Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is

Not every indie music artist is at a point in their career where they can be thinking about aligning themselves with a charity yet.  That’s completely understandable when you’re starting out and/or looking at the rising costs of gas and rent and other basic living expenses.  To all of a sudden take off a percentage of your earnings to give away is tough to make peace with if it’s going to add to your struggle.  You certainly have to make an informed decision.

Today is Memorial Day in the United States and over this long holiday weekend if you’ve been out and about you’ve had lots of opportunities to be exposed to various charitable organizations who are out doing what they do.  In some cases, they might’ve been interacting with you from a fundraising posture.

Regardless of where you are in your career and/or financially, when you are going to make the decision that you’re ready to commit to something charitable, it comes down to what Jimmy Johnson said when he was coaching the Dallas Cowboys.  “If you’re gonna talk the talk, you gotta walk the walk.”

I was amazed when I asked a singer/songwriter how much they’d raised for a certain charity that they highly publicize that they contribute to through their live shows and was told, “Oh, no clue.  I don’t keep track.”  Huh?  Is it a hundred dollars?  A thousand dollars?  Ten thousand?

Is it all for show, then?  In other words, is showing people you’re aligned with that charity more important than the actual monies being raised and donated?

Earlier this month on my weekly “Now Hear This Entertainment” podcast I talked with singer, songwriter, guitar player Rockie Lynne.  When we talked about his Tribute to the Troops charity, I asked him for his opinion on an up-and-coming artist wondering how that effort benefits his original music.  His answer was that you’d be missing the point.

Lynne went on to explain that when he saw early on that his performances overseas were resulting in CD sales because of his patriotic songs that he was playing live for the troops, he didn’t want to profit from it, so he set up a college fund to give that money back.  (And by the way, they not only keep track but have raised well over a million dollars and sent 123 kids to college over the years.)

There are all kinds of cliches here and they all apply.  Say what you mean and mean what you say is another one of them.

As pictured above, last night I was privileged to get to go see Rockie Lynne perform.  You’ll hear people go to a live performance and say, “He (or she) puts on quite a show.”  Or some folks will say, “Wow, that was something.  He (or she) does quite an act.”  And I’m here to tell you that with Rockie Lynne, it’s no act.

Yes, it was the night before Memorial Day.  But this is a performer who not only exudes a heart for his charity in his songs, but in his person.  I saw how warm and caring he was during the pre-show meet and greet.  The respect that he showed for veterans – and humbling himself by not puffing out his chest with “I served too” (which he absolutely did) – made you forget that he’s a highly accomplished recording artist.

You can’t just attach yourself to a charity, slap a logo on your website, and then send that organization a check.  The word ‘giving’ is very synonymous with that world and it includes giving yourself over in some way too.

During our podcast interview, Rockie and I talked about the documentary about him that just came out on Amazon Prime last month.  Some folks would be wise to watch and learn from him and the great examples he’s setting both on and off the stage.

Want to talk to me about this blog or the podcast interview I did with Rockie?  Or something else?  I’m live on the Owwll app as I’m typing this.  Call me on there and let’s have a ten-minute conversation to talk about challenges you might be having in your career.  For twenty years I’ve been helping indie music artists, authors, actors, entrepreneurs, small business owners, podcasters, and more.  Contact me with your challenges so I can help keep you moving forward.