Showing posts with label khadijah ali-coleman. Show all posts
Showing posts with label khadijah ali-coleman. Show all posts
Thursday, May 24, 2012
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Behind-the-Scenes Look at "In Her Words"
Enjoy this behind-the-scenes video, shot by filmmaker Biljana Milenkovic and edited by Khadijah Ali-Coleman, this video gets feedback from the cast about their experience portraying the cultural icons featured and give a glimpse of what's in store at the debut of the show "In Her Words" which debuts Saturday, Feb. 4 at 1pm at the Martin Luther King Memorial Library in Washington DC. Visit http://www.theyliveon.wordpress.com for more information.
Monday, January 24, 2011
Artist Lesson #203: Defining Your Value
“When meeting people they ask what is it I do, so they can decide if I hold any value…” -from the song “Economics”, Teisha Marie (now playing on the main page of LiberatedMuse.com)
(in photo: The band Lucky Dub at the 2009 Capital Hip Hop Soul Fest. Lucky Dub often tweets on Twitter about the unique ways in which they earn money with their music. Follow them on Twitter @lucky_dub. Photo by Shanta Monroe)
In today’s economy, being a creative who is sustained financially can seem more challenging than ever before. In 2008, I started a discussion on LiberatedMuse.com–How Much Should You Charge for a Performance Gig. I started the discussion because it was clear to me that many artists had no idea where to even begin when it came to charging a fee for their work. What I also have come to realize is that many artists don’t understand the nature of bartering either. I always stress that today it is essential that artists who plan to live off of their art become savvy in the business of their art. As I complete the book Manifesting Your Life as a Creative due out at the end of this year, I’ve been able to interview literary, performing and visual artists who attest to the fact that nothing is more helpful to them economically then becoming familiar with how you define your value. There really isn’t any way around it. If you don’t know your worth, or at least establish your your worth is, how do you expect others to do so?
Here are some tips to consider as you expand your ability to monetize your art and begin defining your value:
1.) Assess What You’re Putting In to Determine What You Should Get Out
When you are approached to perform for pay, do you accept the first amount of money pitched to you or do you know up front what the base pay should be? Base pay should include the minimum expense it will take to prepare for and travel to your gig’s destination. If the gig requires you to purchase special materials to perform, then that is included in your base pay. If traveling to the gig will take a tank of gas, then that is definitely included in the cost. Base pay should not be less than what you are spending to perform.
2.) Determine if a Non-Paying Gig Will Help You In the Long Run
Every paid gig, however, is not the break through to professional success, just like every non-paid gig is not the worst thing you could do professionally. Non-paid gigs have their value. Finding value in a non-paid gig, however, is dependent on what you have established as an artist as some of your goals and objectives. I love to tell the story of the rapper Substantial who has been a regular performer in the Capital Hip Hop Soul Fest, a music festival that I have booked artists for since 2008. The Capital Hip Hop Soul Fest is an all-day music festival where artists are not paid, but are given vending space to sell their products and are promoted online through the media during the six months leading up to the festival. Substantial, who is a full-time music artist, performing all over the world, with an incredibly large international following, sustains himself financially through paid gigs, but has found some non-paid gigs valuable as they are opportunities to sell his music, clothing and other associated paraphernalia. At the Capital Hip Hop Soul Fest, I’ve seen folks follow him from the stage to his vending area panting in anticipation to buy just about anything that he has for them to sell him. Substantial visibly has a business plan in motion. He doesn’t perform without product to sell, and he is as professional and accommodating to his audience at any gig he’s at. He’s determined that each opportunity he agrees to perform is an opportunity to sell his product and broaden his brand.
What are some of the benefits that you can find in each potential gig?
3.) Diversify What Type of Gigs You Take On
Many times, when people think of people in the arts, they have tunnel vision, only believing that a career in the arts is successful if your face is plastered on the television or in a magazine every 24-7. The reality is that celebrity is NOT the norm for many people who are living creative lives. And, that’s fine. For, celebrity is not necessary an indicator of success. Most successful creatives do different things to sustain themselves financially. These different things may often fall within the genre of what it is they do artistically, but the roles are different, nonetheless.
Well-known author Marita Golden told me in a recent interview that she began teaching at the college level and facilitating her popular writing workshops at first, to pay the bills.
“On the one hand, sometimes, I’ve been able to live off of my writing,” she told me, “but I like teaching a lot. My workshops came out of a desire to talk about writing in a way that I want to talk about it.”
