An interesting overview of copyright law from a West Virginia Law School professor.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OuMzKgO3l-w
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OuMzKgO3l-w

Collaboration and Competition Sleep In The Same Bed

While putting together my product pitch it became clear that an essential part of my service involves notions of competition vs. collaboration.  For one, collaborative efforts with potential competition potentially creates a win/win strategy.  I recall my readings on game theory in this regard.  Further, my theatre/music group will involve artists and technical indivduals who are interested in 1) developing their own careers while 2) participating in projects that realize aesthetic gain and satisfaction.  Anyone of us who has been part of a theatrical project of any size knows or should know this dynamic by now.  If they don't?  Well, better look back at your experiences and consider where you were, who you were with, what you were doing and the final results.  This is not always about the paycheck is it?  We, as artists, educators, and humans are meant to grow in all aspects of our personal and professional life.  Loose that inspiration and you loose your edge.  

Anyway, I got to thinking about WWii of all things.  Consider the situation between the United States, England, and Russia.  There was a palpable fear of Communism that pervaded this epochal time.  The paranois went all ways however.  Russia was equally concerned about possible threats to its ideology post-war.  England was concerned that it was loosing it's 'competitive edge' and influence to the Americans.  In other words, all three entities that were involved in forming the post-war society had their own agendas and concerns.  This is how it should be.  And this is hardly unique to this time period.  This is an endless human and political concern that shows up in any number of manifestations.  

The bottom line is that these three world powers along with ancillary powers understood that in order to end the war and negate the threat of Nazi Germany required collaboration at the expense and for the benefit of future competitive positioning.  Yes, they were essentially building or creating a new product extension. And so collaboration and competition are not nearly the polar opposites that they may seem on the surface.

My thoughts and goals involve a deeper and more thoughtful understanding of this concept.  To be sure, there is not singular answer to this concept.  It is a constantly shiftying dynamic that requires notions of yin/yang (balance).  That being said, it stands to create a win/win environment for the businesses and the customer engaged in this process.  And make no mistake about it.  We are all directly and/or indirectly involved in this dynamic simply because we breath, eat, sleep and communicate.  

A look at the Laws of Power that we have read may indeed present a cynical point of view.  Temper that with Maxwell's thinking and writing and somewhere between these schools of thought lies an acceptable and negotiated compromise.

Just a few thoughts.

Bill

A Look at Jackie Nalpalm

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SIq23JeSgYI)

(YouTube source:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SIq23JeSgYI)

Interviewee:  Jackie Nalpant, formerly at Monterey Peninsula Artists (MPA).  Presently at Paradigm Agency (PA).  

I ran into an interesting turn of events while first writing this blog.  I found Jackie Nalpant’s video on YouTube and watched it several times.  I found it interesting and containing insights that would be helpful to my peers.  I then transcribed as best I could what I thought were Ms. Nalpant's most relevant points.  I was satisfied with the results.

Then I went to the Monterey Peninsula Artists (MPA) site where I discovered that it no longer existed.  I wondered a bit about this and decided to look a little further into it.  I discovered through a brief phone conversation that the video was in fact some 10 years old and that Ms. Nalpant and—I assume MPA had merged with Paradigm agency (PA). 

It was somewhat of an internal struggle to decide whether to continue to publish this blog.  After all, the material was dated.  I watched the video again and decided that Ms. Nalpant’s YouTube video still had much to offer both emerging creative talent as well as those wishing to enter the business side of things.  I contacted Ms. Nalpant’s office, told them what I was up to and said I would send along the blog site to Ms. Nalpant for her to read, view, and comment if she was inclined.

What you are about to read and view should be taken in this context.

Thanks for your careful attention.

Company:  At the time of interview the name of the company was Monterey Peninsula Artists.  This interview is 10 years old.  Since then Jackie is now associated with the Paradigm Agency that has four offices in Los Angeles, Monterey, Nashville, and New York.

Type of Company:  MPA was a Booking agency and talent management.

Paradigm Agency is a full service entity with offices in Los Angeles, Monterey, Nashville, and New York.

Owners of Monterey Peninsula Agency (Please see the introductory paragraphs):

Mr. Fred Bohlander

Co-Founder

Mr. Dan Weiner

Co-Founder

More information about Paradigm Agency provided by Wikipedia:

“Paradigm formed in 1992 after the Gores/Fields Agency merged with STE Representations, Robinson, Weintraub, Gross & Associates, and Shorr, Stille & Associates. The agency's Beverly Hills office is located on the old MCA Inc. campus built in 1932[2] where conference rooms honor the legendary entertainment moguls Jules Stein and Lew Wasserman who occupied the space.

In 2004, Paradigm acquired the literary firm Genesis and the Writers & Artists Agency. [3]

Paradigm is now a full service agency with offices in New York, Monterey and Nashville representating clients in areas such as motion pictures, television, music, artist marketing, motion picture financing, book publishing, literary rights, theatre, physical production, interactive media, stand-up comedy, commercials, personal appearances and corporate events.

Paradigm's clients include Academy Award winning actors; Philip Seymour Hoffman, Adrien Brody and Chris Cooper as well as Katherine Heigl, Gary Oldman, Mariska Hargitay, Mark Harmon and Amanda Righetti. Musical artists include; Dave Matthews Band, Coldplay, Toby Keith, Aerosmith, Phish, Will.I.Am, The Dead, Robert Plant and Alison Krauss.[4]”

Source:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paradigm_Talent_Agency as of May 15, 2012.

