job is to keep his clients’ “good side” as the only side you’ll hear about. His job is to protect the public image of his clients, and to thwart any image crisis that may pop up.

Macmayer is accustomed to multi-tasking. Coming up through the ranks of entertainment giant VIACOM, he routinely wore several hats at the same time. From coffee runs and donut orders as an intern, to casting and artist management later on, Brad knew how to get the job done regardless of the job title. Now he’s at it again, serving as publicist for Mann and Iyaz (another artist making big moves in the industry) and doubling as Director of Marketing for A2Z Entertainment as well.

In the ever-changing world of digital marketing, a Marketing Director has to have many tools readily available at their disposal. Brad takes pride in being aware of cutting edge trends and new media gadgets. Two of his favorites are Facebook applications called Band RX and Radio Request. The Radio Request app allows fans to send requests of their favorite artists to their local radio station.  

MANN 

He keeps abreast of what’s hot by checking out digital media blogs such as Digital Music News (http://digitalmusicnews.com/), Music Think Tank (http://www.musicthinktank.com/), Tech Crunch (http://techcrunch.com/) and Inside Facebook (http://www.insidefacebook.com/). Brad also uses social media sites for promoting his clients and partaking of all the new marketing technology he can get his hands on. One such site is Visibli (http://visibli.com/), where you can create banner ads to place on any URL you see fit. Tools like visibli keeps his clients in the public eye. As an artist, that’s exactly where you want to be. 

The "Help A Brother Out" Survey

This site has basically been used for class assignments, but I am ready to take it to the world! This survey is designed to get feedback on the layout and appearance of the site, not necessarily the content. Thank you for taking the time to drop by and answer the brief, yet very important questions. God Bless.

MY JOURNEY INTO THE STRANGE, NEW DIGITAL WORLD

Without giving my age, I will admit that the current state of the media industry is a world away from the days of my youth. Books, magazines and movie rentals, seem to be a thing of the past, as the constantly changing potential of the internet is driving the proverbial final nail into the old media coffin.

Let’s take movies for instance. The VCR was first introduced to the “general” public in the late 1970’s, with the “VHS” format of videotape. No longer did you have to go to the theatre in order to see a movie. VHS eventually made Blockbuster Video the premier entertainment venue, the ultimate alternative to the movie-going experience. Now, internet movie vendors like NetFlix, and neighborhood ATM-style kiosks like Red Box, have made convenience and low prices the new norm in home entertainment. Personally, I’ve enjoyed the “new technology ride”, knowing that I’ve seen the transition of technology from traditional movie going (drive-ins and theatres), to the sofa-and-microwave popcorn movie experience.

Given the fact that there was no internet available to “average Joe’s” like myself until the early 1990’s, traditional print was the only game in town. Now, with the “save a tree” movement and the emergence of eBooks and online news media, the paper version of the “morning paper” is becoming a thing of the nostalgia. I now watch the day’s news stories on my computer.

I will never be as new-technology-challenged as the people who refused to learn how to set the timer on the VCR, but I must admit that some of today’s technological advances are still way to Star Trek for me! Take for instance, cell phones. I’m from the “ol’ school”, where turning a rotary phone dial was the NEW technology! Okay, maybe not THAT ol’ school, but you get the picture! Nowadays, smart phones are already over 5 years old, and I’m yet to own my first. Though I’m content with the basic phone call and the every-now-and-then text message, I must say that seeing my younger classmates scanning credit cards and making bank deposits with their phones makes me a little covetous! Hopefully, there’s nowhere in the bible that says, “Thou shalt not covet thy classmates iPhone”!

Currently, I’m learning how to use Google as a tool to get more people to view my blog site, and in the near future, my website. It must be working because you’re reading this post! Nonetheless, it’s just another scenario of how things have changed over the years. Back when, companies would pay to have an advertisement placed in the newspaper, on billboards or in the Yellow Pages. Now, they use tools like Google that can track your search engine request patterns, and cater online ads according to your patterns! Is Big Brother watching you? Nah! Google is!

