Artist Spotlight
Gleam Joel
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Fashion Spotlight
13
Bling Beads Producer Spotlight
Trak Atiks
8
How to Shoot a Music Video for $375 Open Mic Showcase & Industry Events Calendar
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IN THIS ISSUE JANUARY 2008 VOL 2 - ISSUE 1
MUSIC INDUSTRY
EXTRAS
7... Artist’s Corner 7... Artist Spotlight 8... Producer’s Corner 8... Producer Spotlight 4... Dj Corner 4... Dj Spotlight
6... B4 The Fame 6... Don’t Hate… 6... Question of the Month 16... Event Calendar 16... Resource Directory 18... On Location
Makin’ It Magazine published by CJC Media Services Inc. 3939 Lavista Road E-249 Tucker, GA 30084
Office: (678) 528-6925 Fax: (888) 812-9710
www.makinitmag.com Info@makinitmag.com
FASHION INDUSTRY 13... Fashion Corner 13... Fashion Spotlight 10... Modeling Corner 11... Model Spotlight
Editor in Chief Kelby Cannick Ext #710 kcannick@gmail.com
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Cover Story
VIDEO & FILM INDUSTRY 12... Actors Corner 9... Video/Film Corner 9... Video/Film Spotlight
BUSINESS 5... Business Corner 5... Business Spotlight
Copy Editor Kimberly Cannick
Contributing Writters B. Davidson, A. Chevious, P Anderson, R. Donaldson
Distribution Market Coordinators Jacksonville jax@makinitmag.com Houston htown@makinitmag.com Indianapolis naptown@makinitmag.com Bay Area bayarea@makinitmag.com Los Angelos lax@makinitmag.com
WORD FROM KC Hey, What’s up with everybody? I can’t believe it’s been a year already but here we are celebrating the First anniversary of the publication. Well as you can see, we’ve made some upgrades to the magazine. Some of the additions you will notice are the new sections for DJs, Aspiring Actors, Stylists, and Filmmakers. We’re going to continue adding some additional sections as we grow the publication. Over the next few months I’m going to be stepping back from the publication to spend time doing my “Daddy” thing, but I’ve been fortunate to find some great additions to the team who are just as passionate as I am about educating artists and helping people succeed in the industry. I also gotta say congratulations to my business partner, BJ, who just had his first baby today ( It’s a boy, 8lbs 8oz). All and All, I’m very excited about 2008 and can’t wait to see what it brings. Wishing everybody much success in the new year… -KC
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Kentucky ky@makinitmag.com North Carolina durham@makinitmag.com Phoenix phoenix@makinitmag.com Pennsylvania penn@makinitmag.com Nashville nashville@makinitmag.com Memphis memphis@makinitmag.com Cincinatti natti@makinitmag.com
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DJ CORNER Look, I’m going to come out and say it. The music scene, and the party scene are all about being social. Just be nice. No one wants to work with jerks. Promoters will hire cool DJs over jerks all the time. Who would you rather give money to: someone you like or someone you don’t like. As you venture out into the scene, don’t engage in gossip. Avoid flame wars on websites. Be real, be friendly, and keep a positive attitude. Win the war, not the battle. If you lose your time slot for some reason, don’t yell and scream at the promoter, or other DJs. Show grace, and say “Bummer. But I totally understand why that’s happening, and no problem. I’d love a chance to spin for you some other time.” You’ll be brought out so much more when you’re a dramafree zone.
DONT JUST PLAY RECORDS... PLAY NICE! BY DJ WOLFE
One time at a small mall festival of 1,000 people, I had a DJ that pulled all sorts of drama around scheduling. He was worried ried about losing his slot, and was as a total prick about it. What he didn’t dn’t know, and was later shocked to o find out was how our crew works. s. We were just gearing up to play a 30,000-person event. Had he actually lly lost his slot, and been nice, I would ould have made sure he got a slot on n the next bill, which was a huge event. Instead he kicked, screamed, d, got his 45 minute slot, cut into another DJ’s time, and fell right off our “DJs we use” list. The DJ who lost the 45 minutes to him did so with grace, and we invited him to spin at the bigger gger gig. The moral is: Dont just ust play records... play nice.
