Since then there has been friction between fans of both sides with Willy Paul saying he was being disrespected as a Kenyan artiste and Diamond saying he failed to perform due commotions and lack of security brought about by ‘another artiste.’
Well, one of Kenya’s leading digital strategists, branding and talent manager Lynne The Brand has given pointers as to how to go about things in such cases.
The Foli Agency CEO told Kalondu Musyimi that branding, an artiste’s management team and ‘availability’ are some of the things to learn from the Willy Paul verses Diamond Platnumz’s issue.
As an artist or public figure branding is very important. How have you branded and packaged yourself? The way you package yourself determines how people will see, carry and treat you. Branding starts from you as a person, then social media packaging. As I always say, as a creative your social media is your CV, what do you want people to see when they come to your pages? How do you want them to carry and treat you? Package your social media in a way that commands respect even before you say anything.
Incase you have an event or any engagement for that matter it is the duty of your manager to handle everything for you from scratch!
From the payment negotiations to how the program will look like, to scheduling the rehearsal and sound check for you, to sending your photo for the poster, to what time your set is, to how long your set will take, to going on ground ahead of you, to make sure everything is intact.
Let the management be the ones to step out of the car and make sure everything is set, confirm with the DJ whether the playlist is in order, if you are doing live confirm with the instrumentalists, vocalists etc
The next step is to wait for your time and call your artiste who will perform and go home after. There’s a way someone who has a management or manager or publicist handling everything for them are treated, It is different from someone who’s handling everything for themselves is treated.
There’s that respect that comes with them having a manager. It automatically comes with some kind of respect. As an artist please avoid doing everything by yourself.
A phrase I love using so so much. As a brand, You cannot be everywhere doing everything with everyone and expect people to treat you as a brand.
As an artist or any other brand it is not necessary for you to show up to all events, parties, interviews etc,
That’s one of the fastest ways to kill your brand. You are diluting it. Because why should I pay to go you if I can still see you in town tomorrow? That alone leaves you in a vulnerable place as an artist. It’s like you are naked, because now there are no boundaries, people will treat you the way they want because the respect is no longer there, they are seeing you like any other person and not a brand.
When you feel like you’ve reached a place where you feel disrespected, please take sometime off, disappear for a little while, strategize and come back bigger and better!
A little break from people’s eyes won’t kill you. Sometimes it’s necessary
What about international artistes?
International artistes coming to Kenya should have one major gigs and at least a meet and greet. Why would a household name go to another country in the name of doing appearances in almost at the clubs in the city?
That’s the fastest way of diluting your brand, we’ll no longer see you as an international artist but one of us.
by QUEEN SEREM