#Repost TheSmokersClub.com: Here’s 5 Things We Learned Attending Chalice Festival 2017

By: KC Orcutt

Chalice Festival made a triumphant return to the San Bernadino County Events Center this past weekend (July 7-9), with attendees of every color, creed, race, religion and marijuana-intake preference finding solace in live performances from some of hip-hop’s most beloved acts, networking with like-minded folks, checking out impeccable functional glass and vendor displays, partaking in delicious food fare, ice-cold drinks and of course, indulging in the plethora of opportunities to take a free dab.

The fourth annual edition of the festival fondly reputed as the “Coachella of Concentrates” did not disappoint, despite the Mojave Desert heat resulting in some attendees requiring medical attention.

Year after year, Chalice, comprised of the who’s who of the budding cannabis industry, showcases the best in marijuana-based products, vendors and artists, with a top-tier music line-up to match. This year’s festivities boasted headliners such as Ice Cube, STS9, Big Boi, Warren G, Curren$y, Thievery Corporation, The Lox, Cam’Ron & Juelz Santana and more. With three days as gloriously packed as that brand new bowl should be, there was no shortage of entertainment, product to take in and people to enjoy the journey with.

In celebration of 710 today, here are five things we learned attending this year’s annual Chalice Festival.

Full article available here. 

always be prepared for the next step in your vision.

A month ago, I took a step back and realized the time to pursue new creative endeavors and transition into freelancing full time had undeniably arrived. I resigned from BET & booked a one-way flight to LA. With gratitude, bright eyes and a bunch of notebooks ready to be filled.

The past year and a half has taught me more about myself than I ever could have imagined it would, much like this next chapter already has.

I'd like to thank my family, friends & colleagues for the unwavering support and love--I feel it to my core. And to Kathy Iandoli, thank you for letting me treat our text messages like my diary, for your beyond sage advice & for being exactly the kind of kindred spirit mentor I have spent years praying for.

If you are interested in viewing my past work, kcorcutt.com will take you there! In the meantime, I'm ecstatic to say: stay tuned. The best is yet to come. 

#Repost HotNewHipHop.com: 30 Unconventional Marketing Methods Used By Hip-Hop Artists

Sometimes in order to win the game, you have to switch up how you play. We take a look at artists who have found success playing by their own marketing rules over the years.

We've all heard the age-old saying that any and all publicity is good publicity. Although such an idiom is relatively still up for debate, with some artists learning the hard way that bad publicity can, in fact, yield negative results, many can attest they would rather get people talking than not be talked about at all. After all, this is the age of social media, and marketing has become almost as much of a focal point as the actual art itself is, if not more.

With everyone competing for the same 15 minutes of fame, in the contemporary forms of landing a slot on a popular playlist, inspiring the next viral Internet challenge or tactfully keeping their fanbases on high alert for new merch or music, how one plays the PR game in the year 2017 is a vital component to garnering any lick of success.

While the act of the surprise album may be a true art form (just ask Beyoncé), knowing how to market and promote oneself on social media is less of a high-intensity obstacle course to navigate through and more so a necessary evil of being a recording artist these days. It's just an essential component that directly correlates to helping achieve collective end game goals, such as sold-out tours, success on streaming platforms, an engaged audience, rising merch sales and if all goes well, the opportunity to do it all over again, but on a larger scale.

Knowing how to navigate social media and create engaging content doesn't come off without some artists doing the most and others not doing enough. While some artists have successfully pulled off some wild publicity stunts, others have found success by adding their own twist on some tried-and-true marketing methods.

Take a look at the gallery above to see 30 noteworthy moments that further prove when it comes to flipping the marketing script, the creative possibilities are increasingly infinite.

See full article here via HotNewHipHop.com.