Meet Amani Roberts

We had the good fortune of connecting with Amani Roberts and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Amani, how do you think about risk?
Risk is crucial when it comes to doing all you can do in your life and career. The famous saying is that “you will miss 100% of the shots you don’t take” (Wayne Gretzky is credited with saying that). This statement seems so simple, yet it is very true! What I have seen in the world that I live in is that fear prevents people from really putting themselves out there and going all in with their idea. It could be fear of failure, fear of success, or fear of what people will think. I live by the mantra of taking one small risk a week, one medium risk a month and one big risk a year.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
My business is centered around music and the music industry. I am a fractional artist manager, which means I teach music artists how to make the best business decisions possible to earn more money. Also, there are various clients where I implement the solutions alongside them, and we work together on recovering lost royalties, setting up their fan to artist platforms (Patreon, EVEN, and Bandcamp), pitching the artist for festivals, synchronization opportunities (placing their songs in TV, film, commercials, video games, etc), and playlists. It is a special feeling when you can help an artist get their first song placement in a commercial or TV show!

In addition, I am a full-time DJ, author of two books (including a USA Today Best Seller, “The Quiet Storm”), music business professor at California State University, Fullerton, and a professional speaker.

What excites me about the work I do is helping the artists achieve what they have previously thought was not possible. I have been working on my business for almost twenty years, and it has been a whirlwind of ups and downs. Along the way, I decided to attend Berklee College of Music (Boston/Online) to deepen my knowledge of the music industry by earning a Master’s Degree in Music Business.

A few of the most important lessons I learned along the way is the importance of networking. I would not be where I am today without the ability to build authentic relationships with people in my industry. This is a lesson I continue to learn on a daily basis, and it benefits me as well. I have also learned that you have to be very careful who you let in your “house”. What I mean is that in life, you will meet many, many people who want to work with you and build a friendship with you. You have to be very discerning about who you let inside your house. People can come up and knock on the door, and you can speak to them out front, but you must be diligent about who you let inside.

Like many people, the pandemic was very tough for my business. I questioned whether or not I would have a DJ business after it was over. I am very thankful that I was able to teach at CSUF during the pandemic. The energy I received from my students during the semesters when school was virtual was crucial in keeping me sane and motivated. I always tell my students that I learn as much from them as I teach them.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
The first thing we would do is go get pancakes (I love pancakes) at Uncle Bill’s Pancake House in Manhattan Beach. From there, a drive up and down the PCH would be in order. A concert at the Hollywood Bowl is still on my bucket list, so we would try to make that happen as well. Of course, we would venture out to several beaches, including Hermosa Beach and Malibu, which are some of my favorite spots to hang out. We would definitely visit the Grammy Museum downtown at LA Live and get lost in there. If my friend is visiting during soccer season, we would spend a whole afternoon at an LAFC game. Finally, throughout the week, we would check out many of the great vinyl record stores around the city, starting with Fingerprints in Long Beach.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I would like to thank my friendship group who continues to lift me up when I am down and celebrate with me when I experience success. A book that continues to inspire and teach me throughout the years is “The Artist Way” by Julia Cameron.

Website: https://amaniexperience.com

Instagram: https://instagram.com/amaniexperience

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amaniroberts/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@AmaniRoberts