Reading time: 2 – 3 minutes

Jewels of an Entertainment Eid Fest – Part 6

Ideas are jewels in rock. It’s up to you to break it out of its prison.

From our talk at Douglas Pizza, Hasan had pointed out that story telling is one of the finest forms of communication. Talking is just mechanics, but taking words and structuring it as story is a skill and art form in itself. If you want to get your message across in a way that people may listen, make it into a fine story.

This conversation gave me an idea. In the market today, you have lectures, music, nasheed, poetry audio. How about having audio in which stories are told, fiction and non-fiction, with stellar performance…all to deliver a message. A message that is produced as audio entertainment for people, and it contains a powerful and meaningful message at the same time.  Perhaps I can add this to my life list.

- — -

Monday morning was the farewell of the artists. Zafar had the earliest flight, and I took the opportunity to use the ride up to the Airport to get some feedback and advice from an artists perspective.

One question that I had bubbling in my head since the beginning was, “For the poetry event that I want to throw, should I secure the funding first and then execute, or should I move forward with the event, with the hopes that sponsorships, ticket sales, etc would pay for the expenses due?“

Zafar stated that it’s best to secure funding first. It’s safer that way and less people come out sore from the deal. Putting together an entertainment gig is like cooking. Some ingredients go well together, others don’t. The challenge is to make it work.

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All in all, the Eid Fest weekend was a very beneficial one. I learned quite a bit and met wonderful people whom I’ve benefited very much from. I didn’t get to see off all of my brothers. If we don’t meet again in this world, may Allah-swt unite us again in the highest levels of Jannah…

…Ameen

Reading time: 2 – 3 minutes

Jewels of an Entertainment Eid Fest – Part 5

We plan, and Allah plans. Allah is the best of planners.

Sitting in the dressing room with Mecca2Medina (Rakin, Ismael, Abdul Karim) and listening to their stories about their activities, and their touring across UK doing events and stuff, I asked them, “With all the work that you guys do, and all the traveling, how do you spend time for your family?” I was asking this because I’ve found myself not spending much time with my own family.

• Make time for your family, and let them know your plans
• Be cooperative with your family and your family will be cooperative with you.
• When getting married, make sure that your goals and your “prospects” goals are inline with each other.

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After everything was over, we headed over to Douglas Pizza on Route 27. I was sitting with Khaleel and Hasan talking bout life and goals. Earlier Hasan had mentioned a “life list” which is basically a list of all the things that you want to do, be, and have before you die. You set a date as to by when you want to attain it.

Hasan talked about how you don’t only want to have a vertical list of goals, such as the “1-3-5″ (1 year goals, 3 year goals, 5 year goals). What you want to do is have options.

• What are your options right now?
• When you finish high school, what are your options?
• When you finish college, what are your options?
• Which options do you want to pursue and why?

Knowing your options expands your path to your goals vertically, and also horizontally as well allowing you to be more dynamic in your approach to things. Hasan recommended a book (just arrived via Amazon two days ago) titled Multiple Streams of Income by Robert Allen.

Reading time: 2 – 3 minutes

Jewels of an Entertainment Eid Fest – Part 4

What happens when you cross a Palestinian with comedy? –Laughter that “rocks” the house

This day started up with picking up Mohamed Amer of Allah Made me Funny from the airport. This is one brother you would never forget. He”s legally homeless. Sitting with different people you learn soooo many different things.

• Hasan (Andulus), Mohamed, and myself were sitting and talking. Hasan mentioned how one time Preacher Moss mentioned a valuable lesson that he got from Damon Wayans, “If you want a job, do standup comedy. If you want a career, become a writer“

• About a month ago I was talking with Siraaj Hasan (Bridges TV – New Jersey) about how to go about releasing my documentary “Tufaan” I’m working on. It’s one thing to hear how it’s done, and another to know someone who’s doing it. Mohamed mentioned that Allah Made Me Funny movie which is being produced by Dave Chapple was recently filmed. The process as I understand it is: edit, release to focus groups, have premieres, finally release it to public.

• Mohamed mentioned that the most important thing to an artist is that as a producer, you keep your word. Write things down on a contract, and keep everything up to good standards.
  

• When putting a show together, know that marketing is HUGE part of it. Concept format is very important. If you don’t have a proper format, things will fall apart. Have an actual strategy and game plan that you will execute on.

Reading time: 2 – 3 minutes

Jewels of an Entertainment Eid Fest – Part 3

Brotherhood is an amazing thing. No matter how many years difference, or how many miles apart, Islam unites us.

Our plan for Saturday was to take Zafar, Khaleel, and Mecca2Medina to Jersey Gardens outlet store and then head over to Brooklyn to Masjid Taqwa (Imam Siraaj Wahaaj’s Masjid). Before heading out we stopped at Dasham’s (Br. Dash) house. When we stopped there, two young girls came out. Hasan (Andalus group) told me that those are Dasham’s daughters. My reaction, “huh?! How old is dash?”

Hasan responded with saying, “How old does he look?“

I’m like, “twenty-five?“

Hasan said smiling, “He’s actually thirty-five. How old do you think I am?“

Raising my eyebrow I say, “You…I’d say look thirty-five.“

Hasan said, “I’m actually thirty-nine“

My reaction, “You’re almost old enough to be my father!“

Hasan laughs and responds, “I’m twenty-five at heart.“

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This reminded me of a moment I had with Shaykh Khalid Yasin. Some months back Shaykh Khalid invited me and a few of my friends over to his home for some business. We were eating in his kitchen. I asked, “Hold old are you?”

Shaykh Khalid asks, “How old do I look?“

Biting my lower lip I respond, “fifty?“

Shaykh Khalid responds, “I’m actually sixty.“

I’m like, “Woah, you’re almost old enough to be my grand father.“

Smiling, Shaykh Khalid responds, “but, I’m young enough to be your brother.“

Reading time: 2 – 2 minutes

Jewels of an Entertainment Eid Fest – Part 2

The day started off with picking up 786 Lead Singer Zafar Razzaqi from the airport. After picking him up, I learn that he’s from the Detroit area, and knows my man Atiq Nakrwala of AlMaghrib Institute.

It’s-a-small-world-af-ter-all

• As human beings we’ve been created with two eyes, two ears, and one mouth. Our audio-visual intake should be four times greater than our verbal output. Listen and observe more and talk less. You will learn a lot from what people say, and how they behave.

• Whether you are an event coordinator, artist, volunteer head, or just someone lending a hand, don’t forget to be nice. Keeping your cool and having good character is part of being an AWESOME Muslim — When it comes to any industry, learn the proper etiquettes. If you don’t…you will either burn others, or yourself.

• When doing business, keep to the principles of building beneficial, long lasting relationships, and holding up a system. Systems are what make a business run. Systemize and automate.