Please note that wiki material is not always the most current information regarding their data.  They do, however, provide a good overview.

MPA’s roster  (Again this material is 10 years old)

Monterey Peninsula Artists [was] a talent management agency that represented and provides support to music artists. The company’s roster of artists including Aerosmith, The Black Crowes, Black Eyed Peas, Dave Matthews Band, Huey Lewis and the News, Steve Miller Band, Trey Anastasio/Phish, Toby Keith, The Dead, Gov't Mule, Chris Isaak, kd lang, Live, Lyle Lovett, Randy Newman, moe. O.A.R., Medeski Martin & Wood, Tracy Chapman, The Doobie Brothers, and Wyclef Jean. It is based in Monterey, California. As of November 2, 2004, Monterey Peninsula Artists is a subsidiary of Paradigm Talent & Literary.

(Source:  Bloomberg)

Here is what I consider to be the  highlights from the video.  The opinions and observations are based on this interview and—as such—subject to analysis and interpretation by the viewer.  I would strongly urge that the viewer form their own conclusions and share them on this blog in order to create a meaningful and useful dialogue. 

According to Jackie, labels are becoming irrelevant.  The focus used for generating money is on live performance.  I would be curious to hear Jackie's take on the value of merchandizing in regard to emerging talent.  So the final net profit according to this interview lies in how many tickets the band can sell and at what price.   She states that one reason the live show has become so important is because it hard to get a record deal.  Consequently, the bands do not have the benefit of up front money from the labels.  This means the band must develop alternative sources that Jackie feels comes from increased live shows.  According to Jackie,  “[t]hey [the fans] still buy tickets.”  She also suggests that radio play has also lost its impact with the audience in regard to record sales and live events.  In essence the Internet has fast replaced the radio.  She makes no mention of television although I believe that she does have something to say in this regard.  With 10 years passing since the origination of this video, it would be of value to hear how Jackie feels the use of television and radio as a media has changed.  Bear in mind that there is a significant number of internet radio shows that somewhat mimes the format--with improvements--on the older formats.  

She suggests that being a booking agent/manager is a 24-hour job.    She says that there are “more bad calls than good calls.”  While Monterey Peninsula Artists  held a prestigious place in the most influential-booking agents, they enjoyed a certain amount of autonomy from the typical Los Angeles scene.  In fact this company was created in part as a desire to remove themselves to degrees from this scene. 

In describing her day she says there are few power lunches.  It’s a fast lunch and right back to the desk.  Their corporate goal was to make the culture what they think it should be.  Each agent worked certain geographic areas with a certain group of artists with a specific roster of clients.  She noted that now bands typically book four live shows.  She noted that this is in contrast to different times when one to two shows a year was the standard.  She suggests a return to the hippy band touring schedules.  Again, Jackie's input in regard to what has transpired over a ten-year passage of time would be of great value.

She described the process in the metaphor of an airport traffic controller.  She  stacks her acts up, find their routes, get the right money and make the right billing that is artistically pleasing. 

She gets her tips mostly from musicians and promoters.  This is how she discovered Ambulance (Ambulance) and Cold War Kids (Cold War Kids)   She also receives CD/DVDs as well as scanning MySpace and YouTube.  Cold War Kids has released an album in 2012 while it appears Ambulance has a single album only released in 2003.  What happened to each of these bands that would provide some light on how best to develop emerging talent?  What are your thoughts?

Jackie talked much about filters.  The manager selects their area of interest and gets talent that is consistent with their vision.  She says the Indie Rock Mardi Gras was a great opportunity to see new talent without having to get on an airplane.  She was able to see 15 minutes of any number of bands who are creating a buzz.  In addition she got a chance to shake the hands of many associates and peers.  She describes the experience as creating a true sense of community.  It is a chance to see 15 minutes of a band avoiding multiple trips to Los Angeles.  What sort of filters should the newcomer to this industry develop?  Of what benefit would they be and what would be the criteria?  Let me know your thoughts.

Her best advice is summed up in the simple statement of create and trust your filters.  Be passionate about your talent and work so that they benefit financially and artistically.  Trust your filter.  Be close to the artist, which is no small challenge in an industry she describes as potentially  “them” and “us.”  i can't help thinking Pink Floyd world here.   She keeps it about the music.  I am very much in tune to this philosophy. Music is what it is about.  Love music and enjoy the art of the deal.  Most importantly be careful and love what you pick.  And be aware that most are convinced that they will be the ‘next hit.’ 

Finally she does admit that a part of the business is about being in the right place at the right time.  But then again we do create our own luck by being on the lookout for opportunities.  I was encouraged by her when she stated that anyone can do it with the right amounts of desire and passion  Of course, gaining the practical skills plays a significant part in this mix.  A look at how far Ms. Nalpant has come is indeed encouraging.   I have committed myself to an intensive Masters program at Full Sail University that is instrumental in gaining these practical skills.  What sort of ways to you use to gain this sort of experience?  Share it with this site.  Of course, feel free to ask me any questions about my take on this activity at any time.

It would be interesting to hear Ms. Nalpant’s take on the present scene.  That having been said, it is a wise individual who looks to the past as a lesson for the future.  Perhaps one might consider that those who do not learn from the past are destined to repeat it.