To Be or Not To Be? Are you READY for a Manager?

     As an Artist, one of the most difficult decisions to make are whether or not to self manage, or go out and find a manager. Do you look to family and friends, do you reach out to your network and find someone you don’t know in the industry and put your career in their hands? Before you freak out and buckle under the stress of making these choices, make sure that you are in fact ready for management at all.

     The purpose of a manager is to help guide a career that is already in motion. Key phrase: “that is already in motion”. Do not expect a manager to share their connections and help market and promote an artist that isn’t doing anything for themself. An artist’s first job is to perfect their craft. Of course you are always evolving and changing, however you must already be putting in the work. Your time should be spent practicing, writing music, in voice lessons, creating a stage show, and rehearsing with your band (if you’re a solo artist). The second portion of your time should be spent getting your music out to your circle of friends and building a fan base  through your social media connections, going out to local events, networking. You should live and breathe your craft.  Not sit back waiting for something to happen.

Case in point: ( This story is true. Names and places have been changed to protect the innocent)

Ken is a singer songwriter from the Deep South. He has been writing since he was small and went to a well-known university for music and proudly graduated with a bachelors in music business. He felt that he needed a change of scene in order to make it big in the industry, so he packed up all of his worldly goods into his car and moved to Nashville, a place where he thought the music industry would have a door wide open waiting for him.

After he arrived in Nashville, he thought, “ here’s my chance, I will get tons of gigs, and people will see me and I will get discovered because of my untrained, but tremendous talent.” Weeks went by and nothing. No gigs, no friends, no stardom. The only singing he did was in the shower and in the car on the way to his restaurant job.

One day Ken lucked out. At a local bar one night he started talking to Barbie. Barbie was a self-made local celebrity. She hosted parties all over Nashville, was an singer herself and had a good friend who was a songwriter who was looking for a front man for her band in order to shop her music to labels. After a quick conversation, it was decided, Ken would meet Jenny the songwriter and they would take it from there.

Jenny and Ken hit it off at first and it was quickly decided that Ken would join the band. Barbie needed live music for her parties so the band was immediately booked at most of Barbie’s monthly events. Jenny and Ken sat down and collaborated on many of the songs for the band. Barbie helped Ken create a fan base via social media and continued to connect Ken with everyone she knew in the industry. She also personally took Ken under her wing and styled him for performances. Basically Barbie took on the role of Ken’s temporary manager. For a while everything was good, until things changed.

Ken asked for styling advice from Barbie, but always ended up wearing anything he wanted on stage regardless of whether or not it was effective. Ken was grateful for Barbie’s help with social media, but never maintained the sites. He updated rarely, but when he did, it was always about what he had for lunch, where he got his hair cut, and other ordinary things. Even though he was working with great artists and getting booked at Barbie’s events, he never shared that with his social network and his fan base became stagnant. He stayed out late, drank a lot and never practiced, and never sought out vocal training. He begged his band mates to help him write accompaniment for his newly written lyrics and melodies, but criticized their every note. He also refused to learn how to read music, how to play enough guitar or piano to be able to write for himself even though they offered to teach him for free. He was consistently late for rehearsals and made every other portion of his life more important than the band. He was never “in the mood” to sing Jenny’s music, he was only fully engaged when the band played Kens music and Ken’s alone.

Soon Barbie stopped helping Ken because Ken wouldn’t help himself. Tension grew within the band and the band took a private vote and decided to look for a new front man who was as dedicated to music as they were. Ken was left out in the cold, removed from Nashville’s inner circle and left to fend for himself, having now burned bridges with all of the connections that he had made through Barbie, but never maintained.

