Archive and Revisions

Selected links on earlier posts are gradually being revised.
The book page for Changing Your Work… has been revised.

Finding Your Niche: Discover…
is still being revised and the new edition
will be available spring 2016.  More details
at a later date.

Meanwhile, the current edition is available on Amazon,
Ingrams, and from this site via PayPalthis.

Dexterities and Ideaphoria…

Viewers on cable TV voted the job switching episode of the classic
50s sitcom I Love Lucy a favorite recently.  For the visual takeaway
regarding Dexterity, watch the silent chocolate dipper… 

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_FLpXmxTbbM?feature=oembed&w=1200&h=900]

Ideaphoria in action…
The rapid fire delivery and characters as performed by
Robin Williams as the genie in Alladin was not scripted.
Williams created the array of characters and dialogue
using his imagination. A performance industry experts
noted was responsible for the financial success
of the cartoon (Ebert).

References
JOCRF.org/Understanding Your Aptitudes
http://www.jocrf.org/aptitudes/book-understanding-your-aptitudesIMBD.com

I Love Lucy
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0609243/Imbd.com

IMBD.com
Alladin
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0103639/

Roger Ebert.com
http://www.rogerebert.com/

Box Office Mojo
http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=aladdin.htm

Dee Adams is the author of
Finding Your Niche; Discover…

Finding Your Niche eBook

Cherished Tools for an Iconic Aspiring Writer
25 memorable Christmas moments from iconic TV shows, specials,
movies and Hollywood films aired recently on a cable channel.

Wonder how many viewers know that one entry was based on actual events?

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=umEEnFtmV0I?feature=oembed&w=1200&h=900]

By the time he was six-years-old, Earl Hamner had written and
had a poem published in the town’s  newspaper and knew he would be a writer.

Years later, the Walton’s Homecoming Christmas special, based on Hamner’s family, included the story of a son getting a surprise gift of writing tools
from his father, who had struggled to find work and had been forced to live away from home, walking for miles to return to the family for the holidays.

A simple yet priceless cherished gesture  Because n not only was
the gift a sacrifice because money was hard to come by for the family,
but the meaning underscored validation and acceptance of a son’s decision
to pursue the arts despite a time of  nationwide economic catastrophe.

References
IMBD.com
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0067209/

Earle Hamner.com
http://www.earlhamner.com/about.html

The Waltons.com
http://www.the-waltons.com/earl.html

Q; Why was Charles Fazzino able to find
his niche but not his siblings?
In a recent PBS interview, Charles Fazzino said
his brother and sister chose not to become starving
artists and had instead chosen nursing and the
tech field but both were unhappy.

A. Several databases and the Internet revealed many
details about Fazzino, but scant information about his siblings.
In fact, the Tavis Smiley interview provided the most specifics
on the topic. Fazzino was a child prodigy given the opportunity
to observe, participate, and learn about selling artwork to the public
when he accompanied his mother to art showsFazzino’s mother,
an established artist,

Fazzino’s mother, an established artist, began making and
selling crafts using the scraps from her husband’s work.
The senior Fazzino-designed high-end adornments for
expensive footwear.

Fazzino takes a renaissance–like approach to the time-consuming
details involved in his work. It’s an approach that many others don’t
have the patience or motivation to pursue. The artists’ success took
off after he began incorporating 3-D into his work but that only
partially explains his success. Check out the way he markets
his services. His genius is not only in his artistic ability.

One explanation for the different paths of the Fazzino siblings may
be that the parents and teachers provided a rich source of inspiration
for the child with artistic talent and an avid interest in art while
the other siblings lacked the skill set, motivation,
and passion for an artistic occupation. Neither highly artistic
parent may have been able to offer advice or encouragement about
succeeding in the world of nursing or computers.

References
Pbs.org
Tavis Smiley Interview Charles Fazzino
http://tinyurl.com/pj8fgyh

Westchester Magazine.com
Making the World Pop…Charles Fazzino

Special Content One

Charles Fazzino.co/UK
http://www.charles-fazzino.co.uk/artwork_fazzino.html

C-Span.org/AfterWords
Author and nurse Theresa Brown
and the nursing industry
http://www.c-span.org/video/?328313-1/words-theresa-brown

Q: I live in India and plan to buy a food truck
with several friends. People are making money selling food.
What can I do to ensure success? I am an educated person and have
been a tech long enough.