DJ SPOTLIGHT DJ DEVA VU BY K. CANNICK After being in Atlanta for just a little over four months DJ Déjà Vu has been making her presence felt, spinning at such clubs as Miami, Club Excalibur, ATL Live, Throbacks, The Back Room & Central Station. Originally from Alexandria, Virginia, Déjà vu got her start as a DJ making personal mix CD’s which caught the attention of many of her friends. After numerous requests for her mixes, she decided to go to DJ School in DC where she spent a year spinning at various clubs before relocating to the Atl. Her goal is to start doing more mixtapes and producing but her passion is the club scene. As she describes it, “I love doing club events… I feed off the energy of the crowd.” Déjà vu has even started promoting her own club night. You can catch her at 4
Crunk Wednesdays at Club Throbacks where she hosts her Hood Star Rap Competition. If you would like to connect with Déjà vu for mixtapes, booking, and other business related matters please call (888) E3N6T8-G4L5A2M6
DjDejaVu@GlamStarEntertainemnt.com myspace.com/DJDejaVu www.MakinItMag.com
BUSINESS CORNER This story is not about any specific person, company or organization. This is simply an issue that needs to be addressed and I am using my personal experiences as a frame of reference. I started Makin’ It Magazine because of my desire to see others succeed. Though some say, “The game is to be sold and not told!” that’s not how I operate. While I am very passionate about what I do, it is still a business and at the end of the day must make money. With that being said, DO NOT ask me for free advertising or promotions. I get tons of artists, models and entrepreneurs telling me why I need to put them in this magazine for FREE. A lot of time, work and money goes into every issue so that we can reach our 60,000+ readers. To think that you are going to piggy back off of that and not pay for it is naïve at best. Living in Atlanta, It seems like everyone has a grand scheme to get rich but very few of them include paying others for their assistance. While talking to several publicists about an upcoming project, I was bothered
LETS GET RICH TOGETHER BY K. CANNICK
as each struggled to find a polite way to ask if they would be compensated. Apparently there are so many people trying to sell their lofty dreams with these “When we blow up” payment scenarios, that people have to question what should be a given. It is my personal belief that everyone should be paid for what they do. You wouldn’t go somewhere for an oil change and not anticipate paying. The same applies to the services of a producer, photographer, studio, publicist or any other business that you deal with. I find it funny
“I dont know about you but I’m in business to make money...” every time a producer or company complains about artists not wanting to pay them while they ask me for a free ad. I think to myself, “I am in business for the same reason you are… to make money.” It doesn’t matter if you are a studio, magazine, publicist, independent label, or producer. At the end of the day your goals should be to make enough money to cover your expenses and provide a comfortable living. If
BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT
you’re not in business to make money then you don’t have a business. You have a hobby. As entrepreneurs we must start respecting each other as businessmen/women and quit looking for the hook up or handouts. Assume that everyone wants to be compensated for their time. Don’t just ask for what you need or want; ask how much costs. If the price is outside of your budget let them know. Tell them what your budget is and ask if they can work with it. Always try to find a compromise that all parties can be happy with. You don’t want someone working for you if they feel like they’re being cheated. It will surely show up in the quality the work performed. A wise man once said that he became a billionaire helping other people become millionaires. If you want to be successful you can’t be afraid of spending money on the things that are essential to helping you make money. Pay others for their services and we can all get rich together. Until next time, stay blessed and be prosperous.
MAKIN’ IT MAGAZINE BY K. CANNICK
As we celebrate our first anniversary at Makin’ It Magazine, I feel it is important to thank all of our loyal readers who have helped us grow from the small four page black & white newsletter that we started as to the publication that you hold in your hand now. In less than a year we have grown this publication to include distribution in over 13 markets across the country and internationally in the UK, Switzerland and Germany. Unlike many of our competitors Makin’ It Magazine is a publication with a purpose other than profit. Our goal is to educate and inform anyone pursuing a career in the urban entertainment industry while providing them with ww www.MakinItMag.com
opportunities to network and promote their talents. As a former Independent artist, manager and owner of several entertainment companies I understand the challenges that many of you face in the pursuit of your goals. This is why we open our publication to you. If you have any comments, advice or questions you would like answered please send them in and we will try our hardest to make sure they get answered or published in an upcoming issue. This publication is just as much yours as it is ours and we hope that you will continue to grow with us for many years to come. Thank you for all of your support. K. Cannick Publisher 5
TWISTA B4 THE FAME “I said everything I needed to say to Pimp. I know the last time I saw him I hugged him and I told him I loved him, which was what I did every time I saw him, because you never know how things in life is gonna work out ... We can argue, we can cuss, fuss and fight all day long,.” These were the words of Bun B as he spoke on the last time he saw his longtime rap partner Pimp C before passing. Pimp’s death is a reminder of how fragile life is. Tomorrow is not a given; it is a blessing. We all know how crooked this industry can be and how quiuckly friendships can be turned upside down behind money and fame. Thats why my question to you this month is, “Do the people you love know that you love them?”
Before hitting #1 on Billboard charts and becoming a national staple in the hip hop community, Cavalier Terrell Mitchell AKA Twista held several other jobs, including working at a factory, McDonald’s, selling shoes, telemarketing, being a security guard, and cutting hair. Shortly after being the first artist to sign with Loud Records in 1991, he was proclaimed to be the fastest rapper in the world by the Guinness Book of World Records. After years of bad deals and difficult label situations Twista finally landed a break out hit with his single “Slow Jamz”. Let this be a reminder that we’ve all got to grind before we shine!