     Ken was not ready for a manager of any kind. Ken was caught up in the “idea” of being a full time musician, but not the “reality” of the work involved. Managers want to see that you have put in all the work yourself in order to get where you are. The manager’s job is to lighten a load that has become unbearable as well as take you to the next level. They are not there to create a career from nothing; they are not there to work for someone who is doing nothing on their own. Moral of the story is: work hard. Study your craft. Research your industry and have a realistic goal in mind and at least an idea of a reasonable way to get there. The manager should help get you to the next level. When you have proven that you have taken yourself s far as it is possible to go through hard work and dedication, then you are ready for management. A manager will only work as hard for you as you will for yourself.

Do you have what it takes?: Barry Brandon pt 2.

   In the second part of our interview we continue to discuss Barry Brandon's many roles, especially as a promoter and artist manager and how he is able to use his stellar interpersonal skills  to create opportunities for all the people he works with.

Claudia MB: 

How do you deal with negative emotions while negotiating a deal or working with an artist? What if they lash out at you, if it becomes personal, or if it becomes a heated situation?

Barry Brandon:
"I don’t believe at any point, in public viewings…. that I have ever lashed out at someone in a disrespectful manner. That all happens behind closed doors. Not to say that we are disrespectful behind closed doors, but the communication within our team may get heated within ourselves. But I think its really important for the community, your artists fan base, your clientele depending on what job that you do…. that they never know any of that.  I’ve always said, ‘Perception is Reality’…that’s the bottom line. And if someone perceives something to be true, then it’s true…. So I think if you just acknowledge what anyone is saying at any given time, you respect it and you answer accordingly… you mean it from your heart, the truth will prevail."

CMB:

Sometimes emotions can play a huge part in how you interact with a client or a venue where you are putting on an event. You try to separate that, for example, you can sit down and work with someone that you don’t like [personally] and  create and agreement that works for both of you because you focus on the project or the problem, is that correct?

BB:

"I would say that I do that 85% of the time…. if it’s the right professional thing to do, I will do it. I will also argue that when it comes to 15% of people or places, I simply will not bring money to that person or business… It’s not a matter of making it publicly known why I would even entertain the idea of joining forces with that particular person, because no one needs to know that. Credibility is really important when.... you work for yourself. You are your brand and when you are your name, then you are responsible for your reputation, so credibility ultimately is all that matters."

                 

 

     As Barry Brandon has learned through his experience in the industry dealing with all types of people, It is important that each party is aware of what is expected of them in order to avoid conflict in the future. He has learned that you can work with anyone temporarily as long as your business activities are a good match, even if you personally clash. Ultimately he has learned that when you work for yourself, building and maintaining a good reputation is the best and only way to succeed in any aspect of the industry especially when you are representing an artist or an organization.

"It wasn’t until April of this year that I was introduced to Barry Brandon and the amazing Bedlam Presents crew. Never asking me to compromise personally or musically, they embraced me and quickly stepped forward to form a band. Members include songwriter JL Rodriguez on keys, Bobby Brandon on drums, Andrew Spring on bass and Jose Gabriel on guitar." ~ Jean Kelley  in her interview with Maximillian Corwell of David Magazine

In the Spotlight: Barry Brandon

As a singer, party promoter for Bedlam Presents, founder of the non-profit organization Hold Me in Your Heart and sometimes artist manager, Barry Brandon spends his days making deals. Listed as one of Atlanta’s 50 most influential people of 2010 according to Fenuxe Magazine, he is used to being in the public eye and using his interaction with people and ability to negotiate, to keep his career going.  In this interview, I sit down with Mr. Brandon to pick his brain and learn how he is so good at what he does.

                       

Claudia MB: 

As a party promoter, artist, president of a charitable foundation, and artist manager, I am sure that deal making is part of your everyday existence. Can you tell me about the type of deals that you handle most often in all of those different roles?

