Last year I posted about one of the requirements for landing a record deal in Nashville – or for that matter succeeding as a recording artist in any genre or label city. In that blog I posted about talent as a requirement for success as a recording artist. If it is your desire to get signed, be it at an independent or a major, then your attitude can also be a critical factor.
As a reminder, there are always other artists being looked at (or soon will be) for the same slot at the same label that you hope to fill. They are just as talented as you are—but the label doesn’t have the resources to take you both. All other things being equal, do you suppose they will sign the arrogant jerk or the person they find pleasant and that will be the easiest to work with? This is not rocket science!
Part of a good attitude around here is not saying anything negative about anybody. Just be a good guy or gal! You want people to like you! I was once helping an artist procure a recording agreement in Nashville (Back when deals were more plentiful. Translated, before illegal file sharing.) At breakfast with me one morning the Artist made a critical comment about another artist – one already signed and successful. By lunch I had gotten a call from someone considering signing my artist-client. The comment had gotten back to the person calling me! I told the artist. He never did that again. In this town you never know who you are talking to or who is listening to you talk. Even if you don’t feel it, act like you are a nice person who is happy for everybody’s success!
Attitude is not only important when in getting signed – it is equally important aftergetting signed. More than you might realize because you’ve never heard of the artists who sabotaged their careers with their own attitudes. Apparently after getting a deal some artists feel they can then show their true colors. A good friend and very successful manager once told me about a certain male artist he was co-managing. The artist was on a major label and his first album was in the stores (remember stores?) and at least one single had been released. The artist decided he knew more than the label about selling records and announced to management that he was going to have it out with the label president. When the managers warned him that approach might not be so wise, he retorted “They won’t drop me because they have too much money invested in me!” So, contrary to the advice of his managers, the Artist made an appointment with the label head and let him have it with both barrels. I probably don’t need to tell you what happened next. He was dropped from the label on the spot and kicked out of the building. Who was he? No idea – I never heard of him until his former manager told me the story (surprise, surprise). And I know of other similar occurrences – at least one of which I was involved with as the only attorney this artist used that did not get stiffed (because management paid me).
Burning bridges, being a jerk or an arrogant ass is not going to help you advance your career. If you think you might be one of those then get some therapy before coming to town. It might pay for itself.