And finally, this is for the previously mentioned new-technology-challenged relatives of yours that always tell you to look something up on Google. This site allows you to say “Look it up yourself!” except in a respectful manner. For educational purposes, I started a search for “the number of days in June”, but you can customize it to fit whatever they asked you to search for. http://lmgtfy.com/?q=number+of+days+in+June

God Bless

What Would Jesus Watch???

On January 13, 2005, a television show titled “Will’s Christian Spotlight (WCS)” aired for the first time on BLAB-TV in Sarasota, FL. The show featured musical guests, an interview with the owners of a local Christian bookstore, and was hosted by the show’s creator, Will Spottsville. The show aired for six months on BLAB. Now, Will Spottsville is taking WCS and other Christian-themed TV show concepts to a national and international market. His production company, Spotdog and Angel Productions (SAP), is the vehicle that will make it all happen. 

Spotdog and Angel

Let’s meet the husband and wife team that created S & A Productions. First up is “Spotdog”. His real name is William Spottsville III. He inherited the nickname Spotdog from his dad, uncles and aunts, all of whom also carried the name through childhood and adulthood. Will is a talented Emcee that has the gift of gab, and he’s not afraid to use it!

 

Then there’s Angel. Born Angelique Jackson in “Nawlins”, LA, she met the love of her life at Grambling State University in 1992. The rest is history! This songbird is the financial brains of the operation, but she’s also a powerful, anointed vocalist, singing with the likes of The Mississippi Mass Choir and The Williams Brothers.

Origins

Will (Spotdog) Spottsville and Angelique (Angel) Jackson met on January 21, 1992 on the campus of Grambling State University in Northern Louisiana. That summer, while Will was completing an internship in Atlantic City, New Jersey, he wrote a historic letter to Angelique. The letter stated that “everything resulting from our love for each other will be called a Spotdog and Angel Production.” To this date, their love for one another has produced 3 handsome boys and an awesome television show concept.

Beliefs

Because Spotdog and Angel Productions is a Christian-based entity, our core values will reflect those that are written in the Holy Bible. Also, the word SPOTDOG, when turned around, spells GODTOPS, or, God Tops, meaning God is above all. This fits perfectly because Spotdog and Angel will produce Christian-related material.

Future for Spotdog and Angel

The future looks bright for Spotdog and Angel Productions! Will is currently enrolled at Full Sail University, where he is getting his Masters’ Degree in Entertainment Business. Will is taking advantage of networking opportunities and industry resources that are included with enrollment at Full Sail. In fact, the pilot for WCS will be taped at a studio on Full Sail’s campus in Orlando, FL. 

CD and DVD Distribution Made Simple

            An interesting thing happened while reading a classmate’s post on a discussion board in my Media Publishing and Distribution class: I learned something! I learned something of importance! I learned something that has opened my eyes to the new ways of the world of entertainment. That something that I learned can actually be applied to my business concept; Spotdog and Angel Productions (SAP), a creator of Christian-themed TV show concepts and positive, inspirational music products.

            My classmate’s post told of several online CD duplication and distribution entities. But none caught my attention more than a company called Disc Makers (DM).

DM is what I consider to be a “one-stop shop” for all things musical and print. Not only can you get your music and adjoining artwork placed in a professional-looking CD package, you can also get your material distributed to the places you see fit.

The Disc Makers website (http://www.discmakers.com/) guides you through every step of making your CD marketable. Also, the site has made it easy for a newbie to the world of duplication and distribution (like me) to learn what the process entails. It seems as if the people at DM actually want you to understand the process of getting your creative works to the world. No smokescreens or fine print here, DM puts in all in front of you, hoping that building relationships trumps making a quick buck.

