Ever find yourself in a room full of people that you
intentionally set out to be in and then look around and wonder why on earth you
are there? I unfortunately have encountered this scenario more times than I
care to mention in my lifetime. It is a love/hate thing I have with what I do
for a living, but it seems to me that no other industry in the world is as
intent on perpetuating its own stereotype more-so than the entertainment
industry.
In recent months, there have been numerous experiences that
have caused me to reflect upon the direction of the industry as a whole. Some
have been very positive and reaffirm my faith that the entertainment industry
has much to contribute to quality of life. Others have left me
asking the question, where is the human element in all of this?
Rather than ramble on about specific scenarios, I have come
up with a simple do and don’t list I feel can be a guide to keeping the human
element in our industry. Perhaps these will influence one or more of us to
retain a little of our soul and debunk the stereotype that we must offer up a little of it for a shot at success.
DO:
Check your ego at the
door
Regardless of your position in the
industry, you are never that big or successful. The art, the industry and the
fans will be around long after you are gone and most of us will be long forgotten
without a trace.
Someone who gets it:
Be true to yourself
While change is necessary on both
a personal and professional level to ensure growth, understanding one’s core
belief system will allow you to sleep better at night and more importantly be
proud of what you contributed to your craft. Change might just be the spark
that allows you to go platinum, just be wary of how much change that will take
and the true cost.
Show respect for the
craft
Whether you are a musician, actor
or author, you should always show a proper level of respect for your craft. So,
you want to do something that has never been done. That type of enthusiasm and
passion is exactly what could make you a star. Yet, keeping things in
perspective and showing respect to the history, progression and what it takes
to master it, can keep you from becoming a footnote.
Find your niche
The entertainment industry today
is experiencing a flooded market. Reality shows, social media such as YouTube,
etc. have turned everyone with even the slightest bit of ambition or talent
into a self-proclaimed star. That is a
good and not so good thing. I love the underdog and giving more people a chance
to shine helps everyone in the end. Healthy competition can only deliver more
talented individuals and a more diverse product to the market. Yet, this access
means that to be heard or seen, one must find a way to stand out and deliver
something that is fresh and different. Putting time in to narrowing your focus
and carving out your own little corner of the market can lead to success.
Put in the Work
There are no set hours in this
industry, which makes it even more important to be hungry and truly want it. A
hit song may come to you at 3:00 am, you may need to network with industry
executives on an evening you have a conflict or you may have to be on set for
24 hours straight. There are talented musicians out there right now singing on
the subway for change. If this is truly your calling, no one is going just show
up at your door one day and say here you go, here is a million dollar recording
contract. Put in the work! Even if you don’t make it to the top, you’ll be
better off for it.
DON'T:
Forget that you are
human
You are going to make mistakes.
Learn from them! You are going to struggle, want to give up, expect more and
get less. It’s called being human. You know what else is human; the realization
that there are countless others going through the exact same emotions each and
every day. Don’t isolate yourself in the experience.
Focus on the tangents
The entertainment business is made
up of endless tangents. By that, I mean that if your passion is music, focus on
your craft. It is sometimes easy to lose sight of why you started the journey
and get pulled off on another path, whether it is the social life, the money or
numerous other distractions. Stay focused on your passion and why you started
on the journey in the first place.
Become all consumed
It is wonderful to have a passion,
a calling that emanates from your very soul. Pursue that passion, but don’t let
it consume you. As human beings, we all are multifaceted. Engaging in your other
interests can serve as your muse and inspire you in other aspects of your life.
Dance, fall in love, read, travel and explore. Life is best experienced by
engaging in it. More importantly, it may just inspire your next big character,
song or novel.
Leave debts on the
table
Whether personal or financial,
debt can be extra weight holding you back from reaching your true potential.
I’m not referring to the old “scratch my back I’ll scratch yours” mentality.
I’m referring to genuine debt incurred by way of receiving support from someone
who believed in you along the way. It may be emotional support, financial
support or any form of lifting up that a person has shown you along the way. It
may not be a debt you can pay right away, but acknowledge the support along the
way and when the time comes that you can, repay the debt in kind and if the
situation allows, pay it forward as well.
Expect everyone to
get it at first
Sure, mass appeal means more
money, but if you are producing a product that you are proud of, the people
that should get it will. Many in the industry find it difficult to not go
“commercial” at some point. There is money in it and let’s face it, more of us
need the money than don’t. I say hold off. Keep producing from the gut and
while not everyone will get it, before long enough people will and those who
don’t will soon find themselves on the outside looking in.
