Straying From the Pack…

Social Media sites…you gotta love ‘em.  So much in fact that I believe the time will come where we start to hate ‘em. 

Why?  Because they’re going to die out?  Not necessarily.  Because everybody is doing it?  Eh, gets annoying for companies who have no need for such a site (like a tire company) but not a strong enough reason, perse’, to plan Social Media’s demise.  Then why?  Why will we start hating them?  Advertisments!

The Ad-based only structure is the most annoying setup for a social networking site.  You have ads to the left, to the right, up top, down below, popping up in the middle of what you’re reading, survey of stupid sh*t that you could care less about, etc.  You can’t sneeze without seeing an ad; blink without accidently clicking one because now they move around; or stay excited about the initial visit due to the damn “commercial-break, screen-sized movie” ad before getting to what you’re visiting the site for!  However, in their defense (of some) these sites need a way to generate revenue to survive.  They have costs, just like any other business, that has to be paid monthly, semi-monthly, or annually.  So I’m not bashing their stategy, I’m just asking for more individuals who own/supervise this type of company to BE CREATIVE!

Be creative, work a little, hell…stress a little over “what the hell is this company about?”.  But considering we’re in the “microwave” era where society suffers from the “Givemenow” epidemic (myself included sometimes), this may be a far stretch bordering miracle request.  “Why make a million dollars actually having to work, when I can copy-cat?”  To some, that’s the same as:  Why make a buck working construction in 110 degree heat, when I can make that same money in air conditioning and at a desk?  Touche’….kinda.

The Stars…Not As Far as They Used To Be

The weirdest feeling in the world is being in one place pending the advancement to another new frontier.  “Frontier” could mean another city, state, country, job position, status change, etc.  Whatever “frontier” means to you, the common association of the word for this post is “unfamiliar territory.”

It strikes the average individual as exciting and surreal.  Anxiety (the good kind), anticipation, and joy mixed with the latter and rush over the body as a wave created from a whale dropped from a helicopter…sometimes at different moments, sometimes all at once.

If PATIENCE is a Virtue…

…then I’m still “Virtue-less”!  Now I’m not ONLY speaking on the BETA situation (previous post), I’m talking about me and EVERYTHING!

I’m not speaking on any particular occasion, just different experiences since the birth of Random Star Music (RandomStarMusic.com).  If you’d allow me a little rant, yes?  Thanks.  ”Why are people lazy?  If you’re going to do a job, or say you’re going to do one..then DO IT!  Why are we having a discussion about extending a deadline, when a progress report of some kind hasn’t even been submitted?  What do you mean that’s nothing to be concerned about?  FIRED! Next.

Life Happens….to All of Us

Upon working with a programmer for Random Star Music’s BETA version, I told him, “Beware when working with me for I’m the Universe’s Chosen One.  The Universe chose me to be the living example of Murphy’s Law, whatever can go wrong, will!”

Upon saying that, he laughed a little until noticing that there was no smile on my face.  I was dead serious.  And as sure as I told him, everything went to shit.

Someone has to say it…

This post is a little off our regular subjects, but hope it hits just as close as any other post I’ve written (also a little shorter than usual).

In preparation of the RandomStarMusic.com BETA release, I’ve come across numerous ”individuals” who have chosen to pursue music as their profession.  Whether they are any good or not to make it a reality is entirely another matter.

But unlike most of these “hopefuls”, I believe that their “dream” will stay a “hope” or an overly time-consumptive “hobby” at best.

I’ve come across phrases like, “‘Get Money!’, ‘Do you and I’ll do me’, F*ck all you hatas’, ‘I’m the greatest’, ‘Find somebody that can touch my skills’, ‘I got the city on lock’, ‘C.R.E.A.M (Cash Rules Everything Around Me, for those that don’t know)’, ‘I’m on my HUSTLE’, ‘Don’t bother keeping up, you can’t'” etc so many times that I question/wonder if they tell themselves this as motivation to actually “hustle” their craft into a business, or are they stuck on their favorite part of a chorus of their favorite song??  I’m dumbfounded even.

What the HELL?! pt. 2

What the HELL is going on in the world of Hip-Hop music?

How many times has this question been asked over the years?  How long will people ask it?  Who knows…but until an answer is given that will satisfy the desire/want to ask it again, it will continue to re-surface.

My view on this however switches back and forward…depending on who I’m speaking with, at what time, whether it’s a sunny or cloudy day, and depending on which day of the week all this is going on. 

Here’s why:  Hip Hop to me as listener, annoys me most of the time.  The same beat, format, producer, structure, song topics (clubbin, what they’re “going” to have and it’s their first single, bottle poppin’, giving women oral pleasure, a new dance), clothes, chains (everybody has a cross), is used by every new rapper/HipHop singer out there it seems…like people are afraid to be “creative” creating a creation.  I used to say, “If somebody makes another song about some stupid dance, or says they’re the best rapper…I’m puttin’ a hit out on ‘em.”  The list got too long…got tired of updating it.