CD’s and DVD’s are not the only products in which DM specializes. Promotional materials such as artwork templates for CD and DVD jacket inserts, and poster and postcard templates for artist and record label logos, are also offered. Additionally, CD mixing and mastering services are available for recording artists. They even have a blog where you can find helpful information on everything from the best podcasting microphones, to tips on how to land a performing gig at a music festival.

In essence, Disc Makers is one of the best resources available for an aspiring or established musician. It’s safe to say that I can see DM and SAP having a very lucrative relationship in the near future!

The Right Legal Advice Makes All The Difference

The entertainment business entices many people with the lure of fame and great fortune. Countless numbers take the leap of faith into potential stardom, yet very few actually taste the fruit of success. Today we focus on why so many fail in their quest for the big time.

If anyone knows the ins and the outs, the do’s and don’ts of the entertainment business, it’s Attorney Lawrence H. Haber. He is well versed in the issues that cause the before mentioned failures. Mr. Haber has practiced in many areas of law including real estate, business and corporate representation, intellectual property and sports and entertainment. Former companies that have benefitted from his expertise include entertainment juggernauts Walt Disney World and Universal Studios Orlando.

My conversation with Attorney Haber covered a myriad of topics dealing with the entertainment business. However, the UCF and Hofstra Law Grad felt compelled to focus on the problems most encountered by people trying to get their feet wet in the business.

According to Mr. Haber, the biggest problem with creative individuals starting out in the entertainment industry is their lack of knowledge of proper legal safeguards. When I asked him to expound on why he believes this happens, he shared, “They don’t know who to go to, and those that do, feel that proper representation is beyond what they can afford.” When asked what was one of the biggest legal mistakes in the industry, he added, “Not getting an entertainment lawyer soon enough (before project starts).”

One of the traits that make Haber different from other attorneys in the Orlando area is his availability give advice to all that inquire. Also, his cell phone number is connected to his office number, so when calls come in, he’s the one that answers. Because of his reputation of being available to anyone that has questions about the industry, I asked him what advice he would give to new artists, songwriters, producers or anyone looking to make a move into the entertainment business. Attorney Haber replied, “I would tell them to fully understand what they’re doing and where they want to go. They should also get expertise when needed, because they won’t know everything when starting up.”

Lawrence H. Haber, Esquire is a wonderful resource for anyone thinking about taking that crucial first step into the immense world of entertainment. I, for one, will be tapping into that resource, as I don’t want my first step to be my last!

Attorney Haber’s background and contact information can be found on his website: http://www.haberlawoffice.com

Entertainment Industry Lawsuits: The No-No’s and Uh-Oh’s of Copyright Infringements

Copyright infringement occurs when a copyrighted work is reproduced, distributed, performed, publicly displayed, or made into a derivative work without the permission of the copyright owner. This illegal activity occurs often in the entertainment business in the form of illegal usage of music, illegal usage of artwork and the pirating of television or movie productions, just to name a few.

Here are some examples of Intellectual Property (IP) infringement lawsuits involving some of the biggest names in entertainment.

           

The Black-Eyed Peas are megastars in the world of music. However, even the biggest names are not immune to the occasional lawsuit. The group is being sued by a couple of songwriters who claim that the group has stolen their music. Songwriter Bryan Pringle claims that the group stole his song “Take A Dive” and changed it to the super hit “I Got A Feeling”, which sold over 5.5 million digital downloads. In a separate lawsuit, music artist Ebony “Phoenix Phenom” Batts and her producer Manfred Mohr, claim that the Peas used their song “Boom Dynamite” to make the hit “Boom Boom Pow”. The latter song sold 5.2 million digital downloads. Both cases look to give the plaintiffs’ the net profits from those songs.

Alternative Rock band Green Day is also being sued for copyright infringement. However, in this case, it’s not for theft of music. Green Day is being sued for the illegal use of a piece of artwork used in a graphic image for their stage setting during their world concert tour for the American Idiot.

Artist Derek Sheltzer is claiming that the band illegally used an original piece called “Scream Icon”, and is requesting $30,000 to $150,000 per infringement.