Barry Brandon :

 "Actually I view them all the same. The thing is, that I think as a party promoter, you can get the most out of a venue than with those other things [roles]. Usually when you’re touring with a band, it’s a harder thing to book and you don’t usually make as much money. There is a cost for the sound person, for the door person…. production fees, and you don’t make your money from the door until that number is hit. When you are working as a non-profit organization or you’re a company putting on an event, when you approach someone, they are going to have a renter’s fee. When you are a promoter, all of those things go out the door. Because as a promoter, your name is what is bringing the money into the venue, so the venue is relying on your name to bring people through the door that will drink and spend money. Therefore you have a lot more leeway in your negotiation. So I approach everything as a promoter and not as a musician [with the majority verbal agreements and a few written]."

CMB: 

When negotiating. how do you use objective criteria such as: precedent, professional standards, moral standards, reciprocity, or market value to support your requests?

BB:

" I give them product knowledge, what were supplying, what you’re getting in return, and I discuss it simply on a money factor. When booking a band we would never go into conversation about how good they are or what kind of music they played. I don’t discuss their fanbases or how many albums they’ve sold and who knows them, those things- don’t worry about it. If I can get 300 people into your venue and the bar tab is $5000-$6000, what do you care if the band is good or not? [I justify the dollar amount the venue makes] based on a common number within the industry. Promoters make a certain amount or the venues average payout is on a different scale than a promoter….."

CMB: 

How does having a BATNA (best alternative to a negotiated agreement) affect how you view a negotiation, or does it have any bearing at all on your approach? Do you feel that it gives you more leverage during?

BB:

 "I always have a Plan D [besides Plan B, and C], so for me, my vision is that I don’t own a venue and I don’t own a space, but I have a product that can make you $6000 a night. I bring whatever I am bringing to the table, I bring the people, and these people spend money so what I want in return is [a cut of the profits]. If you don’t want to do that, then you don’t deserve to get that  [the people I can bring to the venue]. I addition to knowing that, there is always another option and you are never actually screwed. I think it is a mutually beneficial relationship between the two [the venue and the promoter]… Its not a matter of, If you don’t do what I want then I’m leaving, it’s a matter of communication until the problem at hand is solved and knowing that on both sides, there is always another option."

CMB: 

How do you handle being seen as a less powerful member of a negotiation?

BB:

" The second that you start stressing about how you are going to do thing based on how the other person does business, is when you will never have the upper hand and you will always feel like you have something to lose. You know your product, you know what you have to offer – just do it."

Stay tuned for the next installment of this interview and learn more about upcoming Bedlam events,  Barry Brandon’s  performance of In My Own Words, a one man cabaret show supporting Hold Me in Your Heart . Be on the look out for his upcoming documentary The Tin Man Project showcasing his journey through the last of his 8 open heart surgeries and the inspiration for the Hold Me in Your Heart Foundation.

THE TIN MAN PROJECT

Seven is Quite Enough from David Lewis on Vimeo.

BEDLAM PRESENTS 1 Year Anniversary

How much does this REALLY cost?

      One day not too long ago, I was walking past the front window of a music store. Displayed in the case under beautiful showroom lights was the keyboard of my dreams.

      As a vocal coach, having a piano is a key factor in being able to perform your job duties at the highest level. I had been working without one for some time, renting studio spaces that provided pianos, but I was limited to where I could go and how many students I could teach due to scheduling conflicts with the studios. At the same time I had been saving up enough fund

s to put my car into the shop to fix a dent put into it by an anonymous individual who seemed to have , *ehem*, difficulty parking in the space next to mine.

 ( Gotta love those people who hit your car and don’t leave a note!) 

 Along with the other dings created by people who cant seem to be able to control their shopping carts.

                                              

      Coincidentally the amount I had saved matched the cost of this shiny new keyboard. I felt the money burning a hole in my pocket and had to make the choice, pretty car? or shiny new keyboard?  As I weighed the pros and cons, I realized that the cost incurred for going with car over the keyboard was more than money. Yes I would love for my vehicle to be presentable (rather than the embarrassment it currently was), but buy buying the keyboard, it would increase the profitability of my business as I would be able to work out of my home rather than renting studio space and I would be able to increase my client roster by travelling directly to a students home with my portable keyboard.  What do you think I chose?

