Supercharge Your Drive By Following Your Industry Experts: Ana L. Ochoa-Monaco, One Of My Inspirations

With so many talented artists, businesses and other professionals who already have a well-known respected mark or presence, pursuing a career in the entertainment industry can be a little intimidating. Yet there are many, like myself who are driven and ambitious that regardless of the competition or obstacle, continue to pursue their dreams. If you lack experience and you still haven’t landed that internship or industry part time gig you’ve been wanting, how do you stay motivated? Are their leaders in the industry that inspire you to continue fighting the good fight? In what ways can you promote your skills, your brand and get the exposure you have been dreaming about?

Feelings of discouragement are normal when pursuing a challenging career. Even though you may get upset for not getting a job you wanted or didn't get the recognition you felt you deserved, to stay in this game, you must stay grounded, learn to step out of your comfort zone, use social networks to your advantage and not let your emotions deter you from achieving your goals. In other words, whether you are or not, seeking to be the next hottest R&B singer, best horror flick producer or aspiring to be a manager of a well-known music production company, there is hope and your chances of claiming your spot in the entertainment industry depends truly on your efforts and creativity. If you lack experience, a great way to get exposure and to get an insight look in your field, is simply by interacting with leaders who already play a role in the industry and have access to industry events. To me, seeing how leaders interact with others online, how they manage their businesses and how successful they are in maintaining their personal and professional online profiles, is not only inspiring but also plays as a great point of reference. If I am lost when it comes to a business procedure or need the lowdown on industry events, I can always refer to that leader for help.

As a Latina, as a mom and as a woman, I am always inspired by other Latinas who are excelling in managing their own businesses, that have the ability to empower other women and who successfully maintain their reputation online as well as offline. On my top 5 leaders list is entrepreneur Ana L. Ochoa-Monaco, known as @latinaprpro who is the owner of Padma Media and Marketing, Inc., is a designer, a PR expert and the creator of the #Latina Lifestyle Bloggers Group. Alongside her business endeavors, she also manages a personal blog titled “(Tienes) Una Cabeza de Coco” which she defines as being hard headed. What I love about this leader is not only her consistency throughout social networks and online activities (through #vllblog, #llblog tweet chats, Facebook and other groups) but her willingness to help others as well as her commitment to empowering female Latina bloggers. Some businesses today are still having difficulties in managing their online business profiles let alone have the ability to create a group based on a good cause. Although Ana has a lot on her plate, she manages her endeavors with flair and is very good at what she does.

Whether you are new to blogging, are establishing a business or simply want to know how the pros do it, keeping @latinaprpro in your Twitter timeline is an excellent way to go. Having her on my Twitter and Facebook timelines allows me to learn about not only current trends and topics for my blog but also a helps me to learn how leaders interact with followers, gives me a network to refer to in my field and keeps me in the loop for upcoming events.  One event you don’t want to miss out on is “The Latina Lifestyle Bloggers Group #Vllblog National Conference and Blogger Junket” which will be held on October 20, 2011 at 6pm, at the Tropicana Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada. The event is sure to be educational and motivational, a showstopper! From personal branding workshops, to blogger presentation skills, to sessions on blog monetization, fashion and beauty previews, freebies and much more, it is the event that you’ll certainly want to be a part of!

As you can see having leaders to refer to in your field when you have questions, when looking to take your entrepreneurial skills to new heights, or need a dose of inspiration are a definite must. If you feel stuck and unmotivated or need some guidance, seek a leader in your field and make sure you choose wisely. As one of my favorites, Ana is an amazing person not only because she is professional and successful but also because she is a great role model to many women that have aspirations of becoming successful business owners. I have my favorite industry experts, do you? What leader motivates you and have you interacted with them today? Don’t fright, reach out to one of your industry experts today; the experience and knowledge you can obtain from an industry expert is often very rewarding, simply priceless.

To learn more about the conference, please visit the following site:

http://vllblog.eventbrite.com/?ref=ecount

Sources:

http://vllblog.eventbrite.com/?ref=ecount

http://www.llbloggers.com/Home.html

http://unacabezadecoco.blogspot.com/p/about-me.html

http://www.contactomagazine.com/biznews/padmamedia0107.htm

Creating Your Personal Online Networking Experience With A Cultural Cap: How The LATISM Group Has Helped Me Refine My Leadership Skills

Besides the advantage of speaking more than one language, there are many perks to being multicultural. From new job offers, to exclusive invitations from secret online social networking groups and invitations from group leaders to attend other culture specific conferences and events, joining a social networking group of your preferred culture or having an ethnicity theme can be quite enriching. If you are like me, and have a multicultural background, why not expand the quality of your social networking experience and use what you possess to your advantage? 

