Customer Reviews

Put Your Dreams First: Handle Your [entertainment] Business

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As a colleague of Thembisa and another woman with 40 years in the record business, I can wholehearted co-sign on the revelations in this book. These are the real stories which no one hears of but which all of us live. I'm proud of Thembisa for writing such an entertaining and comprehensive account of the "real" music industry. It ain't pretty but, if you want to sit on the porch with us "Big Dogs", then you need to read this book first. You Go, Thembisa!!

I was excited about the book because it was NOT a tell all vixen journal. This book can be used as a referrence guide to your success. So don't be to quick to loan out your book. Everyone should have their own copy to grow from. You will want to make notes to self in the margins. Thembisa covers you totally with knowledge experience and tried & true advice. The book is simply priceless. There are real time tips and directions help avoid the frustration of living it yourself. Thembisa researched over 17 years with women from each end and in between the spectrum. The professional woman needed to present a complete package is you, not just the talent. She spoke to my questions directly from 1990. I decided that I would never have a working knowlege of this business. I did not have any women to mentor me at that time. Well Thembisa provides you access to powerful women working, living and succeeding in the busisness. Get the blessing and see for yourself. Everyone will have a new story to tell after reading this book. Remember to Put Your Dreams First!
**Stone Faure** Note to Thembisa**
Thanks so much for your book signing and brunch in Cali. I welcomed your very real hug and sincere greeting, it came though. I enjoyed myself and learned from you! Your generosity in creating this book will be reciprocated. Your experiences will inspire so many, this book will be a number one seller! Everybody "PUT YOUR DREAMS FIRST

by Monica Peters

Industry veteran Thembisa S. Mshaka's new book Put Your Dreams First: Handle Your [entertainment] Business is a MUST READ for anyone in the entertainment business, especially women. Mshaka gives sound, concrete and specific advice on how to handle your business whether you are a publicist, in the music business, celebrity stylist, producer, or in the radio and film industries. Her tone in the book is straightforward and leaves no stone unturned. What makes this book a gem is that women working in all segments of the business reveal their triumphs, setbacks, horror stories and how they survived after being laid off. Some of the women are everyday Janes who broke into the industry in unconventional ways--none of which included exploiting themselves. Many of the women in HYEB are those that some of us in the business may already know personally. HYEB is very much an eye opener for women going into the entertainment business looking through rose colored glasses or even worse thinking that sleeping their way to the top is the key to their success. The author even delves into pay inequities for women. After reading this book you will definitely be able to make a true assessment as to if the entertainment field is for you and learn the importance of reinventing yourself.

*Even if you are not in the entertainment business, this book is a must read. The sound valuable advice in this book extends way beyond the entertainment world. Pick it up today.

For those of you sisters that have a desire to make in the industry, 9 to 5, and are not sure if it is better to sex in or work hard this is the journal for you.

I just got the book wed 04-22-09 and I have not been able to put it down. What I love is the truth that each lady conveyed, and how each one never gave up on their dream.

Growing up in a time when woman were less than 20 percent of the work force, it is good to read from someone that knows how to share a truth on getting on with your life. What to expect and not to expect.
When I spoke to I told here reading her book was like being at a dinner party with friends and the conversation moves like a well crafted who is who play.

Before reading this I was concerned with many things, but every question I had and some that I never thoughht of is covered.
So far my favorite is the Jaane of all trades, which is where I am at. Just from reading up to page 129, which I am on (had to come review it) I have already wrote notes and drafted my own study guide.

Getting this will not only add value to any library, but it gives your valuable information into the inside workings of the entertainment industry.

Women that have paved the way for those of us who what to get in but not sure, this is your book.

what you should do
1. buy this book
2. follow the tips and think outside of your present box
3. tell someone else about the dinner party journal
4. come back and review

Reading this book woke me up. I was literally drained from traveling to take my children down south to visit grandys, and I also took them there to give me a moment to handle some {music} business. Reading the book was the very thing that I needed at the moment. What was encouraging was that I knew about these women. So to hear their story a little closer gave me insight and hope as I journey through the music industry. Khamilah Forbes, Abby Dobson, Fiona Bloom, and even the women Lenora who has had Landmark Education are all women I have some a distant connection with. That was very encouraging. It also made me see the music world as a much smaller entity and made me feel like my dreams are attainable. Well for the record I never thought they weren't attainable because I am living my dream. This is one stage. The book gives me guidance and skin for the next stage. It was also a wakeup call to get my entertainment business {dreams} in order.

