What Artist Should Know About Their Rights!

The U.S. Patent & Trademark Office must have an example of a band's name and / or logo registered before any band can claim rights in that name. The Office regulates who can have what name and symbol, and under what circumstances likenesses to similar preexisting band or entertainment names might be allowed. Any group who performs, records, or sells their music for commercial gain would be wise to register their name in order to defend their rights to continue making a profit from that music.

Rarely, an individual artist will have enough power (money) or popularity to be able to make their own career and contractual decisions, usually because they own their own publishing company, merchandising, or even their own record company (i.e.: Madonna's Maverick Records, or Nine Inch Nails' Nothing Records).

However, most artists cannot afford, or do not have the contacts necessary, to run their own publishing company, and as a result about 50% of their profits are paid out for the right to publish their music. When certain publishers own the artists rights to a song, they can prevent further performances or inclusion of those songs on future albums, should the artist ever change publishing companies; or, they can prevent other bands from recording a cover of those songs, sometimes even if the original band has given their ok.

Additionally, artists who wish to gather royalties on their music broadcasts must join ASCAP, BMI, SESAC or some similar group who can obtain BDS (Broadcast Data Systems) information on how many times a song was played and award the artist accordingly. The first two are non-profit organizations: ASCAP allows a performing musician to register by paying dues, while prospective members of BMI must prove that they can become an "affiliate" (provide for their own financial needs).

SESAC is a for-profit organization that doesn't seem to have much benefit for a "new" artist, mostly because they pay out expected royalties up front; only the already big names would enjoy this system if their previous song went over very well, and the expected return on the new song is to be as high (that way, if it does not do as well commercially, the artist comes out on top with a substantial chunk of change, but their next payout will probably be low if they use SESAC again).

TO READ MORE ON THIS ARTICLE VISIT: http://www.essortment.com/all/musicindustryb_rccy.htm

FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT WWW.LRCONSULTINGENT.COM OR CALL (404) 981 - LRCE (5723)

Failing To Plan, Is Planning To Fail...

Here are some steps we have all found useful within LR Consulting. No matter if your in Corporate America or an Entrepreneur we guarantee you can progress from the implementation of all steps below. Remember to make a daily concise effort and you will surely benefit from the results!

Act The Part - When choosing a job or entrepreneurship, learn your audience and supervisors, mentors, and successful workers in that career, field or job chosen.

Speak The Part - Know when to be professional. Speak with confidence and identity productive, positive people within the organization or direct market.

Look The Part - Dress for success. Look at people who are successful and how they dress.

Sale Yourself - Be proud of yourself and your accomplishments. Be proud of your work, stay motivated, communicate effectively with co-workers and make your manager or company proud.

Introducing New Products

Why do so many new products fail? Usually for many reasons. Companies often are so enamored of their new product ideas that they fail to do their research, or they ignore what the research tells them. Sometimes the pricing or the distribution channels are wrong. Sometimes the advertising doesn't communicate. Successful product launches result from an integrated process that relies heavily on research and solving up-front issues. Let's review some of these critical issues that affect product introduction.

Market Research - Market is key. Without necessary information, you're simply flying blind in a storm, headed for a crash landing without a para-shoot.

Timing - Can dictate your products success, without asking the right questions to research the correct answers, you are looking at a downward spiral in the production and launch of your product.

Capacity - If the product or service is successful, do you have the personnel and manufacturing capacity to cope with the success?

Training - Your sales organization, inside employees, and distribution channels will need to be trained about the product.

Promotion - Finally, you need the promotional program to support, introduction, forms of advertising, trade shows, promotional literature, samples, incentives, Web site, seminars, and public relations.

For time sake, we only indicated the bare necessities an entrepreneur will need to be successful and to expand their business further. Please visit WWW.LRCONSULTINGENT.COM and contact one of our consultants TODAY!!

Common Business Plan Mistakes to Avoid.....