Whether it’s teaching, doing commissioned art or working for a nonprofit and developing arts programming, often looking outside the box of what type of gigs you are suited for where you can showcase your art is necessary. Ultimately– and it is necessary you know this–your value as a person IS NOT defined by your money-making potential, your artistic skill, image, etc. Keep it all in perspective and stay focused– you can do it!
-Khadijah "Moon" Ali-Coleman
Do you have any ideas to share on this subject? Would love to hear them. Join the discussion HERE and add your comments.
Would you like a personal consultation to come up with a personal strategy to manifesting your creative life? If so, email us at LiberatedMuseProductions@gmail.com.
Join me on Tuesday, March 15 for my upcoming writing workshop, sponsored by the Prince George’s County Public Library System
Join us on Facebook or Twitter @LiberatedMuse
(in photo: The band Lucky Dub at the 2009 Capital Hip Hop Soul Fest. Lucky Dub often tweets on Twitter about the unique ways in which they earn money with their music. Follow them on Twitter @lucky_dub. Photo by Shanta Monroe)
In today’s economy, being a creative who is sustained financially can seem more challenging than ever before. In 2008, I started a discussion on LiberatedMuse.com–How Much Should You Charge for a Performance Gig. I started the discussion because it was clear to me that many artists had no idea where to even begin when it came to charging a fee for their work. What I also have come to realize is that many artists don’t understand the nature of bartering either. I always stress that today it is essential that artists who plan to live off of their art become savvy in the business of their art. As I complete the book Manifesting Your Life as a Creative due out at the end of this year, I’ve been able to interview literary, performing and visual artists who attest to the fact that nothing is more helpful to them economically then becoming familiar with how you define your value. There really isn’t any way around it. If you don’t know your worth, or at least establish your your worth is, how do you expect others to do so?
Here are some tips to consider as you expand your ability to monetize your art and begin defining your value:
1.) Assess What You’re Putting In to Determine What You Should Get Out
When you are approached to perform for pay, do you accept the first amount of money pitched to you or do you know up front what the base pay should be? Base pay should include the minimum expense it will take to prepare for and travel to your gig’s destination. If the gig requires you to purchase special materials to perform, then that is included in your base pay. If traveling to the gig will take a tank of gas, then that is definitely included in the cost. Base pay should not be less than what you are spending to perform.
2.) Determine if a Non-Paying Gig Will Help You In the Long Run
Every paid gig, however, is not the break through to professional success, just like every non-paid gig is not the worst thing you could do professionally. Non-paid gigs have their value. Finding value in a non-paid gig, however, is dependent on what you have established as an artist as some of your goals and objectives. I love to tell the story of the rapper Substantial who has been a regular performer in the Capital Hip Hop Soul Fest, a music festival that I have booked artists for since 2008. The Capital Hip Hop Soul Fest is an all-day music festival where artists are not paid, but are given vending space to sell their products and are promoted online through the media during the six months leading up to the festival. Substantial, who is a full-time music artist, performing all over the world, with an incredibly large international following, sustains himself financially through paid gigs, but has found some non-paid gigs valuable as they are opportunities to sell his music, clothing and other associated paraphernalia. At the Capital Hip Hop Soul Fest, I’ve seen folks follow him from the stage to his vending area panting in anticipation to buy just about anything that he has for them to sell him. Substantial visibly has a business plan in motion. He doesn’t perform without product to sell, and he is as professional and accommodating to his audience at any gig he’s at. He’s determined that each opportunity he agrees to perform is an opportunity to sell his product and broaden his brand.
What are some of the benefits that you can find in each potential gig?
3.) Diversify What Type of Gigs You Take On
Many times, when people think of people in the arts, they have tunnel vision, only believing that a career in the arts is successful if your face is plastered on the television or in a magazine every 24-7. The reality is that celebrity is NOT the norm for many people who are living creative lives. And, that’s fine. For, celebrity is not necessary an indicator of success. Most successful creatives do different things to sustain themselves financially. These different things may often fall within the genre of what it is they do artistically, but the roles are different, nonetheless.
Well-known author Marita Golden told me in a recent interview that she began teaching at the college level and facilitating her popular writing workshops at first, to pay the bills.
“On the one hand, sometimes, I’ve been able to live off of my writing,” she told me, “but I like teaching a lot. My workshops came out of a desire to talk about writing in a way that I want to talk about it.”
Whether it’s teaching, doing commissioned art or working for a nonprofit and developing arts programming, often looking outside the box of what type of gigs you are suited for where you can showcase your art is necessary. Ultimately– and it is necessary you know this–your value as a person IS NOT defined by your money-making potential, your artistic skill, image, etc. Keep it all in perspective and stay focused– you can do it!
