Superman at Starbucks...

This story originates a few years back when I went to get a morning cup of joe and the lady handed over my Starbucks in an unfamiliar cup.  The contents were the same, but the packaging was not. Instead of the familiar “green” mermaid, I was greeted with some “brown” lady representing my favorite Seattle coffee brand.  I know, I know – they are technically called “sirens”, but whatever. The unexpected graphic bothered me for reasons inexplicable at the time.

A few days later, I realized what was wrong.  It was that I had become accustomed to the usual Starbucks branding. So used to it that when I got the “brown” lady Starbucks it literally screwed up my whole mood.  It seems stupid, but I literally didn’t enjoy the coffee as much as if the logo had been green.  I guess it’s because I came to associate the green logo with a feeling of happiness related to a warm cup of fresh café on a cold morning and I wanted THAT experience, not this “lesser” one. When these elements weren’t aligned, I was off kilter.  Blame it on my OCD.

Little did I know this was a great set-up for a later lesson that I would have with one of the artists I was managing then, the teen metal band “Control the Chaos”.

At the time, they were aspiring to bigger things, landing interests from major networks and continuing to strengthen their presence across the west coast.  However, they were having an issue understanding the concept of image and branding, so I used both Starbucks and Superman to illustrate a point.  I invited the four of them for a quick band meeting at the local coffee shop and drew them in close.

“Look at that far corner,” I began. They all stared in four different directions, so I pointed across the room to my left.  “That one over there, with the empty chair and the leftover newspaper on the table. Do you see it?” I asked.  The four teenagers nodded in unison.

“Imagine that Superman was sitting there, kickin’ it.  Drinking a Starbucks, reading the paper. Chillin’ without a care in the world.  Like everyone else in here.  What would you think?”

After a slight pause and a brief chuckle, they shared the same response, “Isn’t he supposed to be doing something?”

“Like what?” I asked.

“Like saving the world or something big like that?” they responded.

“I don’t know, is he?”  I asked again, pushing them to think a little harder about their first reactions.  I sensed the wheels starting to turn in their young minds.

It was in that moment that I seized the opportunity to draw the comparison.  I told them that as young rock stars in the making, they were doing something very special. Something that very few kids their age are able to do, and even fewer people ever get organized enough to do.  I told them that starting a music career is a dreamer’s ambition because the chances of success were slim to begin with. I also told them that if they were going to pursue this seriously, then they shouldn’t think small. They should envision the thing they were trying to become. See it, smell it, taste it and love it to the extent that their daily focus would stay aligned with that goal.  You see, we were developing rock stars in this team and as their manager I took the job very seriously – because they asked me to.   They didn’t ask for help with their garage band. They begged us to help them be great, to be the BEST. This wasn't a hobby, this was a career choice for them. So we rolled up the sleeves and set out with huge ambitions.

I taught the boys that being a rockstar is the reality equivalent of being a super-hero.  I explained how the world looks a bit differently at super-heroes and people like major athletes, millionaires and celebrities. I also warned that those levels of activity and admiration come with a ton of expectation and responsibility. 

Together with my co-manager, (Angie) we made sure the boys understood that choosing the profession of rock star came with excitement and fun beyond belief, but it would also be nothing short of extremely hard work and pressure. These were kids, but this wasn't minor-league training. They wanted to go big, so we gave it to 'em straight. We also knew that super-hero ambition takes investing major time and major money. 

We also warned that with such a public profession, it may take them having to accept that any typical routine could and might easily be misinterpreted given the scenario.  For instance, what if that day back at Starbucks, Superman was simply thirsty or just tired? He deserves a break – but that wasn’t the first impression any of them had.  Their first impression was that he simply wasn’t living up to their expectation of a super-hero, much like my first impression of the brown lady Starbucks experience.  We explained that "going for it" at the levels they were describing meant that they would be setting some very high expectations along the way.

In the entertainment business, perception is everything. Every moment is for show. Every situation is a stage.  Private life is guarded fiercely if it is able to exist at all. For once you get to hangin’ with super-heroes, everything changes.

From every performance after the “Superman at Starbucks” incident, we witnessed four young super heroes on stage. Unstoppable and very impressive. Since then, the boys grew up to experience some special levels of success and accumulated memories that will last a lifetime.  Hmmm… perhaps they forgot some of the lessons about Kryptonite (inside story).

I often use this story with new artists to help them understand the difference between playing rockstar and being rockstar and the importance that PROTECTING a consistent brand can have on impression and an entire experience.

Up, Up and away good people!