      Every time you make the decision to do something, you are giving up the opportunity to do something else. This is referred to as opportunity cost. A lot of times it can be measured monetarily ( when one thing costs more than another) but other times it can be the decision between something that will provide instant gratification over long term benefits. I think we as artists, musician, and small business owners tend to look at things one way or the other: money, or value. A prime example is  concert guitar-piano duo Robert Bekkers and Anne Ku who discuss the "cost" of attending a concert when you are a musician yourself in their  Concert Blog.

 It is important to growth of our businesses, careers, and personal lives to revaluate every choice while factoring in what you would be missing out on as well as the “cost” of the choice. Sometimes the cost is time, other times its experiences, and often, its education. Remember, not all things can be measured in money.

Do YOU have Klout?

     In finance, one is asked to analyze “meaningful comparisons” or ratios to determine the health of a company. One looks for trends, crunches numbers, and collects numerical data in order to determine how “well” a company is doing.  We look at profit, sales, expenses, stock prices, assets, and debt and review how our numbers compare to similar companies within our own industry. This information helps business owners to determine whether or not to make changes in the future, can reflect success of past business decisions, and may reveal indicators of needed changes to some of our business practices.

     As musicians, artists, party promoters, and individuals in the entertainment industry, you may ask, “What does this have to do with me? I don’t own a business, I just do what my record label (or parent company tell me to do.)” Whether you own a small business or are a rock band on tour, your goal is to influence your target audience. You are selling a physical product, an idea, or an image and as important as is to keep track of your financial health, it is equally important to measure your sphere of influence.

     Social media is how most entertainment entities reach their fans and potential clients. Although not all interactions turn into profit, they can be a huge indicator as to how far your ideas have spread. They can also show how likely your target audience is to spend money on your product, attend your concert, buy your album etc. based on how much they interact with your public identity. Until recently, you were only able to measure your success based on how many Facebook likes your fan page has, or maybe the number of followers you have on Twitter. Now there is an even better way to monitor your sphere of influence: Klout. 

Why is Klout important? 

     Klout measures your social media activity on all of the major social networking sites: Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

    According to Klout.com your “Klout Score measures influence based on your ability to drive action. Every time you create content or engage you influence others. The Klout Score uses data from social networks in order to measure: True Reach: How many people you influence, Amplification: How much you influence them, Network Impact: The influence of your network”

    With the recent addition of YouTube, Google+, Blogger, Flickr, Instagram, Last.fm, Tumblr, and WordPress Klout now has the ability to monitor the full scope of your social media influence. This can be used as a tool to examine marketing success, for brand building  test a new product or idea, and to see how much of a buzz you can create throughout the Internet.  “So I get a score, big deal.” There is more than that. Klout users at differing levels are offered perks like swag, exclusive experiences, and of course, bragging rights.

Hidden Potential

       Seth Godin in his talk on TED.com spends 20 hilarious minutes discussing things that are broken. In this lecture, he talks about things present in his everyday life that he (and perhaps you) perceive as broken. “If I think it’s broken, it’s broken” he tells his audience as he shows slide after slide of examples split into 7 main categories: 1. Not my job, 2. Selfish jerks, 3. The world changed, 4. I didn’t know, 5. I’m not a fish, 6.Contradictions, and 7. Broken on purpose. These ideas inspired him to co-create a website called www.thisisbroken.com where users can upload their own personal “broken” experiences.

       Mr. Godin’s passion is evident in every word he speaks. It is as if the ideas are moving so quickly through his head, it’s all he can do to get them out at a speed that we can understand. He is most focused on the interaction between people and how these poorly designed situations devalue the customer experience.

                           

       I find this lecture particularly relevant because, although he focused on the things he has observed in everyday life, a lot of examples have to do with marketing. From Spam email, to signage, to product packaging, he explains how each one of these “problems” break the interaction between the audience and the intended message. He describes how many companies are not taking advantages of the possible continued relationships with their customers.  Marketing is a conversation between a company and its intended audience. Clear communication solidifies the relation between a company and its consumer. The poor execution of simple ideas can form barriers that hinder this relationship.