Zumba Fitness, creators of Latin music-based aerobic DVDs, clothing and dance class programs, has filed multiple lawsuits in California and other states in an attempt to curtail the piracy of Zumba products. One such case is against Hector De Anda for trademark infringements. Zumba has also filed similar cases in the United Kingdom, and considering filing cases in Australia and Eastern Europe.

            The dream of making it big in the entertainment business can quickly turn into a nightmare. The improper usage of someone else’s materials can bring even the most iconic musician, actor or artist to their professional doom. When an aspiring performer does not take the time to research and utilize the proper licenses and permits, it can lead to disaster.

My Encounters with Greatness In The Entertainment Industry

            As opposed to all my other blogs, this one is all about me. Well, sort of. This post will be about my interactions with celebrities from the music industy.

            The first concert I ever attended took place in my hometown of Alexandria, LA. The World Class Wrecking Crew (featuring Dr. Dre of NWA fame) and The Rappin’ Duke (Duh Haa, Duh Haa) were performing. But that’s not the concert that would change my life. It was the SECOND concert I ever attended that did the trick. I traveled to Lake Charles, LA with a friend to see the hottest concert of the year; Public Enemy, RunDMC, Jazzy Jeff and The Fresh Prince, EPMD, LL Cool J, JJ FAD and others were performing. RunDMC was favorite, as they, along with LL and The Fresh Prince were the only acts I was familiar with.  There came my first encounter with a music celebrity. While RunDMC was performing, Darrell “DMC” MacDaniels (my favorite rapper) reached out for a towel I was waving in the air (we were 2 standing rows away from the stage). I threw my towel to the mega-star, and he caught it! As he threw it back, a woman directly in front of me caught it, and refused to give it back! Memorable, yes! Disappointing, yes as well!

            The next celebrity encounter occurred while interning at The Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, FL. On an off day, a friend and I went on a shopping trip at The Florida Mall. As we were walking in the mall, my friend whispered, “Hey, that’s Queen Latifah over there!” After approaching her, I was surprised to find that she was very friendly! In fact, she invited us to the after-gathering at her hotel. She, along with other notables like Public Enemy, Heavy D & Tha Boyz and Kid n’ Play were performing in Orlando that night. The concert was awesome, and afterwards, we were escorted into the hotel (hundreds of people were trying to get in) by one of Queen’s dancers named Kika. While hanging in the hotel bar, I met Chuck D and Flava Flav of Public Enemy, Christopher “Play” Martin of Kid n’ Play and Queen Latifah and her dancers, Swatch and Kika. Autographs and political discussions were aplenty that night!

            The before mentioned encounters were exciting and memorable, but they fail in comparison to going to school with a celebrity in the making. My alma mater, Grambling State University, is home to many talented students. One such student, Erica Wright, did not reach the pinnacle of stardom until after her time at GSU. Erica was a fellow Theatre Guild member, and she performed in several productions while at Grambling. Her most notable musical ventures as a student came as a member of the singing foursome, Harmony. Harmony, consisting of Erica, Miko Marks (now a budding country music singer) and two others, performed at many campus and local events. My interactions with Erica came through the Theatre Guild and many of the campus musical events, as I was a member of the DJ Committee, which set-up sound equipment and provided music for those events. Erica changed her name after leaving GSU. She is now Erykah Badu.

Herbrina Gordon-Entertainment Industry Insider

Herbrena Gordon is an Entertainment industry insider. She knows the ups and downs, ins and outs of the business, and, unlike many industry people, she is willing to share that knowledge with the average Joe.

Ms. Gordon’s career started at Grambling State University (GSU) as a morning personality and producer at KGRM, the university’s radio station. She recalls her experience at GSU: “Attending GSU afforded me the opportunity to work with some of the best in the business.”

