#chelseamonae

If an individual tells me why I should not work with a certain artist/producer in Baltimore (or just that I shouldn't work with any artists/producers in Baltimore because "they're all trash"), chances are I'm going to ignore the fuck out of that suggestion.

I've worked with people after I’ve heard things to like "Don't go there. Really unprofessional." Or "don't work with this person because they're really unreliable." And when it came down to it, I had fine experiences with those folks with whom I was advised not to work. We have helped each other be better in some ways. And people do evolve and grow, though sometimes very slowly. 

If you are the best at what we do, I think you should totally be able to do your thing and work in isolation and/or ONLY with people who flawlessly follow through and measure up to your standard of business. That’s perfectly fine. And when someone promises to follow through and fails to do so, that IS cruddy but keep it moving, fam. When you’re working with an artist/producer who is “unprofessional” or “unreliable,” here is how I would handle the situation:

1. Self Reflect. Ask the person the following questions: Did I communicate clearly and effectively about what it was that I was expecting to give and receive from this partnership? Did I follow through with what I said that I would bring to the table? Did I make sure that you had all tools and information necessary to follow through with your commitments? How could we have made this partnership a success rather than a failure?

2. Offer help. Refer them to a mentor/service provider/consultant who can help them to improve their work ethic. Sometimes people need very simple things in order to operate more effectively. Have a list of people (either physical or in your head) ready to go at all times for referrals. This is also great for creating community and unity among ourselves.

3. Write contracts (even when bartering). While the angry Facebook posts and reverse-referrals are apparently people’s go-to options, nothing can really show a person how to improve their work ethic better than a document SIGNED BY THEM, stating the scope of work on which they did not follow through (also technically can be used as a legal document as well if you’re really about your money, but again this is about unity).

4. Keep it moving. You’re busy being great. Please don’t waste time looking/sounding otherwise. Your passion for a musical movement here is understood but does not always translate as such. The easiest way to solve this is by keeping it moving and allowing the folk who are CALLED to teach artists to do so. 

If you’re continuously having these whack experiences with every artist in this city, it is highly possible that maybe YOU suck. Perhaps YOU are also having some difficulty communicating with people. Remember. Step one is self-reflection. If you have not gone through this step both with yourself and your failing partner, then you too have some things to work on. This can be frustrating; I am very stubborn. Hate knowing I didn’t do something right. But when it comes to my craft, hearing that is motivation to do it better the next time.

I take offense when people over generalize anything in Baltimore but especially artists. You don't know all of us. And you can’t know all of us because you don’t even try to if you’ve developed the idea that we’re all unprofessional/undesirable to work with.

I get it. This is about business. And business is about money. But there is a point at which the money getting has to become more strategic. There is a point at which we all need to work together to create a healthy culture around art and it’s true purpose: healing and connecting. There is a point at which you can just miss me forreal. Baltimore is always on a very important side of history and it is our duty, as artists, to capture that in our work. But if we’re doing as much complaining about one another as working, what is our collective mission really? I guess I’m even complaining a little in this blog, myself, but I’m also asking for a pass right now lol.

People will gravitate to you because of your success, not because you pushed them away from working with others.

Going to social media to talk about how terrible Baltimore artists are becayse we don’t know anything about music business and telling people not to work with certain artists or producers makes YOU undesirable to work with, even if you have all your shit together. I’m not sure if others have had similar experiences in the city. I’m not sure if I’m speaking out of left field but the shade feels so real sometimes and it makes me kind of uncomfortable but not so uncomfortable that I won’t share my thoughts at least. I like watching us find our ways as artists and look forward to seeing us do so more strategically in the coming years.