Give Me My Money

Recently a music friend of mine made a statement on facebook that really got my attention. She said "why is it that everybody wants to charge outrageous prices to sing on an event now even if they don't have a cd?" She recieved many comments about it, but I had to write a blog about this because it does concern me as well.

I have had the opportunity to plan events and book different "Independent Arstist" for these events as well. Every artist is different. However, there is a consistant trend with independent artist charging more than they are worth. Now....before anyone gets offended please let me clarify that statement. You cannot expect anyone to invest more in your ministry than you are willing to invest. Independent artist have a habit of recording a cd with the assumption thats their ticket to fame and fortune. Recording a cd is just the begining. After that its time to market and promote your music...the real work.

I see it like this...whatever you charge you should be able to draw. If you charge $600 you should be able to draw $600 worth of people or sell $600 worth of tickets. If you can't I have just decided to have a benefit program for you. Not gonna happen. I hear the artist now..."I have expenses." That is true, but what are you doing to make sure you help the promoter sell the event? Look at it this way...if your music is not being played in a particular area, if you have not sent your press kit to the pastors and churches in that area, if you have not added facebook friends from that area, and if you don't have a website your drawing power in low. That doesn't mean you are a bad artist it just means you have work to do as it relates to marketing and promotions. I think independent artist charge because thats what we think its suppose to look like. News flash....we can't operate like major artist because they have a machine behind them. We must be creative in our approach to marketing and promoting our music. Sometimes it takes something as small as putting some gas in your car, driving to the city the week before the engagement, spend all day passing out flyers about who you are with your website on it, sing on the street corner, etc. Do what you have to do to go to the next level.

P.S. The artist who charge big bucks and do no work sit at home most weekends.

Presence of Your Enemies

The bible declares in Psalms 23:5 that God will prepare a table for you in the presence of your enemies. This is a powerful statement. Many times in life when God is getting ready to elevate and bless us it will seem like everthing around you is going crazy. It will get to the point where you feel like you just can't take it anymore. Fact be told most of us are one pay check away from lights off, car repo, foreclosure, no food, etc. Some of you are at the point of a nervous break down. BUT DON'T YOU DARE GIVE UP. God has a strange way about himself. He will put you in a place where no one can help you but HIM so HE can get the glory out of your life. Thats the table he prepares in the presence of your enemies. If you have no enemies, you have no table. Let them laugh and talk about your situation. They will eat those words when you come out on top. And you will come out on top because God promised it. SOmetimes letting the car or the house go is a benefit to you. Less stress. Stop trying to keep up with other people who don't have your experience nor your money. Maybe God let them take the truck so you would be forced to get a smaller car to save on gas in this season. God has a way that is mighty sweet. It's doesn't always feel good but it is working for the good.

Some of you are coming into the greatest season of your life. Money is about to fall into your hands. Your body is about to be healed. Your job situation is about to change. Wealth and riches is in your house. God's going to give you mental clarity. YOur business is about to boom right in the midst of resession. Ideas are about to flow in your mind like never before right in the presence of you enemies. Stress is a killer and why should I be dead when God promised me abundant life?

Check out this link

My Daughter is Dead

DO you have goals and dreams that you are trying to reach? Is there something you feel God has called you to do, but you just can't seem to jump into it? Are you frustrated because what God has shown you in the spirit is not manifesting in the natural. Well.... you'r ein good company. I have been there before. I would always wonder why I was not acomplishing the things that were inside of me to do. I was getting angry, bitter, and weary while waiting on God. Recently the story of Jarious's Daughter came to mind. It has helped me in the times when I get discouraged and want to give up. Let's review the story. It can be found in Mark 5:35-43.

Once, while Jesus was journeying about, He passed near a town where a man named Jairus lived. This man was a ruler in the synagogue, and he had just one little daughter about twelve years of age. At the time that Jesus was there the little daughter was very sick, and at last she lay a-dying.

Her father heard that there was a wonderful man near the town, who was healing sick people whom no one else could help, and in his despair he ran out into the streets to search for Him. He found Jesus walking in the midst of a crowd of people, and when he saw Him he fell down at Jesus feet and besought Him to come into his house, to heal his daughter. And Jesus said, Yes, he would go with him. But there were so many people begging to be healed, and so many looking to see what happened, that the crowd thronged them, and kept them from moving fast. And before they reached the house one of the man's servants came to meet them, and said, "Thy daughter is dead; trouble not the Master to come farther."