After graduating, Herbrena took her “show” on the road. She has done stints in Columbus, Ohio, where she worked as a radio morning show personality, and in New Orleans, LA, as a radio personality at famed WYLD FM 98.5. She eventually became the host of Talent Unlimited Talent Exposure Television on UPN New Orleans, and part owner of Miles Outside the City...another show that displayed the talents of unsigned artist. Currently she is part owner of DBM Music and Entertainment Group, and Trendz TV Show in New Orleans. The sole owner of RedGirl Management, she also works as Executive producer and host of Trendz Gospel. She serves as a consultant to a new reality TV Show called Who in the World is J Baroone, coming to New Orleans.

Herbrena has gained a great deal of her industry experience by working as a consultant for several radio shows, television shows and recording artists. When asked what she has found to be the upside of managing in the entertainment biz, Herbrena explains, “The ups to management is the mere fact that you have the unique opportunity to see an artist grow and become successful.” She adds, “You have the opportunity to be a positive impact on someone's life and protect them from the ugly side of the industry.”

As with anything in life, what goes up must come down. So goes the Entertainment industry as well. Herbrina knows first hand about the “other” side of the business. “The down side is that you may have the talent, but, without a budget, you will not move and shake it in this industry.” She continues, “A lot of artists think that as long as they look good and have music they can make it.”

When asked what advice she would give to aspiring artists and musicians, Herbrina had this to say, “This is an 80/20 business. The artist must educate himself; surround himself with educated individuals and work hard to save money to get a good lawyer and a good promotional budget. Today a lot of deals come after gaining knowledge of proof of your investment into yourself being matched by a label or distribution company."

Herbrina Gordon's website is:www.trendzstoptheviolence.com

Inferno Music Group CEO Willie Covington

Inferno Music Group CEO Willie Covington

            Inferno Music Group CEO Willie Covington is one of the most well known music industry players in Southern Florida. Covington takes some of Florida’s best unknown, future mega-stars and grooms them in the business. He, along with his wife Gwen, cover musical genres from gospel to rock. Inferno’s website is http://infernomusic.net/ .

            Covington is no stranger to the music business. He is an accomplished professional drummer and record producer. During the past 33 years, he performed with many major music recording artists like Gladys Knight & The Pips, James Brown, Al Green, Betty Wright, The Ink Spots, The Commodores, Chi-Lites, Roy Ayers, Minister Randy Cotton, and his own R&B band known as Omari. Will recorded with B.B. King during the making of King's 50th Anniversary album; the single on that project, "MY GUITAR SINGS THE BLUES", earned a GRAMMY IN 1985.

            As CEO of Inferno Music Group (IMG), Willie enters into numerous negotiations with artists, managers, studio personnel and distribution entities. His primary goal entering into negotiation deals is to maximize benefits for IMG and protect relationships with the opposite parties. Covington states, “In the music industry, as well as in life, you go in wanting for the deal to be a win-win situation for all involved. Though that’s not always the case, especially in the music business. But more times than not, deals are mutually beneficial for both parties.” When asked about the effect that negative negotiation tactics, letting emotions into the process and bridge burning can bring to the negotiation table, Covington emphatically states, “No one wins if you burn bridges. It’s all about maintaining the bonds that you worked so hard to establish in the first place.” When asked if there is a thin line between relationship maintenance and getting taken advantage of, Willie replies, “Of course it is. But that’s the good thing about relationships, whether business or personal, it’s a give and take. Sometimes you come out with the better deal. Sometimes you leave feeling you got the short end of the stick.”

On the matter of who gets the better deals, new artists or more established artists, Mr. Covington states, “As a new artist, you have to prove yourself, show that you are worth the time and effort a label puts into your growth. You won’t get the same creative credit that an established artist would. Established artists have been through that first deal, and they’ve learned what to look out for, and learned what to bring to the negotiation process. New artists don’t have that ‘game time’ experience, so they are happy just to get a deal.”

 Mr. Covington's latest venture is an Orlando-based gospel music singing competition that gives the winner a recording contract.