What the HELL?! pt. 1

I’ve been asked a few times about my view of the music industry, as well as the originality issues in Hip Hop music.  I’ve been wanting to address these topics anyway for quite some time so the requests came at the perfect time.

I’ll address them in seperate posts:

MUSIC INDUSTRY

Declining, decreasing, hurting, wounded beast….but as a whole (you decide on what you want to consider as ”the whole”. i.e. Major labels only, Majors and independents together, companies involved with music such as Wal-Mart, Live Nation, Amazon.com, etc.  There are exceptions to the rule, as always).

I believe major labels have been so accustomed to the “fame/in power” ways of things for so long that they forgot one major rule of life and evolution:  The only thing that’s consistent is CHANGE.  Nothing stays exactly the same forever.  You have to change with it or die (figuratively more than literally) and they are certainly dying a SLOW death…at least 8 years thus far.

It Has Begun…

What has?  The beginning of the rest of my life and the enrichment of others!  Wow..pretty deep beginning sentence huh?  Well, when something has taken this long (5 years) to finally come around, you’re filled with a joy and excitement that is unmatched with any “word” to describe it.  “Deep” doesn’t cut it.

Five years!  It has really been that long!  To a 6 six year old, that’s damn near a lifetime!  Ha!  But it has definately been worth it.  Now, we’re not counting the chickens before they hatch or poppin’ bottles of red champagne, but we are definately identifying the new definition of “Working Hard” for Random Star Music (yes, this is something to celebrate when bringing a dream to fruition vs. chasing money).

Persistance is the variable between successful and unsuccessful people/individuals.  It all boils down to “How bad do you want it?”.  How far are you willing to go?  How long are you willing to suffer/do without/hurt/work/loose sleep/be uncomfortable/be laughed at/be doubted/be called crazy/fail/learn from failures/smile when you wanna cry/keep moving foward when nothing seems to be happening/research/go without luxuries/read books, magazines, blogs/work 80-100 hours a week/work without a vacation/work without a break/keep having to tell your story/stick by your dream when it doesn’t seem to be working/sacrifice quality time/ponder, stress, meditate on an issue till you have it figured out?  And that’s just the first 2 years, you have 3 more to go!

Cutting and Pruning Forward…

Things change:  people, places, things, situations, personal and professional relationships, etc.

That’s a feature of life that won’t ever be different from what it is currently.  Once one understands this notion…the question becomes:  How do you change with it to maximize the benefits that are/will be presented to you?  If a plant’s roots outgrow a pot, unless your a botany enthusist, how do you know to change it out?  To maximize the plant’s growth potential, the change has to take place…

Does this apply to other aspects of life as well?  To business? Personal life? Professional ambitions?  To some YES, and to some NO.  But to those who agree, how do you detach from a habit that you may have been accustomed too for months, years, decades, without falling victim to the “depression” hole called a VOID?

Through the years of developing the notion, the “feel”, and direction of Random Star Music, these questions played through my head as I evaluated the “expiration date” to individuals that I was in constant contact with.  Some were around for years, others for days but in all the same respect, a duty had to done.  I believe it’s easier for overly ambitious individuals to cut off a relationship (significant others, friends, co-workers, professional, personal…you fill in the blank for which relationship fits your situation) and not to think twice about it versus “satisfied” individuals enjoying the stroll of life. 

And Away We Go….

So the saying goes…”don’t wait till everything’s perfect before releasing or materializing your idea.  If you do, then you’ll never release/materialize your idea, for ‘perfect’ will never come…”

So here I am in the middle of the Texas Tour with Random Star Music, because the opportunity presented itself, without any generation of revenue.  Smart? Or dumb?  Guess it depends on who you ask…

The “die hard” entrepreneur enthusiast will say, “Continue with what you’re doing and create a solution along the way.  If the road was easy, everyone would be doing it.  You can’t fly if you don’t ever jump off the cliff…”.  However, the girlfriend that’s paying for all the meals, helping you with gas, and helps with “expenses”, both personal and professional, is praying that you get the clue to get a job while doing your business, because believe it or not, she does support your cause.

What’s right?  What’s wrong?  Bills “due” have to get paid, but at the same time, so much has been accomplished in “freelance” mode.  So when is enough, enough?

Well, if you’re talking with the family man…he’s about to steal your girlfriend.  But if you’re speaking with the millionaire entrepreneur, you’re about to lose alot, only to gain alot…

So the question is…..which person are you? The family man, or the millionaire entrepreneur?

Life without risk is death….to some.