THIS IS YOUR FREESTYLE BLAST #16
In this issue of The Blast, we find out if Freestyle Artists make house calls, if 12" vinyl's still a thing, and take a peek at our Freestyle calendar to see what shows are poppin' off and where!
What’s up Blastards and Blastets, and Happy Spring. This month, we have a couple of interesting things I’d like to talk about. The first one is regarding private Freestyle events. Is it actually a thing, and how difficult is it to pull off? Plus, what happened to the good ol’ days of listening to our favorite Freestyle songs off a 12” vinyl record?
Our 2023 Freestyle Club and Concert Calendar is already looking mighty fine, and we’re only in April! And if there are any events we might’ve missed, make sure to always hashtag’em #freestyleblast on all your Social platforms, so that I will see them, and add’em to the newsletter.
And what three Freestyle releases are we ‘Flashing” this month? Check’em out, and let us know which was your favorite!
Also, let’s not forget our Freestyle Birthday Blast to all of you April babies. See if we remembered yours, ‘cause if we didn’t, you probably need to hang out with us a bit more.
That’s right, it’s all going down in this month’s issue of The Freestyle Blast Newsletter. So if you’re ready… Let’s dive in!
From Intimate Gatherings to Grand Galas: Freestyle Artists for Private Events."
I remember when private events for Freestyle artists were either a No-Go, or way too expensive for those inquiring, and therefore most of those events were either passed up or saved for the privileged few, which usually included people we personally knew.
When I talk about private events, what exactly am I talking about? Well, here are a few to give you an idea, but I’m sure there are others you could come up with on your own.
Birthday parties, anniversaries, engagement parties, weddings, office parties, retirement, bar and bat mitzvahs, holiday work parties, sweet sixteens, quenceñeras, grand openings, and the list goes on.
As a booking agent for the Freestyle music genre for well over 25 years, trust that I’ve had my share of calls for these types of events so I’m pretty familiar with them.
I know which artists they usually call for, which of those artists would be down to do it, what’s expected by the client, the typical budget, and what private events I would and would not serve, because believe me, not all of them are ideal!
Compared to regular club and concerts, private events are quite different, and definitely, not for everyone.
When people call to book an artist for their private event, most of the time they already have an idea of who they want. This particular artist most likely had some sort of impact on the life of either the person inquiring, or for whom they’re inquiring.
Maybe it was the song that was playing when they first met or danced with their love. Maybe the first live performance they attended, the song their mother always sang while cooking, or simply reminded them of some great times, and I won’t get into how many babies I was told were conceived while a Freestyle song played in the background.
Whatever the case, rest assured, if a particular artist is being requested, there’s a reason.
But unfortunately, there are times when that artist just isn’t attainable, whether it be due to a conflicting schedule, exceeding budget, or simply because that particular artist just has no interest in doing private events, and that’s quite alright.
Now as an agent, it is very important, before I even consider moving forward, that I understand the event, the purchaser, and all expectations. In fact, I usually lead the conversation by explaining the process of that booking, including all fees and expenses, accommodations required, the technical part, as well as what they should and shouldn’t expect from the artist.
Leave it to the client and they’ll have artists popping out of Birthday cakes, and though there are a few that would gladly accommodate, there are many who wouldn’t, so let’s make that clear from the start.
There are also artists who though, would gladly service a private event if asked, I on the other hand, might not recommend it, and for good reason. Private events in my opinion take a certain type of artist. One with patience and empathy toward the occasion being celebrated, and sorry to say, not every artist will fit.
These are not your typical parties, these are “Special Occasions” and for many of them, we got just one shot to get it right!
Imagine screwing up someone’s engagement, wedding, or retirement party? It can be as simple as an artist not being patient, having a shitty attitude, or just unwilling to take that little extra step to make the event a magical one, or at the very least, memorable!
But please, don’t let that dissuade you, like a bowl of fruit, if the apple’s bad, that orange, though different, will taste just as good.
I will encourage anyone who probably never even knew that having their favorite Freestyle artist perform at Abuela’s 97th Birthday party was even a thing, because it is, and a big thing at that!
So how do you go about booking a Freestyle artist for that upcoming ‘Special Occassion?” Well, glad you asked!
Nowadays it’s easier than ever thanks to Social Media, where a simple message to an artist’s inbox can actually get the ball rolling. here’s an example that you can probably just cut and paste, Hi __________, I am a huge fan and wanted to know, who can I speak to about booking you for a private event?
That’s it! Straight to the point, and if they don’t respond right away, just give them a few days and try again.
Also, you can check the information sections of their Social Media pages, for contact information, whether that be through their manager, booking agent, or other.