In the last 8 years I have been involved with business planning, in between this time, I have seen all different styles and fashion of plans change a lot, but the fundamentals remain fairly constant. As a recap to what you've already been told, your business plan should tell a compelling story about your business, explaining who, what, when, where, how and why. A business plan should be focused and clear. It is not about the number of pages or style of the cover, however; a basic business plan should not exceed 22 to 25 pages. To help you craft a plan that hits all the right notes, here's a list of some of more common business planning mistakes you should avoid:

1. Don't put off writing a plan. Do not wait until you have enough, don't wait until you have the right people, and definitely don't wait until there's an urgent reason you suddenly need a plan. Instead, just just do it now. Recognize that you need a business plan and that your first step is to prepare your first plan.

2. Don't confuse cash with profits. There's a huge difference between the two. Waiting for customers to pay can cripple your financial situation without affecting your profits.

3. Don't dilute your priorities. A plan that stresses three or four main priorities is a plan with focus and power. People can understand three or four main points. A plan that lists 20 priorities doesn't really have any.

4. Don't overvalue the business idea. What gives an idea business value is not the idea itself but a business that's already built on top of it. It takes employees having shown up every morning or actively representing and participate in company, phone calls being answered, products being built, ordered and shipped, services being rendered, and customers paying their bills to make an idea a business.

5. Don't confuse a plan with the act of planning. You need both to succeed. And your planning process doesn't end when your plan is done. The value of a plan is in the implementation it causes, and implementation starts the day you settle on the main points of your plan.

6. Don't fudge the details in the first 12 months. By details, I mean your financials, milestones, dates, responsibilities and deadlines. Cash flow is the most important, but you also need lots of details when it comes to assigning tasks to people, setting activity dates and specifying what's supposed to happen and who's supposed to make it happen.

7. Don't sweat the details for the later years. This is about planning, not accounting, and you're only guessing the future in a system full of uncertainties.

8. Don't write too much. Keep your business plan short and focused on your main priorities.

Five important tips before you start!

1. The business plan should tell a compelling story about your business, explaining who, what, when, where, how and why.

2. Your plan should be focused and clear. It is not about the number of pages or style of the cover.

3. The plan should define specific business objectives and goals with general parameters to guide the organization.

4. Writing a business plan should force logic and discipline into a business.

5. A good business plan is a living document. It should be updated regularly.

For more details on a basic, extensive or financial plan, please visit WWW.LRCONSULTINGENT.COM and contact one of our consultants TODAY!!!

“If anything can go wrong, it will” Murphy’s Law

Murphy’s Law is often quoted in life as well as in business. It implies the truism that seldom does everything turn out perfectly. All the planning in the world can’t prevent the unexpected from happening. We can’t control the unexpected. But we can control our attitude toward it. We can view situations negative or positive, as a problem that gets in the way of our business, or positively, as a chance to look at a situation and solve it creatively.

In the Chinese language, the symbol for the word problem translates into the word opportunity. In the view of many successful leaders, we have no problems, just opportunities for change. While we might quarrel with this outlook, the point is that as individuals we can approach most “problems” with a positive mindset and view them as challenges to be dealt with proactively. Identifying problems and solving them are important skills for people who are faced with dilemmas that require judgments every day. We must begin to ask ourselves why it’s important to use strategies that can be used to solve problems, and what can make your problem solving efforts more productive.

Conflict: A Modern Perspective

Learning to manage conflict is a critical investment in improving how we, our families, and our organizations adapt and take advantage of change. Managing conflicts well does not insulate us from change, nor does it mean that we will always come out on top or get all that we want. However, effective conflict management helps us keep in touch with new developments and create solutions appropriate for new threats and opportunities. Much evidence shows we have often failed to manage our conflicts and respond to change effectively. High divorce rates, disheartening examples of sexual and physical abuse of children, the expensive failures of international joint ventures, and bloody ethnic violence have convinced many people that we do not have the abilities to cope with our complex interpersonal, organizational, and global conflicts.

Bill Gates…...The Ultimate Realist!!

Love him or hate him, he sure hits the nail on the head with this!


Bill Gates recently gave a speech at a High School about 11 things they did not and will not learn in school.


He talks about how feel-good, politically correct teachings created a generation of kids with no concept of reality and how this concept set them up for failure in the real world.


Rule 1: Life is not fair - get used to it!

Rule 2 : The world won't care about your self-esteem. The world will expect you to accomplish something BEFORE you feel good about yourself.