A. Highly competitive business… like the Indian Ocean is moist.
The easier it is to enter  an industry, the more challenging it
will be to succeed.

Since you have no experience in the business, step back and study the marketplace thoroughly. For example, profiling the competition, and learning how to
market a food truck
rofessional menus and buying a truck will not be enough
Even those with previous restaurant experience find that operating
a food truck is much harder than they thought it would be.

Key Questions and Issues Include:

Be sure that you have or can acquire the training, knowledge
and skill set necessary to succeed in the industry.

1. Have you spent a lot of  time in your spare time watching the
work day routine of trucks that you choose to observe?
2.  What will you do if one or more friends decide to walk away?
3.What tasks and activities will you be responsible for? Will you want
to do so day in for more hours than you anticipate?
4. Identify what exactly you dislike about your current position

Be aware that your dislike of your current job may play a major
role in causing you to act in haste.

References
India Times.com
http://ti.com/o7hr8tp

Kqed.org
The Chairman Food Truck
http://ww2.kqed.org/checkplease/tag/the-chairman-food-truck/

Dee Adams is the author of
Finding Your Niche: Discover…

Finding Your Niche eBook

Q: What Business Related Story
Do You Consider Most Humorous?

A:  I have a few favorites, but easily, the news story that tops the
list is about a zoo worker in China who tried to fool  visitors with a
fake lion exhibit.
Hysterically funny and nutty example of what can happen
when common sense or critical thinking takes the day off.

Reference
Huffington Post.com
Dog ‘Lion’ At Chinese Zoo
Didn’t Fool As Many People As They’d Hoped
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/15/chinese-zoo-dog-lion_n_3761333.html

Dee Adams is the author of
Finding Your Niche: Discover…

Finding Your Niche eBook

isTalent is not enough to succeed in the music business. Judging from recording artists who achieved fame and fortune in different musical eras,  business smarts, marketing know-how, the right support system, personal development, authentic values, and good people skills play a role.

99 episodes of Unsung aired recently featuring selected recording artists and their hits. R & B, jazz, soul, disco, rap, and hip-hop were primary categories shown. But regardless of one’s musical interest, the marathon offers a valuable  overview of what many hopefuls experience when they enter the music business., successes, challenges, and failures.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9wotiDai5U?feature=oembed&w=1200&h=900]

Based on a business point of view, two of Unsung top videos  made this list of takeaways for industry beginners.

Teena Marie
The late singer, was the first Caucasian featured on Unsung. And she successfully prevailed in a lawsuit against her former record company.

https://youtu.be/nDDRNOvz1SE

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k7LfX9Me2GY?feature=oembed&w=1200&h=900]

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJDPz4guxOQ?feature=oembed&w=1200&h=900]

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dFtLONl4cNc?feature=oembed&w=1200&h=900]

https://dailymotion.com/video/x122lbx

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztLwgtnp_Qs?feature=oembed&w=1200&h=900]

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rPJz3syNbtE?feature=oembed&w=1200&h=900]

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cw_OR7UZvrE?feature=oembed&w=1200&h=900]

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_rJe2tOS90E?feature=oembed&w=1200&h=900]

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5UNlTDhkRCQ?feature=oembed&w=1200&h=900]

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YGppscwS0TQ?feature=oembed&w=1200&h=900]

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pfNoGx7KJY4?feature=oembed&w=1200&h=900]

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5gFAiPJhvI?feature=oembed&w=1200&h=900]

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guB_jQkCzCo?feature=oembed&w=1200&h=900]

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m6T-B155p0Y?feature=oembed&w=1200&h=900]

Skilled lawyers uncovered a little-known industry law and used it to win their case. Details noted in MusicBiz Notes.

Kid N Play
Duo added a G rating and kick step to hip hop in the 80s and reportedly found a niche in film, fashion, cartoons, and comics…And the name is marketing genius

Heatwave
Unforgettable inspirational story of perseverance despite tragedy
A multi-racial British-American band formed in the 70s…
Ohio native Johnnie Wilder moved his family to Europe to start a band after his stint in the military.

To compete with many bands already in the industry, Johnnie Wilder added acrobatic dance  routines to performances.

Johnnie Wilder ran a tight ship with strict rules, yet violent tragedies repeatedly befell the group. Several years later, back in the states, during a daytime outing, Wilder was broadsided and left paralyzed from the neck down. But the circumstance did not stop him from remaining in the industry….

