An Interview with Herbrena Gordon

This month I had the pleasure to interview, Ms. Herbrena Gordon. Ms. Herbrena Gordon is a beautiful, talented, sophisticated, smart, and God fearing entrepreneur. The impact of this interview on my life is overwhelming, and I believe the words I used to describe Ms. Herbrena are not doing her enough justice. Ms. Herbrena began her career in the entertainment industry in a very humble way. Her first job was working on the street team for TLC’s first album. During her time on the street team, Ms. Herbrena learned valuable lessons about negotiation, the topic of our interview. After TLC, Ms. Herbrena career in the entertainment industry began to flourish. Ms. Herbrena was the first host for Grambling State Sport Radio Show, which led to a variety of radio personality jobs in New Orleans, and Ohio. Apart from hosting, Ms. Herbrena has had several roles in movies. Now and days Ms. Herbrena is involve in several entrepreneur ventures. Ms. Herbrena is part owner of Real Talk, a station that talks music with upcoming artists and producer. Apart from the radio Ms. Herbrena is Co CEO of the television shows Trendz Tv, and Trendz Gospel. Ms. Herbrena is also part owner of IM Chronic. IM Chronic will deliver a reality like series that focuses on powerful and influential people who suffer from chronic diseases. After getting to know all that Ms. Herbrena is involve in, I learn her true passion, helping the youth of the community is what really motivates Ms. Herbrena.

My interview with Ms. Herbrena was so dynamic; I not only learned about negotiating, I learned about life from a entrepreneur, who has no fear. During the interview, I had five questions I wanted to ask Ms. Herbrena. The five questions are as followed: How do you separate the people from the problem when you are negotiating? What tips do you have for new negotiators who are trying to do this? Can you give me an example of how you worked toward a mutual benefit when you were negotiating a deal? Have you negotiated with someone who used dirty tricks such as: Deliberate deception, Psychological warfare, or positional pressure tactics? If so, how did you handle the situation? What is the role of self-confidence when negotiating?

In order to answer my questions, Ms. Herbrena gave me a scenario. Ms. Herbrena explained that we begin to learn how to negotiation when we are children. “In order to separate the people from the problem, think about how you got your parents to buy that special Christmas gift.” She stated,  “Your parents probably told you that you had to make good grades and behave good in school.” The key she explained to separating the people from the problem is to research the people to find out their interest. Ms. Herbrena states that researching the other party is the most important part of the negotiating. When you find out the other party interests, then you will have confidence in your ability to negotiate. Ms. Herbrena then told me that once I know the other party's interests we could work on a mutual agreement, I could develop a BATNA, and the objective criteria. Using her example I realize that my parents where interest in me passing to the next grade, good behavior and learning the class material. I could make the objective criteria pertain to the class average in all my courses. If my parents wanted all A’s I could present them with a BATNA, the BATNA would state that I would pick up all my grades by one letter. Ms. Herbrena told me to master this technique because most of all negotiation in the entertainment industry will follow this path. I then ask Ms. Herbrena about dirty tricks used in the industry. Pertaining to dirty tricks, Ms. Herbrena stressed to me the importance of knowing the other party, but also the importance knowing my self before I begin to negotiate. She stated, “Sometimes you will be the product in the negotiation, and integrity goes a long way.” Ms. Herbrena then told me, “Women are sometime used by companies to negotiation with men.” 

In closing, Ms. Herbrena stated,  “We all begin to master our negotiation techniques during childhood. If we look to the child hood tactics that we used, we can learn to master the art of negotiating.”

I would like to Thank Ms. Herbrena for taking time out of her busy schedule to talk with me, a conversion about negotiation, open up my heart to so many different ideas, and concepts. Thank you again, and May God continue to bless you.

~ LT

A Common Theme

When starting a business, we often look to successful people in a particular industry, for inspiration, guidance, and starting points. Recently Forbes.com sat down to interview two successful men, from two different industries, to talk success. An interview with Business Typhoon, Warren Buffett and Hip-Hop Entrepreneur, Jay-Z would grab anyone’s attention. To add more interest to this interview, a person would be amazing by how similar these two men started and established their businesses. Research shows the most important elements for a business are the brand, passion, and impact, and if you are like me, you are probably wondering how can hip-hop and investment be the same.

            History teaches us that a lot of successful people or masters of a particular field had a deep love for this field as a child. During the interview with Forbes, Warren Buffett explained that he knew when he was seven that he wanted to get into investments. Warren’s father was into investments, and by the time he was twelve, he had read his father whole library of books. After graduating from college, Warren explained that he consider his self fifteen years ahead of his classmates because he knew from a young age what we wanted to do with his life. Jay-Z did not release his first album until the age of twenty-six; however, he explained that he had deep roots with music since his early childhood, and ever since a kid he loved words and how they could be use to express life. Authors such as Robert Greene, in his book Mastery, explained the importance of following childhood passions, and these two men are proof in our generation that we can be successful doing what we love.

