Cooking shows are popular because they consistently have good ratings. The reason cooking shows consistently have good ratings is because thousands of people watch cooking shows. So the networks are smart enough to give the people what they like. And then an interesting thing happens – the thousands of people who watch the cooking shows on TV go to bookstores and buy cookbooks. This is why you'll see so many celebrities coming out with their own cookbooks – because cookbooks are consistently solid sellers. So I've decided to go with the flow this month and give my readers a recipe. I've chosen a chocolate cake recipe because almost everybody loves chocolate cake.
Here's how to make a chocolate cake:
Place two eggs in a large bowl and whip, add two more eggs and whip some more, add two more eggs and whip all six eggs…add more eggs and then more…pour into a pan and bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes…presto, a chocolate cake.
Even if you're the only person on the planet who has never eaten a chocolate cake, you know there are many ingredients missing from my chocolate cake recipe.
The most obvious one is chocolate.
As I reflect on some of your comments to my articles I am surprised to discover that many of you seem to be missing my point. So with my chocolate cake recipe in mind, I've decided to change the format and respond to some of your comments. There will be no particular order, just statements with brief explanations. Perhaps this will help to clarify my position on a few topics.
Here we go:
#1 – Radio Promotion – I'm not against it.
I believe radio promotion is a vital ingredient to an artist's success. The key word here is “INGREDIENT” , just as eggs are a vital ingredient to making a chocolate cake. If you take my ridiculous chocolate cake recipe above and relate it to some SGM industry companies recipe for success, here's what you get:
Place two eggs (radio promotion) in a large bowl and whip, add two more eggs and whip some more, add two more eggs and whip all six eggs…pour into a pan and bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes…presto, a chocolate cake. Now tell all your friends what a great job we did for you and have them call us. For 10 or 15 thousand dollars, we'll show them how to bake a chocolate cake also…oh, by the way, have you seen our lifetime achievement award?
C'mon people…let's get real! I'm not against radio promotion, and I love chocolate cake…I'm just saying there is a right way to do both.
HERE'S MY RECIPE FOR SUCCESS IN SGM:
Talent, Anointing, Great Songs, Knowledge of Music, Good Work Ethic, Marketing, Sound Business Practices, A Full Date Book, and Radio Promotion. Blend together and presto… an overnight success… in 3 or 4 years.
#2 – SGM – Business vs. Ministry
You can have a lot of reasons you want to bake a chocolate cake. Maybe you want to show someone you love them, or you want to donate it to your church's bake sale. You may want to enjoy it yourself, or be in the chocolate cake selling business. But one fact remains:
You can't bake a chocolate cake unless somebody, somewhere, has enough business sense to operate a store where you can purchase the ingredients. No matter what your motive is for baking chocolate cakes, the business side comes into play. In the same way, SGM is one of a handful of industries whose product ministers to people. The SONGS we sing minister to a variety of needs. As I've stated previously, if you want to concentrate on Ministry, I will be the first to encourage you and I applaud you for it.
However, the problem we have in our many discussions is that we are trying to solve business problems with Ministry answers. I was raised in a church that taught me to believe in the anointing, and I still do today. I know many groups that sing with anointing that are successful…they also sing in tune and are very entertaining. I don't believe it's appropriate to raise the “flag” of anointing to excuse poor singing or lack of talent, and I believe it's perfectly in order to consider what we do “a business”and make decisions accordingly.
#3 – Up and Coming Groups – Talent is the Key Ingredient
If you want to make a chocolate cake, you've got to have some chocolate. Chocolate is the KEY ingredient in a chocolate cake. It's not the ONLY one, but the MOST IMPORTANT ONE, or it's not a chocolate cake. If you want to be a SG singer, you have to know how to sing. You may be a sincere person, you may love God with all your heart, but if you can't sing, you shouldn't be on a stage. Daryl Williams hit the nail squarely on the head in his last article about becoming a professional songwriter. I hope he won't mind me quoting him. He said, “If you are honest with yourself, you may realize that you are chasing a DESIRE and trying to develop a TALENT that does not exist”. He's exactly right. However there is a difference between songwriters and artists in SGM. If you are a songwriter with no talent, you won't get any songs cut. If you are an artist with no talent, you get to record and release a single to radio.
You are not a failure if you realize you don't have the talent to be a singer, rather you have been set free to find your perfect place in His kingdom.
