If there is one thing that I have learned from working in music, it is that everything takes longer than you wish it would. Getting a deal, booking a show, recording an album, assembling a team, getting a form signed, getting paid...you name it, and it will most often take longer to accomplish that you would like it to. This is especially true if you need it done right away and/or if it involves paying you.

I think that the most fundamental aspect to understand about this phenomenon is that the music business, especially, is a balance of priorities and the motivation to accomplish them. Every day, any given person who you want something from has a list of To Do's that include:

• Things their boss wants them to do
• Things that will make them money
• Things that will advance their career
• Things they have been putting off
• Things that look easy to check off the list

Chances are, if you are not a superstar, lower on the the food chain than they are, or not paying them money, your needs fall somewhere in the last two...if you are lucky. Remember, everything that you ask someone to do means time that they are not spending doing something else. Easy to think about, hard to accept.

So what can you do??

I have found that a five step process is generally effective:

1. Make sure that they are the correct person to do the task and that you cannot do it yourself.
2. Follow up and make sure they know exactly what you want.
3. Work on something else and be patient.
4. Follow up again.
5. Repeat steps 1-4

For most of us, it is in our nature to put off things that do not directly benefit us until we absolutely have to do them. This truth is compounded exponentially by busy schedules and fierce competition within the industry. Your needs will always be more important to you than to anyone else. Understand that and accept it.

Also, realize that some things just take time and that there may be steps involved that you might not fully understand or know about. This is especially true with large bureaucratic companies and high profile individuals. Every company system is different, ask about the process and never assume.

In the end, I have always found it beneficial to consistently and kindly remind people that you need something done. AND, if they have an assistant go, through them. A good assistant is worth his weight in gold...yea, I'm biased on that one.

Thanks to TJ for kick-starting the juices on this section of the site.

-a