The National Gospel Announcers Guild

The National Gospel Announcers Guild

Legendary Gospel artist, the late Rev. James Cleveland, started the National Gospel Announcers Guild in 1968. According to the Guild’s website (http://www.nationalgag.org), the organization’s reason for existence is explained as follows:

The Gospel Announcers Guild is a voluntary association of Religious Announcers who have come together to address their common needs as professional broadcasters. This organization was born out of the lack of emphasis and concern placed on religious broadcasting, as well as religious broadcasters, by the nation's major broadcast and record industry conventions and associations.

The NGAG is an auxiliary of a larger entity known as the Gospel Music Workshop of America (GMWA). Through GMWA, the Guild is able to provide workshops, seminars and gospel performance-based marketing events for recording artists, managers and label executives.

The national group has affiliates in many regions of the United States, including one that covers Central to South Florida. This branch is called the Florida Gospel Announcers Guild (FGAG), and is led by Mr. Peppi Hendrix. Like the national Guild, The FGAG hosts gospel events throughout the state in an attempt to stimulate the gospel recording industry in Florida. Recent seminars have been held in Jacksonville, Tampa, Gainesville and West Palm Beach.

Peppi Hendrix has taken the mission of the NGAG and created an amazing platform for gospel artists in the Florida region. The South Florida Gospel Music Awards (SFGMA) was started in 2004, and Hendrix has not looked back since. According to the organizations website, (http://www.sfgma.com/), the SFGMA has held two awards events in the West Palm Beach, FL area. Because of Hendrix’s leadership, the group has seen significant growth in the state of Florida, The Bahamas, and internationally. The awards show has been a success, with several groups from the South Florida area receiving awards for the following categories: Best Gospel Male; Best Gospel Female; Best New Group; Best Gospel Hip Hop Artist; Best Praise and Worship; Minister of Music of the Year; Best Contemporary Gospel Artist, and more. 

An Inspirational Story

There comes a time in life where one stops to think about what has transpired in life up to that point. Some find that they have lived life exactly the way they had scripted it. Some find that expectations they’ve had of life have not been met, therefore considering themselves failures. Then there are those that stand in the middle of the previous two. Those that, in reflecting, find that life’s road has unexpected detours. Yet, instead of giving up on the journey, they find a way to re-write the map. This is the group that I consider myself a part of. I see myself as a person whose path has seen many potholes and detours in the road of life.

Though I wanted to give in to my many failures in life, something within me desired to keep traveling, and to be optimistic about the smooth pavement that may lie ahead. This is why I was astounded to find out that one of the world’s most revered business minds, Apple Co-Founder Steve Jobs, had encountered similar detours in his life’s travels.

Steve Jobs is widely known as the man that started Apple Computers and Pixar Films, the most successful animated film company in the world. But as I watched and listened to him address a recent Stanford University graduation class (video on TED.com), I realized that it’s hard to be successful in life without having previous failures. In watching the video, I learned the following about Jobs: He was adopted; He dropped out of college; He was fired from the company that he helped start (Apple); He was diagnosed with, and has recovered from, Pancreatic Cancer.

I was amazed at how this man used his personal experiences to give guidelines of living life. And even though his words were directed at the new grads of Stanford University, I found inspiration in the wisdom he imparted. I thought back to my decision to get my Master’s Degree in Entertainment Business when he stated, “Have courage to follow your heart and intuition, everything else is secondary”. Many family members and friends had scoffed at the idea of me choosing Full Sail University and not going to a traditional MBA program. Changing my career from Hospitality Management to Christian Entertainment business ventures was also looked down upon. However, my gut feeling said that Full Sail was the right place for me to bring my vision, drive and talent. 

I’m thankful that an assignment in my Business Storytelling and Brand Development class required that I watch videos on the ted.com website. Without that assignment, I may never have known that Steve Jobs and I shared common adversities. And like Mr. Jobs, I hope to succeed in life by using those adversities to fuel my dreams.

