LYRIX

if u still chasin dreams / then u know how i feel / i spit wit a red beam / direct hit / so i kill / we luv counterfeit /
cuz dat shit / gets advertised / so i spit it 4lyfe / till da day dat i die
bnet803.wixsite.com/bonnette
its a Struggle / still pushing / Im thugging everyday / burning kush and / representing / south kac / my only purpose in life is to rap

Things2Apply

Treat it like a Business

There are some different ways to view this depending on the size of the artist, but for now we will just focus on the smaller independent artist who is just getting started. As revolting as it may seem to your artistic side, try to view your music as a start-up company and your fans as potential investors. What makes someone invest their money in a start up company? The direct reflection you as the owner are showing them through your product, time, and personal assets you invest. Why would anyone want to put their hard-earned money or time into your business if you aren’t willing to do the same? If you have nothing at stake personally, then it shows a lack of commitment and conviction to your cause. You need to be at risk and it needs to be apparent to your potential investors (fans) so they can get behind you. That doesn’t mean you absolutely have to put 100 percent of your money and time into the business, but people need to feel that you are committed and in it for the long haul.

So, what’s the right percentage? Is there a right one? It’s different for every artist but in the beginning you should be leaning very high toward the investment side if not 100 percent. Chances are you are going to be in the negative like any new business for a while, putting 100 percent of the income you make right back into it plus extra if you can afford it. Luckily, there are certain things you can do in the beginning to try and offset this. For example, there are merchandise companies that will let you pay off merchandise orders at a later date, giving you time to sell and make the money directly from the product first. You may have to start out by paying upfront, but once you build a relationship with the company, that trust can be applied.

The same goes for fans buying into your brand. Would you wear your T-shirt? If not, why would they? Take pride in everything you put out, from your music to the smallest details. You might think people don’t notice the time investment but trust me, they do. Investing the time is HUGE and a lot of young artists don’t want to wait. “Hey, let’s play this brand new song live we wrote yesterday” is probably not the best idea on the business end. When was the last time you heard the owner of a new company say to a potential investor, “Hey, I came up with this awesome business idea last night. Can I have your money for it?” Understanding that every time you are performing your art in front of people is a business opportunity to gain new investors in your brand can give you the patience and understanding to fine-tune your brand.

Once you understand the commitment required to make your art go from passionate hobby to self-sustaining career you will know how important investing in your music as a business is. When you start applying it, you will never go back.

Bonnette Bio

Brian Bonnette is Bonnette Da Bandit, a rapper from Orangeburg SC. I started writing lyrics when I was 15 hoping to escape poverty. I always was a decent writer as a kid, I wrote short stories and won an award in 3rd grade for writing an essay. Growing up with less than others made me want. So I choose this rap profession; influenced by those at top of the game with videos, shows, shiny things and hoes. I started recording with my friend Corey and two radios. One radio had a mic built in to it and the other radio played the beat. At first the beats were instrumentals for like 6months, then Corey parents got him a keyboard for his birthday it was like fate. We recorded damn near everyday, I even recorded sick. After high school I moved to GA but Corey had another year to do. I was hoping he would move there with me and my brother when he got out of school but he didnt. I worked for like 2years in GA then got fired and came back home nothing never jumped off for me in GA with the music, I did try but not hard enough. Back home liven with my mama; the house is crowded; fiances are ugly, I got no time for music. I focused on other things. Years past. I messed around and got with a woman while being in a crazy liven situation. I had a bad car accident and lost my means of transportation (a honda accord my brother gave me to go home with). Keep in mind no job yet since being home. I eventually went back to GA. My lady was supportive of me going back but she hated it. This time Im not successful at getting work on Memorial Dr.( thats what I said) I had an interview at Office Depot but that lady called my bluff about previous work experience. Then I lost my ID so Krystals couldnt give me work. I came home again; this time I stayed. Not much focus on music just working and hustling. I did meet some cool MCs recording music down the road from me. I was still writing lyrics, so my cousin took me over to his cousin house where I saw what a pc could do. I meet Cool Edit and Fruit Loops, now Im back rapping again. I went and put my own studio together and learned some shit. More years past, and Im still learning shit. I realize I need money to fund me, so I hustling whatever is in demand. Not doing what I should have been doing; like going to a pro studio with my money, I fucked around and got shot, so lifestyle changes had to happen. Now Im a starving artist spending my last on my dreams. Im not a special lyricist or a fast rapper I just listen to a beat and write whatever comes to mind. I feel its one of those gifts from the Creator Of All Liven Things. Here is a link to my music https://goo.gl/giM8NT