Besides setting up an account and creating your online presence on Facebook, Twitter and similar sites, engage in one or two groups relating to your culture and or ethnicity. To that effect, once you have selected a group, make a commitment to participate in that group. Your commitment and engagement to the group can be displayed by posting daily on the group's message boards, by promoting the group's content or by promoting the group's leaders, by responding to other members' posts, by joining the group's tweet chats and by participating in the group's weekly events as well as joining the group's twitter parties.

As an American Latina, I have embraced social networking to its fullest, by connecting with others and joining groups that relate to my interests, passions and more importantly my heritage as well as my culture. It is social networking not only on an American page but also with subcategories that are in tune with my cultural background and it is practically my world! It is pure brilliance if you ask me! Joining several online social networking groups not only has helped me to be more aware of the issues that affect my culture and community, but has also allowed me to connect with people who share similar passions and interests as well as the opportunity to take that the online community experience and bring it to the offline world, via the group's exclusive conferences and events.

One of the groups I joined was the Latism group, also known as Latinos in Social Media (#Latism). I first learned about this group through one of my followers on Twitter. The Latism group, is a non-profit organization that focuses on empowering Latinos online and offline by creating learning opportunities through discussions and events, on health, education, business and other topics. After learning about what the group was all about, I immediately started following the group and participated, one or two times a week by posting an article or replying to others' comments in the group's hash tag. After a few weeks of engagement, noticing familiar faces and recognizing members who had similar interests, I decided to take my experience to the next level by joining the group's weekly Thursday night’s chat. After that, I participated in the group on a daily basis by communicating with other followers, promoting the group online, by creating posts with the group's hash tag and by replying to others' posts.

Currently, I can say that the knowledge I have obtained and the people I have met have played a significant role in my leadership skills. I am more confident in my field and because of Latism I have a group that I can always refer to whenever I have questions or need expertise. This year for the first time, from November 9 to 11, 2011, I will be attending the Latism Annual National Conference in Chicago, Illinois and I am completely elated! I am so excited because this conference will allow me to network, promote my brand, create connections and because I will finally get to meet some of the leaders who took me under their wings and showed me the ropes when I was first developing my online presence. 

Quality engagement, learning from the leaders in my fields of interest and the connections I have made are truly just some of the experiences that make the Latism group a winner in my book. Alongside my engagement in general online networking communities, having an alternate group to refer to that relates to me on a personal level is a great foundation for my educational endeavors as well as my business related goals. Whether you are building a site for your business to get exposure, or perhaps you are wanting to establish more contacts in your field or you want to know the facts from the experts in your field, joining and online group with a cultural specification has the potential of creating a quality online experience for you as well as for the establishment of your business. 

The next time you are considering a multicultural group online, I suggest you check out the Latism group or to select a group that relates to you culturally or shares similar career interests. Taking advantage of your abilities is accepting your uniqueness and by using your cultural heritage, you will be able to create a personal online experience that is richer and quality based.

Sources:

http://conference.latism.org


http://blog.latism.org/


http://www.youtube.com/user/LATISMnational


http://youtu.be/vCPRBqv1aUM

Why Entertainment Law Podcasts Are Essential To New Business Owners & Entertainment Professionals

Registering your trademark and or simply retaining copyright to your website's content is not enough to avoid some of the common legal issues many professionals face in the entertainment industry nor will it keep you free from being sued by other companies. If you are someone who wants a career in the entertainment industry but are confused by the legal terminology or is discouraged by the latest reports on who's being sued in the entertainment industry, I'm here to tell you, fear not! In order to be successful in starting a career in film, television, sports, music or in launching an entertainment business one must know where they want to conduct business, know how to protect their content, have an understanding of the legislation that is applied to your industry as well as the legislation that is applied in the local and state levels and lastly, by having legal counsel. In addition to these steps, conducting business research on the common legal issues within the industry, connecting with professionals in the industry via social networks and subscribing to entertainment law pod casts will also be helpful not only in getting the latest tips and tools on ways to avoid lawsuits but also in being aware of the  issues that are hotly debated in the entertainment industry.  

