THIS IS YOUR FREESTYLE BLAST #31

In this issue of The Blast we'll give the artists a little space while we stand in the corner and talk a little about the music business

Someone recently asked me how I come up with the ideas for this newsletter. Well, it isn’t easy. Writing a little bit every day is key to meeting deadlines. I usually take a week off from writing after the release on the 15th and start back on the 20th.

To get the creative juices flowing, I start by laying out all the pieces, using placeholders for photos and gibberish for the text. I add the scramble board and then begin filling in names for the Birthday Blast section.

By the 10th of the month, DJ Wonderrican sends me the latest Freestyle releases along with their Spotify links for the Blast Flash 3.

As for the ideas, I try to tune into what’s happening within the genre. I focus not just on the obvious happenings, as many of those have already been covered on social media, but on the deeper, often overlooked elements. These less-talked-about aspects are incredibly important and deserve attention.

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VOLUNTEER LAWYERS FOR THE ARTS

Let’s face it… We do Freestyle, and while it can be pretty profitable for some of us, many of us still struggle to make a decent living from it.

So when situations arise that might require legal services, we usually have two options: tap into the income from our regular jobs, or ignore the situation altogether.

Choosing the first option should never be ideal, but it often is. Legal services in the entertainment industry are expensive, and those we might go up against know this and play that hand well.

Ignoring a situation that requires legal assistance is exactly what industry bullies bank on. They don’t want the burden of a legal pursuit either, but they count on us not wanting to move forward with a suit—and they’re usually right.

I've been involved in a couple of legal disputes, neither of which I initiated. While I managed to handle both, the situations were a real drag, long and expensive.

When I was just getting my feet wet in this industry, I encountered one of those bullies. They took a song I had written and produced and released it on a successful album. I didn’t receive any compensation, and the label wouldn’t even return my calls. My first instinct was to pay them a personal visit, which would never have worked in my favor. My second instinct was to seek legal counsel, but my broke self couldn’t get past the free consultation.

That was until I discovered the VLA. At the time, it stood for Volunteer Lawyers of America, where various law firms and independent attorneys would take on poor souls like myself pro bono—aka for free.

I remember meeting my attorney for the first time. He lived on one of the top floors of a luxury residential building in Manhattan. His apartment reeked of success, with proof of his involvement in the music business embedded in his decor.

I wasn’t convinced this guy would do what I needed because, with the way he was living, putting time into my case didn’t seem to make sense. But boy, was I wrong. The time and effort he put into my case was no different than what I’ve received from attorneys I’ve paid top dollar for.

He helped me not just with my case but also advised me for many years afterward, all without me ever paying him a cent. In fact, I’ve never even thought about this until now. I think I’ll seek him out and see if there’s anything I can do for him.

I came up with the idea for this article because of a particular Freestyle artist who hasn’t had it smooth in this business. While there wasn’t anything I could do to help her directly, I figured I’d at least share this information in hopes that she or anyone else facing similar issues but can’t afford quality counsel might find it useful.

• Get the legal assistance you deserve at The Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts

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Text: 704-665-9448 for more info

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YOU’RE ON IN 10 MINUTES!

Minutes before a performance, as an artist is about to hit the stage in front of hundreds or even thousands, many of them like to come out and stand side-stage. They do this to acclimate to the environment, read the room, and let the vibe of the audience recharge their internal battery.

This is a crucial time not only for the artists but also for everyone involved in the performance, including myself. Whether it’s Lil’ Suzy, Angel, OCG, or The Cover Girls, this is when I need to really tune into what’s about to go down. I have to ensure my girls are side-stage and ready, their outfits intact, mics in hand, and powered on. I need to make sure the music is set and that the lighting person is watching for my cue.

I also have to check the steps they’re about to climb and the stage for any gaps or obstructions, as high heels are a must in my camp.

This is my routine right before a show, as well as for others who play a similar role.

