Back again on www.QtheQuestion.com to drop some more knowledge to the many aspiring artists out there. The last two weeks we gave you some jewels on the importance of publicity and how to approach major media outlets with your music. I hope you read it because the information provided can be very useful for your career.

Moving on to the next phase. One thing I notice is that artists often run across "big talkers". As inspiring artists, each and every day you across people that claim there this and that in the industry. And that reason alone is why you need to understand that there is a big difference between having relationships and having contacts in the business. I get tired of running across dudes that come with the B.S. of who they know and have ties with. Sometimes it makes me wonder if they do this to impress you or just talk crazy just to do it, whatever the case maybe we’ll never just understand these people.

Anyway, you have to be aware of who you’re dealing with before investing money into someone that “claims” they’ll take your career to the next level.  If some promoter or so-called manager talks about who he/she knows then research their credentials and look for what they claim they’ve done. I hate it when dudes before realizing who I am in the industry try to run the B.S. sell lines to convince people their a big shot. I recall one time when this one dude claimed he worked for Jive Records. When I asked if he knew a particular person that actually worked there he didn't even know who that person was which instantly made me shake my head. Funny thing is once they find out you’re somebody and their not, jaws drop instantly. Which once again, shows there is a huge difference between relationships and contacts.

Anybody can have contacts. But not everybody can build solid relationships. Take for instance, an artist has a contact to a major executive at a major label but the question is: do they have a relationship? We all know a contact is nothing but an email or number that most didn’t even earn or got through someone without the source knowing. A relationship on the other hand, is a situation where someone heavy or well known in the business actually knows you. You can call them, email them and they’ll always make sure they get back to you no matter what.

What kills me is when you have these companies that say “We’ll send your music out to 500,000 contacts”. In my opinion, this is mind-boggling. As an industry professional myself and someone who knows how small the business is, you as a new artist should ask yourself: “Are there really even 500,000 important people in this business to hear my music”? Hell no! Word of advice: I rather have a legit publicist send my record and/or video out to 200 important people he/she personally knows than some weak promotion company claim they sent my material to 500k people he/she doesn't even know themselves.

At the end of the day if the person you’re investing your hard earned money into can’t prove what they claim, especially when you research them extensively keep it moving. Of course they might have some contact info for Russell Simmons, Jay-Z, Kevin Liles etc whoever but whether they have a relationship is what puts the icing on the cake.