FUNGA DEAL: The Art of Negotiating Successful Deals in the Arts Industry

By Buddha Blaze

(CLICK ON BANNER TO READ)

Over the years that I have been in the music industry, I have realized that an immense number of artists are losing out to the industry because they lack the skills to negotiate a fruitful deal. Many artists either get either duped, played or whatever names they want to call it because they do not pay attention to the details that are required to highly benefit from an arts deal. Most of these mistakes have been due to negligence, lack of knowledge and purely because they knew no better. We all know that in the art industry it’s never really about how much talent you have even though it’s very important but artists with better negotiating skills go way further than those that don’t. No wonder the disparity in artists.

What I have leant from this experience is that talent alone will not bring home the bacon, negotiating skills, networking skills and follow up skills are necessary to be a completely self-reliant artist making a living from the talent. As an artist you need to look out for the signs that make a great deal, you need to know when to give up on a deal and when a deal is too sweet to be true. Most artists are not meant for this kind of thing it’s a thing of the experts. I teamed up with Spark Africa and international art deal negotiator Ross van Horne of van Horn Consulting to create the first two day workshop on how to negotiate a successful business deal in the arts industry.

Ross van Horn is a global negotiations expert having worked in his home country of USA, Europe, Asia and around the African continent. Through van Horn Consulting he has led numerous consulting and training engagements in private and public sectors. Organizations he has consulted to are in the field of telecommunications, FMGG’s, health care, oil, gas, publishing and United Nations. He is a former Associate Director of an art gallery in Hollywood, CA. In his trainings he utilizes the internationally recognized simulations from the Harvard Project on Negotiation. Ross has the passion for this workshop and he loves to share his knowledge. See more of his work: Ross van Horn.
 

Spark Africa is an arts agency that’s been in the African arts industry for about 10 years now, negotiating for artists, making deals and developing as many artists as it could possibly manage. Over the years artists have come and go but those who remain at the top have a special skill our lengthy credentials speak for themselves Spark Africa The Funga Deal (Close the Deal) workshop will focus on how to negotiate a deal under tough circumstances, how to identify your clientele, how to read the language of negotiators and how to turn NO into YES. It is a process and it requires necessary professional skills and a keen eye.

We are inviting artists, managers, DJs, dancer, visual artists, designers, creative, dancers, actors, film makers, performing artists, artists managers, studio owners, photographers and those in this filed. For Ksh. 6,000 in May you will have a two day experience that will change how you look at your career.

Contact us now if interested at word@sparkafrica.com for more details. Call us at +254 718 328 717

WIN A TICKET TO SEE NNEKA LIVE IN KENYA

NNEKA LIVE IN CONCERT
Opening Performance By Dan Chizi Aceda
Hosted By Buddha Blaze
Venue: Treehouse, Museum Hill, Westlands Nairobi
SATURDAY 4TH February 2012 (7PM)
ENTRY: 500/-

Advance Tickets are avilable at Goethe Instiut - Nairobi. To win a ticket all you have to do is answer this question: Advance Tickets Online: http://tixpress.com.132.blankserver.com/artiste.asp?eventid=124

Press Conference: Thursday 2nd Feb, 3pm Venue: Kilimambogo Conference Room Nairobi Safari Club, University Way

WHAT IS THE NAME OF NNEKA’s LATEST ALBUM?

The first 20 people to follow and reply this question on this blog automatically stand a chance to win a ticket to see Nneka Live in Kenya. Good on you.

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/events/323638384335360/

Nneka ft Nas - Heart Beat: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dp5FdsaP2QU

A bit about Nneka


Nigerian songstress Nneka grew up in the Delta region, and later relocated to Hamburg - Germany. Her first album was Victim of Truth (2005) followed by No Longer at Ease (2009). She impressed Lenny Kravitz, he invited her to be supporting acthttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif on tour. In 2011 she released her third album; a multi-faceted and “politically conscious”, a potpourri of Reggae, Soul, Afro, R&B and Hip Hop.
Daughter of a Nigerian father and German mother; Nneka Egbuna follows the footsteps of Fela Kuti and other artists who use music for community. She is setting out for an East Africa tour to Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, and Zanzibar. Some regard the powerful vocalist Nneka first as an activist, and then as a musician. “If there were no pain in the world, I wouldn’t sing,” says the soul singer

Nneka is internationally well known and has performed all over Europe, USA and is getting Africa to know her. She has toured with award winning Nigerian star; 2Face. She has made songs with top rappers such as Nas, Damian Marley and toured with Knaan. Nneka is the future of African music.

