No Fame, No Money... I'm Nobody.

This month has been dedicated to YouTube stars that have inspired me throughout the past twelve months of graduate school. It wasn’t an easy journey, but it’s artists like Sara Bareilles that have had an impact on my life over the past year. It’s a constant hobby of mine to seek out for artists and music that I can relate to at that point and time. After coming across the song “Vegas” by Sarah Bareilles, I have finally found that song that sums up my life at the moment and one that hits reality.

“Gonna quit my job and move to New York

'Cause somebody told me that's where

Dreamers should go…”

It’s not easy to pack up all of your belongings and move to New York City, but I have always been told that it is a city filled with opportunities and is one step closer to making your dream a reality.

“Listen up now honey, you're gonna be sorry

Can't get out from under a sky that is falling

And you say

No fame no money I'm nobody

The way I'm running has sure got me down

On my knees.

But next stop, Vegas please.

Gotta get to Vegas

Can you take me to Vegas?”

I will be completely honest, New York City is everything that I thought it would be and more, but there are days that are a complete struggle and I wonder why I put myself through this test. It seems like the more I do, the more debt I get myself into and that is the sky that is falling that I can’t get out from under. “No fame no money I'm nobody. The way I'm running has sure got me down on my knees,” is the line in the song that best describes my life at this moment in time. Vegas has got to be the next step that I take in life. Whether Vegas means staying in New York or continuing onward with the journey, it’s time to meet people, continuing to network, get some experience interning, make some contacts, land a full time job, and the big one… start making money.

“It's always just around the corner or you're

On your way to somewhere

That is bigger or better...

If you could only get there.”

This song is worth so much and says it all. I listen to the album almost everyday on the subway on my way to work and really respect Sara Bareilles as a person. This song has had an impact on my life and the decisions to keep moving forward.  It’s a tough world out there, but you just have to take one day at a time and work hard. I know that everything is going to be okay, but it’s all about timing and the stress it takes to get where you are trying to go. I know it’s close, hopefully right around the corner and I’m on my way… now if I could only get there.

Living The Dream...

This past week has been a whirlwind, but I have finally made it to The Big Apple. Moving from Florida back home to Pennsylvania and then to New York, all within four days, along with starting two internships has been quite the journey. In the words of Alicia Keys, “If I can make it here, I can make it anywhere, that's what they say…,” it has been a journey this far and I can honestly say I am truly blessed to be where I am at this point in my career. Coming from a small town in Pennsylvania, I have always had big dreams growing up and have been known to follow those dreams.

“Concrete jungle where dreams are made of

There's nothing you can't do

Now you're in New York!

These streets will make you feel brand new

Big lights will inspire you

Hear it for New York, New York, New Yooork!”

If there is one place on earth that makes you feel brand new, it has to be New York. There are so many opportunities and things to be inspired by within the entertainment industry. I have been given the opportunity to intern with VIACOM/MTV Networks in the MTV News and Docs department working with production management. I have also been given the opportunity to intern with NBC Universal working with the MSNBC booking team. Both companies have been amazing this far. It’s a great feeling to be inspired, appreciated, and welcomed.

With all that aside, it has been a challenging, stressful, eventful, successful, motivational, and entertaining week. Along with graduating with my masters in entertainment business from Full Sail University in 3 weeks, finishing my last class and final business plan, I plan to utilize these next four months to gain experience within the entertainment industry along with finding my niche. My ultimate goal is to land a full time job with one of these companies and I’m determined to survive in this industry. “I'ma make it by any means, I got a pocketful of dreams.” It’s artists like Alicia Keys who inspire individuals like myself to want to succeed in life. I think it’s highly important to educate yourself with the knowledge needed to survive in life, to enjoy life, and to follow that dream of yours. 

"Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life." —Confucius

Shark Suggestions...

The show, Shark Tank, is one of the best examples of pitching a business plan. There are many aspects to consider when pitching a business plan, but the main focus of your pitch is to educate your investors on how your product is going to sell and make money. The sharks are only interested in making money. Each shark specializes in a different area, but will invest in any product that they feel will sell and be successful. It is really all about how is your product unique, how much do you believe in your product, what are your past sales, and how will this product make money.

Barbara and Robert are my two favorite sharks. Barbara specializes in Real Estate and is a highly intelligent woman when coming to investments. Robert focuses on technology and is a smart man when considering putting money into an investment. Both sharks have taught me a lot about investing in general, the effective ways to pitch a business plan idea, and what each “shark” wants to hear.

This show and these sharks have taught me that pitching a business plan idea is not always an easy task and things to think about along the way. I’ve learned that for an investor to even consider giving you an investment, you must have an idea that stands out. The sharks always find it interesting when other big companies have shown interest in your product as well. I plan to take my business plan concept and figure out how I can stand out, how I can be unique, and how my product will make money. After conducting research about each of these investors, it has really opened my eyes to determine if my business plan is good enough to sell, survive, and be successful. The sharks have taught me that the most important aspects of your business plan are obviously the financials and how well you present your idea. I plan to take their effective criticism, their advice on being successful, and maybe someday I will be presenting my idea in front of the shark tank.

Shark Tank Experts...

Barbara Corcoran was known as the girl with straight D’s in high school and in college, but by the time she was twenty-three, she had already had twenty jobs. Her twenty-first job was the start of her entrepreneurship and made her one of the most successful entrepreneurs in the country. She started the Corcoran Group with just a $1,000 loan. “She parlayed that loan into a five-billion-dollar real estate business which she sold in 2001 for $66 million.” 

