From The Desk of...

Getting Ahead

I watched a comedy some years ago called, How to succeed in business without really trying. The main character was a young employee who was constantly trying to impress the boss. In one scene he arrived a few minutes before nine, loosen his shirt and tie, messed up his hair, filled the ash trays with cigarette butts, and threw paper and documents all over the office floor. When his boss arrives a few minutes later the employee has collapsed at his desk, obviously worn out from busting his butt all through the night.

Now this is obviously over exaggerated, to dramatize the ridiculous lengths some people will go through in order to get ahead.

Assuming everyone has a similar background and abilities, why do some A&R’s shoot straight to the top while others seem to stall forever in the middle management or as an entry level employee?

I think that the overall answer lies in understanding the difference between ones abilities and ones effectiveness, which is simply using ones abilities to achieve certain ends and results.

A&R’s who live up to their abilities don’t become superstars, PERIOD.

Those A&R’s who become superstars combine their abilities with other things-savvy, people sense, an understanding how the music game is played. They are usually achievers and can show results, but this is because they are effective in selling their ideas and themselves inside the company as well as outside the company.

Is climbing the corporate ladder in the music business a game? Absolutely.  In fact,  it is several games all going on at the same time. If you care about your career, you should take these games serious and want to play them well.

As an A&R you should be constantly attempting to recognize real talent and not to be misled by appearances .

Question. Can you make yourself look good by not making someone else look bad?