But what about the artists themselves? What’s going through their minds at that crucial moment? Are they nervous? Excited? Praying? Maybe even having second thoughts about the whole thing. Who knows? So, is this a good time to approach them? Or should fans back off and give them their space?

The truth is, I really don’t know! I don’t know if an artist needs their space. Maybe the interaction with a fan right before their performance ignites their engine and is something they crave.

I can understand fans approaching at this time for pictures and autographs because it might be the only opportunity they’ll ever get.

And when this does happen, how should the artists react? Is there a right and wrong way to handle this? I personally don’t think there is, and besides, who am I to tell a fan not to take that opportunity?

Look, I’ve seen it with my own eyes. Just before taking the stage, an artist is approached, usually by someone else's guest invited backstage. They want to meet the artist, say hi, take a picture, or maybe tell them a little story about why they are such a huge fan. But the response from the artist can sometimes be cold, maybe even shunning and disrespectful, though it was never their intent.

So instead of giving my opinion as to whether or not you should approach an artist just before showtime, I decided to ask a few of them myself and see what’s actually going through their minds at that crucial time. This way, we can make our own decision.

Shout out to these incredible artists who agreed to share their answers.

* TRINERE

Okay, so when I’m on the side of the stage, I’m soaking in the energy of the audience and listening to the sound. I’m saying my affirmations, praying for myself and my team—no injuries for my girls, smooth sound, remembering the choreography, and the strength of my voice. I’m hyping myself up in my mind and thanking God for a successful, fire show. 

* Byron LB Smith of FREESTYLE

The feeling that I get, along with the rest of the guys in my group FREESTYLE, is almost like that moment right before a football game when the teams get hyped and ready to run out of the tunnel and through the smoke onto the field for the Super Bowl. The stage is our football field, and every performance feels like our Super Bowl. It’s an exhilarating sensation, and sometimes butterflies hit your stomach. We get nervous but excited, anticipating the moment we ignite the crowd. There's nothing like hearing tens of thousands of fans screaming and responding to your music and chants. This feeling is indescribable. Thank you to all the fans!

* ANGEL The Original CoverGirl

Where do I begin?! First of all, I’m incredibly grateful to still have the opportunity and ability to perform. When Latif comes to get me and says, “Ok, it’s showtime!” I start to feel a nervous excitement in my stomach. My head spins, and my knees feel weak, but I try to appear cool. Usually, someone will come up and ask me a question. I feel bad because I want to focus on what they’re saying, but I can’t think straight. However, once I step on stage and start performing, the nervousness vanishes within the first few minutes. I get lost in the music and the energy of the crowd. I never get tired of performing my songs, and when I’m on stage, and in my element… it’s the best feeling in the world!

* GEORGE LAMOND

The first thing I always do before I enter the venue for any show, no matter where we are in the world, is take a peek behind the curtains to feel the energy of the crowd. You'd be surprised how different energies can make or break a show. It might sound crazy, but singers and musicians receive different types of vibes from a crowd. When I get called to go sidestage, I try not to make eye contact with anyone. I’m staying in the zone, focusing on what I plan to do for this particular audience. I run through all the song selections in my head, and if I need to change anything or even swap a song due to the crowd's vibe, I will! Usually, that's done at soundcheck, but you never know when you might need to adjust your setlist.
I start doing my vocal exercises behind the curtain. I find an empty area where I can be alone and begin my vocal and lip exercises. I always imagine that the biggest CEOs of all the record companies are sitting up front, watching me, and I want to make the best impression ever. Once my name is called, I greet the audience with the biggest smile they’ll ever see on George Lamond.

* SHANNON

I'm always in prayer with my Creator, but I also need to do a few more things. If I've done my homework, I'm relaxed and ready to go, go, go!

Four days before the show:

To make the moment less stressful, I start preparing four days prior by eating less, exercising my vocals, and stretching my body.

Three days before the show:

No sugar in my diet, just water, boiled eggs, nuts, and a light meal with salad.

I do stretching exercises for both my body and vocals.

