I’m sure we’ve all seen it. When someone has posted something on line which they were having a moment associated with god know’s what emotion attached and you’re thinking “surely they were either on drugs, or their account was hacked to make a comment like that”. Something in the world for tiny mini second gets sent out to interweb land and before you can delete or edit your post, someones taken a screen shot, you’re realised that it was probably a bad move to comment and boom, the explosion of the internet has now kissed your career, husband, job, friends or whatever goodbye.
We celebrities all the time doing it. Getting in hot water for going on rants and tangents. Isn’t any good publicity good publicity? Not anymore (though I guess that really depends on who you speak to as well).
In the last 24 hours the dance music community has I think single handedly shown that somethings if they’re a personal belief or whatever ought to be thought out before posted. What are you talking about? Tenwalls. He’s a DJ and Producer who made some homophobic comments online (and we’re not just talking 1 or 2 here, we’re talking he’s backed them up with videos). The stories trending at the moment so check it out for the full details. My comments aren’t about that and what he did, but to use his behaviour as an example as how something can spread like wild fire and not only effect your brand and business but your entire career.
This is a quick version as I’ve gotta be out and about, but I had to strike while the iron was hot, as it was too much of a primo example not to use as a learning tool.
1) If you’re a public figure, then you’ve agreed to opening up your private life to the scrutiny of all your followers, the media and anyone else that is watching. You can’t get pissed off if your privacy is invaded or people shine you in a different light, sure if you’re taken out of context or miss quoted then you have grounds to follow up. But you ought to remember that you and everything about you are on show at all times.
2) I always laugh when I see on Twitter accounts ‘these opinions are my own and are not that of the company I work for” or stuff like that. If you’re saying things that might get you in hot water then don’t say them on a public forum. You can sure as shit count on it that if you say something and someone picks it up and it’s bad regardless if they’re your own opinions, something will come back to bite you on the arse.
3) Keep it separate. Posting personal, political, religious or racial comments from a business page can be career suicide. If you’re a decent human being and like doing business then you will know that you should be remain nuetral. Don’t use your business platforms to discuss personal matters. You’re clients should me a melting pot and upsetting of offending anyone is not only good manners but good business.
4) Don’t bite the hand that feeds you and more so the people that got you to where you are. Those people can easily take that away too. You’re nothing without the support, your sales, public opinion and your career. If people stop coming to your shows, buying your CD’s or interacting with you the funds will dry up quick smart.
5) Care what people think.
6) Don’t be a dick!
Remember like my Mum told me, “If you don’t have anything nice to say, then don’t say anything at all”. General rule in life and this one should be remembered for social media, shit can go viral really fast and there is no coming back from that.
You are a reflection of your brand and business. Remember that! Stay humble and remember if you’re fired up or in the heat of a moment, walk away from the computer!! A second can change your entire situation.
Peace out,
Chrissy
Ps. I was rushing to get this done and written before I ran out the door.. If there are typo’s they’re my own and not a reflection of my business and the services we provide.. see what I did there.. 😉 xx