Real Talk From !LLMIND!!!
I was checking out my twitter feed today and the big homie !LLMIND went on a little rant in regards to getting demos, listening to them, responding to them and a few other things. It’s a good read and can give you some real perspective from someone who gets a ton of unsolicited demos.
I think it’s important to look at this rant from the correct perspective. !llmind is a good dude. He’s a regular panelist at producer events (Most panelists don’t get paid, if you were wondering) and always tries to drop as much knowledge as he can for guys looking to come up in the biz. So imagine how the real assholes in the music industry feel about the same things…
I pretty much agree with everything he’s saying here. A few of these come across as a bit harsh, but I think it’s partially because of the shortness of tweets (I’m sure he’ll talk to wack artists, just maybe not about business). Some people really do act crazy when you don’t have a “YOUR MUSIC IS SOOOOO AWESOMMMMMEEEE!!!” response to their tracks. Generally the response is silence & sometimes you get cursed out. One guy called me a cracker once, which was classic. But remember, if someone is in a position where you want them to listen to your music, odds are that they are busy people. So at least respect the fact that they are taking some of their time to listen to your music.
What do you all think?
PS This page might load slow because all of the tweets on here. Sorry about that.
quick rant... i received a LOT of demos yesterday shout to Coast 2 Coast! a lot of hungry cats out here.. i appreciate u giving me ur demo
@illmindPRODUCER
!llmind
just want to make it clear though if i don't like your music, i'm not talking to you. if i'm not active in engaging with u, there's a reason
@illmindPRODUCER
!llmind
you have yes men around you so that makes u think ur good, then a guy like me doesn't like ur music and u think i'm an a-hole
@illmindPRODUCER
!llmind
i know why you want to talk to me and i know exactly what you want from me.. so if i think you suck, there's no point in trying lol
@illmindPRODUCER
!llmind
all i'm saying is this guys... if u ask me to engage w/ u and u want me to listen to ur music, i'm going to tell u it sucks if it does
@illmindPRODUCER
!llmind
if ur an artist and u want to work with me, ill be fully engaged if youre inspiring to me.. if i don't reply to u, it means i'm not inspired
@illmindPRODUCER
!llmind
im really greateful, but i just want to clear the air there... SOOO many are absolutely NOT good.. i don't exist in that world
@illmindPRODUCER
!llmind
i expect the same to happen to me too.. if i get a call for a session and the artist isn't feelin it, that's on me..
@illmindPRODUCER
!llmind
no we can't "link".. no i don't need an "artist".. no i don't want to "put jersey on".. i don't care if you opened up for Jeezy 3 years ago
@illmindPRODUCER
!llmind
also, think about it.. what makes you think a person is absolutely open minded at that moment to take the time to listen to ur music?
@illmindPRODUCER
!llmind
do u think all a&r's, or just people in general, are always absolutely ready and in the mood to listen to you talk about yourself?
@illmindPRODUCER
!llmind
24/7 every moment of the day? there should be a book about that concept.. what makes u think i want to even hear you speak to me?
@illmindPRODUCER
!llmind
like if Pharell was in a room w/ a bunch of rappers.. he's going to get absolutely hounded to no end...
@illmindPRODUCER
!llmind
now Pharell is an asshole all of a sudden because he doesn't want to listen to your little "demo"? how selfish is that?
@illmindPRODUCER
!llmind
im really not trying to sound like an a-hole... these are just things i notice with different interactions i see happen
@illmindPRODUCER
!llmind
its really hard to get me to just listen to your music for the sake of listening to it... why would u think i'm interested?
@illmindPRODUCER
!llmind
im a music producer.. i do a lot of LISTENING to my own mixes, let alone other music.. my ears are an investment.. they get tired too
@illmindPRODUCER
!llmind
i'm not ALWAYS on the prowl and looking for new hot artists... sometimes, that's the LAST thing on my mind
@illmindPRODUCER
!llmind
even if i hear something that's probably dope... or see a show that's dope.. doesn't mean i'm going to pursue
@illmindPRODUCER
!llmind
if i say YES to you, or if i decide to engage and spend time w/ you, you are asking A LOT from me.. MORE than you think or know.....
@illmindPRODUCER
!llmind
it's not this simple little thing where you're music is super dope and u want me to work with u and i say yes and we get rich together
@illmindPRODUCER
!llmind
it's HUGE commitment, a LOT of time.. a lot of fishing for inspriation.. human interaction.. brainstorming... all for NO $
@illmindPRODUCER
!llmind
hence the reason why producers charge $ up front, because you are asking the WORLD from them..
@illmindPRODUCER
!llmind
i've been rejected.. and i've rejected.. i've been on both sides... all of this fuckery boils down to one thing................
@illmindPRODUCER
!llmind
what do you have to offer? and is what you are offering, something i CAN'T get anywhere else?
@illmindPRODUCER
!llmind
if i released "Air-Illmind's" that looked exactly like "Air Jordan's" kicks, i'd look and seem like a knuckle head donkey poop nugget
@illmindPRODUCER
!llmind
same with music... if your music sounds like something that's out there, you are donkey poop too
@illmindPRODUCER
!llmind
same with if it's "original".. doesn't mean it's good either.... basically my point goes back to what this whole thing is about in 1st place
@illmindPRODUCER
!llmind
some of you guys are tweeting back hateful stuff to me.. is it because you fit the description of one or more of who i ranted on?
@illmindPRODUCER
!llmind
if that's true, then all you have to do is take those thoughts and improve.. being a douch does absolutely nothing
@illmindPRODUCER
!llmind
initiating, introducing, nurturing, continuing, and finding RELATIONSHIPS with important people is AN ARTFORM.. that's why they get 20%
@illmindPRODUCER
!llmind
if you know NOTHING about locking down a business relationship with someone, you are in serious trouble
@illmindPRODUCER
!llmind
the ones taking offense to my tweets are the ones i want to help! i'm glad you exist.. that's my whole point in this rant..
@illmindPRODUCER
!llmind
fishing you guys out of the ocean of my followers list so that i can help you improve.. there's a reason why you r following me, no?
@illmindPRODUCER
!llmind
so here's the million dollar question..... how do you engage with someone without being a pest? what's the best way?
@illmindPRODUCER
!llmind
buy my book "How NOT To Be A Pest When Talking To Strangers"................ available at Barnes N Nobles
@illmindPRODUCER
!llmind
to me, the approach is more IN-DIRECT.. those seem to be most effective.. u have to tap into the EMOTIONAL PSYCHE of the individual
@illmindPRODUCER
!llmind
you gotta think like a professional theif.... like Oceans 11.. u don't blatantly walk thru the front door to take the money, right?
@illmindPRODUCER
!llmind
that's like giving someone your cd and initiating conversation by talking about yourself and how dope you are
@illmindPRODUCER
!llmind
indirectly maneuver to get into the person's emotional psyche.. their subconcious, if you will...
@illmindPRODUCER
!llmind
that person HEARING A SONG of yours that they liked, but found ON THEIR OWN, not solicited directly from you.. that's a start
@illmindPRODUCER
!llmind
somehow getting an effective 3rd party involved to bring you up.. or play your music.......... MAYBE
@illmindPRODUCER
!llmind