But instantly Jesus turned to the father and said, "Fear not; only believe, and she shall be made whole." And He went on with Jairus, to the house.

When they came to the house, they heard the sound of weeping and lamentation; the household was mourning for the little daughter, who was dead. Jesus sent all the strangers away from the door, and only three of His disciples and the father and mother of the child went in with Him. And when He was within, He said to the mourning people, "Weep not; she is not dead; she sleepeth."

When He had passed, they laughed Him to scorn, for they knew that she was dead.

Then Jesus left them all, and went alone into the chamber where the little daughter lay. And when He was there, alone, He went up to the bed where she was, and bent over her, and took her by the hand. And He said, "Maiden, arise."

And her spirit came unto her again! And she lived, and grew up in her father's house.

Now most of us can identiy with some part of this story or at least with one of the characters. Jairus's daughter represents the things that God has placed inside of us that we feel are dying or already dead. Here are some key things to point out in this story.

1. Jairus was able to get a conversation with Jesus: Imagine how many people were around Jesus and yet Jairus was able to get close to him and make his request. The key is for us to get as close to the presence of the lord as we can. While in his presence you can make your request known. He didn't let the fact that other people were trying to do the same thing stop him. NOTE: If you have an idea and you think it won't work because someone else is doing it..take a chance. It just may work.

2. Jairus was patient: Imagine your child almost dead and you find the one person who can restore them back to health. Jesus was being stoped all the way to Jairus' house. He even healed the woman with the issue of blood while on the way. Jairus had to be alittle upset that all these people seemed to be taking up his time. Thats where some of you are. You think eveybody else is being blessed except you and you are always at the back of the line. God is doing this on purpose so HE can get the glory out of your situation. When HE promotes you no one can take you down but him.

3. Jairus didn't dwell on the bad news: While they were on the way back someone came and told Jairus to give up because his daughter had died. How many people have told you to stop dreaming or made you feel like you were stupid for believing that you could start your own business, go higher in life, etc? Jarious didn't let that stop him. He still wanted Jesus to come there.

4. Jesus put unbelievers out: Isn't it something when Jesus comes to your situation and demands that you get rid of all the doubtful people. Stop letting sad, depressed, unenthused, negative people hang around you. They can't breathe life into you because they are as discouraged as you are.

5. Jesus Rebuked the laugh: When Jesus said that the daughter was not dead the people laughed at him and thought he was crazy. Kind of like what they did to me when I said I was going to start recording my own music, start my own production company, manage groups, write my own book, have my own building. I did what Jesus did....put negative people far away from me. Don't let those people hang around because they will make you doubt yourself. Choose people that will tell you the truth and pour into you.

One last note: When Jairus came to Jesus his daughter was not dead just sick. By the time he got to her she was dead (in th eyes of people). God will sometimes let you look like you have lost the battle so he can come in a show all your enemies that He is God and that he has you covered. Thats why the bible says despise not the day of small beginnings. What seems small right now can be a multi-million dollar company later. Follow your heart and do what God had placed inside of you to do. It just may work!

Detox Your Destiny

Just a quick blog..... I had a interesting night tonight. It was one of those moments where you realize that your steps have to be ordered by the lord and you can not allow people who are not headed in the direction of destiny in which you are headed to distract you. The bible says it like this "Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go." (Proverbs 22:24).

Don't allow people who don't apprecite the things God has placed in you to drain you of your goals and dreams. Have you ever heard the statment "misery loves company?" Some people are so miserable that they want you to be miserable to. It is toxic to have these people around. No matter what you do they are never satisfied.

Detox the people out of your life that will not celebrate what God is doing in and through you.

The Church & Money

I was talking with a family member earlier today and decided to write a blog on the issue of church and money. This is going to be very short, but I have always wondered about this topic.

Because I am a gospel artist I get to see and hear alot of the behind the scenes on booking artist and booking churches for events (concerts, weddings, etc.) One thing I have noticed is that many churches have an issue with you charging people to come into a concert or event and they have a problem with you selling your merchandise, etc. Have you ever heard this statement "You ain't suppose to be selling stuff or charging to get in God's house." The question I have is why can't you sell merch or charge people to come into a concert or event, but the church can charge you to have it there? Is it that the church can charge, but you can't? Is it that you can't sell your merch, but they can sell (for a few hours) their sanctuary, fellowship hall, family life center, etc? Is that the same thing? Not only that, but it seems that the price to rent these grand cathedrals are getting higher and higher. We have even arrived at charging people "sowing seeds" for healing, financial blessings, miracles, etc. However, as an artist, I have heard this statment a million times "We really want you all to come to our event. Now... you know we can't pay you, but God is gonna bless you all for helping us." What???????????