       What a great way to look at your marketing strategies regardless of the industry. Many companies, artists, etc. have such great ideas, but poor execution. Mr. Godin inspired me to look at my everyday environment and see what can be improved, then take action to fix it. This ties right in to what I do for my clients, problem solve. It’s not enough to notice something isn’t working, its time to do something about it and discover the hidden potential within your company, art, or product, and develop it.

Organize! Your mind, your space,your life!

One part of the general management consulting industry is workplace organization. For those moving into the realm a great resource is the National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO). Many think that professional organizing is a tool only used in your home. Workplace clutter is one of the top reasons that the day-to-day operation of your office or studio can be hindered. Not being able to find a client file, having a cluttered desk, and a lack of storage all contribute to inefficiency in the workplace. One of the main goals of NAPO “is to have the world recognize the value of organizing and turn to NAPO as the leading organizing authority. Our mission is to develop, lead, and promote professional organizers and the organizing industry.”

NAPO is a wonderful resource to continue your education in organizing and creating workplace systems. They offer courses for general knowledge or specific challenges. The courses all count as credit toward certification, which can solidify your reputation within the consulting industry and confirm credibility by becoming a certified professional organizer.

Their varying chapters give organizers at any level the opportunity to network with others in their field. NAPO also participates in community outreach going into schools to teach basic organization skills as well as assisting people in transition with organizing their lives to help them move forward out of homelessness. The community efforts are a great way for consultants to get new clients as well as identify needs within their market.

Membership offers the advantage of discounts with many retailers related to organization. They also offer a section called the Industry Exchange, which offers member a first look at new products, and deep discounts only available to NAPO. Members have the chance to become involved in national conferences throughout the country. These conferences involve specialized education, lectures from leaders within the industry as well as front row access to the latest trends and changes within the industry. NAPO has also created a member directory where prospective clients can search for the best Certified Professional Organizer (CPO) to suit their specific challenges.

Becoming a member of NAPO helps the general management consultant to refine their skills, increase their knowledge, and connect with the rest of the industry. Credibility is one of the most crucial parts of success as a consultant as well as being on top of what’s new and useful to your client. As part of the organization, you are marketed directly to your target market as part of their official website. Don’t we all want to be part of something great?

"Delivering Happiness": The Importance of Company Culture

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Be Remarkable!

It's not enough to be good at something. Sometimes its not even necessary. But in today's age, what is most important is to stand out. Playing it safe is risky, be bold!

Welcome to the Matrix: QR Codes

     The goal of technology is to make things easier by getting  information to you as quickly as possible. A fantastic example of this within the entertainment industry is through the use of Quick Response codes. You may have seen them in the corners of magazine ads, and on band posters taped to the sides of buildings. They are little squares similar to barcodes. What are they for, you ask? They are your gateway to the Internet in the blink of an eye. Imagine Neo getting plugged into the Matrix.

QR codes are a great way to get consumers (whether in business or music) to see the specific information that enhances your brand. 

Whether it be a link to your band page,  

 the product list on your website,

or your Twitter and Youtube pages, these codes send your audience directly there. Its as simple as pressing the shutter button on your smart phone.

The use of QR codes is an amazing trend in mobile marketing. One of the attributes that make it so great, is how easy they are to use. Newer phones come with the Readers/Barcode Scanners pre-installed. There are also many free QR generators available on the web for public use. They can also be printed on practically anything, from product packaging to business cards, to decals on the side of your company car or touring van.

 Playing a gig ? Sell concert T-shirts at your merchandise table with QR codes printed right on them. That way your fans literally become walking billboards for your music. Put your album cover or band name on the front, and the QR codes on the back. The link can send curious people straight to iTunes or CD baby to listen to samples of your music and then purchase your album.