Rule 3 : You will NOT make $60,000 a year right out of high school. You won't be a vice-president with a car phone until you earn both.

Rule 4 : If you think your teacher is tough, wait till you get a boss.

Rule 5 : Flipping burgers is not beneath your dignity. Your Grandparents had a different word for burger flipping: they called it opportunity..

Rule 6: If you mess up, it's not your parents' fault, so don't whine about your mistakes, learn from them.

Rule 7: Before you were born, your parents weren't as boring as they are now. They got that way from paying your bills, cleaning your clothes and listenin g to you talk about how cool you thought you were. So before you save the rain forest from the parasites of your parent's generation, try delousing the closet in your own room.

Rule 8: Your school may have done away with winners and losers, but life HAS NOT. In some schools, they have abolished failing grades and they'll give you as MANY TIMES as you want to get the right answer. This doesn't bear the slightest resemblance to ANYTHING in real life.

Rule 9: Life is not divided into semesters. You don't get summers off and very few employers are interested in helping you FIND YOURSELF. Do that on your own time..

Rule 10: Television is NOT real life. In real life people actually have to leave the coffee shop and go to jobs.

Rule 11: Be nice to nerds. Chances are you'll end up working for one.

Basics of Business Credit....The 4C's......

What are the 4 C’s that companies look for? A business’s creditworthiness is ultimately determined by what are known as the “4 C’s of Credit” -- character, capacity, capital and conditions -- most of which can be found explicitly or implicitly in a company’s credit report.

Character includes factors such as: size, location, number of years in business, business structure, number of employees, history of principals, appetite for sharing information about itself, media coverage, liens, judgments or pending law suits, stock performance, and comments from references.

Capacity assesses the ability of the business to pay its bills, i.e., its cash flow. It also includes the structure of the company’s debt—whether secured or unsecured—and the existence of an unused lines of credit. Any defaults must also be identified.

Capital assesses whether a company has the financial resources (obtained from financial records) to repay their creditors. In general, this portion of the credit report is the one most closely reviewed by the credit analyst. Heavy weighting is given to such balance sheet items as working capital, net worth and cash flow.

Conditions consider the external factors surrounding the business under consideration - influences such as market fluctuations, industry growth rate, political/ legislative factors, and currency rates.

A credit manager or loan officer will answer these questions by locating and reviewing:

1. requests for credit information
2. customer supplied information
3. bank information
4. trade information

These factors are also taken into consideration by other service providers, such as insurance companies to set premiums. More than ever, companies are using automated decisioning, which means they input scores and ratings that summarize the 4 C's into a financial model to determine the risk of doing business with you.

Partnership for Community Action, Inc....

Thank you to all of the entrepreneurs for the interviews including CEO of The Urban League Nancy Johnson, TEC Director Mark Parham, and Commissioner of Dekalb County Larry Johnson!

CLICK HERE to view interviews and video footage of graduation.

We also want to thank Executive Director Reginald Davis, LR Consulting's photographer, video production dept and Partnership for Community Action!

The Risk and Rewards of Business Ownership.....

When were really excited about doing something, we sometimes forget or ignore the downside of it. However; it would be very foolish to ignore the risks of going into business!

Failure. The emotional stress of failure can be very hard to handle.

Loss of money. You may have your own money at risk.

Long hours. You may have to work 60 or more hours per week.

Family problems. Your family relationships are likely to suffer unless you can find a way to balance your personal life and your business life.

Bad timing. Sometimes, its just not the right time to start a business. In that situation, its better to put it off for a while, than to let unresolved problems in your life threaten your business success.


Now lets look at some rewards of starting your own business!

Independence. The ability to be your own boss is a very powerful incentive.

Money. The financial rewards can go far beyond what one can expect from a normal job.

Pride. The experience of making idea work transforms many people, and gives them a real sense of self-esteem.

Fun. Running your own business presents opportunities for fun, excitement, and creativity that many businesses can't offer their employees.

Negotiating a fair and practical salary....

Negotiating a fair and practical salary is a critical step in the job search process, and one that can be navigated smoothly if you know what to do -- and what not to do. Beware of common mistakes.

