WHY IS IT SO HARD FOR PEOPLE IN MINNESOTA TO SUPPORT ONE ANOTHER?

Especially in the urban entertainment community, why is it so hard for anyone from local artists to club promoters to work together towards the same common goal which is to ultimately help put and keep Minnesota on the map? As someone who has worked with various artists and promoters, it is evident that there is this imaginary race for the "top spot" or limelight. Everybody wants to be the star or the name on top of the flier as I put it. Instead of working together as they do in other cities, for example in the ATL, artists and promoters join forces to push each-other to the top. Which is why Atlanta is one of the most successful cities for urban artists and businesses in the United States. Don't get me wrong, there are companies out there willing to and who have come together with others to combat this issue. Recent successes are proof that unity in the community does in fact exist. However, there is still a gap that needs to be bridged in order for US to get to where we really want to be. With that said I've come up with a few tips and advice.
1. Concert/Club Promoters - As many of us know, the demographic we serve is way too small to "split the vote". Communicate with eachother. If you are thinking of having an event on a specific date, ask around to see if there are any other promoters having an equivelent event around or on that same date. Therefore, with the state of the economy and all, people won't have to be forced to choose which event to attend. That also would give you the opportunity to support one anothers event. You help publicize their event and they help publicize yours. TEAM UP! If you have a network of x amount of people, promoter 2 has x amt of people, and so on, put all those people together and you get one very successful event. Easy, and everyone makes money.

2. Artists - Support one another by going to local shows, purchasing CD's, and appearing on eachothers albums. The saying does hold true and has been proven that "If one gets put on, we all get put on." Spots like Vibin' Exposed open mic at Axis on Mondays, The Red Sea and Arnellia's on Tuesday, Baggan's Pub Thursdays, and The Blue Nile on Fridays are all places that showcase some of the hottest talent the Twin Cities has to offer. So if you don't know, now you know!

Not only does this go for the entertainment industry, same goes for small businesses, churches, and you! Sponsor events, volunteer, shop at your local mom and pop stores...

"You must be the change you want to see in the world." - Mahatma Gandhi

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Alicia Leafgreen on September 24, 2008 at 8:15pm

I feel you on this one.
It's about coming up together, and helping one another, not just yourself.
OLA

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by SICK on October 5, 2008 at 12:17am

I also think we ourselves are responsible to set an example for others. I hate to misquote him but i think Gandhi said "We must be the change we want to see in this world" and that says it all!!!

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by TCONetwork Administrator on October 5, 2008 at 12:26am

I agree. I used that same quote in a status update on myspace before. lol

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Donald W.R. Allen,II on December 4, 2008 at 12:38am

This is a topic that starts with Black people in the USA only being out of Slavery 3-4 generations....

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Dan "EME manager" Ominde on December 4, 2008 at 3:57pm

I agree with this issue because alot of artist in MN have a F-U i can do it by myself attitude. EasyMoney ENT we show love to any artist who knows and understand what a movement consist of. If anybody that we see that could benefit from our support we show it regardless of the differences. At the end of the day we all wanna be stars, but one of us has to open the door so we can kick it in. In short, MN stand up and start supporting your local artist. People are so quick to go see Jeezy, Wayne or who ever for $50 a ticket, but can't come to see upcoming talent for $5. Lets be Real now.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by TCONetwork Administrator on December 4, 2008 at 4:00pm

Couldn't agree more. Not to mention most of our talent put on way better shows! lol We have way more fun at an open mic than some of these bigger concerts.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Dan "EME manager" Ominde on December 12, 2008 at 11:56am

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by CALI~ @Cali_B on Twitter! on December 28, 2008 at 7:17pm

MANNNNNNNNNNNNN, I think you just nailed that on the head!! Oh and when they go see the national acts, best believe they are buying a new fit, getting hair done , etc....so yeah...$5-$7 bucks is a good price for a weekly concert @ Axis on Mondays!