Pod casts are a great way for entertainment industry newbies to get a better understanding of the legislation that pertains to their field within the entertainment industry and is also a reliable source for any changes to legislation that is pertinent to entertainment industry. When looking at pod casts relating to the entertainment law, I recommend that you listen to entertainment attorney Gordon P. Firemark's Entertainment Law Update Podcast and visit his website. On his website viewers not only can access his pod casts which cover a variety of legal topics, but also get to hear the comments by guest appearances such as entertainment lawyer Tamara Bennett. In addition to this viewers can also contact his law firm for legal counsel, request topics of discussion, lawyers can obtain legal education credit, viewers can ask questions and subscribe to his blog.  Personally,  I can say that Firemark's Entertainment Law Update Podcast provides useful information as well as tips relating to entertainment law which one can apply to their business. After listening to the Entertainment Law Update Podcast episodes 18, 22 and 23, I was able to obtain valuable information as to how to avoid common mistakes made by businesses in the entertainment industry.

Episode 18, which aired on March 7, 2011 covered a variety of issues from Lady Gaga's song "Born this way" and it's similarities to Madonna's song "Express yourself," Tolkien estate vs. book author, subway's claims to the "foot long"word, the King's Speech right to using the "no animals harmed" certification and Miss San Antonia's lawsuit. The three issues that stood out for me in this podcast were Subway's foot long trademark claims, Superbowl's Class Action and the similarity in Lady Gaga's song "Born this way" to Madonna's song "Express yourself." Subway apparently for sometime has been trying to obtain "foot long" as a trademark with the USPTO. Subway has also sent cease and desist letters to stores demanding that they stop using the "foot long" words to identify their products. Sources say that one store in Iowa, responded by stating that the"foot long" is descriptive and therefore gives them the right to use the words. Firemark concludes that the "foot long" is not a good brand identifier.  Despite the federal court denying one of its claims, Subway continues to pursue the "foot long" claim. This case is a great reminder that when choosing a trademark one must select a brand identifier that is unique and not something descriptive where other companies can and have the right to use that descriptive mark because there is little protection in descriptive marks.

Sources say that Lady Gaga's song "Born This Way" song is very similar to Madonna's song "Express yourself" and wonder whether or not Madonna will pursue a case for copyright infringement or pursue other legal claims for Gaga's "Born This Way."  Sources say that there are strong similarities among Lady Gaga's performances, "Born This Way,"song lyrics and Lady Gaga's attire to Madonna's song "Express Yourself" and past Madonna's past performances. One source stated that Gaga had received Madonna's blessing for the release of her song yet other sources claim that Madonna's management had no recollection of that blessing. Firemark concluded that with the similarities to Madonna's music found in Gaga's "Born This Way," song, Madonna could pursue legal action but whether she will or not is yet to be seen. This case highlights the issues that can arise when artist's attire and lyrical content is similar to another artist's style and song who has a long standing career in the industry.

In the Superbowl class action suit, fans were outraged when they were placed in seating areas not as stated on their tickets. It was reported that when the fire Marshall deemed several  areas  as "unsafe," over 1000 people were moved to various locations. The plaintiffs that filed the lawsuit are seat license holders who were among the 1200 fans that did not get the seats they paid for and among those that did not get a refund for their expenses. Sources say that the seat license holders class action suit has significant evidence for breach of contract and that relief has yet to be determined. This case underlines that it is possible that it is likely that only the seat license ticket holders will obtain monetary relief where as the other fans are simply stuck with the other end of the stick.

In episode 22 which aired on July 14, 2011, the issues I found most interesting were the Hangover II Tattoo case and Rebecca Black's lawsuit against Ark Music Factory. Whitmill v. Warner Bros. case, is the case where the tattoo artist that gave Mike Tyson his facial tattoo, Victor Whitmill filed a suit against Warner Bros. for copyright infringement on May 2011.  Later in mid June 2011, the Hangover II lawsuit was settled and the parties came to a deal which was private and somewhat unknown to the public eye. What was known is that Mr. Whitman was entitled to a large check for the use of his tattoo and that the movie will released in DVD without any editing.