DONT HATE... CONGRATULATE!!! Congratulations to my boy SIR WILL AKA WILLIE HENDRIX. After months of killing Atlanta’s open mic scene with his hit single “Hot Tot” he recently finalized his deal with Jive Records. …Big shots out to the lil homie SOULJA BOY for his 2008 Grammy Nomination for best rap song of the year. Yuahhh! … Congratulations go out to YOUNG JOC who just signed a label deal with Atlantic records for his own Hustlenomics imprint…. Props to the big homie KANYE WEST as he receives 8 Grammy nominations and is tapped to do some work on Madonna’s up coming album (Our hearts go out to you on your lost. Keep ya head up!)… Congratulations to R&B sensation AHMIR who recently won the R&B Category for The USA Songwriting Competition. You can also catch him in this month’s issue of Vibe Magazine as one of the finalist for the BlackPlanet.com “Amplify” Black Music Month Talent Search... Congratulations to MISS NANA who was the winner of the VIBE Verses 3 contest, and on Dec 4th was flown in all the way from The Brick City (Newark, NJ) to open up for fellow Jerseyan Wyclef Jean at his album release concert/party persented by MySpace.com & VIBE Magazine at The Roxy in Hollywood CA... Congratulations to ANTENICA SMITH from Milledgeville, GA who beat out thousands of singers from accross across the country to win an all expense paid trip to New York to perform along side Chirs Brown and the cast of This Christmas on BET’s “This Christmas Holiday Special”! Have you reached a milestone in your career and wanna see your name in this section?Just send a short email to donthate@makinitmag.com with your name phone number and 2-3 sentences about what you’ve done.
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ARTIST’S CORNER MAKING SURE YOUR CD GETS HEARD BY K. CANNICK As an independent artist one of the worse sights to see is your CDs scattered on the club floor or parking lot. Even if you were a signed artist, a fair share of your promo CD’s are going to make their way to the trash heap. Though many independent artists get discouraged by this, it is just the nature of the beast. Promotional CD’s and free goods are a necessary component to successfully promoting your project. Here are a few tips to help you maximize your results. Have a well packaged product – No cheap paper sleeves and hand written labels. I recommend a thermal printed CD in a slim jewel case (You can get 100 like this duplicated by Next Day Media for just $89.99 www. NeedCdsNow.com or (678) 5289777 Ext 3). The better the packaging is the higher the perceived value of the CD. If it looks like
trash… that is how it will be treated. Speak to people – Don’t just randomly hand out CDs as you make your way around the room. Use this opportunity to create a personal bond with potential fans. Introduce yourself to people by holding brief conversations. Later in the evening go back to those same people addressing them by name, and reference your earlier conversation while giving them the CD. The goal is to attach a personal element to it. If that’s too much for you, at least introduce yourself as you pass out the CD and tell people who you are. Ask – A simple way to greatly increase how many of your promo CDs get heard is to ask people to listen. The trick is to ask a specific question that will elicit a response (i.e. “If I give you a copy of this CD will you check
ARTIST SPOTLIGHT
out number 4 when you get in the car?”) If they say “no” you have saved a CD from the trash. If they say “yes” you thank them and as you give them a CD. Tell them you appreciate their honesty. This is effective because people have a strong urge to be consistent. When they get to the car they have two options, listen to the song or admit to themselves that they are liars. Place a value on the CD – Another tactic that I’ve used is selling the CD for a dollar. Most people will have no problem shelling out a buck to show their support, and the fact that you are selling the CD places a value on it. If a person doesn’t have a dollar but shows a genuine interest give it to them and the affect will not be lost. You can also place a value on the CD by making people take action to receive it whether it is a contest, answer-
GLEAM JOEL: INTERNATIONAL PLAYER BY K. CANNICK
Many independent rap artists become so consumed with trying to get a deal that they never take time to acknowledge the true spirit of hip hop. They forget about the impact that they have on the community in favor of the pursuit of fame. This is why it is so refreshing to meet an artist who is giving back along the way. Gleam Joel, born in Nairobi, Kenya, started listening to hip hop at age 12. It soon became his escape from the violence that surrounded him. Having lost many of his friends to the streets he was motivated to use his voice to not just entertain but to pass on a message of hope and let the youth know that there is a better way. Now in Switzerland, his work has not gone unnoticed. He has Gleam Joel & Proof Back Stage had the opportunity to meet the ww www.MakinItMag.com
ing a question, or just walking across the room to get it. The key is to make them pay for the CD whether with money or effort. Wait till the time is right – Passing out CDs in the club can be a double edged sword. Sure it may be your target market for your music but people are typically preoccupied with liquor, friends, and the opposite sex. A good time to pass out CDs is at the car before they go in. They are typically sober and you can ask them to toss it in the stereo. This increases the chances that they will be listening to your CD on the way home. Other good time to pass out CDs is during or after performing. A small amount of effort on your part can save you a ton of money and make your street promotions much more effective. Until next time… Keep Grinding.
