(Rap Newswire) March 13, 2006 - Most important of all is the staff that SHOW OFF RECORDS must utilize to accomplish the type of marketing and promotion they will need to place product into the mainstream. Staffing should consist of a primary industry professional (consultant), an office Manager and at least 3 office workers all who should be computer literate. Duties will include communication between retail, radio, pools, clubs, publicity and industry contacts on a weekly basis. The ability to get promotional product out and to follow up on the product sent. And the ability to get information on upcoming shows, festivals, events, parties and station promotions, disseminate it to the staff and keep the lines of communication open between record label and ALL others.

Unfortunately what I am finding more and more of is the young entrepreneur who really only desires the fame and popularity associated with the entertainment industry and not the basic business acumen needed to initiate and maintain a viable entertainment business.

“BALLIN” has become a game of one up man ship to see who has the brightest “iced out jewelry”, biggest most expensive cars and the latest fashions. Who can market themselves into a major deal yet not have any professional team available to maintain a deal.

Recently I spoke at a conference and during a private networking session I was asked how to just “jump over” all that old fashioned business and go directly to having a major record deal. My response was that it would be really easy to do if you have met someone in the position of power at the major labels that wanted to immediately sign you and spend their money on making your career. The only issue I can see would be in how you will keep a deal of this magnitude without chosen individuals around you that know the business, have connections and will work on your behalf to ensure your continued success and well being.

In other words where is your trusted team?

Why not develop the business structure you will need now, acquire your trusted team, develop your database of industry connections and prepare yourself for success.

Here is a basic Record Label startup expense sheet based for a six (6) month plan. The difference between the two expense sheets is phenomenal.

Office
Rent 9,500
Lights 1,200
Multi phone line with paging / intercom / hold system 3,000
5 lines with Account codes 1,500
DSL 600
Hardware

Microwave oven 200
Coffee Pot 50
Stereo system 1,000
DVD system with monitor 1,000
Copy machine 250

Computer (5 each) 5,000

Pentium 3 or better
40 gig hard drive
17” monitor
Laser printer
Multi function printer/ flat bed scanner / fax
3D accelerator
Sound cards with speakers
Microphone
Video camera
DVD / CD player
DVD / CD burner
Server system for marketing, promotion teams
5,000

Software
Microsoft Office XP Professional 800
Right Track royalty / accounting 3,000

Salaries
Professional Consultant 50,000
Office Manager 19,500
Office Workers (3) 39,000

Total 142,600

This does not take into consideration studio costs, producer fees and individual artist costs, but now you still have money to create product, test it, sell it, market and promote.

So my question becomes IS THIS A BUSINESS OR A GAME? Why venture into the entertainment industry if what you really want is your personal 15 minutes of fame. The duties of a record label are to produce, manufacture, market, promote, sell and collect monies on the music that is created by the company. Anything less is not a record company!

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Author: The Music Specialist