It’s a pretty simple concept, and one I alluded to before, good guys do things for good guys. Nothing more, nothing less. Somehow though, this basic tenet of doing business has become lost in the current state of the music industry.
I worked with a company that was dead-set on utilizing me for the talents that I bring to the table. Sunshiny optimism and empty promises led to a position that ultimately involved me pushing paper around a desk and checking on assets. Nothing personal to some readers, but that’s intern work.
The turning point there came when good guys approached me (another good guy, natch!) about working together. These’re all folks with whom I’ve dealt for years – some even pushing the decade mark. We’ve built up a mutual respect and admiration for each other that transcends whatever companies we’re working for. This is the Good Guy Network – and it runs around the world and at all levels of this business of show. But it survives simply because we’re all good guys.
Here’s an example: I’ve worked with an artist manager since before he was managing artists. At every opportunity I’ve helped him, and he’s done the same for me. Why? ‘Cuz we’re good guys. Moving forward, and years later, I need a way to gain some traffic and cred for the site I work for. He needs to promote his artist’s gigs. It helps that his artist deserves every ounce of promotion he gets.
We find a way to work together, benefit mutually, and everyone’s happy. Not so fast, buster!
Suddenly, I find myself not working with this site anymore. They’re outside the Good Guy Network and worry more about bottom line than being good people. The Good Guy Network swings into action. One Good Guy posts about me on a major industry blog, another Good Guy says “gee, I could use someone like him,” and the first Good Guy (that manager) informs me that he’s done working with that site that I was part of. Why? ‘Cuz they’re not good guys. No one in this scenario makes money, but the karma is shared out equally. And it always comes back.
The music industry isn’t built on balance sheets and P&L Statements. Tragically, as accountants and investors start taking over, the soul of the industry is lost. It’s a personal belief that people have no problem stealing (illegally downloading…) music because they don’t see the harm in stealing from soulless, money-grubbing, corporate profiteers.
Sit ’em down with some Good Guys and see if they think otherwise. I bet they will.