In the case of Rebecca Black, the star's management accused Ark Music Factory of copyright infringement and unlawful exploitation of publicity rights. Rebecca Black, age 13 quickly gained popularity shortly after her song "Friday," obtained millions of views on YouTube. After the viral success, the company that produced the song decided to create a pay system so that viewers would have to pay several dollars to see the video. The issue in question is who has the right of publicity? According to the podcast, no information has been founded on who has right of publicity to the song. In conclusion Gordon recommends that before using a song that it is important to know who has ownership of the song and who has the right of publicity. The case has not been settled but sources say that it will be interesting to see what the judge may decide specially when there is no data as to who has ownership of the song. This case in a great reminder in that one must have clear definition as to who owns what when releasing a song for benefits as well as for justifying claims.

Cases that caught my attention in episode 23, that aired on August 18, 2011 was the case of Mine o' Mine Inc vs.  Calmise and the court of appeals ruling that gave copyright owners broader rights for works made. Shaquille O'neal, owner of Mine o' Mine Inc. filed a lawsuit against True Fan Logo Inc. for right of publicity and trademark infringement who was unlawfully registered the Shaq trademark to a domain and later sent a cease and desist letter to ESPN. The company also had unlawfully started selling t-shirts with the Shaq trademark without O'neil's consent. The court ruled in Shaquille's favor because, the basketball player is owner of the trademark, O'neal owns a family of trademarks and because True Fan Logo Inc. never obtained authorization from Shaquille O'Neal to use his trademark. To that effect, the court stated that the defendant tried to create confusion. What is important to note about this ruling is that a person or business can own a family of trademarks that is have several marks with familiar qualities.

The case of Supap Kirtsaeng, the young man who violated John Wiley and Son's copyrights after selling cheap foreign books of the original versions encouraged the United States court of appeals on August 15, 2011, to rule that it is illegal to import and sell copyrighted material from outside of the United States.  As noted in the podcast, the ruling gives copyright owners more rights for works made abroad which could potentially be music Cd's as well as other goods. Gordon points out that it will be interesting to see how artists and other entertainment professionals will benefit from this ruling.


Gordon P. Firemark's Entertainment Law Update Pod cast as well as episodes 18, 22 and 23 are very informative. New-bee entertainment professionals will find this podcast not only helpful in understanding legal terminology but also useful in understanding legislation that applies to the entertainment industry. For some entertainment law terminology can be difficult to understand but it can be understood and being active in social networks and tuning in to several entertainment law pod casts that allow you to seek counsel and ask questions are beneficial to starting a business as well as in establishing a career in the entertainment industry. 

Sources:

http://firemark.com/2011/07/14/entertainment-law-update-podcast-episode-6/

http://firemark.com/2011/08/18/entertainment-law-update-episode-monkeying-around-copyright-law/

http://firemark.com/2011/03/07/entertainment-law-update-podcast-episode-of-beauty-queens-footlong-subs/

Current Controversies In The Entertainment Industry: Adam Levine Sues Activision, J.R Bricks Receives "Cease To Desist" Letter For Release Of "Waffle House" Song & Spotify Is Sued By VideoPacket

Although artists and entertainment businesses can protect their intellectual property as well as their image through federal, international and state laws this does not exclude them from being sued by other parties and not becoming a victim of having their image wrongfully used. Whether you are an established artist, an up-incoming star or a new entertainment business, protecting your image as well as your products and services is essential specially in an industry where being held legally responsible, regardless of your intentions is as easy as 1, 2, and 3. In the entertainment industry, research suggests that a common area where artists and or businesses find themselves in a legal bind is when they use another company's product or an artist's product without obtaining proper legal permission and licensing. An artist can also be at risk of having their image and or trademark distorted as well as used for other purposes when they are blinded by a sweet deal and forget to read the fine print in a contract. There are several ways to minimize the risk of being sued and that is by protecting one's own intellectual property through legal rights as well as understanding how one can interact and use another artist's property in a given contract as well as through laws.

Are you an artist who is passionate about writing and wants to protect your content? Has your company invented software or product that is unique and you want to protect this innovation? Is your company slogan catchy and you feel your company should have official rights to those phrases? If your situation fits into one of the above questions, there are several legal steps one can take to protect their intellectual property. With all that said, if an artist has the proper laws and rights set in place for their artistry, and someone wrongfully distorts his or her image then, he or she can sue the other party.