president and been awarded by the German consulate for his work with the youth. He feels that he has been blessed with the opportunities to perform with such acts as The Black Eye Peas and D12 and looks forward to coming to America this spring. He hopes to connect with people who can help book shows and promote his project over in the states. Currently he is performing every weekend throughout Europe. He has been to Brazil where he has rocked for crowds of 15,000 and still went to the slums to perform for less than a 100. You can check out the video for his current single “The Call” on Myspace. Myspace.com/GleamJoel Gleam@Gleamjoel.com
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PRODUCER’S CORNER SAMPLING 101: PART 1 BY BILLY AVIDSON, JR Since its beginning, hip-hop has “borrowed” from the past, sampling beats or hooks from old records as inspiration for new tracks. We’ve all heard the warnings against incorporating samples into your own work without first getting them cleared by the original rights owners. Still, many producers continue to sample with blinders on, setting themselves up for failure. The legal aspect of sampling isn’t that easy. The sampling of what may be considered unimportant pieces of another artist’s song can cause you legal problems for years. As producer of the new recording, your concerns should be: Do I have to ask permission before sampling? Do I have to pay anyone? Every sample you use should be cleared. Even if it’s a mil-
lisecond long, get it cleared. If you’re just doing tracks for fun, you don’t need permission to use the sample. But if you’re putting a track together for a major label release and it includes a sample, the sooner you apply for clearance the quicker things can progress (and it will most likely be cheaper for you and the artist too). As the song’s producer, it is your responsibility to let the artist and the label as to what song you sampled. When it comes to paying for the sample, money can come from both the artist and the producer, or from just one or the other. It also depends on the artist being sampled, the artist using the sample, and how big they are. For example, say you produced a song for Jay-Z’s next album sampling an old song from
The Isley Brothers. The people controlling the sample may want half of the publishing rights since The Isley Brothers are one of the biggest R&B groups of all time. Jay-Z, the most popular artist in rap, will have no intention of giving up his half of the publishing. Just an up-and-coming producer, you’ll receive none of the publishing rights and very little money from Jay-Z’s album.
But it can also be very detrimental to your bank account, as you won’t get paid as much as making a beat from scratch. Big name producers don’t mind giving up a little of their publishing money because they’re rich! An upand-coming producer will most likely want to get all the money he/she can get. However, people will do what they want to do, so my advice to you is, SAMPLE AT YOUR OWN RISK!!!
Sampling old songs can be fun, and even inspirational, trying to re-create certain emotions brought out in the original recordings.
PRODUCER SPOTLIGHT BIO: Jerrell Brown, better known as “Rel,” is the driving force behind Trak Atiks Music. Rel, who got his start producing at age twelve sneaking into his older brother’s studio, sold his first track at just thirteen years of age. It was then that he knew what he was destined to do. Coming up under the legendary Mr. DJ of the Dungeon Family, he’s more than your typical beat maker. Rel is both a fan and a student of music. As a producer, engineer and songwriter who plays the saxophone, guitar, drums and keys; he listens and draws his influences from multiple genres, such as Jazz, Soul and Drum N Bass. His motto is music first business second. He enjoys working with serious
TRAK ATIKS! BY K. CANNICK
artists who aren’t afraid to be different and try new things. ON DECK: Current projects include engineering for Shawty Redd, Chinkie Brown, Attitude and DJ Burn One amongst others. Recent production credits include AK, XXL, MTV, Jimmy HenneC, BlacQ and Mr. City. You can catch him engineering at The Orange Room (College Park) and Camp David East (Fayetteville). WHAT THEY HITTIN’ FOR: Leasing rights go for $250 with outright purchases starting at $2,000. As a former artist, Rel knows what it takes to make a hit record. CONTACT: You can check out the music online at www.myspace.com/Trakatiksmusic. For more information or to purchase tracks contact Chuck Anderson at chucktheceo@gmail.com. Serious inquiries only!
WEAPONS OF CHOICE: Loves working with Vinyl and Live Instruments. Saxophone, Guitar, Keyboard, The MPC & Reason 8
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VIDEO/FILM CORNER I was kicking it at Street Talk’s 4th Quarter record pool talking to an aspiring video director when he asked DJ Smurf (A.K.A Mr. Collipark) how he could get started shooting videos for artists already in the industry. I smiled when I heard Smurf begin talking to him about viral videos and how they were the future. With shrinking promotional budgets due to the decline of album sales, music videos are not the huge promotional vehicles they once were. If you add into the mix the fact that networks such as BET, MTV and VH1 have been increasingly shifting their programming toward reality shows, it’s easy to see there are a limited number of outlets for even getting videos played.
GETTING IN THE DOOR WITH VIRAL VIDEOS BY K. CANNICK
For many aspiring filmmakers who jumped into the game looking to become the next Hype Williams, this is both a blessing and a curse. Labels are reluctant to shell out big budgets for videos because their chances of recouping (getting their money back) have grown increasingly slim. But what has been lost in terms of dollars has been made up for in opportunity. The success of Souljah Boy’s “Crank Dat” set a precedent in the industry that has opened eyes to new distribution channels for getting music videos to the fans. Now many labels are setting aside budgets for the production and promotion of viral videos. Even though these budgets are nowhere near the size of their broadcast counterparts they are
creating opportunities for independent filmmakers to get their foot in the door. Likewise, this revelation has opened the eyes of many independent labels and artists. Now with a viable outlet for getting their videos seen more independents are willing to invest money into shooting music videos. This shift has created a ton of production work that’s up for grabs. One thing to remember is always put your best foot forward because you never know who’s on the other side of the screen watching your work. Viral videos can can let people know how whack you are just as fast as they can let them no how talented you are. Until next month, Happy Uploading.