Mario Mantese, the bass player for the group paralyzed and unable to continue with the group years  would later become an author and spiritual leader.

Ohio Players,
According to Unsung the group made funk profitable. They were making money hand over fist and enjoying the good life.

Then the IRS came to funky town…

Arguably the funniest line in the series. Words that underscore the humor-free consequences of ignoring tax issues.

Johnny Gill
He appeared at each concert on time, but when other members of the group
failed to appear, concerts had to be canceled and furious promoters sued everyone in the group for breach of contract. Gill had to liquidate his assets to pay for the lawsuit.

Montell Jordan…
Learning that his accountants had not paid his bills, including the IRS, the singer was later forced to sell all the rights to his songs to Pay the tax bill.

Issac Hayes
Forced to file for bankruptcy after the record company went out of business without paying Hayes the royalties due.

Force MD’s
When someone questioned why the group’s contract was structured poorly, the group was in a position to strike and successfully renegotiated terms. Members were able to buy homes and warm and fuzzy terms financial strategies were put in place.

Musical Youth
Unfortunately, not the case for the group of children later released after selling millions of records.
Note to the industry…Even kids are fair game. Really?

Kashif
Despite a traumatic life as a foster child, te  singer became a triple threat as a singer, producer, and songwriter. Author of a top selling industry book and philitranthopist for youth.

Millie Jackson
Having left home at age 15, Ms. Jackson unlike many of her contemporaries made wise business decisions and is still in the business approaching age 70
Note: The only segment that had a DSL rating for explicit dialogue.
The censor’s buzzer went off every..5 seconds

Mint Condition
All members shared incoming revenue equally.
Later overhauled their unique multi-genre blend of live performance art, settled differences with members amicably, took control of their marketing and  came back swinging.

Whispers
This group also practiced a striking pattern of loyalty and financial equity  to all members in times of crisis…even if they could not perform.

The Sylvers
Fools Paradise
An interesting source of inspiration…
A history teacher inspired student, songwriter and singer Leon Sylvers to write the melodic militant lyrics based. Later, Leon Sylvers and management would clash and was voted out of the group. That business mistake family voted him out of the group. A move eventually led to the group’s demise.

Melba Moore
Work-life betrayal forced the award-winning singer to start over the industry/
By not sticking to a specific music genre, it is suggested that the award-winning singer has enjoyed longevity in the industry.

Ray Parker Jr.
Wrote a hit song that an industry insider took
without crediting Parker who got even with a little ditty called Ghostbusters

Otis Redding
Left school in his teens yet educated himself about the music business. Redding became a millionaire with his own plane and private runway.

The Force
Began appearing in films producing up and coming caucasian groups like Backstreet Boys and relaunching industry icons like James Brown.

Angela Bofill
Health issues rendered her unable to sing yet her manager devised a new and innovative way for the singer to perform for fans.

Shalimar
Rose Royce
Despite major hits, the talented singers in these groups could not resolve constant conflicts  and had to disband.

Yo-Yo
Yolanda Whittaker…hip-hop pioneer with a
female empowerment niche. But the discovery that her record company shelved the release of her album because someone failed to get legal clearance to use some of the songs included from other artists, and  a strong dislike of other industry practices spurred a decision to stop performing.
Repackaging her skills and experience, Whittaker later started a nonprofit to teach hip-hop and academics to teens.

Stacy  Lattisaw
At the height of her career, Lattisawwalked away from a business she disliked.

Martha Wash
Choosing the right name  can be challenging.
The powerhouse singer behind several  popular hits  was known as part of a duo under two names

1. Two Tons of Fun
A name that  did nothing to communicate the serious nature of the singer’s  ability.
So the name was later changed to
2. The Weather Girls …no.

Arrested Development
Hip-hop with a fresh Southern style… Tennesee and Mr. Wendell
But group conflict derailed early spectacular success.

Dee Adams is editor of  Music Biz Notes
https://nichecreativity.com/music-biz-notes/

References

TVone.com

unsung

Heatwave; The Band that would not die
http://5chicago.com/features/foundations/heatwave/
Shalondainc,com
http://www.shalondainc.com/

Millie Jackson
http://www.last.fm/music/Millie+Jackson

Yo-Yo School of Hip-Hop.com
http://www.yoyoschoolofhiphop.com/index.html

Amazon.com
Everything You Had Better Know About the Record Industry
http://www.amazon.com/Everything-Better-about-Record-Industry/dp/188572603