www.nnekaworld.com

EXHIBITION FOR AFRICAN HIP HOP IN NEW YORK

By Buddha Blaze pics by Jesse Shipley

MUSEUM FOR AFRICAN ART - NEW YORK

Jesse Shipley from the Museum of African Art in New York has embarked on an initiative to showcase the rising phenomenon that is African hip hop. Hip hop in West and South Africa has been given the shine it deserves but its East African hip hop that has lagged behind in the exposure – this doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist. So Jesse Shipley arrived in Nairobi January with his South African compadre Dzino from Rage Productions to have an exterior look at the budding hip hop scene in the city of Nairobi. Their aim is to see artists in Kenya who are using hip hop as a tool of communication and innovation and empowerment.
POINT BLANK EVUMBI

Spark Africa put together an African Hip Hop Exhibition Meet Up which included meeting all the players, innovators, illustrators, artists, b-boys, activists and personalities influenced by hip-hop and using it as a tool to address political issues. This also includes artists and personalities who are merging their creativity with modern technology in order to get their message across to their audiences. Hip hop as we know it is not all about shouting down in a microphone but it also needs a sense of sophistication in terms of being technologically ready and innovative enough to be used as an activism tool for now and the future.
SPARK AFRICA

The African Hip Hop Exhibition Meet Up led us to Pawa 254 to meet a successfully innovative hip hop artist in Kenya; the gospel influenced scholar and former member of Ukoo Flani Mau Mau – Juliani. This is an artist from the inner city Dandora slums of Nairobi, he has catapulted hip hop into the realms of corporate Kenya without compromising anything that he started out fighting for many years ago. Pawa 254 is a creative centre founded by photographer Boniface Mwangi who is also influenced by hip hop. This centre houses many creative people and gives them an opportunity to focus on their creativity.
JULIANI AT HIS BASE IN PAWA 254



BONIFACE MWANGI AT HIS OFFICE PAWA 254

After being inspired by Juliani and Boniface Mwangi at Pawa 254 we head over to Sarakasi Dome – the current home of WAPI the biggest hip hop movement in Africa where many artists started their careers. It is here that meet Point Blank Evumbi a hip hop scholar, illustrator, cartoonist and lyricist. This is the kind of multi-talented artists that will dictate the future of Kenyan hip hop. We also meet a whole group of other upcoming hip hop artists including Abbas, Checkmate, Moroko, Kimya, Alai K and many more. We headed out to one of Nairobi’ hip hop studios – Phoenix Records where we met with owner Flash.

ABBAS a.k.a DOOBIEZ INTERVIEWED BY JESSE SHIPLEY

FLASH AT PHIENIX RECPORDS


The African Hip Hop Exhibition Meet Up proceeded to Just a House; the studio of Jus A Band a group that defines Nairobi genius creativity to meet group members Bill and Muli. These are some amazing voices in Kenyan music using innovation and technology to make the most amazing music. They went viral with Makmende a few years ago and still leading in creativity. We also check out Kibera; the home of Octopizzo and graffiti writer Bankslave who give us a tour of their neighbourhood. In the slums of Kibera we find what hip hop has been doing in the community through graffiti and positive music. Kibera is not just a slum.

OCTOPIZZO IN KIBERA


GRAFFITI WRITER IN KIBERA PEACE BASE


JUST A BAND AT JUST A HOUSE

The African Hip Hop Exhibition is coming up soon in New York; keep it here to know which artists were chosen from each country in Africa to participate in this initiative by Jesse Shipley from the Museum for African Arts. It is important to give the African hip hop scene an international face because the genre has given a lot to the continent including inspiring a voice of change, reason and development. Hip hop has been involved in politics, social change and even inspired advertising. Hip hop has given to many what would have never been given to them. Hip hop has built careers, characters and families. Big Up! Hip Hop.

MY LECTURE AT THE PRESIDENTIAL MUSIC TRAINING CAMP

Pics by Spark Africa and PPMC



It was a beautiful sunny day and the venue was Greenfields Hotel in a serene part of this mountainous county which overlooks one of the highest points across the African continent. Highly exciting than that were over a group of over 80 talented and enthusiastic music students from all over Kenya who had gathered at the hotel to seek knowledge on how they could further their soon to be full-time careers. The Permanent Presidential Music Commission had been kind enough to invite me and I see this as an opportunity to help young people getting into the music industry to be fully prepared before they even venture in.