If you have a question or topic you would like to see covered in this sction please send it in to film@makinitmag.com and we will try to get it in an upcoming issue.
VIDEO/FILM SPOTLIGHT
MUSIC VIDEOS FOR THE LOW!!! BY K. CANNICK As the climate of the industry slowly begins to shift in the direction of the independent artist, Next Day Media continues to stay ahead of the curve. Founded by the wife of a former independent artist, this company is on a tireless mission to provide independent labels and artists with the services they need to compete with major label releases. As Atlanta’s only duplication company that offers pickup and delivery service, they also offer affordable commercial printing rates for flyers and CD inserts, audio mastering and now video production. With music videos starting for as low as $375 we had some serious questions:
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Viral Video: a viral video is any video clip that becomes very popular on the internet through widespread sharing. Viral videos are usually passed on through email, instant messaging, media sharing and social networking sites like Myspace or Youtube.
MIM: What kind of video can I expect for $375? NDM: A professionally shot and produced music video that’s Broadcast quality delivered on DVD and as a data file ready to be uploaded to YouTube or MySpace. MIM: How can you charge so little? NDM: While others companies may try to make as much money as they can up front, we prefer to make our services as a affordable as possible so that we can build long lasting relationships with our clients. MIM: Where can I check out some of your work? NDM: You can check out some sample video on our website at www.NeedCDsNow.com or call (678) 528-9777 Ext 3. 9
MODELING CORNER MODELS NEED GOALS TOO! BY A. CHEVIOUS Often models or potential models enter the business with no idea of what type of modeling they want to do or how long they wish to be in the industry. I ask every model I come into contact with for their five and ten year career plans. You would be surprised how many models have no answer to this question! Many models don’t realize how important goals are in this industry and how they will keep you working. Just saying you are a “model” isn’t enough to make it in this industry and simply saying, “I want to see how far I can go!” will be put you on a vicious cycle of going nowhere. You really need to sit down and ask yourself where you want to be in five years. Of course everyone wants to be admired by adoring fans, but what medium do you want to have fans in? Do you want to be in movies, music videos or print? Each has its own set of perks, limitations and requirements. In this industry a clear career path is a must. This will keep you focused and make the difference between being a “local celebrity” and a “major star”. About The It’s easy to get caught up in the Author “Big Man on Campus” effect when everyone in your area knows Avery Chevious. Your go to guy for who you are. For some this will be all your modeling and marketing needs. motivation and they will use it as a
platform to build and grow, making them very successful in the industry. It will keep them hungry and drive them to keep reaching and wanting for more from their career and the industry. Unfortunately, for others, who choose to settle for just getting the “red carpet” treatment from the people within their market or area, it will close the door to a world of opportunity. I know there’s someone in the modeling industry that you admire or idolize. What are you doing to reach that level? What are you doing to grace those same pages of magazines or films? These and other questions will help you establish a career path and goals for your modeling career.
If you have a question or topic you would like to see covered in this sction please send it in to modeling@makinitmag.com and we will try to get it in an upcoming issue.
Jarem This R&B singer/songwriter hails from New Orleans and is currently working on his upcoming album due out summer of 08. Currently working with many different artists and receiving radio play in the UK , Germany and many online outlets. He is looking for a manager who can help further establish himself as an artist.. Jarem06@yahoo.com myspace.com/JaremsMusic Sick & Tired This Detroit based rap group is comprised of three MCs; Black Will, Butch Jones & Willy Will. Each artist brings his own unique style and perspective to every song. Along with the aid of Big Dee they are pacing themselves to make a lasting impression on the game. Dyme A Duzin records is about real music with a real message. For more information email bigdee@DymeADuzin.com Myspace.com/dymeaduzinrecords 10
Quitta Da West Coast Princezz is a new West Coast rap artist from Compton that has been stunning audiences across southern CA. and promoting her newly released mixtape, “Hood Life“ while working on her upcoming 2008 LP, “Elementz of Life” In July of 2007 Quitta connected with her now manager and producer, Dolla P. Myspace.com/QuittaDaWestCoastPrincezz Atrax This Atlanta native is currently On Streetz Magazine mixtape hosted by DJ Shaolin. He has also collabed with DJ Shaolin on his personal mixtape “Block Bangerz” which he successfully moved 1,000 units of in a month’s time. Performed at Source hip hop tour this past August in VA. Looking to connect with other artists, party promoters, upcoming producers & DJ’s. atrax58@gmail.com myspace.com/Atrax7 www.MakinItMag.com
Jenn-Marie Los Angelos, CA Heeig H eig ght ht: 5’7” ht: ’7 Weig We ig ght ht:: 115 15 lbs b Meas Me assur urem urem meen nttss: 34C 4 -25-2255--3322 Shoe Sh oee Sizze: e 7 1//2 2 Drres ess Si Size z :2 Avvai aila labl b e Fo bl F r: r Commeerrccia iall, Print, & Run unwa way Coont ntaacctt:: jenn je nnnn_m mar a ie ie83 8331@ 831@ 1@ya @ya y ho hoo.co hoo o.co com m