A recent report by Billboard revealed that 'The Voice's' and Maroon 5 band member, Adam Levine is suing Activision for their video game Guitar Hero where he claims that the company is improperly using his image to encourage game sales.  Billboard underlines that Levine claims the company violated their contract by breaking the "common-law right of publicity" and by using "unfair business practices." According to The Hollywood Reporter, the original arrangement between Mr. Levine and the company Activision stated that Mr. Levine "granted the company limited use of his name and likeness for the game, Band Hero." In addition to that, The Hollywood Reporter underlined that Levine supposedly allowed Activision to use the song "she will be loved" for the video game, "Band Hero." Billboard also highlighted that Mr. Levine alleges that Activision allows gamers to "use his avatar to perform songs by other artists without his approval" and "without the use of his voice." The result of his claims is yet to be announced in court. Is Mr. Levine entitled to monetary grief for what he so alleges? 

Personally, if Activison did not adhere to the agreement, then by all means Levine should receive relief from Activision. On the other hand if Activision adhered to the contract and did not violate the terms then, Levine should not be granted relief for this lawsuit. It appears that Levine only agreed to have his avatar and voice to be used in specific areas and that further use of his voice and avatar needed to be approved by him. If that were the case then the judge should grant Mr. Levine relief because his voice is being used to promote other songs that are not his which is not to his benefit but more so for the benefit of the game and Activision. Using an artist's avatar would not only discredit and minimize the artist's likeness but also his or her image specially if, the artist’s neither voice nor songs are being showcased. I do feel that further information regarding details on the specifics of how Levine's avatar and his songs could be used, if Activision's actions were not in violation of common rights law and other intellectual property laws and knowing whether or not Mr. Levine and his management have what types intellectual property laws in place would allow me to me to give a better conclusion on this controversy.  

Unlike Adam Levine who was the suing party in the lawsuit, Billboard sources report that in another controversy rapper and artist J.R. Bricks and his label was recently called to attention for his song "Waffle House," by popular restaurant Waffle House for "trademark infringement." According to AllHipHop.com, Waffle House claims that J.R. Bricks's had no rights in using their company logo and that had J.R. Bricks and his label sat down to discuss rights to the company logo for usage perhaps, a cordial agreement would have supported the usage of company logo and name. Music Industry News Network reported that the Air Force veteran, and Florida native J.R Bricks responded to Waffle House's claims by stating that the company's claim was an act of "cultural discrimination" and that they are opposed to the "hip hop lifestyle." Billboard reported that a week later after "Waffle House" made its debut, on July 20, 2011 J.R. Bricks's label received a "cease and desist" letter from WH Capital, LLC and Waffle House, Inc. In that letter sources say that the restaurant Waffle House demanded that the artist change the name of the song and stop using the company's logo. In conclusion, Billboard underlines that the artist was able to "re-release the song on iTunes" and even able to "mention Waffle House name in the chorus line," with its new title. Billboard sources say that Waffle House defended themselves from the rapper's discrimination claims by stating that their company has allowed artists such as T.I., Queen Latifah and the like to obtain usage of the company's logo and obtain rights to film movies on company premises. 

Was Waffle House in the right to send a "cease and desist letter" to the rapper and his label? In my opinion Waffle House was in their total right to send the letter. The rapper and the label apparently had not obtained legal permission to use the company logo and or name for the song's content as well as for video taping purposes. In my opinion, which is based on evidence, I feel that the label and the rapper engaged in trademark infringement by not consulting the company on whether they could use the company's logo as well as the company name for their personal music sales. Any personal usage to gain monetary value from a company or product that where one has no legal right, is clearly in violation of that company's intellectual property rights.

Now who is in the right, if an entertainment business created a software or unique product of its first kind and someone else claimed that they had ownership to the product previously? Billboard sources reveal that shortly after its release in the United States, Spotify, a digital music service company "is being sued for patent infringement by the PacketVideo Corporation." Billboard also reported that PacketVideo, who provides "multimedia communications software," alleges that Spotify's introduction to "hybrid technology" is similar to Rolf Brugger's invention, the patent called "Device for Distribution of Music in Digital Form" which was "issued in 1997." Packetvideo.com states that PacketVideo Corporation's patent is described as "a system that is used for distributing digital music information to a central memory device." According to Billboard, in a recent press release Spotify strongly contests PacketVideo Corporation's claims and states that its product is "highly innovative," and that it also uses "P2P technology." Is there a basis for PacketVideo to sue Spotify? In my opinion, PacketVideo has proof of a patent that is registered and therefore should sue. On the other hand, we have no way of knowing whether Spotify that is, if their product is similar to PacketVideo and if the company had previous knowledge of the patent yet if that is their competitor shouldn't they know that? I think in this particular patent infringement lawsuit, the judge will ultimately look at what is the evidence and decide whether or not PacketVideo is in the right on their alleged claims. 