-Itchy

The Great White Buffalo: Society’s Entertainment Leaders

I first came across the term “co-opetition” when working in the tech field. It was how we described companies that were known competitors; however we still had frequent direct business dealings with them including joint engagements. Not sure when the term was “coined” or if it’s even yet managed to finagle its way into the English language but it definitely describes the situation.

I find myself using the term more and more in my dealings within the music business. Talk about your fiercely competitive environments. Especially for the musicians, as there’s literally a one in a million shot at someone caring enough about you to get you that slim advantage over the next guy. But is it really that dire? Isn’t the market big enough for more players? Do we all have to chase the same carrot? What if some of us want apples instead? Regardless of the answers to those questions, the fact remains: Everyone’s trying to get some attention (Love) out there, and it can be brutal warfare.

In the same regard, we’ve all heard the term “two heads are better than one”. That goes along with common knowledge that we can accomplish more if we work together. It all seems nice and practical, but not the common reality. The fact is that only a few can make it through the tiny door of opportunity and it takes extreme diligence and agility to gain a position where you’re as close to the entrance as possible. We haven’t even talked about getting inside the door, or what happens when you’re in – that’s another blog.

I think this happens in almost every environment we encounter: From our elementary school classrooms to our professional careers. We compete in our own families. We compete for the best seats at a show, the lines at the grocery store. We drive erratically in order to get there faster, sooner and before YOU! I suppose that’s just nature. Yup, only the strong survive and if it were any other way we’d taint the gene pool, throw the universe off balance and create sub-par standards for quality, quantity and progress. Hell friggin’ NO!! THIS IS SPARTA!!!

All jokes aside, civilized societies have created rules and laws to try and balance things out in an attempt to “control the chaos” (a great band by the way). Within these rules we’ve learned to work together. We’ve learned to set our differences aside and create things for the common good. Or so it seems…

You see, there’s always somebody winning out there: Someone or a group of like-minded somebodies in control. For us common folks, we refer to them as “THEY”. Those that make the rules, the ones that judge and deal out the consequences. THEY are so powerful that the lower folk do as THEY say without so much as a peep. THEY have the ultimate control, the power and influence. We’re just on the receiving end- Literally! And what happens when we try to band together and revolt? Unfortunately as soon as things calm down then we’re back to square one. We begin to fight amongst ourselves. We get all “Cain and Abel” with each other. Hmmm… Maybe THEY know what they’re talking about.

Maybe competition is bred out of the fear of blame. Our own internal guilt and fear of being inadequate or downright wrong! We want choices, but if we should make the wrong ones then we don’t like the consequences. However, if we could make those same choices and shift the blame elsewhere if things should go awry then maybe that would be okay. Right??

But what if you’re meek? Humble? Willing to get along and have the discipline to self-manage the natural inclination to be competitive? Are you therefore, weak? Are you destined to lose, or come last – you know what they say about the “nice” guy, remember? Society’s ideals are that we admire the weak but reward the strong which is in direct opposition to a theological perspective.

Yes, everyone wants to get on top but so few know what to do about it when they get there, or even why they desire it so badly. You “wanna be a billionaire so freakin’ bad” but for what? What would you do with all that power that comes from having all those resources?

So, what’s the answer? Here’s what I think:

Balance and dedication. Yes, it’s that simple and yet so hard to obtain; Even more difficult to maintain. The key is to be competitive enough in this world to get attention. If you have my attention, you must know what to say and do in order to keep it. This is not the time to choke on the mic (this is where you hear Eminem’s “Lose Yourself” in the background). This is your time to shine, so your credo must align with me as the individual, but inspire the entire community. Now sold – I’m more than happy to let you do the work. Congratulations, you are now my leader! My lazy ass couldn’t do anything about it, but I’m totally down to follow you!!

Careful now, this is VERY different than being my entertainer. Both get the stage but the entertainer is done at the end of the show. The leader is always performing, always criticized, forever challenged and constantly measured. There are some similarities but here’s the point: Entertainers live to show. Leaders show to live. We get this twisted all the time. Entertainers are often thrust into leadership situations, only to fail miserably. Don’t believe me? Glance at the latest tabloids. Enough said. True entertainment leaders are extremely rare because our most creative folks aren’t always our best leaders. The personalities tend to clash. Perhaps it’s a structure versus non-structure thing.

Back to the point: Once a leader, you must then defend that position, for being on top comes with massive responsibility that requires a huge amount of discipline and humility (go Spiderman!). Your daily focus changes from a struggle to get there, to the battle to stay there. One must stay grounded in the ideals from which they came (Keepin’ it real) while at the same time looking for and sharing ways to improve the situation for more, in order to share the experience. For life is best lived when shared (Alexander Supertramp learned this, albeit too late). Remember, it is only from a position of influence that any real change can happen…

And that’s definitely worth fighting for.