“I didn’t know the food was yours,” or,“I didn’t look to see who the food belonged to.” “I can’t do it,” or,“I will learn how to do this.““No one told me,” or,“I didn’t think to ask.“The language you use to admit your faults matters. When you say, “I didn’t know…” we are not acknowledging our inaction. Instead, saying, “I didn’t look to see who the food belonged to,” clearly shows our self-awareness and suggests what we can do to better ourselves in the future. Don’t limit yourself by using vague language. Be specific. Be accountable.
A few days ago, I had occasion to speak with a talented soloist. She was sharing the struggles she and others were experiencing as they were navigating a new market.
The challenge is that the new market is tightly controlled by a few chokeholds - agents and an industry organization similar to the Tavern League.
Artist: “I either have to get an agent to represent and show me, or I need to pay a ton of money.”
If you’re looking to break out on your own, spread an idea, make a change - don’t play for the short-term wins, play the long game. Short term wins are low hanging fruit, quick contracts, getting a job so that you can have a job - it’s checking the boxes. The long game involves strategy - constantly evaluating failures and making better decisions in the future. It’s doing things because they’re the “right thing to do,” focusing on creating something better, and never losing sight of “why” you do what you do. Our world is a bit different today than it was a month ago, and it’s easy to frustrate. But don’t lose hope. Focus on your long game.
You don’t work for your job. A job works for you! Yes, I also recruit for people looking to hire people for their jobs.Yes, I am confident that my clients would agree with me. Yes, even if they didn’t, I don’t care - the job works for you.I can tell you that, at least here in Milwaukee, there’s a shortage of qualified talent for certain types of roles. With that said, employers can’t afford to disengage their employees. With that said, it’s a job seeker’s market in many ways. I can tell you that I have met thousands of job seekers that don’t know what they want in life. They look for a company with attractive values, but they don’t know how to assert their values. People are looking through hundreds upon hundreds of job descriptions, but a job description won’t say, “This is the job for people like you. Who wants to make the impacts you want to make.” I can tell you that there are recruiters who don’t care. They won’t ask you about your mission, they won’t ask you how you see yourself in the world, they won’t directly tell you - “this isn’t the job for you, but I know someone who might have the type of work you need to do.” It’s time to turn the table and give yourself permission to say, “I don’t work for a job; a job works for me.” Then begin asserting your values - how do you want to impact the world? What’s the quality of work you want to perform? You’ve only got your life to live. You are responsible for the impacts you make on others. A job is only a vessel to help.
You could, but it might not help. Ever been to these large gatherings where you’re supposed to go and meet as many people as you can? Walking around with a name tag, saying “hi” to people, sharing your elevator pitch, hearing theirs, trying to act interested, maybe setting up times to get coffee - the social formalities of meeting people. Done that before? For me, a shy (yes - I am shy) person, to do it is a fate worse than death. Do you need to talk to everybody in the room? I say no because not everyone matters. In a room with hundreds of people, you can’t be all things to everybody. You can be a meaningful specific, HT to Seth Godin and his influences for that term, to the ones who care about the work you do. Recently, I attended a LinkedIn Local event about creating content. Because the invitee list was on LinkedIn, I took a moment to see who would be attending, and I made a few notes about the people I’d like to meet. Then, I reached out to those people in advance and asked if they’d like to connect. Did I end up working the entire room? No. Did I end up talking to a few people that actually cared about my work? Yes, and I also learned how to support the work of others.Also, if you’re in Milwaukee, consider checking out LinkedIn Local’s next event.
Perhaps this topic is too soon, but hear me out. Lately, colleagues of mine have been laid off, artists are seeing their tour schedules blown up, and stores are being raided for their toilet paper. I actually think the “fear” from the virus is causing more pain than the virus itself. “Fear” is a primal emotion that creates action. It’s easy to blame the “media” for creating the fear; however, the media was just a “carriage” that brought the emotion to us. We, the people, create the actual stories that are then “carried” to the rest of us via the media. Remember the series about “art”? Idea: a threat to our existence.Form: a virus.Idiom: A virus for which there is no cure.Structure: It spreads by people in the same space with people.Craft: Someone, or an animal, created it.Surface: The media takes the idea and shares it with everyone.Art: we respond to the message with the emotion “fear.” If you want to create an idea that spreads, start with an idea that threatens our existence - consider the coronavirus.