The one thing I have observed in the industry is that when musicians start out, they only think about how they will make money and be rich. What I have often advised them is that the money will not be made unless they are passionate enough to be able to receive it. Talent in the music industry is only 10 per cent of the work it the rest is how ready an artist is and how committed they are to make it. I gave the story of how a five minute chat between Nigerian artist DBanj and mega superstar Kanye West led to a signing on his label Good Music. They coincidentally met at a Dubai airport; DBanj was ready and he looked the part.

DBanj was mistaken for Kanye West when he walked into the airport because Kanye was on his way too. Dbanj waited for him and within five minutes let him sample his music. He was at the right place, right time and was so ready for big things. Most artists rely too much on talent but we live in an era where talent can be learnt so that’s not the overriding factor when it comes to success in this competitive and cut throat industry. So organisation is an artist’s best chance at winning. I made the student understand the importance of having the basic management tools they can have cheaply before even venturing into the industry.



I’ve met many artists wanting to succeed but don’t even have a biography of themselves. I mean the industry is so demanding that you may not have time to play for every record and business executive you meet. You need to be able to drop them a brief bio and music in the quickest time possible. The people who run the music industry don’t have the time to listen to your millions of stories about what you have done. If they can’t read it then it’s a waste of time. Now many up-coming artists may not have the funds to pay someone to write them a bio so they need to write their own bio but always remember to write as a third party.
Your bio has to have the five second attraction rule – it takes that much time for anyone who is going to change your career to get interested. Your bio must first have an interesting and artistic look so if you want to play around with fonts that’s okay – it shows your personality. Secondly your introduction must be brief and to the point – where you started music, your influences, your story. Your story will always sell you.


Some artists such as Knaan, 50 Cent and Emmanuel Jal have succeeded mainly because they sold their story well. If you have a deep story it should be at the top of your bio. That’s what will catch the needed attention.
Thirdly the photography in your bio must be of the highest order even if it’s not done professionally; its must show your full character. If you are into fashion that must come out flawless. If you are a performing artist then the picture must show you playing an instrument, if you sing about environment then look like you care for it. Keep it classy yet simple. After the photo, put in your bio the highlights of your career so if you played in high school choir let it be known. Your bio must be the most basic description of yourself in five minutes of meeting someone; Remember the people who will make you real money don’t have the time

THE PRESIDENTIAL MUSIC COMMISSION & ITS DEDICATION TO MUSIC

By Buddha Blaze, Pics by PPMC


THE PRESIDENTIAL MUSIC COMMISSION TRAINING CAMP IN MUSIC

In my years of working in the music industry, there has been a presumption that government is uninterested in the plight of musicians leave alone acknowledging the music industry. In Kenya, music has always been viewed as a secondary career, not something that would be considered a proper life choice. Times have slightly changed; the last few years have been testimony that music is a viable career worth investing in. The government has shifted its stance and is slowly opening its mind set. This has been attributed by the successes of the many Kenyan artists such as Eric Wainaina, Suzanna Owiyo and Nameless.


MUSIC STUDENTS LEARNING PRODUCTION

I recently had an encounter that has changed my perception of government’s view on music when the Permanent Presidential Music Commission invited me to give a lecture at their annual Youth Training Camp in Music at Greenfields in Nyeri. The dedicated ladies and gentlemen at The Presidential Music Commission are visionary civil servants who have dedicated their time and effort in getting music to earn its importance in Kenya. Mr. Wanjohi who is personally involved in sourcing entertainment for the President during major state functions has also used his position to slowly influence the way government views music.



MUSIC MENTOR SUZANNE GACHUKIA IN SESSION

With support from the departmental head Mr. Thuku this office is changing many things. The department is not only involved in VIP entertainment – its expanding to touch mainstream musicians. The department is involved in research of music activities in the country, documenting music activities and laying the foundation and support of upcoming and existing musicians. Their mandate is to do research, preserve and support. The annual Training Camp in Music is one of those initiatives that I was amazed to see even takes place. The music camp was begun in 2008 to help raise the standards of music in Kenya.


VOICE LESSONS BY KAVUTHA ASIYO

Every year the camp takes place in a different part of Kenya – music students with talent and enthusiasm come from different parts of Kenya for a 10 day music camp to develop the music skills in management, audio engineering, marketing, marketing, performance, song arrangement, song writing, production, choreography and much more. The PPMC invites mentors, well known musician, managers and industry practitioners to impact the upcoming musicians. The department has managed to place music in the government program Vision 2030 geared to enhance music in Kenya and make it relevant to economic development.

