Being the one responsible for bringing creative minds together is a double-edged sword.
This past week I witnessed the completion of a project between one of my publishing clients and a producer that I communicate and work with frequently. It was a recommendation that I brought to the table from my network.
Even though this project is successfully complete, I also hope that it's the beginning of a fruitful relationship between both individuals.
It couldn't have gone any better. They worked remotely and they got along wonderfully. Above all, the project was completed quicker than expected, and everyone involved was very happy with the results.
This is the outcome I always hope for, especially if I'm responsible for the introduction.
I've also experienced the flipside more than once. Ughhh. Worse yet, is if the individuals you bring together are all your clients! This is where you have to be extremely careful.
What could go wrong?
- the final product is not to the liking of one or more of the persons involved
- there is a communication breakdown
- there is a disagreement with the percentage splits
- maybe someone ghosts someone else for any number of reasons
I learned all of this the hard way, through first hand experience. If only one individual is your client, then it may be easier to come out of the situation unscathed. When one or more are your clients, this is where conflicts of interest can come to play a major role in how everyone else involved perceives the outcome.
Though some of the relationships between individuals were adversely affected, I was able to mitigate any direct undesirable outcomes with my clients through transparent communication. Calling people out where they needed to be called out, and apologizing for my missteps whenever appropriate.
Working with creatives is beautiful and inspiring. It can also be easy to get carried away with grand ideas that seem like they work, in theory. In a practical sense, the outcome is not always perfect, and you should be prepared for this.
When it comes down to the nuts and bolts of executing an idea between various clients, or a client and another individual, be sure to view the possible outcomes from all angles. There is no way to get it right every single time, but at least the homework you did will get you ready with a Plan A, B, C...
Bringing people together is an important part of representing songwriters and developing artists. It shouldn't be avoided because of the possible downsides. Rather, it should be viewed as a growth tool and a moment of creation for all involved.