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ACTOR’S CORNER WATCH OUT FOR SCAMS BY PATRICIA ANDERSON, MBA OK, so you’re in the shopping mall, when suddenly you are approached by a friendly, smiling, attractive, person. “Hi!” they say, “Has anyone ever told you that you could be an actor/ model?” He/she is attractive, AND sincere, and yes, you have been told that you could be an actor/model, it’s about time! So, what’s next? An invitation for an appointment/interview/seminar (we call them “scaminars”), where they sell you on buying into your dream. They show you photos of those who’ve made it, or at least on their way, and your heart is beating wildly. You’re in… only there’s one catch, you usually have to shell out thousands of dollars to make About The this dream Author come true. You have Patricia Anderson, MBA two things Founder/ ReelBiz.TV and FilmBiz. TV attend our Reel Business antiworking scaminar” to get the “reel” deal about the acting/modeling industry
against you: lack of knowledge, and desire to become an actor/model…
(from people who currently work in the industry)
Let’s face it, there are plenty of advertisements designed to help you realize your dream of becoming an actor or model. They promise to put you in front of top agents and agencies. The truth of the matter is that most of these tactics are designed to “sell” the unsuspecting, and un-educated public about what the industry is like, and charging upwards to $8000 to get you discovered!
Things you should not pay for: Being seen by an agent (legitimate agents do not charge to see you, rather they get paid, when you book a job and get paid). You audition for an agent (for free) for consideration to be represented by them.
The acting/modeling industry is like any other industry it thrives on supply/demand. If you want to work in this industry, you should do your homework, and find out about it, and how it works, so you can decide if this is truly your passion. Three things you should pay for: • Professional photographs • Professional training • Solid information about the industry
Don’t let your vanity or ignorance cost you hundreds or thousands of dollars; get educated about the industry (or any industry) you want to work in and then you can make an informed decision. Bottom line is, the acting/modeling industry is a legitimate place for you to work, and realize your dreams; but because it’s such a big industry, there are many who will take advantage of you, and sour you on the profession, but don’t give up, where there’s a will, there’s a way!
If you have a question or topic you would like to see covered in this sction please send it in to modeling@makinitmag.com and we will try to get it in an upcoming issue. Nika Surviving the storm of Hurricaine Katrina this female emcee relocated to the “A” six months ago. After completing her latest mixtape shes back in the studio working on her album. With a style like gumbo she is breaking the mold of female MCs delivering a range of substance and subject matter. Currently working with producers, Wood & Track King, she is looking to connect with more producers to create a well rounded project. (504)421-1660 or (504) 813-5587 mrs_rwilson@yahoo.com
myspace.com/nikasweetladyofthesouth
ADVERTISE HERE FOR JUST $125 REGULARLY ($178)
CALL NOW!!! A LIMITED NUMBER OF SPOTS WILL BE SOLD AT THIS RATE (678) 528-6925 OFFER GOOD FOR INDEPENDENT ARTIST & SMALL BUSINESSES.
Soul Food:The New York native has just released his 2nd album “Rap Dealer Vol. 2” and is hard at work on a follow up first quarter release. With strong lyrical content his name is his music, soul food. He is currently seeking to connect with a good manager or promoters to book more shows. He can be reached at (718) 662-8451 or rappersoulfood@gmail.com myspace.com/SoulFoodAKABurnsBr 24-7 A native of Macon, GA this talented young rapper is gearing up for his debut release entitled “Life Scriptures”. After years of grinding on the mixtape circuit, a chance encounter at a local music retailer landed him a deal with Hearsay Records where he is in the perfect position to set the industry on fire. For more information contact (404) 239-8062 myspace.com/24MaconMoney
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NOTHINGFASHION BUTINDUSTRY TEES CEO
FASHION CORNER I’ve been reading through the Apparel Blogs’ Forum and websites on the net. I noticed how people get criticized a lot about starting a clothing company, fashion brand, clothing brand, clothing line or whatever and then only having t-shirts in the line up. I’m kind of lost on each end because starting a clothing line is definitely not the easiest thing you will do and having capital to produce a full line is not in most people’s budget. I’m pretty sure most of us would love to produce a full-line of clothing right off bat, but I actually think it’s for the best to start small and then grow because most of us will have one hell of a learning curve to deal with in the beginning and making mistakes with just t-shirts is better than ruining an entire line up of garments and
better on your pockets. Even though starting a brand with just t-shirts isadding to the already cluttered fashion industry and creating hats, and some hoodies could probably set you apart from the other so-called “clothing lines” that flood trade shows with ridiculous designs with no thought whatsoever! Its kind of a difficult position to be in, but most will start at some point and most likely it will be tshirts and unless your t-shirts are the most innovative and creative your clothing business could just get lost in the clutter that saturates the fashion market. So try and be creative in your approach if your budget is small and all you can afford is to produce t-shirts. Maybe create some
stickers and flyers or collaborate with other lines by producing joint products too gain exposure for both parties involved and no matter what don’t give up until their is nothing else. Also starting with another garment is not bad either depending on the season and then produce t-shirts at a later time. Start by producing hoodies or jackets. I think producing more variety will definitely help with closing orders, being that buyers receive dozens of line sheets and emails from clothing lines with just “tshirts”
If you have a question or topic you would like to see covered in this sction please send it in to modeling@makinitmag.com and we will try to get it in an upcoming issue.