Artists and entertainment businesses need to not only be "in the know" of how to protect their products and services but also must understand that there are certain steps that have to be taken in order to obtain permissions and licensing when using another artist's content or company's products for their own purposes. By registering products and services to specific intellectual property laws an artist and or business can obtain local, state and federal protection for their products. Entering the entertainment industry without any knowledge of businesses and artists that have a particular song or that have developed current line of products for example could be detrimental to any new artist or business especially if they try to launch a similar product. In any case, taking the proper measures to protect what one deems is his or her artistry in legal means will go a long ways in minimizing the window of potential lawsuits and or other controversies. Have a trade secret or love your slogan? Protect your craft and obtain legal protection so that you get the rights you seek. If you don't do it, someone else will have the power to rightfully claim your innovation or craft.

Sources:

http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/industry/legal-and-management/the-voice-s-adam-levine-sues-activision-1005306952.story

http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/industry/digital-and-mobile/spotify-strongly-contesting-packetvideo-1005306402.story

http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/industry/branding/waffle-house-claims-trademark-infringement-1005304292.story

http://allhiphop.com/stories/news/archive/2011/08/02/22856115.aspx

http://www.packetvideo.com/press_releases/07_27_2011.html

http://www.google.com/patents/about?id=ue8GAAAAEBAJ&dq=7,577,757

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OAfUlfCe5lE

http://www.mi2n.com/press.php3?press_nb=144593

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CvKBg26jzCk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EcY_zjpI1KQ

Double Dipping: When The Going Gets Good, Should Music Artists Explore Acting Roles?

Musical artists such as Tyrese, Eve, Justin Timberlake, Jennifer Lopez, Chris Brown, Don Omar and Ludacris, just to name a few, have had their share of roles and publicity on the big screen as well as on television. The temptation to do more than a musical act is there and Up-incoming artists, who have witnessed their predecessors’ crossover into film, are more than ever curious and are following in their footsteps. Sources recently reported that Hip Hop diva and songstress Nicki Minaj is said to be contemplating whether she will continue her musical career to pursue her life-long dream of being an actress. So, should she and others like her dive into film? 


For the artists that have made the crossover successfully onto film and television, their on-camera roles, have taken these artists and their musical careers to the next level. In other cases, the artists that make the crossover and are not so fortunate, end up losing some if not all of their star power. So why take this risk in the first place? Artists, who started out with a bang in their musical careers and are now facing a decline in their stats, would prefer to drop their not-so thriving musical careers, to save their current hype and popularity. When faced in this crisis artists are more likely to explore other career options, which they should specially, when an opportunity such as an acting gig presents itself.  If the acting gig turns out to be a success, the artist will save not only their popularity but also this will also increase the chances of the artist having a career opportunity in film or in television. Lastly, there are those few musical artists, those rare gems, who astonishingly continue to further grow their stardom and manage to be successful in their multifaceted careers regardless of whether they switch from an acting role to their musical role at any given time.

When should an artist set aside their musical career to pursue other out of music industry career endeavors? Is it wise for artists to put their musical careers on hold to pursue an acting career? If so, when is the right time and should the artist sacrifice one role over the other or manage both roles? Regardless of the genre, we've seen many artists during pivotal points in their careers take that step and more so when they are losing their momentum in the music industry, seeking exposure or using other talents to maintain or increase their celebrity buzz. The artist turned actor/actress trend has been happening for quite some time and as the music industry becomes more competitive, it is highly likely that artists will have multiple roles in years to come. 