Now once someone gets back to you, here are five simple questions you need to ask.
1. Do they actually service private events? (tell them what type of private event it will be.)
2. What is their fee, and what are the accommodations they require?
3. What equipment will be needed? (Most of which your hired DJ will probably have)
4. How long is their set? (This can range from 10 minutes to 30 minutes, depending on the artist.)
5. And last but not least, are they interested and available for your particular event?
By the way, if any of this seems a bit too much to handle, don’t stress, just reach out to me and I’ll gladly help you out!
These private Freestyle events can be a win for all involved, and I encourage every artist to consider doing them, as well as every fan that might have a special occasion coming up.
Besides having booked for many private events over the years, I’ve also attended many, and unlike the typical club and concerts which are structured similarly, private events on the other hand, embody the imagination and budget of the person conducting it, and therefore no two are ever quite the same.
And though this situation can cause some anxiety, as we’re never sure how it’ll all turn out, I am however pleased to report, that most of the time, it all works out great!
So if you read this article through to the end, and maybe it triggers some ideas, don’t let go, because in all honesty, this is more doable than you could imagine, but you won’t know unless you speak with someone about it.
Now, if you want, I have an ebook available online called, HOW TO BOOK A FREESTYLE ARTIST IN JUST 5 EASY STEPS go in and grab your copy, and after you read it, if you have any other questions, ask in the comment section below and I’ll do my best to make it as clear as I possibly can, or you can DM me on either Facebook or IG, if that works better.
I really hope you guys take a serious look into this, and if any artists are reading this, sharing this article or even the entire newsletter can be a great service to not just the Freestyle music genre as a whole, but also your career in particular. Good luck!
The Vinyl Revolution and the Current State of Freestyle Vinyl.
I had been wanting to get involved in the entertainment industry for as far back as I could remember. While my friends searched for jobs at bodegas, supermarkets, and local fast-food joints, I was knocking on the doors of record companies, music publishers, record stores, playhouses, nightclubs, and recording studios.
I’ve always been a hard worker who took initiative and was willing to do just about anything that I thought might somehow break me in, with the exception of one job I landed at an adult movie theater when the old lady that ran the place handed me a mop and bucket.
Other than that, I never got the opportunity until I had already broken ground in the music business as a Road Manager for Lil’ Suzy, when Metropolitan Records, the label she was currently signed to, and through the recommendation of Suzy’s dad, Tony Casale, offered me a retail marketing position.
Though the timing was definitely off, as my career was already in motion, I just couldn’t resist the opportunity. It was like a grown-up finally being able to do something he always wanted to do as a kid.
Aside from filling that long overdo desire, I did recognize other opportunities that would fit perfectly into my master plan, and so my decision was made, and for the next few years, I commuted two and a half hours each way to get to my Metropolitan office.
Before that, I had never been to Metropolitan, which at the time was located in East Newark, New Jersey, and besides the demo tapes, DATs, and CDs scattered about the office, there was nothing else that said this was a record company.
With its simple desks, computers, and coffee maker, this place could’ve been anything. But there was something else, something that I never knew even existed. Below the Metropolitan office was a vinyl record-pressing plant attached to two huge warehouses.
The Metropolitan office was basically an ingenious spin-off of another operation called Sun Plastics.
Sun, along with its subsidiary, Dynamic LP Stereo Record Pressing Co., Inc ., was a third-generation family-owned vinyl record manufacturing operation that for over 63 years provided media duplication services for clients such as ABC/Dunhill Records, Warner Music, EMI, Sony Music, Virgin, Atlantic, Def Jam Recordings, as well as numerous independent record labels.
This place freakin’ blew me away, and not because it was this elaborate record manufacturing facility, because it was far from that! This place was sort of dark and dusty. Stuck somewhere between the 1940s and 1980s. But if you were looking for that raw, record-manufacturing experience, this was it!
I stopped working there around 2002, so my memory might be a bit off, but I believe there were around five or six pressing machines, and at least a dozen workers, who had been working there for many years.
Not being a DJ, I never really kept up on vinyl, though I knew it existed and we did still use them mostly for promos, I never really gave it that much thought.
I was paid well at Metropolitan, with all the benefits and perks of other major corporations, with the understanding that my job with the label would also cross into the pressing plant.
I was fine with it, in fact, I was kind of excited. Eighty percent of my job was Metropolitan stuff, while the remaining twenty was used to design those center labels for the records, take in orders from some of the smaller independent labels, and handle the shipping of 12” promos to the likes of Def Jam, So So Def, West End Records, VP, MAW, Epic, Virgin and so many more.