FASHION SPOTLIGHT
BLING BEADS BY K. CANNICK
If you look around Atlanta you will start to see a new trend emerging around the necks of some of the most fashionable women in the “A”. As gold and sterling silver beaded jewelry have been slowly gaining ground with fashion trendsetters, those not in the loop have been lost on where to find it. Lucky for them, we have the scoop. If you want to get your hands on these inexpensive but highly fashionable pieces all you have to do is journey over to the city’s eastside to Bling Beads located off of Candler road. Bling Beads is one of Atlanta’s premiere retailers of solid gold and sterling silver beaded jewelry. Stocking a variety of styles and accessories including necklaces, bangles, earrings, bracelets and more they also do custom designed pieces. The Bling Beads brand is already well known and respected throughout Virginia where the company first got it started. Now with the addition of their Atlanta location they are planning to spread the name. Go check them out at 2701 Candler Rd in Decatur, GA or call 404-243-6449 to order your free catalog today. www.myspace.com/BlingBeads ww www.MakinItMag.com
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COVER STORY GOING DIGITAL BY K. CANNICK Not too long ago the only way an artist had a chance of reaching a national audience was to get signed to one of the four major record labels. Even though the development of affordable DAW (Digital Audio Workstations) such as ProTools, Sonar and Cooledit Pro gave independents the power to produce their own music, the problem of fulfillment still remained. Without a major record label to press, promote and distribute your music you were still dead in the water. In 1999 the music industry would forever be rocked by the effects of Napster. This simple peer to peer file sharing network was the first glimpse into this digital age in which we now reside. Widespread media coverage further promoted the service while popularizing the little known Mp3 file format with the general public. Though Napster was eventually thwarted by the RIAA, a slew of others would step up to take its place including, audiogalaxy, Morpheus and bit torrent. Where you once had competing digital audio
formats such as Real Audio, Liquid Audio and WMA, the mp3 now reigns supreme. The mp3 has since become a part of everyday life. You can now play mp3s on car stereos, iPods, DVD players, PDAs, cell phones and many other consumer electronics. The widespread use and compatibility of the mp3 format has made it a popular medium for pirated music and illegal file sharing. Though this may spell big trouble for the major labels, it has broken down the final barriers that restrained the reach of independent artists. Mp3 files are portable, widely compatible, and deliver near CD quality audio at small sizes. For the savvy artists Pressing, Distribution, and Promotion are still a factor but no longer a problem. Since the music is in a digital form you can distribute it to millions of people around the world easily without incurring the cost of pressing up all those copies. Utilizing sites like Myspace, Youtube, and Friendster any artist can easily carve out a nice niche for his music in this global marketplace.
Tips for making the most of this digital revolution Give it away – I see many independent artists shooting themselves in the foot by restricting the download of their music or trying to charge for it. I understand that you want to make money but it is more important to establish a solid fan base early on and giving your music away will help you do this. Instead of forcing people to pay for your music, you can give them the option to pay for it by using Paypal to collect donations. Promote it – Simply uploading your music online will work as good as dropping a box of CD’s at your local record store and not passing out fliers. The internet is not a magical gateway to fame. Though many of you may hear of these overnight success stories such as Soulja Boy, Tila Tequila, and Tay Zonday you need to understand a great deal of effort still went into the online promotion of each. Think outside the box – Sadly fans in the urban music genre are behind the curve in this digital world. I run into many artists who don’t even have an email address. Though mp3s and this internet age can be very alluring don’t put all your eggs in one basket. Not everyone is online and if you only put your focus there you risk the possibility of alienating many potential fans.
Here’s Another Great Opportunity to Promote your music. Makin’ It Magazine is preparing to do its second MP3 player give away. We will be going around to the hottest Night Clubs in Atlanta and giving away 100 Video Mp3 Players preloaded with the hottest new HipHop/R&B songs. You can get your song preloaded on all one hundred of these Mp3 players for just $65. Call (678) 528-6925 to get more information and reserve your slot today. Mp3 Players include video playback, voice recorder, phonebook, photo browser, games, E-book, 1 Gig USB drive and plays music wirelessly through the car stereo. Here’s your chance to reach new fans in a unique way.