Most recently jumping in on the artist turned actor trend wagon is R&B and contemporary urban music artist Trey Songz, who recently reported to media sources that he will playing the lead male role in the remake of Tobe Hopper's 1984 horror classic, 'Chainsaw Massacre.' Sources say the artist will play one of the leads as the boyfriend to Alexandra Daddario from the previous cast. The Millennium/Nu Image picture will be released, in theaters, in 3D on October 5, 2012. Sources say the horror flick will be the Emmy-nominated artist's first debut on the big screen, which will capture the artist, performing in physical, romantic and in heroic scenes. Throwing the acting gig aside, Trey Songz has had great stats in the music industry since his early beginnings and his stardom is not only growing but is also flourishing. He has had numerous awards and other successes including being named as the Best Male R&B Artist at the 2010 BET Awards, having a series of top ten singles, touring as a headliner on the famous BP3 Tour 2010, has done numerous television appearances, has participated in Roc A Wear Clothing and Kodak advertisements, has attended several star recording events, has participated in charity benefit concerts and a also completed a docu-series. 

It is evident that there are sacrifices that are made when an artist steps into a new role outside of the music industry. To that effect if an artist decides to take advantage of an opportunity such as a role in a movie, the artist must take not only precaution, but he or she must also consider and understand the commitment and hard work that is involved in the new role as well as realize that, there may be multiple losses regardless of the pluses when undertaking a new role. Artists who land acting gigs have a tendency to place their musical careers on hold, leave their musical endeavors completely, and or juggle multiple roles, which often leads to many sacrifices. On the other hand an artist whose musical career isn't doing very well and gets an offer to star in the next blockbuster hit, the artist should certainly take advantage of that opportunity because it just may allow the artist to attain stardom in another industry. Artists, crossing over to film and television will continue to rise and whether or not these artists will have successful careers in the roles they undertake and in the industries they pursue, this will be entirely up to the artists. 

Sources:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JUAORS8FvR8


http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/singer-trey-songz-joins-cast-213001


http://www.treysongz.com/bio/


http://kysdc.com/national/mmartin/5-music-stars-who-should-try-acting-the-wednesday-5/


http://ohnotheydidnt.livejournal.com/61282433.html?page=2


http://www.rap-up.com/2011/07/19/trey-songz-to-make-big-screen-debut-in-texas-chainsaw-massacre-3d/


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hg2Z15IfBXM

LMFAO's 'Party Rock Anthem' Makes No. 1 On Billboard's Hot 100!

The LA based dynamic duo LMFAO's "Party Rock Anthem," featuring Lauren Bennett and GoonRock, was recently named number 1 on Billboard's Hot 100 list on July 7, 2011 via the billboard.biz website. Sources say, that the “Party Rock Anthem" is rocking comfortably at the top, knocking Pitbull's "Give Me Everything," featuring Ne-Yo, AfroJack and Nayer from its number one spot down to number two. From disc jockeying, to producing music, to clothing designing, Redfoo and Sky Blu of LMFAO have been involved in the club and music scene years before their major-label debut in 2008. 

Think that's the end of the buzz, well the song's buzz doesn't stop there! According to sources the duo has topped not only ITunes charts in seven countries but has also made it to the top on English pop charts for the months of May and April 2011. Music sources underline that the mega hit by the duo is definitely one of the greatest gainers and digital honors, with 22% in digital sales, 258,000 downloads sold and with a 115 million in all-format audience.

LMFAO’s "Party Rock Anthem" has definitely made its mark and has kept other well-known artists and heavy hitters such as Jennifer Lopez and Chris Brown from reaching the number one spot on the famous Billboard Hot 100 list. Aside from gaining popularity through their “what’s not to love,” funky-fresh dance/pop/hip-hop music party tracks the Los Angeles based duo are getting their "shuffle on,” not only for their Hot 100 coronation but also for their duo status bragging rights. Media sources confirm that LMFAO’s “Party Rock Anthem” is the first number one to land the Hot 100 list, made by a duo since 2004. Prior to LMFAO’s “Party Rock Anthem,” only two other duos have reigned at number one on Billboard's Hot 100 list. OutKast's "Ms. Jackson" reigning at the number one spot on February 17, 2001, and K-CI and JoJo's "All My Life" spending three weeks at number one in April of 1998, were the only duo groups with a song landing the number one spot on Billboard's Hot 100.

Whether these “music designers,” will hold the number one spot for weeks to come is unknown. The fact is that audiences are hooked to LMFAO's tracks, such as "I'm in Miami B" and "Party Rock Anthem" and they can't wait until the next catchy club hitter is officially released.

