Social media is both a blessing and a curse. Social media and the internet in general have made the world a much smaller place and it’s easier to connect with people in different states, countries, even from distances as far as other sides of the planet! The downside is now everyone with an opinion has a platform to let that opinion be known, whether we want it or not. Social media lets people live double lives, gives them a boldness second only to liquid courage (and the Holy Spirit of course), and lets many people say something they will regret but never be able to take back. Ever. Social media is a very unforgiving place for spur of the moment rants or ignorant comments and that doesn’t seem to be ending anytime soon. It’s in this landscape that a public figure, for the sake or argument we’ll say artist, must learn to navigate if they wish to further their career.
If you have ever watched the movie 8 Mile, then the title of this article is not lost on you. For those unfamiliar, gather around and listen to the story of Cheddar Bob. Eminem ran with a crew of misfits and one of those was Cheddar Bob. Bob may have had a mental disability of some sort, that was never really made clear to me, but he was a loyal friend to the end. One of his problems was saying things at inappropriate times. One such example was right before Eminem took to the stage for the final battle that Bob asked what he thought the opponents were going to say. He then went on to list the things that Em’s opponents could use against him. This easily could have shaken B. Rabbit’s (Eminem’s rap name at the time) confidence and make him doubt himself. Not exactly the best timing Bob. Cheddar Bob, in my opinion, is probably more widely known for one main thing. During one scene in the movie when Em and his friends were fighting some other group, Cheddar Bob pulled a gun and was waving it around. Everyone on both sides froze and Bob’s friends told him to put it away. Bob put the gun back inside his pants and the worst thing imaginable happened. Bob’s gun went off shooting himself in the foot.
See how this fits in to social media? If not, let me explain: in the year of our Lord two thousand and sixteen we are shooting ourselves in the foot and slamming doors in our own faces. People blame everyone but themselves and their Twitter fingers when it comes to lost opportunities. Many people have the talent, some have the work ethic, some even have the connections and a fan base but never seem to be able to make it to the next level. There could be many reasons but you can’t exclude the way you use social media from that list of reasons. One example I have for you is a band I casually listened to, that has since broken up. They were booked at a certain venue to perform, but the day of the show an hour or so before the show, the venue backed out. Of course the artists and fans were disappointed but it didn’t end there. The Band took to their artists’ page to vent about what happened and it was received with mixed reviews. Some agreed and some admonished them for venting in such a public place. The icing on the cake was when someone commented that they knew a venue owner who was thinking about booking them, but after they saw that post changed their mind. I wonder how many artists this has happened to?
Artist who put their personal problems on their Facebook, artist page or any other social media outlets and show the disarray and drama that is human life, ought not to be surprised when they find themselves not getting booked or people not wanting to work with them. The old adage “you never know who is watching” rings true especially in today’s time. You never know what church, Youth Group, or even business has become intrigued by what you are doing and suddenly shied away. I assure you, it’s no accident. They are protecting their brand from anything that could smear it. It has happened to me a few times. One year I entered a Spoken Word contest and was followed by one of my favorite poets. The follow didn’t last long, less than a day in fact. I can only assume that my semi ratchet Twitter timeline sent this poet scurrying in the opposite direction. I’ve even had my coat tails pulled this year in regards to certain comments I had made about certain topics. After talking with a couple of people, I’ve become quiet on the subjects. I’ve been told that I’m supposed to spread hope and love and be positive, so I have to post like it. The same goes for all artists; you never know who is watching.
In conclusion, social media is not a bad thing, it’s all in how you use it. As Christian artists, we need to be careful how we steward our internet platforms. I’m not saying post a Scripture everyday (I’d much rather we live them than post them), or speak Christianese in all your posts or none of that. You don’t have to post like Ned Flanders (please don’t, I unfollow folks like that). You don’t have to turn a blind eye to the injustices going on in the world; we know Jesus wouldn’t approve of that. What I am saying is that we have to be more mindful of what and how we post. Slander and disrespect still remain…even if done via text or post. It’s hard enough to get through some doors and spaces as an explicit or implicit Christian artist, so don’t let your Facebook be the reason you get booked on a bi-annual basis.