If you are a small business that sells a product or service, use QR codes to direct potential customers to coupons and special offers only available via this link. You would be surprised how many people walking by your storefront ( with a QR code displayed in the window of course!) would click the link and then come in to purchase the item associated with that special offer.

QR codes keep customers engaged without keeping them tied to a computer. They turn passive observers into active consumers. So will you take the blue pill and stick with the posters, stickers, fliers and mailers that you’ve always used or take the red pill and ride the wave of the future? The choice is yours.

"This is your last chance. After this, there is no turning back. You take the blue pill - the story ends, you wake up in your bed and believe whatever you want to believe. You take the red pill - you stay in Wonderland and I show you how deep the rabbit-hole goes."~The Matrix

~All photos courtesy of the Warner Brothers film, The Matrix

Spotify: Good Idea? Bad Idea?

?

Spotify, (just in case you’ve been asleep for the past month) is a Swedish music service that allows users to listen to full albums streaming on the Internet for free.  All the user needs to do is download the app and they have instant access to hundreds of thousands of songs on their desktop. They cannot download or transfer the music with this service, but they can create playlists to share with other Spotify users. Other paid levels of this service allow access to the database via your mobile device that is ad free, and available both on-line or off. It started as Spotify AB, available in Europe as of October 2008. In July of this year, it became available to the United States by invitation only. What does this mean for independent musicians?

As an independent or unsigned artist, the most important thing you can do is to expose your music to as many audiences as possible. Spotify guarantees widespread exposure by mixing your music with other major artists in the same genre. Allowing users to listen to your music for free, creates a legal way for potential fans to “try before the buy” without having to steal your music from the web. With this service, users can share playlists through social media, drawing a new following and introducing your music to an audience who otherwise may never have come across your album. Fans are also persuaded to spend their money on concerts/shows and merchandise since they have not had to purchase the music itself. Another plus are the royalties you receive every time your music is played. The service can also generate consumer reports so that you can track your audience and see what songs fans are listening to regularly.

Fans get to hear not just select songs, but your entire album for free. The number of plays is unlimited (with Premium service), so why should they bother to buy, especially if they can also listen on their mobile phone. They would be able to bring the music with them in the car and everywhere else they go.  In order to be included in the service, you must already be connected to their list of aggregators. Although you get royalties, Major labels are shareholders in Spotify and earn more money per play that their unsigned counterparts. According to a PDA: The Digital Content Blog, independent artists are getting short-changed with regards to revenue.

All in all, although you can’t count on Spotify to pay your rent, as an unsigned artist, it can only help. Building your fan base should be top priority and you will be surprised how many fans want to support you and  buy your albums anyway. Giving people a way to sample your music will bring new fans to your shows and can help pull your band from obscurity. 



~all photos from Warner Bros. animation sketch "Good Idea, Bad Idea" from the cartoon Animaniacs

DIY Branding Profile: Turquoise Jeep

     For all you newbies out there in the music industry wondering, “How am I going to make it, if I’m not signed to a huge label?” Put your worries to rest. The industry is changing and shifting into a Brave New World. It is no longer necessary to be embraced by a media giant in order to create a presence in the music scene. All you need is a great idea, catchy music, and an image.  Now don’t get me wrong, you can’t do it alone. Surround yourself with a group of positive and talented people. You’ll need a producer, a video director, and a beast editor. You’ll need to write your own music, really figure out what audience will be most receptive to your unique sound, and do everything you can to Sound More Epic ;). Next step: Activate your YouTube account and ask the masses “What kind of music is missing from your IPod?” and you too, can create your own following. It is all about the brand. A prime example of successful do-it-yourself branding would be the phenomenon that is Turquoise Jeep .