The Rich Get Poorer: The Skinny on Bankrupt Celebrities

We’ve all heard the horror stories of celebrities who amassed fortunes in the entertainment industry, then lost fortunes just as fast as they acquired them. Their bankruptcy stories are as famous as their talents that brought them what seemed to be endless finances.

The fall to the depths of debt has claimed the careers of many popular entertainers, some being able to re-invent themselves financially, others being not so lucky. What happened to the lovely Kim Basinger’s money? What unfortunate fate befell the wallet of Gary Coleman (of “Different Strokes” fame)? Why did MC Hammer fall from financial grace? The answers to these questions (and questions for other broke celebrities as well) are many. Some made bad business decisions. Some ran into legal problems. Some were just plain stupid when it came to spending their money.

A bankruptcy related article on legalzoom.com (http://www.legalzoom.com/money-matters/bankruptcy/how-celebrities-go-bankrupt) quotes a Hollywood financial advisor in reference to the wisdom he imparts on his sometimes-foolish clients:

One Hollywood financial advisor, Scott Feinstein, told the New York Times about a call he received from a client in his mid-twenties who wanted to buy a $35,000 watch. "I said 'What time does it say?' and he said, 'Ten minutes after 3.'" Feinstein recalled. "I told him, 'Mine says 10 after 3 too, and it cost me 60 bucks. Put the watch down.'"

It’s sad, but it’s true. Many equate success with the ability to acquire lavish, and sometimes ludicrous, play toys. But not having the understanding that the next album may not sell, or, the next movie might flop, leads to the unfortunate demise of a celebrity’s wealth. Here are some troubling accounts of such celeb bankruptcies:

Kim Basinger: Basinger bought the town of Braselton, Georgia for $20 million. She later had to sell it when she filed for bankruptcy.

Debbie Reynolds: Opened the Debbie Reynolds Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. Casino flopped, Reynolds files for bankruptcy.

MC Hammer: You already know the story (but here it is anyway). 40-member entourage. Enough said.

The late Michael Jackson: $200,000 a month to maintain his Neverland Ranch home. Mike didn’t know how to cut his own yard?

These are just a few examples of a much larger problem. Here’s an idea! Don’t spend more money than you actually have. As Arsenio Hall used to say, “Things that make you go, Hhmmmmm”.

Christian, Secular Entertainers

Giving one’s life to Christ usually entails leaving past lifestyles behind in exchange for a new, refreshing lifestyle. But what if your past lifestyle is your livelihood, the way you provide for your family? Many celebrities in the world of entertainment have tried to find a happy medium between socially accepted spiritual practices (openly claiming Christ in words and actions), and keeping up with the demands of their secular careers.

One shining example of this inner struggle is renown funny man Steve Harvey. He is best known for being the brainchild of the comedy juggernaut “Kings of Comedy” show. Harvey’s comedy routines in the past were famous for being profanity-laced, yet hilarious. His popularity as a comedian led to opportunities in the television and film realm, including Harvey having a successful self-titled comedy sitcom. Most recently, he has become the host of an American classic, the Family Feud game show.

At some point between his appearances on iconic comedy show “Def Comedy Jam” in the 90’s and his hosting gig on “Feud”, Harvey made it known to the world that Christ was now the pilot of his spiritual airliner. He has since hosted many Christian concerts and events, and has made appearances on Christian television shows such as “Praise The Lord” on the Trinity Broadcasting Network. On that show, (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tkybh5XwUQk) Harvey broke into tears (of joy) while explaining the transformation in his life since he gave his life over to Christ. Harvey, while being interviewed by gospel music great Donnie McClurkin, explained that there is an inner and outer struggle for secular entertainers who have Christ in their lives. Harvey gave the names of larger-than-life icons such as Patti Labelle, Whitney Houston and Lionel Ritchie as people who are followers of Christ.

No matter what Christian society lays out as acceptable principles for outward appearances, Steve Harvey and other Christian secular celebrities are an example of the inward Christ that matters most in our daily walk.