Sources:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQ6zr6kCPj8

http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/industry/record-labels/lmfao-s-party-rick-anthem-tops-hot-100-first-1005266822.story

http://www.artistdirect.com/artist/bio/lmfao/4893077 

The Negotiation Process Part 2: Javier Cavazos Talks With Itzel Yagual About His Career, Business Relationships And Effective Negotiations

Previously in part 1 of the negotiation process, I gave you an inside look at Jenny Fly's career, her thoughts on negotiations and why they are vital in the entertainment industry. In conclusion, research supported that  building relationships, placing value to the party's needs and concerns and working toward a mutual benefit are the key factors to successful negotiations. But how do negotiations impact the medical field?

In part 2, of the negotiation process I sat down with CEO of RGV Foot care, Javier Cavazos to talk about his career and how negotiations play a role in the medical field. Javier is known not only for designing his own "foot and ankle procedure to alleviate chronic foot pain through cryogenic technology," but also for publishing "peer-reviewed articles on the topic." Javier says he is proud of his work and says, he "will soon lecture on his findings."  In addition to being the CEO of a multiple-faceted podiatric medical practice, he also is a venture capitalist, a real estate developer and a martial artist. When he is not wearing one of his professional caps, Javier is a dedicated father who enjoys spending time with his family. Javier  defines himself as "an ambitious, driven entrepreneur," and even though keeping a balance between the professional and personal life is his "ultimate challenge," he stays grounded with a little "self reflection and meditation." He enjoys his work because he gets to be his "own boss" and because he "dictates the terms of his success." Javier is making a lasting impression not only for his dedication to foot care but for his ability to manage several professions, his expertise and his ability to achieve whatever he puts his mind to.

   

Working in the medical field and in the business field has its benefits and its negatives. Javier says, that if you "work with your heart, take care of those you have entrusted with, and if your honest with yourself the financial rewards will take care of themselves." One of the perks is that he gets to be his "own boss" and deal with a variety of issues. Javier's biggest gripe is that he often pushes himself which is part of his personality, that is being a perfectionist. Having many hats, Javier deals with a variety of clients.  Javier addresses employment contracts, rental agreements, association agreements, independent contracts. 

In dealing with different contracts and clients, he assures that personal emotions or issues do not interfere with any negotiations. He focuses on presenting the benefits and always makes an attempt to sell an idea in reference to the needs of the other party. In any case, when dealing with difficult people, Javier says that knowing "what you want to achieve, what you are willing to sacrifice and compromise" will make the negotiation process more successful. Also, if the status of the other party and dirty tricks come into play, his suggestion is to "be prepared, have knowledge of the situation," use factual data to back up your statements and use "effective communication," to solve the issues regardless of who may have "the upper hand."  In some cases, one will have to choose what is left, specially if the other party is not "willing to budge" upon your best card. There will also be occasions where a party will be unsatisfied and that is inevitable. "You win some, you lose some," says Javier. In the end, one should remember that in negotiations and in all work environments, it is in the best interest of all parties to work toward a solution that satisfies all parties. To Javier "my benefit and what's acceptable to the other side is my goal" and that if the negotiation goes south, then only then is "mutual benefit is not a bad option." He urges that business owners should focus on developing relationships whether its online through social networks or on a face to face basis. "People need to be open minded and willing to communicate how an agreement between two parties is beneficial for all" he says, in reference to working relationships. "Communication is critical" and the more knowledge you have about a situation or what is involved in a negotiation, the more passion one will be able to display on a topic which will underline how much one cares and what one is willing to accommodate for the respective party.

Think the medical field is his last stop, well think again. Aside from his successes in the medical field, Javier has other goals gearing towards the entertainment industry. In the future, Javier sees himself having ownership to a professional sports team. He plans on accomplishing this dream by "incorporating all avenues of productivity, use social media to market his brand and by becoming more involved in sports business and in the entertainment industry." Javier is certainly making his mark in the medical and business sectors and he's sure to have a lot in store for us in the future. 


What are you willing to compromise and negotiate to achieve your heart's desires? Only you can decipher and determine the outcome of your fate, specially if you have prepared sufficiently. Negotiations are part of our every day lives. Successful negotiators must have patience, have knowledge of all issues, must be able to communicate effectively, must always address all parties concerns and work toward a mutual benefit regardless of the parties' positions that underlines the needs of all the parties involved.


If you'd like to connect or learn more about Javier Cavazos please visit the profile listed below.


Twitter.com
@rgvfootdoc