#4 – MOTIVE
Let me make one thing perfectly clear. My purpose for writing these articles is to try and affect change in our industry. I believe the best way to do this is by educating the artists. In my heart I know that some will listen, some won't, but I can't control that. All I can do is keep pounding away with the truth and pray that I'll help more than less. The greatest influx in our industry has come from new amateur artists. The one thing they need most is HELP, yet there are some well known companies in our industry that view these artists in the same way the hungry fox eyes the chicken. This is sad, and I'm against it. If I can help some of these artists see the truth, then I'm accomplishing something for SGM.
As to other genres of music, I'm fully aware that some of them use marketing gimmicks to sell product. Can anyone point out to me where I said we should do that? My point is, and always has been, that the quality of our music is suffering. We have artists who are making recordings that are just awful. We need to stop and help these artists. Take some time with them, show them where they are wrong, help them get on pitch, help them get the best recording they can, help them learn the ropes. For the life of me, I don't see why this is so hard to understand! LET'S GET THE SINGING RIGHT…THEN WE'LL HAVE SOMETHING TO MARKET!!!
Here's my promise to you:
Anyone…and I do mean anyone…that sincerely wants to learn any of the above can come to my office and I will teach you. This is not a sales pitch, and you will not get one either. I don't care where you record. There are no strings attached, and no fee.
The only requirement is that you call ahead and reserve some time. 615-376-5633.
There, I've put my money where my big fat mouth is!
I think it's safe to say that anyone can understand that you can't make a chocolate cake using eggs as your only ingredient. There are many groups, however, that still believe that radio promotion is the only thing necessary for their success. Perhaps they'll remember my “chocolate cake” article the next time they are trying to decide on a recording company.
IN CLOSING…
Last month I asked for opinions from you and others as to what group to send to save SGM. I have spoken to several people in the last month, and received scores of emails and phone calls. (I suppose there are some of you that will want to hear tapes of the conversations, but…I assure you I can verify my choice.)
Drum Roll Please!
Your Choice: Gaither Vocal Band, Booth Brothers
My Choice: Gaither Vocal Band, Booth Brothers
As always, I welcome your comments.
God Bless You
Nick Bruno
Author: Nick Bruno
| Author's Website: http://www.nickbruno.com/
Written: 01/31/2005
| 
Category: Monthly ArticlesThe Gospel Truth
Comments: 14
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Great article Nick. I appreciate your bold, honest approach. I think you consistantly hit the nail on the head. Not everyone is going to like you for your comments, but then again not everyone likes chocolate cake. Preach on, brother.
Nick, I for one agree with this Talent, Anointing, Great Songs, Knowledge of Music, Good Work Ethic, Marketing, Sound Business Practices, A Full Date Book, and Radio Promotion. These are the things we have been working toward. It has not been easy, but we are moving in the right direction. Thank you for confirming may understanding of what makes a SG group that people will enjoy and get young people interested. This has been our experience. You have no confusion from this reader. Tenor for the Carolina Harmony Quartet.
What makes you an authority. You have worked with the Booth Brothers, right? Gaither is an icon. This is a no brainer. However, I feel that you have a very distorted sense of reality. Soundscan could possibly help you see some truth. There IS a rule that never fails: PEOPLE BUY WHAT THEY LIKE. 'nuff said. Here are the facts. Gaither, Crabbs, Isaacs. Like it or not. Soundscan does not lie. Just the facts sir. I am not talking taste or opinion. This is what is selling. Also, I researched concert attendance, it is the very SAME result. Of course Gaither is on top. However, Crabbs are averaging 1,000 plus per event and Isaacs (without Gaither) are pushing some VERY good (above average for the genre) numbers. Get a reality check!!
Nick,
Dear Brother Nick--
Nick,
Mmmm...chocolate!
Nick,
Nick,
Can't say it any better or different. Amen to everything that you said.
BRAVO!
Dear Nick,
Nick,
I have looked at all the responses to your article and I most agree with Allen Layton. The bottom line is (with the exception of yourself for production companies) is "how much money do you have?" It has been my personal experience with Nick Bruno and The Booth Brothers that you are all about getting better music into the ministry/business of Southern Gospel Music. Now I know that you have no idea who The Crusaders are but we can testify to your theory of the importance of good chocolate cake and helping others to make thier own. If you or anyone wants to hear the story of how my group started making better cake with the help of The Booth Brothers and the ideology of Nick Bruno they can call me at 469-235-6730 and I'll tell you the wonderful story.
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