In fact, here’s a funny story. Upon working on Jermain Dupri’s promotional 12” of Welcome To Atlanta, on his So So Def label, I accidentally misspelled the title. The mistake got past a bunch of us and was signed off, so I dodged that one.
Check your copy and see if you have this extremely rare copy.
For Metropolitan, including their new Metropolitan Underground label, I also serviced many of the independent record stores, distribution centers, one-stops, and record pools, with Metropolitan’s Freestyle vinyl.
It was then that I figured out how Metropolitan was able to take the lead. Besides an incredible roster that included such artists as April, Laissez Faire, Denine, Collage, and of course Lil’ Suzy, their ability to service the market at the speed of light, was due to the fact that they pressed their own shit, and was able to package and deliver it almost immediately.
But what about now? Is Freestyle vinyl still as important today as it was back then?
Though 12" vinyl records are no longer the dominant format, they do however remain important for fans and collectors. Vinyl records, in general, have experienced a resurgence in popularity in recent years, with sales increasing steadily since 2006.
In 2020, vinyl records made up 27% of all physical album sales, and this is according to the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
For some Freestyle music enthusiasts, the actual tangible vinyl record, and the experience of playing it on a turntable is a truly unique one. Many collectors also value vinyl records as historical artifacts, enjoying the artwork, packaging, and liner notes.
Some artists also release their music on vinyl to create a different kind of connection with their audience and a tangible product that they can treasure, or at the very least, to stand out among other releases.
And no, 12" vinyl records do not, and may not ever again hold that significant place in music culture as they once did, but for music enthusiasts in general, simple listeners, and record collectors, nothing will ever replace the 12” vinyl record.
If you’re interested in seeing what Freestyle vinyl is still available, though there are many record stores around the country where you can find them, Discogs is a great place to start.
If you know someone who has a pretty decent size collection of Freestyle vinyl, share this article, I might want to talk to them in one of our upcoming issues.
Byron Smith, Felisa Faulkner, Reggie Pierre, Brenda Flores Robles, Gary Sipich, Loretta Simoff, George Godfrey, CelebrityChef Margie, Tyrone El Malo Diaz, Erin Amilibia Duclos, Wesley Harvey, Shirley Gentry, Alby Jimenez, Reese Masters, Brian Mora, Stella Lopez, Juan Kato, Raymond Soto
To all our Subscribers, Readers, Subjects, and of course our Sponsors, for being a part of this month’s issue of the Freestyle Blast Newsletter, Thank you all so much!
and until next time…
This was your Freestyle Blast!
Latif Mercado has been a part of the Freestyle Music scene for well over 25 years, and though his role, in the beginning, was minimal, the role he’s been playing ever since, has been massive, and a major force behind the genre’s continued success.
As a Booking Agent with a who's who roster of Freestyle Legends, as well as his managerial involvement with such industry icons as Lil' Suzy and The Cover Girls, rarely would you find a Freestyle event happening without Latif somewhere in the mix.
In an attempt to make people aware of the fact that Freestyle isn’t just a music, but rather a culture, La’ began writing books, in hopes of reaching fans through a medium they would never expect, and in 2011, his debut novel, FREESTYLE FOR LIFE, did just that!
Since then, Latif has released several books that, not only feature Freestyle as part of its overall theme but also its main characters of Latin descent.
Though born and raised in New York, Latif currently resides in North Carolina with his wife, two grown children, four grandkids, and a dog named Coco.
Latif loves hearing from his readers, answering questions, and sharing whatever advice he possibly can, whether it be on writing, or maybe something Freestyle related, so be sure to reach out, even if it’s just to say hi.
Hello freestylers....I am all for artists to do private events....Its a great way for them to make $$ individually..without having to share the spotlight....Ive often dreamed of hiring a few to do a private show....and although we love many artists....we cannot hire them all!...I would personally choose Sa-fire, The Original Cover girls , and OG TKA..only because They put on a great show and their vocal range is still on point!.....As far as 12"...I remember my first purchase.."Clave Rocks"....I was hooked....I loved Mic Mac and Metropolitan.....They had the best artists!...(Solid, Sebastian, Soave, & More...ect....)....I still own a vitrola....and a few original records that I cannot part with!...Solid's "Loving you"...Tomaxx "Regrets only"...and My All time favorite cut..."Crimes of Passion"..by Spirit matter......Those were the days!...Long live 12".....Peace!!!!
Back in the late 90s, I was a Professional Mobile DJ for Private Events in NYC, sometimes I worked with Salsa & Merengue Bands, so this is a great idea. I wish the Freestyle artists much financial success and recognition. Jose