As WOHM regains its focus, Northwest hip-hop, we want all our readers and Northwest hip-hop heads to learn something. Be better. Work harder. #getmoney. Here are ten things to consider before picking up a gig. We hope it helps, we out here.
Play this while reading this post. Repeat after you’ve finished reading this post.
1. Will you be getting paid?
Not sure who said it first, but recently my boss reminded me, “Don’t do anything for free that you’re good at.” Building relationships is important, but making sure those relationships know your worth is equally valuable, if not more. I’d rather be alone than in bad company; I’d rather have no relationships than relationships that devalue me. Even if you aren’t getting paid much, getting paid period adds a certain level of mutual respect between you and whom you do business with.
2. What else will you be getting out of it?
In addition to stacking that paper, what else is in it for you? Strengthening relationships, or forming new ones? Resume experience? Life experience, or memories? Paying back an IOU, or earning and IOU? Good karma? You can’t put a price on these things.
3. How much time and energy is this going to cost you?
Input aside, what’s the output on the gig? Picking up a quick $100 is nice if it’s a 1-3pm meet and greet; it’s not nearly as nice if it’s a 9pm-2am gig with an hour set-up and take down on either end. Even picking up a quick $50 is nice, but not if it’s going to cost you $40 in gas to get there and back… You do the math.
4. Will you be embarrassed telling people you did this?
To this day my old man tells me, “Don’t do anything you wouldn’t want appearing on the front page of the newspaper.” I think he knows what he means, “Don’t do anything you wouldn’t want WOHM tweeting about.” Don’t work with wack artists even if they’re going to pay you. I encourage you not to do anything illegal or immoral. Don’t be an idiot. You have a personal brand to represent; it can take years to build, seconds to destroy.
5. Will there be attractive women there?
Attractive women represent your personal brand well; ratchets do not. If there are going to be “bad bitches” in the room, it’s safe to ignore Numbers 1-3 and just do it.
6. Will this improve your resume and reputation?
Since exceptions are made to Numbers 1-3 for hotties (is that a term you men are still using?), exceptions can be made for resume and reputation builders as well. Take for example an opportunity to open for a major headliner for free—do it. Or an apprenticeship under an O.G.—do it. Even the opportunity to be behind the scenes running lights or sound, but in the room with all the right people—do it.
7. Will there be Instagram opportunities?
A big part of building your personal brand is using social networks properly (I touched on this last week). When approached with new opportunities, “follow” the people who presented them to you, and tweet at them. As you’re learning more about the opportunity, find out if there is a hashtag for the program and use it on Twitter and Instagram. If there is a Facebook fan or event page, like and join it, respectively. And by all means, snap Instagram pics and have swag.
8. What will you be missing out on if you accept the gig?
9. Are you qualified for the gig?
If a homie approaches you with a well-paying job on a night that you’re not busy for an event that will have fine females at it, BUT YOU’RE NOT QUALIFIED, don’t accept it. Don’t let your homie down, homie. It’s best to be up-front about your abilities; instead, tell your homie something like, “I’ve never done that before, but I can try,” or “I can’t, but can I tag along?” Stack that paper, but know the value in relationships too.
10. Or are you over-qualified for the gig?
Oppositely, if you’re over-qualified for a gig, don’t accept it. Stack that paper, and know the value in yourself. With that, we’ve come full circle—a spin on Number 1—not only should you be getting paid, you should be getting paid what you deserve.
#getmoney