Record deal 101… from an 11 year old

When I was 11-years old, I honestly thought I was the greatest undiscovered artist to ever bless the mic; I was the best, nobody could deny it, I’ll never be better than I am right now, and I’ll definitely get noticed ASAP.

At the time, I was actually able to attract the attention of some big A&Rs that worked at, and basically ran, OutKast’s record label Purple Ribbon Records. I figured the day they invited me to meet with them, was the day I would get signed to their label and begin my music career… boy was I wrong.

They told me that even though they were genuinely interested in my talents and the word I was trying to spread (about having and dealing with diabetes at such a young age, which I originally was diagnosed with at 7), by no means would they ever even consider signing an 11-year old kid.

At that point, even with their promise to keep an eye on me and consider me for the future, not only was I heartbroken, but I was convinced they were wrong.

Year after year we would meet and they all ended with me begging them to give me a chance, sign me, and let me prove to them I was the best I’d ever be… but they just kept telling me the same exact thing: you’re too young, but improving fast and now one step closer, you need to continue to develop your skills, explore/perfect your talents, and come into your own first.

Long story short, at the time, I had no idea what they meant and felt absolutely crushed about it.

Looking back, however, I am incredibly grateful for, and completely understand the reasoning behind their rejection; I wasn’t ready, I hadn’t found myself completely yet, and I for sure had lessons to learn and experiences to go through before being able to be signed to a major label of any kind.

When I listen to my 11-year old self-today, I’ll admit, I cringe… Obviously, I wasn’t at my top game.

Being told that I needed to study, experience, grow and find my musical voice was actually a blessing in disguise, regardless of the fact that I thought my life was over at the time. Not only did it save me from some serious embarrassment and regret, but it saved me from experiencing fame too early as well (which has its own problems and hardships if not monitored/handled correctly).

Plus, it really forced me to step back for a moment and take a long, hard examination of myself, my music, and my desires – which lead to me making professional music proudly, instead of premature music badly.

I was able to find my very own style, discover myself as an artist, and figure out what kind of music I REALLY wanted to make; going through this process is somewhat grueling, but it’s unavoidable and, once you realize it’s completely necessary, you can even begin having fun with it!

Try new styles, take new chances/approaches, and apply new methods or techniques until you wholeheartedly believe that this is 100% how you want your music to be (until you change your mind again, that is).

Just remember there is no ceiling to your artistic abilities, and nobody is in control over the direction you take your music except YOU… so practice, practice, practice, and then practice some more!

That way, you’ll be sure to find any answers you’re looking for, discover who you truly are as a musician, unveil your hidden talents, and learn everything you need to know about your personal style.

Education vs Practice

Education is key – there’s no denying that.

But, believe it or not, putting those skills into practice is just as important (if not more).

Let’s think about this for a second: medical doctors work as interns for AT LEAST 2-4 years until they’re able to officially be called ‘doctors,’ right?

That’s not because they don’t have the education, knowledge, or a technical understanding of the required information… it’s simply because ‘book’ knowledge is only the half of it!

To become truly ‘masterful’ in any subject, you must have those real-life experiences under your belt, period.

Don’t get me wrong, I’ve learned SO many priceless lessons from attending school, but the insider tips, tricks, methods, techniques, advice, etc., that came from hands-on experience(s) were the most impactful and influential, hands-down.

I mean, come on, think about how many people are making music… there are only 12 notes… you have no other choice than to put your unique spin on anything you touch, pave your own path, and find your own personal style! Otherwise, what’s going to set you apart? What’s going to make you recognizable? How are you going to stand out in the crowd?

The 10,000 Hour Rule

There’s a rule that applies to all fields, but music in particular: the 10,000-hour rule.

It states that, regardless of how much knowledge you’ve gained, or how much you think you have a grasp on a certain subject, it’s not until you have 10,000 hours experience that you can call yourself a ‘master’ or an expert (or until you truly find yourself musically).

I only bring this up because, the more hours you invest and spend perfecting your craft, the more emotionally-connected with your music you’ll be; resulting in a much more intimate awareness of what you want to accomplish, where you want to take your music, and what message you wish to convey to the world through your music.

No one is born with award-winning talent and the need to put years into pursuing and perfecting your music abilities is something that no artist will ever get around. This very fact has lead people into thinking they want to stop doing music forever, just because somebody got to where they wanted to be a little faster; but please, trust me, when it comes to music, you have to put in SO much time before you ever start to see the perks or rewards… so, before you decide to quit, wait a little while, and then wait a little more, because it will happen if you stay dedicated, committed, and passionate.

For 99.9% of us, securing a permanent spot in the music industry takes years, countless rejections, and continuous hustle. Once those doors do open up for you, however, the possibilities are truly endless, so hang in there! Patience is a virtue, and you’re going to need it on this journey to musical success.

The next time you’re feeling down about your progress, just take a listen to your favorite artist’s first song/album (at least 5-10 years old), and then listen to their most recent work… that should make you feel a LOT better because, regardless of the person or genre, the fact will remain the same: they got better over time – guaranteed.

Every day you’ll grow, change, evolve, define, and then redefine yourself, but the key is allowing yourself enough time to experience it all; not giving up before your true talents and abilities get the chance to shine!