Meet Ben Obi

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Ben Obi. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Ben, thanks for joining us today. Let’s jump right into something we’re very focused on here – improving our ability to make decisions. Everyday, we’re faced with decisions that can impact the future of our careers, businesses, relationships and more and so one of the most impactful areas for personal development, in our view, is decision-making. Can you talk to us about how you developed or improved your decision-making skills?

Great question.

I developed my decision making skills by creating and abiding by principles that I formulated. I live by God’s grace and principles. Abiding by principles is not for the faint hearted, timid, easily swayed or overwhelmed. My principles act as a framework and guideline for my decision making. I never abandon my principles, even when it may be convenient to do so.

As you may know, I’m in the music and entertainment business. I often get asked, how and when do you decide to accept a live performance gig. My answer is always, I have a live performance gig Green Light Criteria. If you can say yes to at least three out of the five questions, then you should do the gig. This removes decision making from being made solely on emotion.

1. Demographic- (Is the age of audience you’re entertaining right for you?)

2. Compensation- (Is the money you’re being paid a sufficient compensation for you?)

3. Location/Venue- (Does the quality of the venue enhance your brand?)

4. Relationships- (Do you value the relationship you’re creating or maintaining?)

5. Time Value- (Is the amount of prep/travel time worth the amount of stage time?)

If you can answer yes to three of these criteria, then it would be green-lighted.

Decision made!

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

I landed in Minneapolis, from London, England as a young teenager to attend the University of Minnesota. In the early ’90s, I was one of 3 music producers at Steven Greenberg’s, Funkytown Studios located in St. Louis Park, MN. Steven is the producer behind the worldwide number one song Funkytown. By the mid ’90s, I and my then music production partner, Dr. Pele, teamed up with the former Head coach of the Minnesota Vikings, Dennis Green, to form Savannah Street Music. Savannah Street Music is a music production, licensing and artist development company. By the mid-2000s after engineering and producing 100’s of artists locally, nationally, and internationally, I was hired by former Timberwolves player, Troy Hudson to be his Director of Music at his Minneapolis-based Record Company. Fast forward another 10 years, and Savannah Street Music is still operational. Being a British Nigerian, I have the distinction of being the first African in the Twin Cities to have had a music production national distribution deal. I had a deal with the now-defunct Navarre Corp. I’ve also had the distinction of working with a majority of the Africans in diaspora in the Twin Cities and a majority of the successful urban artists to emerge from the Twin Cities. Additionally, I served as an Adjunct Instructor at the now-closed nationally accredited music school, The Minneapolis Media Institute. I taught music production, recording and, the music business.

In a music career spanning about 30 years, I’ve mentored, instructed, consulted, engineered and produced several artists and have released 100’s of commercially available songs, selling and streaming 100,000’s of records.

In regards to what problems I solve for my clients, they fall into 3 categories. Category 1: The reliable creative – several creatives often complain about tardiness, emotional wavering and the unreliability of other creatives. When an artist or client comes to Savannah Street Music for a service they can rest assured that if we start we will finish in a timely manner.

Category 2: The knowledgeable and experienced Producer/Consultant – often in the entertainment industry there is a disconnect between people with the knowledge and people seeking the knowledge. Savannah Street Music provides a safe place where an artist can acquire knowledge and direction at little to no financial cost.

Category 3: The cost-effective professional and quality product Producer – being in a U.S. market that has a lower standard of living but still having a global reach and having the expertise and network to create quality products enables Savannah Street Music to offer it’s clients products and services at a competitive rate.

The Savannah Street Music Brand is about developing new unknown talent. Where do new artist go to get put on? Savannah Street Music is where new artist go to be put on. We focus on educating, producing, marketing and introducing new and emerging talent to the entertainment industry. We focus our energies on taking an artist from point A to point B. We meet an artist wherever they are in their development stage and we strive to move them up the ladder. This involves music production, image consultation, stage presence, understanding of basic music business, developing their network, assisting with music choices, business development and life development.

I’m most proud of having the ability to do what I love to do and live in my purpose.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

1. Consistent Adherence to your goals and purpose. Take the time early in life to figure out who you are and what you want to say and what statement you want to make in life. Don’t waste time and your life dabbling in things you already know are of no interest to you. Be All In or All Out.

2. Be curious, seek education, learn a skill or craft and be one of the top 5 individuals in your local area at it. Self-care and health is very important, however, early in your journey, forget about striving for balance, strive to be the best.

3. Build relationships, collaborate and seek mentorship with upstanding people and the rest will follow.

Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?

If you are an artist seeking the following, contact me:
* Opportunities to grow and increase your income streams.
* Performance opportunities and fan engagement.
* Music production and collaborations.
* Music business consultation.

If you are an individual or company seeking the following, contact me:
* Opportunities to enter new marketing in the UK, USA or Africa.
* Musicians or bands to perform at events.
* Income generating or tax hive projects to fund.
* Strategic alliances.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://savannahstreetmusic.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/savannahstreetmusic/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-obi-978b099/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/SavannahStreetMusic
• Other: Spotify Playlist

  https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3yU12wyDfSjxKbqlb94XJH