            If love were all that is needed to be successful, the world would be full of entrepreneur; however, we know that this is not the case. A successful business needs a successful brand. A brand is the consumer’s perception of a business or company. Warren Buffett explained in the interview that it is important to develop a personal brand, and even more important to live that brand. During the interview, Jay-Z explained that he has had success in the music industry over the years by not changing. According to Jay-Z, a lot of artists jumping on every new trend, and this can destroy a career, something we witness over and over. Both men agree in the interview that when businesses stop following their brand they lose their identity and the person or company collapses.

            Success is more that personal wealth and luxury living according to both men. To Warren Buffett his business is about improving society. Earning capital allows him to provide more jobs, better benefits and pension plans to the public. Jay-Z also explained the importance of improving society. Jay-Z started the Shawn Cater Foundation, a foundation that supplies full college scholarships, to help people succeed at their dreams. In Warren Buffet words, “Business is easy Philanthropy work is hard, but has the greater reward.”

            I name this post a common theme because this interview demonstrates how two successful people in two different industries, started and operated their business in the same way. When we follow our hearts, and strive for the improvement of society, we reap great benefits in life. Our childhood often points us in the direction we should go; however, it takes courage to follow this path. This path can lead to a successful life; however we must always remember our brand is being judge constantly, and we have a responsibility to improve society, a common theme amongst professional.

~LT

Understanding Choices

While searching Ted.com for an inspirational talk, the title Gift and Choices seems to jump out at me. I am very familiar with Amazon.com; in fact, I do about 75 % of my shopping on the site. While being familiar with Amazon, I was unfamiliar with the founder and CEO Jeff Bezos. After listening to Jeff Bezos’s story, I have to say I have a better respect for Amazon as a company and brand, and I am truly impressed and inspired by Jeff Bezos the man.

Life is all about choices and I believe everyone on earth can agree with that. Jeff Bezos suggested that we look into the future and reflect on the past to see if our choices will cause us to live a full filling life.

            In Jeff’s graduation speech, for Princeton University, he reflected on his childhood, and how his childhood inspired him to be the founder of Amazon. Jeff also explained an important lesson he learned as a child about his gift for being clever, and the choices he would have to make in life, pertaining to his gift. As Jeff explained we are all blessed with gifts, and we can use our gifts to build or tear down society. It is harder to be kind than clever, is the life’s lesson Jeff learned from his grandparent. As I contemplate on the path, I want to walk in life; Jeff ‘s speech really resonates with my soul.

            We all have choices, do we choose easy or passion, riches or service? From my mastery course at Full Sail University, I learned the importance of returning to that child like state, and following your child hood passion. As I reflect on this, I realize that following your child hood dream is one of the qualities of a Master, but the hardest part is having the courage to follow that passion. Jeff explained his decision to start Amazon came at a great price. Jeff was already successful in his career, and he knew most start up business do not work. How to you risk it all when all you have is hope? I believe that is the beauty of following your passion and trusting your faith. Steve Harvey talked about jumping in a short broad cast, and him and Jeff both inspire me to make choices that revolve around my passion. Will you act on love, or consider rejection? Will you choose easy or adventure? Is failing scary or an opportunity to get that much closer to your dreams? These are the questions I ponder everyday.

            My spirit pulled me to Jeff’s speech because I know in order to complete my life’s path, critical choices have to be made. How do I use my gift of music to better society? How do I establish by brand? When do I jump and dive in to my passion? Just like Jeff, my soul wants adventure. Chasing my dreams this far has help me build a closer relationship with God. When I am 80 and I reflect, I want to be able to say I made some bad choices, I made some good choices, but they where my choices. I learn from them, I was able to teach other about them, and I would do it all again cause I living a full filling life. I was not present for Jeff’s speech; however I felt like he was talking directly to me and he has help me with Understanding Choices.

~LT

Organization Inside the DAW

When I first started to produce music in my home studio, I developed many bad habits. My bad habits were the result of being unorganized in my workflow. As soon as an idea would come to my head, I would start to lay down a track, I was caught up in the moment. My problem occurred when I would revisit that track a few days later to finish the track. When revisiting the track, I would be inspired by a new creative idea; however, I would spend valuable time looking for samples, and separating song sections. When I finally got everything in the DAW somewhat organized, I would forget the fresh new idea. This led me to the purpose of my blog today. I want to offers some advice about creating an effective workflow inside of a DAW that allows maxim creativity when it is time to create.

