Published: Friday - January 18, 2008
Words by Donny Goines
Blog by Donny Goines (Photo: Don Michaels)
This is a term that derives from the Military (for those who don't know, I served in the U.S. Navy for a couple of years) and it simply means to "follow the food chain up or down and speak to others accordingly." For example, when I wanted to speak to an Admiral, I had to speak to my Ensign, then Lieutenant, then Captain and THEN Admiral (and this is even if I CAN speak to him, but that is another conversation entirely). If that doesn't clear it up, let me elaborate a little bit more.
I just set up a meeting to speak with Sickamore over at Atlantic Records. Records labels also have a Chain of Command. Let's look at it in that perspective. If I wanted to reach the CEO of Atlantic Records (who I believe is Craig Kallman, but for arguments sake let's just use titles) I just couldn't walk into his office. I would have to be walked in or have spoken to those under him. So back to Sickamore, in order to get a meeting with him, I had to go through his assistant. Then after him, I would need to see the head of A&R. Then after that, I would need to speak to the Vice President. Then I would speak to President and then FINALLY the CEO (which stands for Chief Executive Officer, notice any similarities?). You see, even in this game there's a pecking order and you need to follow that sometimes in order to get results.
Now am I saying don't ever speak to someone directly? No, not at all. You know how many times I've broken chain of command, lol. What I am saying is that you need to respect and understand the workings of this concept because it applies to a lot of different organizations within the industry, not just record labels. Websites (writers, music editor, assistant editor, editor), magazines (same order with a few variations), radio (interns, DJs, program Directors) so on and so forth. Sometimes in order to speak to the big dogs, you need to bark at the pups (not to sound demeaning to anyone on the lower end of totem pole, I've been there myself it's just an analogy). Bottom line is these "Chain of Commands" are sometimes ineffective if broken. Learn the inner-workings and apply the logic accordingly.
Like I said, I've broken the Chain of Command many, many times and have been punished many, many times as well, lol. I had to learn that sometimes it's best to just use these chains and vice versa. I'm a very approachable person, but if you need to get at me about some press (holla at my publicist, then me) or some business (get at my manager, then me) so on and so forth.
Don't blame me, that's just the way it is when you work your way up I suppose. Much love.
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