     The most important part of branding is: Identify your target audience. The music of Turquoise Jeep is definitely for the masses. How many times have you heard the question “What happened to the good old days when music made you feel something?”  Whether the reaction is laughter, shock, confusion, or disbelief, with over 4.5 million views their hit single Lemme Smang It is clearly what their teen and college student demographic is looking for.  These viral videos along with their album Turquoise Jeep Records: Keep The Jeep Ridin' ,“have already made them cult heroes.” says Jason Newman in his  MTV Buzzworthy Blog.

     So what makes TJ so successful? In a recent phone interview with Co-CEO Whatchyamacallit, we discussed their marketing strategy. Heavily influenced by the RnB, Hip Hop, and Pop music of the late 80’s and early 90’s, “We’re stuck in a time capsule. [we make] feel good music, rather than emotionally driven [such as anger] from a time when music was fun and safe to do”. Looking to their fan base for confirmation via social media , whether it be tribute videos on YouTube or comments on their Facebook/Twitter pages (@TurquoiseJeep) , people enjoy watching the videos because, “Every member has a [distinct] character and every character is relatable", says Whatchyamacallit.

   They are certainly “characters” all right with:

                                  
   (the "Ladies Man")             (the hardcore             (need I say more?)   
                                               rapper/dancer)     


                                             
(Mr. "Blue Eyed Soul")           (the crooner)           (the genius behind all
                                                                                     of TJ's bangin' tracks)

“Every song is represented by dance and the visual aspects look the way the music makes you feel,” he continues. Part of the visual they create in their videos is with their clothing line: Turquoise Jeep Records.


     Another marketing tip: Get your fans involved. The more interactive your product is, the more people come back. Signature dances give people something to learn. They also give people a reason to watch the videos again and again and even more reason to download the album as the perfect soundtrack to perform their freshly learned moves at parties, the club, and for friends and family.

     

     Once you know the words, dances and have the T-shirt , what better place to show off your new duds that at Turquoise Jeep concert? They will be hitting the stage again on their Keep the Jeep Ridin’ College Tour this fall. Next stop July 30, in Boston, MA at Good Life Bar , with two more shows booked in late August in Athens, GA and North Carolina. Just in case you were unsure whether they are  serious or not, check them out  March 2012 at the South by Southwest Music Festival ( SXSW)! If their past shows are any indication, their fans are willing to drive quite a distance to support them.

     This constant exposure puts them in the right circles and their commitment to networking positioned them to be able to open for Big Boi of Outkast at Atlanta’s CenterStage, Co-CEO Flynt Flossy explains in his interview with Nick Murray of the Village Voice “Q&A: Flynt Flossy On The Past, Present, And Future Of Turquoise Jeep Records”They’ve even had some of their signature phrases quoted on the NBC drama The Cape .

      “The objectives that a good brand will achieve include: Delivers the message clearly, Confirms your credibility, Connects your target prospects emotionally, Motivates the buyer, [and] Concretes User Loyalty ”, says marketing expert Laura Lake in her article

“ What is branding and how is it important to your marketing strategy". Their simple videos, exaggerated catch phrases, vibrant clothing line, individual character development and high energy concerts have clearly defined their brand.

     Ultimately, their commitment to their fans, asking questions and really adapting according to the responses, have put Turquoise Jeep on the fast track to success. And all TJ can do is say thank you. “ What makes us most successful is our connection to our fans. There are so many other artists out who are completely disconnected. The fans make you. Without them there would be no album. They accepted us just like this. They came into our world and didn’t try to rape it.” ~ Whatchyamacallit.

     The people speak and Turquoise Jeep listens. TJ will be adding 3 new designs to their clothing line by popular demand: The Flynt Flossy tank featured in the Can he Move Like This video, a Cavities design, and a Fried or Fertilized themed shirt expected to be released in the next couple of months. Also be on the look out for their second album KTJR2 and the highly anticipated Flow with the Floss Dance instructional DVD  to be out later this fall (what a great holiday gift! J)

     Whether you’re a lover or a hater, think they’re hilarious, or just don’t get them, Turquoise Jeep is definitely something you remember. And isn’t that the point?