Let me ask you this question: Did you order Salad or French Fries?

The other day I am sitting at a eating establishment and I place my order for salad. Now any other day I would not even have thought twice about the order, but considering the conversation I was having…all of the sudden that order came alive.

I have been blessed to work in this business of music for some time now…sitting on the side of A&R I have had the honor of taking many “orders”……not orders in the sense of Demands….I have been more like a waiter for the artist and the label has been my resturant. I would meet artist from all around the world with dreams, purpose, talent, vision, and it was my job to take their “orders” and make sure…in a sense we deliver it to their table.

But see…this is where I believe alot of the problems between artist and labels go wrong. The artist say with their mouth…”I would like a salad please”…but deep down inside and as time goes by what they really want are “French Fries”. Or..the other way around…you have labels that really… at the core specialize in salad…but in order to get the business of some artist they give a “french fry” speech…in hopes that the chef can whip something up. Sad thing is…time and time again…it never works out.

The best example of this is the christian music business vs. general market business. Tons and Tons of bands are coming into town ordering salad…but really wanting french fries. Its never going to work. This is not about lack of faith…it is about reality. Christian music is set up to serve exactly what it says….”Christians”….and if your looking for anything beyond that…you obviously are not reading your menu. So stop asking why your not on TRL..why your not racked in the Rock section of best buy….why your single is not being played on the pop station….and why you cant get on tour with U2…..these are all “French Fry” orders…!!! Don’t get me wrong…there is not a right or wrong way to order…French Fries are not better than Salad orders….but its perspective….its understanding…its having the right expectation….this is something everyone should seek before shifting the blame. So ask yourself…”What did you order?”…..because I bet its the same thing you have sitting on your plate.

Be Well