Lately, I've sat back and watched several people in the entertainment industry try to get that big break and blow up the industry with their skills. Whether their skill is singing, acting, dancing, or playing instruments; but you get my drift. I just want to know while we're trying to break out of our silence and let our talent be heard, do we really assess the routes we take for "Success?"

 Golden Question:
 What is it that we're really after? As we go down our roads, what are we really after: letting our talent shine or the fame that comes from the demand for our gifts?


 Silver question:
 Which is more important in today's society?

 
 Bronze question:
 What are we willing to do to obtain which that we chose to be most important?


 Last Question:
Is pure talent enough to sustain you based on your choice?
Let's walk down 2 separate paths and I want HONEST answers to the above 4 questions.

 Path # 1 - Ray Lavender
Do you really know Ray? He's a R&B artist signed to KonLive Records (Akon's Label). He now makes his home base Atlanta and has been in the game for several years now. Maybe you've heard his work. If not, here's the best song you've probably never heard.



 

Listening to that it immediately makes you say, "Wow, who is this guy and where can I find his album?" Well, his album has been pushed back for 2 years and has yet to hit shelves or iTunes for that matter. He has the talent, but is there a market for a guy like Ray Lavender? In music no, but in TV, he's taking off. Maybe you've seen this work.




Or, maybe you'll love this

 


You've now seen Path # 1. Keep thoughts in until after you've seen Path # 2

Path # 2: Eric Roberson
Do you know who this man is? Just like Path #1, his talent speaks for itself. He's an R&B singer/songwriter out of NJ and has been around since early 90's. He's collaborated w/artists like Jill Scott, Musiq Soulchild, Jazzy Jeff, and Lalah Hathaway; just to name a few.

Here's a sample of his work.
 

 

 His name rings out in the R&B world behind rocks and caves as you can't find this man on any major record label. His albums are rarely in stores and he's rarely on TV.


 He doesn't get any radio play, besides a short listen on satellite radio once a month...maybe. He's had 5 albums, yet he has only had 3 feature music videos (1 from his first album and 2 from his more recent album). He's the guy that you have to know about him, to know who he is.


He tours all around the country all year long. The reason you can't find him on a major label is because he owns his own independent label called BlueErroSoul. He creates and distributes his own product and owns the rights to all of his work. Most of the time, you can find him selling and signing his CD's out of his tour bus after concerts and on iTunes. That's it! That's usually the only way you can get a glimpse at his talent.


But he was at the 2010 Grammy Awards. Did you know that? He was nominated, although he did not win, he probably was the only person in the first 3 or 4 rows and no one knew he was a nominee. They probably thought he was family.
Well folks, take a look at both paths. Look at the 3 questions above, then ask yourself, which was the better path. I can't say either is greater than the other, but I want to know what you think as a reader. Let me know and as always, more to come later!