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Anouncements
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Duplication NEXT DAY MEDIA DUPLICATION 100 CD’s Duplicated In Slim Jewel Cases with thermal print For Just $89.99 We offer Pickup and Delivery With Same Day Service available (678)528-9777 Ext 3
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Graphic Design CD Insert Design & 10 Photos for just $100 Graphic Design |CD inserts | Posters Commercial & Studio Photography (678) 368-3214 www.dpeacock.com
Magazines ADVERTISE IN MAKIN’ IT MAGAZINE AND BE SEEN BY 60,000+ People EACH MONTH FOR JUST $25. CALL (678) 528-6925
Management
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Opportunities Got A Hot Song????? We’ll help you break your record for just $65 Call today (678) 570-2745 and ask “Can You break my song?” ON THE GRIND MIXTAPE Break your song without breaking the bank. Get your song placed on 5,000 Promotional mixtapes to be distributed in Atlanta area High Schools, College Campuses, Night Clubs, Strip Clubs, Industry Events, and Retail Locations. For more information Log on to OnTheGrindMixtapes.com
Photography Shawn Dowdell Photography All Models and artists get %25 off with your copy of Makin’ It Magazine. Shawndowdell.com (404)957-4900
Printing High QUality printing for cheap with quick turnaround. Call Next Day Media for all of your Printing needs. Flyers, CD covers, Comp cards and much more. (678) 5289777 Ext 3. Mention this Ad for available discounts.
Producers DO YOU NEED A HOT SINGLE? WE GOT TRACKS. Cheap rates. Contact Bels @ 770-774-9918. www.myspace.com/stacksent NEED Beats? Thebeatsquadonline.com
Now Hiring!!! Makin’ It Magazine is currently seeking Account Executives for its advertising sales department. If you have any questions or are interested in applying please email your resume to info@makinitmag.com
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Studios Affordable Beats and Studio Time $35 / hour G sound Music Productions Contact JG at (404) 665-6268
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Rookie of the Year “Those Destined to be great in 08” Showcase Jan 17th, 2008 Doors open at 8pm Signup starts at 8pm Show starts at 10pm. $10 Cover Charge & $25 Signup fee per group. Win Cash, photo shoot, mixtape placemetns, marketing deal and spread in a local magazine
WEEKLY EVENTS
MONDAYS
Exotic Mondays - Open Mic @ Club Miami (3011 Bufford Highway) Doors open at 10PM Show Starts at 11PM. $10 Cover Charge. Sign Up Fee is $10 for a single artist and $15 for groups.
Wanted -- None --
Open Mic @ Club Crucial Call for Details
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Songwriters ASCAP and BMI affiliated writing team with fresh ideas! Rates are negotiable. 770-774-9918 or www.stacksent.com
MONTHLY EVENTS
East Side Idol Open Mic/Showcase @ Scores (2425 WWesley Chappe;; RD) Doors opens and signup begins at 10PM Show starts at 11PM - $10 Cover with $10 Signup Fee. Cash Prize and opportuities.
CASH PRIZE!!!! Rip The Stage Open Mic/Producer Battle Djangos (495 Peachtree St.) Doors open at 7pm - Signup Starts at 8pm - show starts at 9pm $10 Cover Charge with no signup fee. Win studio time, CD Duplication and opportunities to open for other artists
Get a professionally shot music video for Just $375. Call Next Day Media Services for details (678) 528-6925 Ext 3
SUNDAY
Talent Explosion Online Showcase @ Club 29 (2272 Lawrenceville Hwy). Come showcase your talent for the world as Adonis international films for its online television show. www.TalentExplosionOnline.net Doors open at 7PM with a $10 cover charge. Signup starts at 8PM for selected artists. To schedule your slot call Adonis at (404) 383 4058.
TUESDAYS
True Talent Tuesdays @ A Town East (3711 N Decatur Road - Foxtrot Ceter Ste 111) Come out and compete for $2000 Grand prize and chance to appear on the cover of Forum Magazine. Come relax and networkd with $2 Drinks and a full kitchen. Doors open at 9PM with $7 cover charge. Show starts at 10PM Sharp. Must register in advance to perform. Call (404) 437-5011
WEDNESDAY
Open Mic @ The Peacock Call for Details Fifth Annual Southern Entertainment Awards in Tunica, MS January24-27 2008 Attend our Reel Business “anti-scam” inar on 1/12/2008 and get the “reel” deal about the acting/modeling industry This dynamic seminar includes: How to get an agent (yes, you NEED one!) Pay rates, How to book that audition! Opportunites in GA, NC, SC, FL, and LA
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ON LOCATION SUN. @ COPELAND’S BY K. CANNICK It goes down each and every Sunday at Copeland’s of New Orleans in Buckhead. Spreading primarily by word of mouth, this has got to be one of Atlanta’s best kept secrets. Ya boy, Darius really knows how to bring them out. Every week the place is packed with some of the finest talent and most beautiful women in Atlanta. It’s a nice laid back atmosphere where artists get to showcase their talent with a live band. A great place to come and network as the room is often with many signed acts, independent artist and major label reps. Come check it out this Sunday. Show starts early so I suggest you get there by 9:00pm. See you there!
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