I’ve not been writing too much lately. The reason is that I felt I said all I could say - perhaps I have? The minimum viable audience for this blog was musicians. But since I’ve moved back to Wisconsin, I’ve been focusing more on my immediate community and less on the global cruise-music industry. Lately, most of my work has been networking with local leaders, learning my new industry, and learning how to be a meaningful contributor to Milwaukee. As a result, I’m making a few changes to this site.Moving forward, you’ll see more thoughts on life, job searching, recruitment, and Milwaukee. You won’t see as much about music. If you’ve signed up because you wanted cruise insights, I won’t be providing those via the website anymore. You’re welcome to message me, and I’ll do my best to help! If you’d still like to join and follow along, be my guest.
You have had relationships that have needed to end. We all have.
When we experience that time, the path ahead is clear - “I’m sorry, this isn’t working out, it’s not you… it’s me.”
Do you know what to do when the way out looks like this?
“This Agreement may be terminated prior to the 350-day period only under the following circumstances: (i) if I want to terminate the Agreement in my sole discretion and I let you know about it, the Agreement shall be terminated upon your receipt of the notice; (ii) if you and I mutually agree, in writing, to terminate this Agreement, or (iii) if, after you have completed at least 180 days on board the ship I’ve booked you on, you send me a written notice 30 days in advance of your intended termination date. You can’t termine while on board in the middle of an assignment, or if, at the time of the proposed termination, the you have a future gig that I’ve confirmed with the cruise line. If you decide to terminate this Agreement as provided in (iii), you will pay me 50% of the commission you owe me for the days remaining on this Agreement in a lump sum, which will be calculated at your current salary, no less than two weeks prior to the proposed termination date. Also, because I’m upset that you left me, you will be unable to re-hire me for two years.”
A 3-month free trial of anything usually requires you to submit your credit card information to get started. You’re eager to get started, so you happily give your credit card for 3 free months. Four months later, you notice less money in your bank account. What happened to your money? The answer, my friend, is the 3-month free trial, and your paid subscription becomes active. There’s no way you could have missed an email informing you of the upcoming charge. How come no one told you? Did you read the fine print? I’m sure it’s there.Your, or your friend’s, agent has a contract; in it, you’ll find terms that look like the following example.“If, after 350 days, you are satisfied with my agency’s services and would like to continue working with me, you will not need to sign a new agreement. This Agreement will roll over to cover your new contract until you give me notice that you would like to negotiate new terms. “This clause is the free-trial! After 350 days, if you are satisfied, our contract rolls over - the “trial” period is over!If you are not happy, you are required to notify me in writing, and then we can negotiate. There’s not even an option to get out of the contract! Would you start dating someone without the option to break up?Would you start a free trial of something knowing that you couldn’t stop?Then why would you enter a contract that doesn’t give you the option to leave? For the agent, this is a great model. It protects their most valuable asset - you. Is that fair?
Imagine entering into a romantic relationship with someone that asks you to sign a 5-page contract before your first date. Would you do it? If you wouldn’t allow this from a romantic partner, why would you let your agent? Folks, not many of us musicians, have experience writing or reading contracts. Some of us didn’t grow with up lawyers in the household. For many, English is not the first language. Look, you’ve gone to an agent because you needed a job. If not you, I’m sure you know someone. In exchange for the gig, you pay them a commission - that’s fair. So they can protect their work, they ask you to agree to an agreement - also appropriate. However, their contract is littered with terms that only benefit them and hardly benefit you, Tomorrow - I’m going to review a few clauses with you. Stop by and educate yourself. There are agents, hoping you don’t understand the language in your agreement - your ignorance is the price you pay for your loyalty and exclusivity. But, is this really loyalty?