Barbara now contributes to NBC’s TODAY Show where she shares her weekly knowledge in the real estate market. She is also well known on ABC’s reality hit Shark Tank as an investor and shark. Since her time on Shark Tank, she has bought into eleven new businesses and is leading them to success. “Barbara is the author of three books including her most recent, Shark Tales, detailing her inspiring true story and her best advice for anyone starting a business.” She is known as a motivational, inspirational, sometimes outrageous, and tell-it-like-it-is attitude, but is a refreshing approach to success. According to WatchMojo’s interview with Barbara, she looks for a pattern in businesses and here are some things she considers:

“WatchMojo: What’s the common trait between all the investments you’ve made?

Barbara Corcoran: Oh, they have many things in common:

#1, each and everyone of them very high energy,

#2, they weren’t all great presenters, but they all had the right answers to the questions,

#3, they totally believe in their idea,

#4, which is harder to get in a TV form like that organized, I kept trying to say my success guide has got one, two, three as he or she organized, because I think you have to be organized or have a second in command to be organized for you if you are going to succeed in business.”

According to Barbara Corcoran, there are a few things she looks for, “Come on Shark Tank and give us your pitch! Make sure you can sell your product, because if you as the head of the company can't sell it, who will? Also be sure you're ready to answer the two key questions too many of the entrepreneurs who come on the show can't: 1) What will you do with my money? and 2) How will I get my investment back?”

“We all know the dot com industry has had its ups and downs over the past decade. But here's a guy who continually manages to bracket the boom with dollar signs! Robert Herjavec has lived the classic "rags to riches" story.” Robert use to wait tables for a living at a posh Yorkville restaurant. During the initial stages of the dot com craze, he realized that technology was the ticket to serious money. He soon then launched his first technology company, BRAK systems, which is now worth a reported $100 million dollars. He originally sold the company to AT&T in 2000, but that was just a start. He then negotiated another company to Nokia for $225 million.

He now heads The Herjavec Group, a leading IT security and infrastructure integration firm, instead of retiring. “His palatial 50,000 square foot Bridle Path mansion hosts luminaries like Michael Bublé and Mick Jagger. For thrills, Robert jets to a private island near Miami or cruises Yorkville in one of his many luxury cars.”

According to Robert Herjavec, there are a few things he looks for, “First step make sure you need investment – or do you simply need a loan. Most people that want an investment simply need a loan – keep in mind if a bank will not give you a loan – you are going to have a hard time with investors also. They are out there – this is the greatest time in history of concentration of investment capital in cash. Build a great business – everything else flows from that.”

It's... My Moment?! Viral YouTube Queen Rebecca Black is back...

Rebecca Black is back and this time it’s not Friday… it’s her moment! After her smash hit “Friday,” she just released her new “more cutesy” follow-up inspiring pop ballad called “My Moment.” The 14-year-old viral queen is hopefully off to a better start than her previous video. By May of 2011, “Friday” was approaching almost 200 million votes before it was removed from YouTube. Rebecca received so much criticism for her music video being “too cheesy,” but YouTube users fail to remember that every click they make, is supporting her and her work. Even though the music video received almost 200 million votes, the majority of those were “dislikes.” Rebecca stated that she didn’t write the song, used to struggle with all the hatred that people had for her, and is the reason for her new single “My Moment.” It is a song strictly about haters…

“Haters, said I'll see you later


Can't talk to you right now


I'm getting my paper


Said I'm doing big things


Things you never dreamed of


I hope you are happy cause I'm 'bout to blow up”

Tacky?! She’s 14!!! Let the girl live her life! She’s your typical teenage girl living in her fantasy world. She’s obviously making money and doing something right. What can you say about yourself? 

It’s nothing new that any other 14-year-old pop princess hasn’t produced in the past.

I think this new single is a step closer to heading in the right direction, but people are going to dislike her regardless of what she produces. Her last single “Friday” continues to be part of peoples weekend by either changing their Facebook status to those lyrics, posting the video, or tweeting “It’s Friday, Friday… gotta get down on Friday!” Many are glad that the video has been removed from YouTube, but she has gained so much free marketing and promotion through these videos.

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Look At Me Now...

Karmin, “The Little Band with a Big Sound,” continues to gain fame within the YouTube community. Nick and Amy met at Berklee College of Music in Boston, a small town in Old Town, Maine, and in Seward, Nebraska. They then began writing songs together, originally for school projects, before becoming known as Karmin. With a Latin meaning, they chose the name “Carmen” because it means “song” altering the spelling to hint “karma” into the mix. Nick and Amy are becoming very popular within the YouTube community and are well known for their distinct writing style.

With over twenty-five million views in two months, “Look At Me Now” has received some attention on YouTube. Originally a song by Chris Brown ft. Lil Wayne and Busta Rhymes, Karmin is known to cover their own version of top hits. Karmin has uploaded over twenty-three cover song videos, ten original song videos, and ten “Random Awesome-ness” videos. According to AJ Rafeal, “Karmin mixes soul and passion into their music with a perfect amount of pop sprinkled on top. Their charisma and charm keeps you glued to your computer screen for hours…”

I think Nick and Amy are a brilliant match. They have a creative style to them and each of their videos are unique and different. Amy also has a unique style to her as well and a voice like no other.  Nicki Minaj? Chris Brown? I think her voice can be inspired by Nicki Minaj and a few others, but she incorporates it into her own style. What about her rapping skills? Yeah, I think she nailed it! Artists like Nick and Amy are on the right track to an even bigger fame with their amount of video views and fan base. Their official website gives you all the news and latest information about them and also gives you information on upcoming appearances, CD downloads, and a link to their store. Check Karmin out here!

All information taken from http://karminmusic.com/ and http://www.youtube.com/user/karmincovers