Two days before the show:

My food intake is even less than the day before (still no sugar). I have tea, water, ice, nuts, salad, boiled eggs, and plain peanut butter.

I don't stress my vocals but focus on lots of body movement and some exercise.

A good night's sleep and plenty of rest are a must.

Day of the show:

Absolutely no food, no sugar, no bread. Food and distractions are my enemy.

I need honey, lemon, and hot water. I stretch my vocals and body, and take a few private minutes to communicate with my Creator.

If all goes well, I’m energized, light on my feet, and ready to enjoy the performance and fans in my new costume with the "Let the Music Play" whip!

I appreciate you! Love, Shannon Let The Music Play Queen of Dance, EDM & Freestyle

* JUDY TORRES

What happens backstage right before I go on is almost as important as what happens on stage. Please, for a moment, put yourself in my shoes:  Imagine that, hundreds, sometimes thousands of people, have paid money, waited online, and made certain sacrifices to watch you perform. Imagine that they have come with EXPECTATIONS to be fully entertained. That alone might freak anybody out. But that is what I think about right before I go on. It’s a HUGE responsibility & privilege. 

So, I ask myself, “Who’s out there? What is the crowd like? Are they happy? What’s their age range? Is this a true Freestyle crowd, or are there many people out there who have no idea who I am (and yes, that happens lol)? 

I do my best to answer those questions because you should know who your audience is. Then I bow my head and open my hands in a gesture of surrender. I pray to God, I thank Him in advance for giving me what I need & for an incredible show. I thank Him for giving me the proper words to use, to protect my voice above all means and help it soar, and most of all to make sure, that for that short time, I can help you forget about all your worries and enjoy yourselves like you never have before. Then I say amen, I remind myself that I have been doing this for 38 years, and now I’m ready. And once I say, “Hola, mi gente…” and I hear the audience scream & applaud, I sing my heart out!

* MARGO From The Cover Girls

Performing is a very exciting time for me. I reflect on all the past shows through the years and it brings a smile to my face knowing that we could be making a person’s day . Right before I go on stage I usually mediate so I can be the best that I can be . Then I pray with the girls . I realize every day is a gift and I thank the Lord we are all in good health and that we can sing these amazing songs to our fans .

* Rockell

Prior to taking that stage and laying it all out there, I used to think that I was becoming anxiety stricken, but I realize now it is pure excitement, pure joy that I get to do what I love that I get to express myself through my voice that I get to release Anything and everything and just put it all out there.  I feel incredibly blessed that I have this outlet so every time I am getting ready to take this stage, I bow my head and I pray and I thank the Lord for giving me this gift, reminding myself that I am up there not only because of him but for him.  

So tell us. Do you feel that it’s okay to approach artists during this time or not, and why?

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Debra Simoff, Paul Lopes, Randy Taylor-Weber, Willow Bee Zamarripa, Lori Volpe, Frank Orlik, Loki Ortiz, Timothy Maurer, Jayquan Feliciano, Willie Colon, Cruz Dunie, Steven Wilson, Duran Ramos, Pete Lamberty, Efrain Velazquez III, Gloria Rivera, Michael A. Batista, Michael A. Batista, Diane DeVera, Mike Wilkinson, Ana Sky, Robert A Howard, Yvie DelValle, Fortunato Ruscito, Melissa Trinidad, Felix Burgos, Leo Brown. Daisy Ray, Luis Ramos Ayala, Real Butler Jr., Mambo Lebron, Ron Stiles, Joy Dorris, Charlie Rock Jimenez, Donna Hightower, Gerry Dorvil,

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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!

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Latif Mercado has been a part of the Freestyle Music scene for well over 30 years, as well as an integral player behind the genre’s continued success.

As a Booking Agent with a who's who roster of Freestyle Greats, as well as his managerial involvement with such industry icons as Lil' Suzy, Angel OCG and The Cover Girls, rarely would you find a Freestyle event happening without Latif somewhere in the mix.

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.

So please Follow Him Everywhere @LatifMercado