”Money money money, hubba hubba hubba, who do YOU trust?

Me? I’m givin’ away free money!”

–The Joker and\or David Geffen

The plain and honest answer to the question“Who should I trust in the music business?” is probably “Absolutely nobody, ever.”

However, while conclusive, it does tend to leave the questioner wanting a bit more.

Looking For Trust In All The Wrong Places

The thing is, few people are satisfied performing to an audience of one, aside from Andy Kaufman. You need other people to get ahead in the game, and you need them in a lot of different roles. Most bands and solo artists will eventually pick up a Manager and a Producer and a roadie or two, and possibly an entire entourage of staff.

Or, even if you’re the most indie indie cat to ever come outta Brooklyn, you still gotta trust that somewhere along the line, somebody is gonna pay you some money. (Even if, in the process, you gotta nag them like their mother for being dirty pirates)

In the meantime, you’re surrounded by people who’re looking to leapfrog off you, just as you’re looking to leapfrog off them. Not to mention all the label managers to whom an artist is a spreadsheet entry. And the jerks just plain looking to rip you off.

Basically, trust and the music business are bitter frenemies, linked at the hip like conjoined wolverines: you may have to accept the occasional rabid bite. You need some trust, but be careful about whose mouth is near your hand.

Otherwise, it’s back to the temp job.

Beware High-Pressure Tactics

It’s like buying a car:  The harder they’re pushing you to sign right now, is the first clue that you should slow down and read the fine print.  Except, very often, record labels ARE giving away “free” money.  Except that’s “free” as in “you better hope your album sells enough to pay back that loan you just got.

Always read your contracts.

This happens at all levels of the industry, from conmen up to the guys running the biggest labels. They all want you signing without thinking, and they’re going to put you under a lot of pressure to it. Old cliches like “There’s ten other acts out there who’d kill for this opportunity!” still get thrown around because they still work.

Now, one blog can’t teach you the fine art of negotiation (we can’t afford Shatner), but as a general rule just remember: If they’re that into you… so is someone else.

You’ll get other offers.

What to Remember

One of the best ways of finding trust in the music business is to be trustworthy yourself. Remember the people who stick their neck out for you, or even just those who deliver a good day’s work at a good price. Try to keep these people close to you. Pay them back whenever opportunity allows.

Those are going to be the people you can come to rely on as your career expands and you have a need for good people.

That sort of reciprocal, back-and-forth relationship is perfect for forming long-lasting bonds in the industry. Then if the day ever comes that their big chance arrives, wish them well and a fond bon voyage. They’ll probably have something to toss your way pretty soon.

Trust is hard to come by in the music business. Cultivate it where you can, but keep your brain switched on and don’t be naive.

And, seriously, never sign without reading first unless you want to end up like Vanilla Ice.