JamDung Entertainment Management, LLC
JamDung Entertainment Management, LLC
Sunday, September 6, 2015
Tuesday, February 25, 2014
It's Reggae Month Again
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| Source: http://pbsthisdayinhistory.tumblr.com/post/42432475712/february-6-1945-a-reggae-legend-is-born-on |
As a child
growing up in Jamaica, music was always part of my personal cultural up
bringing. I say, personal up bringing because of my family and many other families
across Jamaican who regarded reggae as “rage music” or Rasta music. My point is Rastafarian were regarded as the
worst of the Jamaican society. For those of us who may have forgotten reggae
music was also regarded as devil worshiping music. Today reggae is recognized
all over the world, thanks in part to Bob Marley, Dennis Brown and the many
others who took it all over Europe, Africa and the United States.
Reggae has come
a far way, but more needs to be done, however I am pleased to see that the
Jamaican government seems to be finally embracing this art form. Again, this year saw the Jamaica ReggaeIndustry Association (JaRIA) putting on a month filled with activities. After
last year’s cancelation, the Dennis Brown concert in Downtown was a major
success. John Holt delivered an exceptional performance and had the audience
wanting for more. According to the Jamaica Observer, “Marla Brown — daughter of
late Dennis Brown, Crown Prince of Reggae — proved herself worthy by
effortlessly offering renditions of her father's songs to the audience's
delight.”
As the reggae
community in Jamaica celebrates Reggae Month, this February, let us not forget
two of our fallen pioneers, who went home to sing with the angels. Earlier this
month we lost Bunny Rugs of Third World band and on February 17, 2014 we lost
Wayne “Sleng Teng” Smith. Smith is well know back in the mid-eights, for the
hit Sleng Teng riddim and the popular song “Under Mi Sleng Teng” on the same
riddim. Smith is also credited for changing the ways reggae music was recorded,
as the first producer to go digital. Smith died of an apparent heart attack at
the Kingston Public Hospital in Jamaica.
I had the
opportunity of meeting Wayne at Sir Tommy’s studio in Brooklyn, New York a few
years ago.
Sunday, February 16, 2014
Reggae Losses One of Its Ambassadors
The Jamaican
music industry and the world at large is mourning the lost of reggae
international band’s lead singer, William “Bunny Rugs” Clarke. It is reported
that Rugs died from complications with Leukemia at his home in Orlando. Speaking
to his audience at a show in Kingston Jamaica late last year, Rugs spoke of
his illness and thanked the audience for their love, support and prayers.
For the past thirty-five
years we have grown accustom to his sultry soulful voice. The reggae music
fraternity has lost one of its noteworthy ambassadors. With Third World, Rugs
has recorded hits like the reggae version of the O’Jays’ “Now That We Found
Love”, 96 Degrees In The Shade” and “Try Jah Love.” Ironically “Try Jah Love” was written and
produced by Stevie Wonder for Third World. The track was also performed on Soul
Train in 1982.
Prior to joining Third World, Rugs was the lead singer for
another reggae band, called Inner Circle. Inner Circle had Steven “Cat” Coore
on guitars, Michael “Ibo” Cooper on keyboards and Irvin “Carrot” Jarrett on
percussions; they all became members of Third World band. Rugs lead Inner
Circle until 1971 when he migrated to New York. In 1976 he reunited with his
old band mates from Inner Circle who were now performing under the name Third
World, William “Bunny Rugs” Clarke lead the Third World band for thirty-five
years until his death on February 2, 20014.
In addition to performing on Soul Train with his band, Rugs
also had the opportunity of performing on the David Letterman show as a solo
artist in the mid-nineties. I had the opportunity of seeing Third World lead my
Rugs at The York College Performing Arts Center a few years ago. City
councilman James Sander, in support for his constituency put on this event, which was a ticketed free event.
Rugs had become the voice of Third World and will be dearly
missed. On several occasion while Rugs was ill and unable to travel A.J. Brown
replaced him as lead singer. My condolences goes out the Clarke and Third World
family’s your lose is our lose. Clarke leaves behind his wife and eight
children.
R.I.P William “Bunny Rugs” Clarke, February 5, 1948 –
February 2, 2014.
Sunday, February 2, 2014
Expert Views on the Value of Business Plans, Part 2
The two experts
I did research on earlier this month were Carl Schramm and Andrea Cockerton.
They both have great advices on the direction one should take, in terms of
formulating a business plan.
Based on what I have learned from these two
experts in my first post this month, I think it is very important to have a
well-rounded business plan. In order to attract investors, I will have to get
their attention in the first five minutes of reading my business plan. I think
a well-structured business plan will attract more that one investor to your
business idea. I have also learned the key areas where investors look to see
how solid your business plan is. Some of these areas are. Is the market
sufficient for your product, and how financially sound is your projections? I
think it is also important to have a well-rounded mission statement. I
particularly like Mr. Schramm’s take on entrepreneurialism and the economy.
The changes I
have made to my business plan are to strengthen my mission statement and to re-evaluate
my companies SWOT analysis. In addition I have also increased the amount of
startup funds that is needed. This would ensure that the financial projections
are healthy and realistic.
I think the most
important sections of the business plan to the investor reading it would be, if
the plan is realistic and will it give him/her a viable return on investment.
Every investor wants to ensure there is a return on their money before they
commit to the investment. They want to know you have a clear understanding of
your product or service and the dynamic of your market. Your management team is
yet another important section which investors considers an important aspect. Investors
want to see what your vision depicted through your management team, so it’s
important to have a strong team that will lead the company to profitability.
Saturday, January 11, 2014
Expert Views on the Value of Business Plans
The business
plan experts I will be discussing for this blog post are Carl
Schramm and Andrea
Cockerton.
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| Carl Schramm Photo courtesy of www.carlschramm.com |
Carl Schramm
holds a PhD in economics and is the past President of Ewing Marion Kauffman
Foundation and served in that position for ten years, he is also a Professor at
Syracuse University. Schramm is not satisfied with the current state of
American entrepreneurship. In his earlier years he served on the faculty at The
Johns Hopkins University. He also co-founded HCIA, a data company in the Health
Care industry. According to Schramm, “Its not because people aren’t getting
into it – it’s because they’re not being thought correctly.” Schramm, also
believes government relies too much on the Keynesian economic theory as a way
of putting people back to work.
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| Andrea Cockerton Photo courtesy of LinkedIn |
Andrea Cockerton
is the founder of Mudhut Consulting, a Cambridge based venture market
consultancy and several other companies, including The Dowsing Sound
Collective, which helps both first time and experienced singers with sound
design and sponsorship. Since 2004 Andrea has also worked as a pitch and
funding consultant advising the business community. According to Cockerton you
have only one change to get it right when pitching to an investor.
The first five
minutes of a plan are the most critical. This, according to venture capitalist Andrew
Anker “The first thing I read are the first two paragraphs of the Executive
Summary. (Abrams, 2010) Based on Abrams other key components are: Is the
business idea solid. Is there a sufficient market for the product or service?
Are the financial projections healthy, realistic? Other critical components
include your company’s mission statement, which describes the company’s purpose
and principles. Also the company’s strengths and strategic positioning should
be analyzed. Analysis of the company’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and
threats should be done to determine their position in the market they are
entering.
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