            The first tip I have for inspiring music producers is to develop a system of color code for your tracks. Using DAWS such as Pro Tools and Logic, developing your own system of color coding can save you a lot of time when sorting thru tracks. The key to making coloring coding effective, is to develop a scheme for certain track groups and stick to that scheme. Coloring coding has helped me a lot, with my producing. When I pull up a section I can immediate recognize my melody from drums, vocal or effects.

            File management is another habit to get used to doing, in order to make the most of your time when producing. The most frustrating situation that happened to me when I first started producing was looking for that killer 808 sample I used on the track before. I remedy my frustration by making use of folders and using a separate drive for my samples. I began to organize my samples by instruments type in their own color-coded folder. This simple step has saved me valuable time when inspiration hits me. I now know exactly where that killer sample is located. File management can also be used in the same way to organize your tracks. Keeping files organized and in their own folder is a behavior that should turn into a habit for serious producers.

            The last tip I have for the inspiring producers is to make use of makers and notes inside of the DAW. Using makers inside the DAW is a great way to separate song sections. Most

DAWS offer quick key commands to jump to different markers; I also find this helpful to get around the timeline without using the mouse. Making use of the notes option inside of a DAW has also been helpful. I use the note section to write down sample names, chord progressions, the mics I used, etc. Writing down key ideas inside the DAW takes away the guesswork when you have a killer idea or you made a killer sound and you want to use it in another production.

            The above mention tips are just suggestions that have help me out a lot. Making music should be fun all-time and I believe any tip that can keep the creativity flowing is worth trying. Since I have been producing for a while now, I have been following the Grammy standards to music production. The Grammy standards, offers industry standards for workflow, a must read for anyone who want to be a professional producer. The Grammy standards offer an effective method for labeling and organizing tracks in an arrangement. Professional must follow these standards when sending file over the web or bringing files for an engineer to mix.

~LT

Copyright Laws for Musicians

Copyrights laws are a vital aspect of the music industry. Any person seeking to have success in the music industry should have a clear understanding of what copyright laws protect, how to avoid infringement, and how to recognize if your work has been infringed. Once a work is created, the creator is the rightful owner; however, until the work is register the owner is not fully protected by copyright laws. My goal in this blog is to give readers the basic knowledge of copyright laws that can be built upon with further research. There is a current copyright infringement case, The Estate of Randy Wolfe vs. Led Zeppelin, I will discuss briefly; however, I would like to discuss what copyright laws protect.

            In essence, copyright laws protect the authorship of an original work. Any original work that is fixed in a tangible medium such as: lyric sheets, sound recordings, or poetry written on paper, can be protected by copyright laws. The term intellectual property is often used in the industry. Intellectual Property or Ip is just way to say creative idea. Copyright laws give the owner of a fixed work a limited duration monopoly, which in turns give the owner five exclusive rights. The five exclusive rights that an owner of a copyright has are: the right to reproduce, perform, display in public, make derivatives (remix), and distribute. Copyright laws do not protect ideas, names, titles, works in the public domain and trademarks. The life of a copyright will last, life plus seventy years after death of owner, or ninety-five years or one hundred and twenty years, which ever is least, after publication, for a work for hire. There are a few other Ip’s that copyright laws protect which are not directly related to music, as there are a few items that are not listed which copyright laws do not protect. My goal is to apply information that a musician can readily begin to apply.

            Copyright infringement occurs when a person or the estate of someone that has died feels that a protected work was used without permission. In order to establish a case of copyright infringement, the plaintiff, must prove ownership and registration to the work, must prove the alleged person had access to the work, and the plaintiff must prove one of the exclusive right was violated or a similar work was made.

            This pass spring, the estate of Randy Wolfe filled a copyright infringement suite against Led Zeppelin. The claim alleges that the song “Stairway to Heaven” is similar to the song “Taurus” a work of Randy Wolfe’s band. In any copyright infringement case, it is up to the plaintiff to prove the elements of infringement. In this particular case, the estate of Randy Wolfe will have to prove the ownership of the song “Taurus”. The plaintiff will also have to prove that Led Zeppelin had access to the song. According to CNN, the estate of Randy Wolfe alleges that Led Zeppelin guitarist became familiar with Wolfe’s band catalog while on tour. After establishing the first two elements, the plaintiff will have to prove that the works of the two songs are similar. If the case is decided in favor of the plaintiff, Randy Wolfe’ estate will be compensated for damages. This is a brief summary of the case of The Estate of Randy Wolfe vs. Led Zeppelin. While we examine this case we can see the importance of protecting IP, and ways copyright infringement can develop.

            I hope the information in this post is helpful. We as musicians have a responsibility to understand our rights. We also have the reasonability to protect our creative works.

~LT