“What Do You Offer?” by Shinobi Muhammad

Meeting people in the industry and ge�ing to understand what makes it all work is just an exciting experience. I love the fact of hearing the stories of those who have made it and those still on that grind to make moves that will put them in that “15” minutes of fame circle. What I find the most interesting out of all of my encounters are the constant run-ins with those who, just because they showed up, believe they are owed whatever opportunity that may be available. The grandiose a�itude of arrogance coupled with professional immaturity makes for some very agitating moments of dialog. Every artist feels they are the best singer, rapper, producer or musician. Every “cute” face girl thinks they are Naomi, Tyra or Beverly Johnson of yesteryear. Everyone is presenting themselves as the summation of “all great things” now present. In their conversation you hear blind over zealous confidence. Your ears are constantly bombarded with the self conceited praises of who they know, what events they have gone to and how much they can tell you about someone else who has already made it. All while they beli�le others, whom like themselves, are trying to make it. During these conversations I normally just dri� off into a whole other place. Periodically, I check back in to the conversation just to see if I am still being sold the ongoing “B.S.” tales. I guess these tales are meant to sell me on their importance. Well, once I am tired of it all I ask the magic question. What do you have to Offer? I ask the question that is important to me. Listening to you up-sell, cross-sell and over-sell yourself means nothing to me. All I want to know is what you have to offer right here and right now. Explain your value to me in real time. I want to know how are we going to sit down and make something happen. In most cases, people who are able to cut through the nonsense of these conversations of “egos and tales” are most likely already making decisions on how to either work with you or how they can manipulate your “ego” and “love” for telling tales as a pawn for their game plan. Sometimes all of your bragging, posturing (fronting) and out right lies can and will be used wisely against you for the benefit of others and not yourself. The moral of the whole story is to be able to explain some key points about yourself but move immediately to what is important. That being, your importance and or value you plan to bring to the table. That’s what the industry is about. People want to know what you have to offer. What is your value? How can that value be integrated into what may be needed for a current or future project. If you have nothing of value to add that is important to the intended recipient then you and your words are worthless. You are as valuable as “spit” being used to put out a forest fire.

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