Hustle Harder: Did You RSVP Yet?

So tonight I'm headed to Badabing Gentleman's club to support my dude DJ Deep Freeze (Sub Zero DVD) and it got me thinking, do other up-and-coming artists know how important these type of events are?

When I started my career back in 06, this was one of the very first lessons I learned. The power of networking. My inaugural industry event came about in the form of a conference in Palm Springs, CA. It was a week long event that had many panels and discussions. It also put together a lot of people with and without influence inside the same rooms. I noticed this and took full advantage (some of the people I met I still speak with today, such as Bishop Lamont). During this past year and a half I've been to more networking events then I count. I've ran into plenty CEOs (Steve Rifkind, Diddy, Lyor, etc.), several artists (too many to mention) and every major A&R, DJ, lawyer, publicist, DVD and radio personality etc. you can think of in the Tri-state area and I still attend these events weekly. Why? Because the type of people I mentioned are not coming to my neighborhood or block. They are not coming to my house and they are not coming to find me; I have to find them.

A lot of up-and-coming artists really don't understand the power of networking. It's a VITAL aspect of this game and one that's necessary in order for you to make progress. Now don't get me wrong, some of them are fun. Like tonight I'm sure I won't be thinking about bars and hooks (ha ha), but that's not the point. It's also an important part of your job and you should really take advantage of these situations. Take this event for example. I'll go, show support (I think that this is something missing in the game and a big reason why I write this blog) and enjoy the evening. I might run into someone who's been looking for me (which happens often these days) someone who has heard my music and is aware of what I'm doing, or just someone I've wanted to meet and speak with. You never know, but I can guarantee you this much, won't none of these interactions will happen unless you put yourself in the mix. Its that simple.

One of the most common questions I hear is "How do I get invites to those events?" and the answer is simple. Ask around. Getting on a guest list (most of them anyway) is not that hard if you know where to look. For instance, check out the social sites for bulletins and posts. A lot of people promote there events this way and typically give the RSVP info publicly. Another idea would be to look for websites that photograph and promote parties (check the web) and while your at it, talk to promoters. They are usually ALWAYS in the know. Something else you could do is speak to other artists in your area who attend a lot of events. I know I do. These are just a few suggestions from me but there are plenty other ways to get inside these events. You could always rush the door, but unless you like getting thrown out a lot try to get on the list. Once inside, its a whole new ball game but I'll talk about that in another blog.

So tonight, while I'm out wasting a bunch of singles, I'll try to holla at a couple of people and network a bit. If not hey, at least they'll be women around (ha ha). Much love.

You can check me out on my Myspace page at MySpace.com/DonnyGoines.

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