-Khadijah "Moon" Ali-Coleman
Do you have any ideas to share on this subject? Would love to hear them. Join the discussion HERE and add your comments.
Would you like a personal consultation to come up with a personal strategy to manifesting your creative life? If so, email us at LiberatedMuseProductions@gmail.com.
Join me on Tuesday, March 15 for my upcoming writing workshop, sponsored by the Prince George’s County Public Library System
About Liberated Muse Productions
Liberated Muse Productions (LMP) is an arts-based organization based in the Washington DC metropolitan area. LMP was created in 2008 by writers and community activists Maceo Thomas and Khadijah "Moon" Ali-Coleman. The intent was to create events promoting artistry and awareness of issues pivotal to urban communities. LMP has become a network of dedicated artists and patrons of the arts. The Capital Hip Hop Soul Fest is an LMP landmark event.Join us on Facebook or Twitter @LiberatedMuse
Thursday, December 23, 2010
FREE DOWNLOAD: Common Folk: Voices of a Movement Volume I (2010)
Common Folk: Voices of a Movement (2010) was a 3 part concert series exploring & creating a new conversation on the topics of Health, Immigration and the Environment. It provided a platform and stage for musicians, poets, and speakers from around the country to address these issues through an open call for submissions. The concert series took place at Bus Boys and Poets in Washington, DC. The pieces in this compilation CD are drawn from both the live performances and also online submissions.
One Common Unity, the creator of this project, is a grassroots non-profit organization based in Washington, DC which for the past 10 years has been supporting a movement for peace education and the building of a non-violent culture through music and art.
Be sure to download for FREE this compilation CD which features Liberated Muse members Enoch 7th Prophet, Mahoganee and Princess of Controversy and Liberated Muse founder Khadijah "Moon" Ali-Coleman.
;;;;;;
Monday, March 15, 2010
The Play RUNNING:AMOK Will Debut in the 2010 Capital Fringe Fest
Running: AMOK is a comedic, dramatic and musical stage play about one of the most life-changing experiences many women face. Three women who meet unexpectantly in the doctor’s waiting room share laughs, sadness and ambition as they learn from a wacky fellow out-patient how their competing roles as mother, lover, breadwinner and artist can peacefully coexist despite evidence to contrary.
Running: AMOK will debut this summer in the 2010 Capital Fringe Fest and is written by Liberated Muse's co-founder Khadijah "Moon" Ali-Coleman. Music composed by musician Gary Young.
MEET THE CAST
This past few weeks, casting for the play has been taken place and the actors for the play have been selected. The cast is phenomenal joining of some of the hottest talent in the Washington DC/Baltimore area.
Running: AMOK will debut this summer in the 2010 Capital Fringe Fest and is written by Liberated Muse's co-founder Khadijah "Moon" Ali-Coleman. Music composed by musician Gary Young.
MEET THE CAST
This past few weeks, casting for the play has been taken place and the actors for the play have been selected. The cast is phenomenal joining of some of the hottest talent in the Washington DC/Baltimore area.
Quineice will be playing the character "LESHELL" in Running: AMOK. This petite powerhouse has vocal stylings that blur musical genres. She began her career as a session vocalist and has traveled as far as Japan to lend her background support vocals to artists such as house sensation Crystal Waters. In the early 2000's, Quineice began her foray into musical theater, starring in classic theater pieces produced in Baltimore, MD-- including such hits as Little Shop of Horrors, Dreamgirls and The Wiz, in which she portrayed the main character, Dorothy. Quineice has used her art to champion many causes, most recently touring as a motivational force in the area of domestic abuse. She is often asked to share her own personal story through song with her original song “Mr. Crazy” which details how she escaped the grasp of an abusive relationship. Quineice is working on her debut CD which is slated for a Winter 2010 release.
CALL FOR CREW
We are currently seeking crew members for the show Running:AMOK. We are in need of volunteer crew members interested in helping us with stage management during our participation in the Capital Fringe Fest which is July 8-25 in Washington, DC. Perks include a free ticket to all showings of Running: AMOK and discounted tickets to see other shows in the Capital Fringe Fest. Running: AMOK has a simple set with very limited stage props and scenery, but help with transition between scenes is needed. This is a great opp for any theater lover, aspiring theater pro, or fan of what Running: AMOK is about. Email us today if you’re down to be down!
Visit the play's website for contact information and more details!
CLICK HERE
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)