Human Resource

Why is there such a lack of industry knowledge among up and comers in the music, film and entertainment industry as a whole? There are probably a lot of reasons but frankly speaking there aren't enough tools in place for those who are trying to break into these industries even in this age of technology. Accessibility is the main point of technology in many fields of opinion but when it comes to How to create a portfolio? or How to interpret a recording contract? or even simply When and Why you may need a manager? There's few if any YouTube videos uploaded explaining these need-to-know topics.

I ask myself Why would we not want to make those points of conversation more widespread and easy to talk about?

My name is Destin Theus. I founded, with few finances, MNWHLE RECORDS, MANAGEMENT and STREETWEAR companies over a year ago but have been in the entertainment industry in some way, shape or fashion for the last 12 years formally and informally throughout my childhood. I was raised by my single mother who spent decades on Capitol Hill fundraising, running institutional foundations for NFL Players and Colleges alike and spent the last 40 years of her life brokering and closing deals from some of today's biggest actors, athletes and public figures.

Yet it wasn't until after all of this "tutelage" and "experience" that I had realized my more than fortunate behind-the-scenes look into how deals should be made and how people should be treated (regardless of status), that their is this stigma that creators either don't need to know or aren't willing to know what goes into the business side of making their vision a reality.

And that is simply not true.

A lot of my own peers and friends who were making their way into these different industries didn't know where to start, who to hire or weren't knowledgeable enough on what to do next...and not because they didn't want to know.Because there aren't enough resources in place for them to do so and understand it furthermore without someone having an angle on their own dilemma. And for that simple reason I started my independent label and management companies to ensure that I do my part to help creators not only gain knowledge and understanding of everything "non-creative" in their career but in turn gain their power back by doing so.

Some of the reasons we shake our heads as a society at these public figures is because they simply don't know. A lot of people may disagree and say "well they should" but whether they Should or Shouldn't isn't the question. The question lay with Were they given the opportunity to know? As an Artist Manager myself I do know that most believe it's simpler for the creative to focus on the creative and the management to focus on the management. But I'm not talking about focus , I'm talking about conceptual understanding. It's simple. If you're not taught something, then how do you ever grasp it? By failing. And some fail when it's too late and when they can't afford it (in a literal and figurative sense).

I intend to create a podcast to help displace this lack of business understanding within creator communities. This podcast is not live yet but has been in the planning process for some months now and when I saw this challenge I figured what better opportunity to throw at the Vocal Community and Memberful team than a creator-empowering result from a challenge on a creator-empowering platform.

This podcast will feature all walks of life in the entertainment industry, contacts I've built from coast to coast and some overseas. I may not be well-funded and a "start-up" so to speak but I am well-connected and knowledgeable in my fields. This list of guests I have planned to feature on this podcast stream from my very own Business Coach, Entertainment Lawyers, Booking Agents, Videographers, Fashion Designers, Screen-Printers, Screen-Writers, DJ's and Artists themselves among many more mediums. The podcast would also be held on a weekly or bi-weekly basis and has already been planned to be co-hosted by a colleague, the violinist turned producer 4inbeatz and myself.

We aim to not only spread knowledge from our own experiences but those of our guests and to provide insight on topics including how to build contacts, how to conquer your cover art, how to get into and stay on top of managing a client or artist on down to how to write a resume, cold email and pitches to potential clients, venues and sponsors.

The name of this podcast is Human Resource and we intend to be just that; a Resource for all Humans regardless if you believe you're the next Jay-Z, Steve Jobs or Oprah. We know how hard it is to start out, but you're not alone, and you don't have to feel taken advantage of. My following, Clients, Friends and Colleagues all know this is and has been my mission: To give creators the best possible platform to succeed from all angles.

And I believe with your help I can truly make that happen on a much larger scale than I already do. All the resources I can get to help preserve the creators of tomorrow with the class and wisdom I bestow today.

Human Resource is about giving power back to our creator communities and that may be one small step in a new big push but we have to start somewhere.