One day, during my commute to work, I was so engrossed in Thembisa's book Put Your Dreams First: Handle Your [entertainment] Business that I missed my train stop and realized it 5 stations later!!! Besides being well written, what made HYEB so enthralling was that it addressed so many concerns I had in regards to my career and gave me insight on how to deal with those concerns. Also, I appreciated the individual stories of the women stemming from various fields with various experiences in the entertainment industry. Some of their stories moved me to tears because I could relate to certain obstacles they faced. More importantly, I was inspired by the strength of these women and how they overcame those obstacles to become power players in their respective fields. Although this book is geared toward women in the entertainment industry, I believe any woman in any industry with goals and a dream can learn a great deal from this book!
From the bottom of my heart, thank you Thembisa for writing HYEB!! I REALLY needed it in my life!!

Hi y'all. I am a writer myself and publisher and I must say that I ordered Thembisa S. Mshaka's book awhile ago and was very excited to get it. This book changed my life and provided so much in depth insight to the music hustle and encourages women and men alike! Being a father of a daughter, I could definitely relate and knowing Mrs. Mshaka personally for over 10 years, I thought I knew what she had experienced. NOT. I found out so much from the book that was amazing. Few people have the courage to stand and hustle hard in the entertainment world especially music and urban music.

Thembisa stood her ground and her book and her success is a testament to hard work, faith, courage, being a great mother, friend, sister, daughter, and wife. This book is highly recommended for any person who is aspiring to be in the music or entertainment business and especially for ladies who need to know HOW you get in and stay in the right way. Praise Allah for Thembisa S. Mshaka!

I was sent this book as a suggestion to read. The title alone told me that I have to read this book "Put Your Dreams First: Handle Your Entertainment Business" The reason for me wanting to read this book is because I am new to the industry. After graduating with my Masters in Entertainment Business from Full Sail University it was not clear to me how competitive and shallow the industry can be. This book has opened my eyes to things I have never thought of and obstacles I have ran into as a woman in the industry. It made me ask the difficult questions to myself, do I really want to be in such a doggie dog industry such as this, Can I handle it, will I let it beat me and run home crying to mommy and daddy or do I learn from it and let it make me stronger and become a power figure of hope for other females that are pursuing the same dream as I am. During the time of reading "Put Your Dreams First: Handle Your Entertainment Business" it helped me to be more confident and not feel afraid to do my thing. I have a company called TraMaí Entertainment, Inc. its a company the specialize in artists management and development. We recently added an educational conference. We are the parent company of the Soul Music by the Bay (SMBTB) Conference and its newest entity: California Music Industry Summit (CMIS). The California Music Industry Summit opens the Soul Music by the Bay model to a conference that's more inclusive to all genres of music and entertainment. As the executive producer and founder I have to constantly prove myself as a woman but as long as Ms. Thembisa is around to help keep things in perspective I will be able to "Put My Dreams First: And Handle My Entertainment Business" Thanks Thembisa for this "AMAZING EDUCATIONAL BIBLE"

Tracy L. Reed

While this book may have been written mainly for women, I believe anyone can benefit from reading it. Thembisa has been working in the industry for a long time and has a deep understanding of what it takes to make it in the business. No matter where you are in your life, you probably already possess skills necessary for building your dream career. Whether you work at McDonalds or a 9-5 office job, you are developing transferable skills that you can apply to any field of your choosing. You just need to realize what these skills are and this book will point you in the right direction. You will also be exposed to the various positions in the industry whether it's singing, producing, makeup, hair, writing, or management. You will get firsthand accounts from people who have worked in these different fields and what it took to achieve success. Each chapter concludes with common perceptions that people have about achieving success and counteracts each one with a more realistic viewpoint. Anyone with an interest in the entertainment business should definitely check this out. And if fear is holding you back from taking a stab at your dream career, read "The 50th Law" by 50 Cent and Robert Greene.