PutOnForDaCity

So the inbox was filled this week. I want to thank all the artists and DJs who reached out to me last week. The reoccurring question of the week was, "How can I get in the blog or in n'Rotation?" Well… in coincidental fashion, I planned on speaking about getting to that next level, and that could be any level of the industry.

For the past year I've been Editor-in-Chief of n'Rotation The DJ Magazine and the one beat that played on and on was, "DJs don't play local artist, but play artist from everywhere else". Honestly DJs do a lot more than we think when it comes to supporting the "Local Artist” (I prefer to just the use “Artist”, much more professional)…They Put On for Tha City! 

I had to hustle to whatever level this is that I'm on now. I've had the privilege of seeing the super small showcase crowd to the packed out house show case not to mention the sold out arenas. The big difference is artist support. The support I'm speaking on is, YOUR FAN BASE! Let's jump into the thick of it. You, the artist, make the music to sell your music. Here's where the DJs "Put On!" When a DJ or promoter calls and opens the door to the club he/she is spinning at, they are giving you a stage. But don't look at the DJ if it's a lack luster crowd. You gotta be in the streets and everywhere else to gain the fan base that will follow you to your show!

I hear tons of great projects and scratch my head when the support is minimal. Blame it what you may, but diehard fans will follow you if they know you put in the grind.  I know this ain't nothing new to an artist, but some artist’s point the finger at the DJ. The DJ is taking the risk with his word to the powers that be at the venue they invite you to. Let's think outside the box a minute… DJs like your music, but they don't put it in the streets. They put the result of your grind on the stage in front of crowds that you may not normally get the chance to get exposed to. Before artists try to track me down, I want to be clear, I promote music and I support good music. So if I'm putting it out there,  I'm trying to push it further. Note that I said good music! The only way to hear good music is if it's being pushed. When a song is being pushed to EVERYBODY, the DJ is more inclined to add it to their set. Playing music no one knows won't help a DJ at all ;) Break down and get a plan to build your fan base. 

I was interviewing a DJ friend who gave me the analogy of how it should be done. We met in the Lenox Mall food court. As we introduced and did our pleasantries we looked around for what we wanted to eat. In every mall across America there is this one Chinese food place where they are offering you a sample of what they have. As soon as you walk upon the location, you are turned on to the idea of having some Chinese food. If the sample ends up being better than anything else in the food court, then you'll be back. So as we ate what I obviously had the taste for after getting that same sesame chicken sample that is found across America, I was told by interviewee, "Artists need to treat EVERY showcase like the food court...Give out the best shit in the beginning, whether it's CD presentation, show performance, or general interaction with the fans who are at the club." I said, "True". Showcases is where you win them over. If it's not packed, re-evaluate your fan base first, then in the words of Kendrick Lamar…

“I got love for you all but I'm tryna murder you  ni**as

Tryna make sure your core fans never heard of you  ni**as

They don’t wanna hear not one more noun or verb from you ni**as!”

To sum it up… the DJs "PUT ON" for what they get a sample of. And the streets will call for what you give them a taste of. So when you salute the DJ, the salute should acknowledge that you know they will play what the crowd wants, You have to be that #1 supplier. It is a money game, but if you put it where it needs to be, then you'll never be denied. 

CrateKeepers in conjunction with other music distribution outlets are just the tip of the iceberg. Feed the streets and watch what happens when the DJs PUT ON FOR DA CITY!

For more information on CrateKeepers and other music distribution affiliates, follow and DM me @alme214 or email: aLeslieMacEvent@gmail.com.

#LeslieMac