Not doing your homework.
Before you go to an interview, you need to determine your desired salary range. It is impossible to do so if you do not know your industry. Research typical salaries for someone with similar experience in your industry. There are a wide variety of resources available that can help you determine median salaries and ranges for your position and years of experience. Without doing this, you will be virtually unarmed to present a case for the salary you request.


Neglecting to think carefully about your needs.
Just as researching your industry is important, it's also vital that you do a bit of self reflection. If you never stop to think about what income you need, you may end up taking an offer that leaves you pinching pennies. Before interviewing, ask yourself some important questions. How much do you need to pay your basic expenses, such as rent or mortgage, groceries, utilities, and car payment? What kind of salary do you need to live a comfortable life that allows you to enjoy yourself? What is the lowest salary you will consider? How much do you need to be able to save for the future?


Laying all of your cards on the table.
Negotiating a salary is like playing a card game. You need to gauge the other person's intentions without giving away all of your secrets. While job applications and interviewers may ask you to name a salary requirement, always avoid providing a number. However, many prospective employees feel pressured into doing so in an interview. That's why you need to be prepared to answer the question: "What kind of salary are you looking for?" Try to use answers such as "I'm sure that if I do receive an offer, it will be fair and reasonable," or "I will consider any reasonable offer." If pressed for a number, give a range rather than a specific. The bottom of your range should be the minimum you must make, with the top being a bit higher than your ideal.


Forgetting about other benefits.
When you receive a job offer, it is important to consider the offer in its entirety. This means paying attention to the company's medical and dental plan, vacation package, retirement benefits, and other perks. If the company cannot meet your salary requirements, it may be able to make it up to you in other ways, such as stock options or additional vacation time.


Believing that you don't have the right to ask for more.
A company is not going to offer you the highest salary they'd be willing to pay right off the bat, and most companies expect candidates to come back with a counter offer. If you have done your research and have supporting information to back up your salary wishes, don't be afraid to let the company know that you would like something higher.


However, don't make the mistake of playing hardball, thinking you are irreplaceable, or being unwilling to negotiate. If you receive a low offer, thank the company for the offer, let them know that you are excited about the position, and politely and respectfully request a higher salary. The worst the company can say is no, and you never know what will happen until you ask.

The bottom line is that salary negotiations, like anything else, need to be done respectfully and kept in perspective. But if you do your research, set your boundaries, and always know how to handle the tough questions, chances are you will end up with an offer that works for you and the company.


Salary Range Calculator
In order to conduct an educated salary negotiation during an interview please visit www.salary.com www.payscale.com

Review the salary amount for the position that is one position below the position that you are applying for and take a look at the salary that is above the position that you are applying for and you should be able to see the range that is negotiable.

The example salaries are general and not based on experience
Administrative Assistant 32,500
Executive Assistant 38,600
Office Manager 44,500

Your choice w/ experience 38,600-42,000

Four Stages of Business..........

Starting A Business

Starting a business is one of the most exciting journeys an individual can take. Over ten million people each year consider starting a business. As a result, more than three million new small businesses are started annually. Entrepreneurship offers numerous rewards, but it also presents many challenges. Understanding these challenges and careful business planning can help a new business succeed.


Managing

The success of any business is closely related to how well the business is managed. Good management is the root source of business growth. Managing your business should not be considered an academic exercise. Rather, it is the real-world application of strong leadership, a positive attitude, solid business knowledge, and good people skills. It is the ability to influence and make decisions; and it is the ability to inspire and lead others. Acquiring good management skills is essential for the success like putting money in the bank.


Marketing

Few things are more exciting than expanding a business. Whether you want your business to grow in size or remain small but successful, growth is critical. Business growth assumes you have made it through the early start-up phases and are now ready to expand. It is a period where you can spread your wings and look for new business horizons. However, like earlier stages of development, growing a business requires solid preparation, steadfast commitment and a willingness to take calculated risks. There are many resources that can assist you in expanding your business.


Exit Strategy

Exiting a business is a reality that should be considered and planned for during the early stages of a business. Such preparations will require development of contingency plans for events that may never happen. Planning for getting out of a business is just as important as the planning required for starting a business. A solid, well thought out exit strategy can save time, money, and a great deal of frustration in the future.