PHYSICAL TRAINING & CHOREOGRAHY LESSON BY BILLY SADIA

The department is also involved in re-writing the Kenyan music policy and including new methods in which to look at the music industry. The mission of this policy is to create an infrastructure for the growth and development of music while providing a basis for interactions with music as an educational, cultural and economic activity. All in all with all the problems facing the Kenyan music industry today can only be rectified by a good music policy which puts everything in perspective. I wish to thank everyone at the Permanent presidential Music Commission for their dedication and work ethic is unusually noble.


MUSIC POLICY

DAN CHIZI ACEDA AT LAKE OF STARS FESTIVAL - MALAWI

Story by Dan Chizi Aceda pictures by Lake of Stars Festival



Dan Chizi Aceda – the Crown Prince of Benga is one of Kenya’s rising music sensation and he recently became the first Kenyan artist to perform the Lake of Stars Festival in Manguchi - Malawi; one of top Africa’s must do music festivals. Here is his personal tour account.


……….when I found out that my application to the Lake of Stars festival had been successful and that for the first time in my career I would be going to play share the stage with Freshlyground and The Foals, I was elated. I drafted a set list and
started making calls to my band to tell them the news. This was the biggest gig of my career but I would have to cater for all of our travel and accommodation expenses. Lake of Stars being a non-profit festival this is the norm, you have to get yourself to the gig the first time and if you have a big impact then they will bring you back under better terms.
LAKE MALAWI




I had no idea how to raise this money and how to justify the ROI to any potential investors. I approached a lot of corporate with all types of proposals but all were either already into other gigs or unwilling to listen. The flights to Lilongwe were filled up, we had lost our reservation at Ethiopian Air due to non- payment and now the only option was Kenya Airways which was double the price. The timing was close nobody had opened up yet, but determined, I kept knocking on doors.

PERMANENT PRESIDENTIAL MUSIC COMMISSION OF KENYA

One of the doors I knocked on was the Government of Kenya - The Permanent Presidential Music Commission. There we met a gentleman called Mr Thuku who is the director. Surprisingly, they offered their support and said there was no way I would go to Malawi as the first Kenyan to play at the Lake of Stars Festival without Government support. I was overwhelmed by their reception. The Presidential Music Commission of Kenya offered to support a percentage of the transportation part of the budget.

GOVT OF KENYA


I also received support from the Goethe Institut, Nairobi who helped with food and accommodation. It was quite late so I reworked budgets to travel by road to Malawi and back as well as reducing the band. It wasn’t going to be pretty but going was all that mattered.


Determined not to miss the festival, I took my sax player Jack Anduuru and we took the 6.30am Friday morning bus determined to play on Sunday evening. We arrived in Dar es Salaam the same day where we spent the night before taking on another bus to Mbeya on the border of Malawi. We arrived in Malawi Saturday night but couldn’t reach the festival in right time because of no buses. It was a long ride and we found out that Chips and Meat can save this part of the world.

ROUTE TO MALAWI


ROAD FOOD - CHIPS AND MEAT




When we finally arrived at Nkopola Lodge in Manguchi, Malawi where The Lake of Stars Festival we had missed our Sunday 7pm performance slot. Luckily the director Will Jameson had personally kept in touch with my manager Buddha Blaze as we made our way across Malawi and had made arrangements for a stand by performance upon our arrival at the final festival party.

THE GATES OF LAKE OF STARS

LAKE MALAWI



Essentially we would be the final act at the festival! The show was brilliant. It went so well that there and then the decision was made that we must come back in 2012 to play and you know what, I will be ready for that one.





Malawi is a beautiful warm country and they gave us great reception as a Kenyan band. Lake Malawi is an amazing water source and it is amazing how Lake of stars Festival has turned into a tourist attraction. I recommend that everyone visits Malawi and the festival at least once in their life time.








DAN ACEDA ON THE MIC


THE DJ


MR ONDURU BLOWS THE TRUMPET



DAN CHIZI WITH LAKE OF STARS DIRECTOR WILL JAMESON AT THE AFTER PARTY


I want to thank Mr. Rufus Thuku and the good people at the Presidential Music Commission of Kenya for their superb and noble support. I would also like to thank Mr. Johannes Hossfeld at the Goethe Institut. I look forward to working with you very soon. Thanks to Mr. Will Jameson for inviting us to the Lake of Stars Festival and more importantly my fans who keep me doing even better music.