I'm not saying if its wrong or right (YET). What do you think? What has been your experience?

Talented and Tormented

There are thousands of people still talking about the most prominant subject of Whitney Houston's death. It was sudden and unexpected. Many people called her voice the sound track of her life. The word sound in the greek is ehos where we get the english word echo. An echo is a sound of the past. What sound track are you listening to? What sound track was Whitney living or listening to that would make her unhappy and abuse prescription drugs as Amy Winehouse, Michael Jackson, or Don Coneilious with suicide?

We might not admit it but most people are either homicidal or suicidal at one point or another in their life. There is rage, anger, pain, hurt, and confusion. Her music blessed millions of people. She blessed the world. What was so painful that it could send to her prescription drugs. They found sleeping pills which means she wanted to sleep as did Michael Jackson. What was she trying to escape? Millions of people struggle to sleep and struggle to be awake because they are alarmed. YOu can be rich, famous, glamorous, talented, anointed and still be tormented.

What do you do when you are that gifted? She had a divine charge and authenticity about her life and her voice. She sang with such confidence and yet with so much reverance. But there is a human side. What was Michael Jackson thinking? What was the sound track of his life? What was Don thinking when he drew a gun on himself? It's that homicide and suicide thing that always lerks in the shadows of our lives. Some people express it in different ways-eating to much sugar, sodium, acholism, drug addiction. We all have to watch what is guiding us. What are you hearing. Faith cometh by hearing. Look at the word addiciton...something is DICtating to you what to do. You believe in what you hear. Paul said it best. He said that because he had been given this divine revelation or this special giftedness, he was given a throne in his flesh. A messenger from satan. Not the two horn satan, but negative emotions that says you can't be comfortable or live without excessive eating or sleeping pills. If you belive that you are less than what God says you are, it will manifest. Weather atheletes, musicians, entertainers, dancers, politians, preachers (anointed in the pulpit, but annoyed with there life)most gifted people battle between their divinity and the humanity.

The next time your humanity tries to challenge your divinity (who God called you to be) listen to that small voice inside of you. It will tell you what you what God thinks of you. Read Jeremiah 29:11. God knew you before you came here and developed these attitudes about yourself. Why are you here? God put you here for a reason.

Clark Kent A.K.A. Superman

Clark Kent is a fictional character that serves as the civilian and secret identity of the superhero Superman. He was seen mostly as a disguise for Superman, enabling him to mix with ordinary people. In the earliest Superman comics, Clark Kent's primary purpose was to fulfill the perceived dramatic requirement that a costumed superhero cannot remain on full duty all the time. Clark thus acted as little more than a front for Superman's activities. Although his name and history were taken from his early life with his adoptive Earth parents, everything about Clark was staged for the benefit of his alternate identity.

I know you may be wondering "where is he coming from?" Well, here it is. Jesus A.K. A. Elijah, A.K.A. Karen, A.K.A. Tommy, A.K.A. Benny, A.K.A. YOU went to the cross so that he could vacariously live through us. In other words, he went in the booth under your name so that you could walk in the world and fulfill your assigment in liberty. He died as Clark Kent so we could walk out as Superman. And just like Superman had power, God has given you power: Power to tread on serpents and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy (luke 10:19), power to get wealth (Dueteronomy 8:18), power to be a witness (Acts 1:8). You get it????

We don't belong to this world. We are not from here. Jesus "the real Superman" is living on the inside of us to acomplish through us His will and purpose. When the enemy looks at you he doesn't see you because you died over two thousand years ago. He sees Jesus and that's why he attacks. He's not hitting you first, he's hitting you back. His main goal is to make sure you never find out who you really are.

If you wonder why so many people "hate on you", run your name in the ground, or laugh at your small beginnings, it's because they see what you can't see...FAVOR. God's favor is on you and the power you hold scares them.

I'm out! Leave a comment and check out some of the other blogs!!!!!!!!

www.elijahbradfordandpd.com