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Zachariah Ysaye Oluwa Bankole Babington-Johnson on December 13, 2008 at 2:49pm

Bible says a prophet is never honored in his own land. Sad to say but folks gotta get the kudos elsewhere to be accepted back home, its like the crib doesnt understand stars are stars cause they get love at home. I dunno...been like this for a minute, minus like atlanta and sort of TX, LA right now folks is dealing with it elsewhere too. But when that official coronation of a star from MN happens on the hip-hop then ereyone will be eager to make the next one so we'll just have to wait and see

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by JOFOTO612 on December 25, 2008 at 8:00am

sounds nice.it will never happen though. there r to many haters.no one wants to c someone do better than themselves.takin photos at different venues alows me to interact with diffrent promoters and they all dont get along. some promoters throw shows the same day as u jus cuz they hate.it's like having a concert on the same night as an event that u r getting honored at?dont make sense.we r not impressed in this city by anyone. people from here dont think the artist from here r good enough. im all for supporting local cats as long as they r good. someone else besides your friends need to think your good.i could go on and on about the different things that go on behind the scenes with all the hating going on.(u know who u r). if u really wanna be unified around here people should get together and air out there difrences. dont keep the hate going. get with the person u dont like tell them y and try to work it out. if not we will continue to have half empty shows and unsupported artist

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by TCONetwork Administrator on December 26, 2008 at 12:46pm

I wouldn't say never Joe. lol But I feel you. You hit the nail right on the head. Like I said, I really think it's an ego and pride thing. Everybody wants to be in that 'spotlight'. Thing is, everybody has a position and purpose in life and that may not always be what they want it to be. But you can't hate on someone else who's purpose and Will it is to be what YOU want yours to be. For example: That's like me wanting to be a photographer, but no matter how hard I try my photos just aren't good and I don't have an eye for a good shot. I can't hate on Joe because his photos are better than mine, he always has good photos, and is working all the events in the city. I either have to step my game up, or become Joe's intern. lol I joke a lot but I'm serious. Some things just come natural to some people and that's because that's what they were set on this earth to do. I'm not gonna repeatedly put myself out there with wack photos just to hate and compete with Joe. I'mma see how we can work together so maybe some of Joe's talents will rub off on me.

I think there can be change the more we talk about it and the more it gets exposed. I also agree that people should communicate with one another and stop looking at everyone as 'competition'. I had one person I hardly knew who I guess does what I do, tell me honestly and respectfully how they felt about me and my successes and how much it affected them. I couldn't do anything but respect them for that. It was deep. From that point on the naivety of being new to the game stopped and I realized that the envy, jealousy, and hate is really out there. All because of what you've accomplished to the point where you don't even know who to trust. But what can you do? For a while and still now sometimes it bothers me knowing that it's out there but all I can do is do me. All I can do is believe that this is what I was put here to do, for a way bigger purpose than what can be seen on the surface and keep it movin. I think the reason why there is that lack of support is people don't see that bigger picture. They don't realize the role model in what we do. They don't see the impact we can have on a community if we just work together. All they see is something temporary. It's cool to aim for the spotlight but once you get there what you gonna do with it? Will you help others achieve it? Or be content with 15 minutes of fame? Especially in entertainment. Unfortunately it's not about providing quality entertainment to people, having fun, or even actually making money anymore. It's about how many people you can say showed up or how many club nights you have at all these different venues. Listen, NOBODY is out here ballin. There's not one single promoter out here that is really making that much of a living off of these mediocre events and club nights. NONE of these artists are signed. So it's like look, why hate if nobody's making any REAL money or making any REAL progress? Maybe I'm beating a dead horse. lol

Bottom line is, stop hatin, stop worrying about someone having it and you don't, team up and get it. Period. Things aren't always what they seem anyway so you may be hating on somebody who is actually in the same 'position' as you. The Twin Cities can be a way funner place, people can be way more successful, and A LOT more money can be made.