The phrase “passing the buck” means transferring responsibility or blame to another person. The phrase got started back in the second half of the 19th century when people played a lot of poker. There was lots of cheating going on, and so they would change the dealer with each turn. They passed a knife with a buckhorn handle from person to person to determine who would be the next dealer. When someone didn’t want the responsibility of dealing or the blame for dealing a bad hand they would “pass the buck” – the knife – to the next person. Hence the term “passing the buck” came to be known as not wanting the responsibility or blame

PASSING THE BUCK IS AS OLD AS HUMANITY

The art of passing the buck became a part of the human race at the very moment sin did. Before the fall, Adam and Eve were content with each other and whatever they had. But as soon as they sinned, their first response was to pass the buck. Eve blamed the snake and Adam blamed Eve. Adam even went so far as to give God some blame too when he reminded God that it was “the woman you gave me” who had caused all the problems. The “blame” game began then and continues to this day.

It’s easy to pass the buck. It takes very little intestinal fortitude to blame someone else for our failures. Little children are exceptional “buck passers”… “Sis spilled the milk”… “He hit me first”… “The dog ate my homework.” Part of their maturing process is learning to accept responsibility for their actions.

It is sometimes easier for many in SGM to pass the responsibility of their failure to others. I’ve heard lots of passing the buck and blaming others for lack of progress; “Our song didn’t chart,” Our mix was bad,” Our booking agent didn’t get us any dates,”… on and on and on and on.

There is no doubt in my mind that SGM is the finest music that exists. It grieves me to see that at times we haven’t properly handled the gift God has given us. The answers to the problems and lack of growth for many artists have little or nothing to do with whom is running SGM, the politics involved, or whether SGM is failing.

Listen friends, spouting off is easy. Providing solutions takes a little more brainpower.

THE BUCK STOPS HERE

In the history of this great nation, there have been times of immense difficulty and upheaval. Decades ago, when Harry S. Truman was our President, our nation was going through such a time of disparity and discouragement, and then, as now, there was lots of finger pointing, blame and passing the buck. President Truman coined a phrase that inspired and uplifted the country. He had the phrase made into a sign and placed it on his desk for all to see. This phrase, “THE BUCK STOPS HERE,” was President Truman’s way of saying, “No blaming others…not on my watch”!

When a “newbie” in SGM accepts this premise… “THE BUCK STOPS HERE”… that is when the solutions I teach can take root in fertile soil.

“EARNING” vs. “LEARNING”

It is my often-stated opinion that there is nothing wrong with folks trying to make money. There is not a company or an artist in SGM that can operate without making money. It is easy to spout off about all the “eeevil” people in SGM making money. Making money is not evil – loving money is evil. If making money helps your ministry keep going, then you will be reaching more people with the good news of the Gospel.

However, there is a trend developing among the up and coming artists that is so subtle and yet it is one of the core reasons that will guarantee a group’s failure. When a group concentrates on “earning” at the expense of “learning” there is not much hope of a long career in SGM.


Over the last several years I have had countless meetings and one on one teaching sessions with “newbies” and here is what they want to know:

How do we stop coming out of our pocket to pay for our ministry?

• How do we get more bookings?


• How do we get better offerings?


• How do we increase our sales?


• How do we find fresh new songs?


• How do we move up to another level?

To make matters worse, these “newbies” are surrounded with money-hungry scoundrels making statements like:

• “Record with us, we are a full service company…you will feel at home.”


• “Let us promote your next single, we are promoting over 70 artists.”


• “Come to NQC.”


• “Buy an ad in our magazine.”


• “Buses for sale.”


• “Let us help you with your sound system.”

I’ve written my share of articles on these topics and I personally have strong feelings about them, but I’ve come to learn through many hours of counseling with artists that their level of success is in direct proportion to their acceptance of personal responsibility. You will never “earn” unless you “learn” some basics. Learn how to sing. Learn how to harmonize. Learn how to budget. Learn how to find and choose good songs. Learn how to keep your date book full. Learn. Ask questions. Who is satisfied with their recording? Who has been to NQC? Has it benefited their group? Who can help you really solve problems? Who can guide you? You will never EARN money, EARN exposure, EARN respect until you LEARN the basics of the music business.

PASS THE BUCK NO MORE

To all you artists who are struggling with the questions I have listed and possibly other areas of your ministry, I challenge you to evaluate the people and companies you are working with. Are you getting the answers you need? Are they helping you find solutions to your problems? Can they teach you how to get more bookings, better offerings, increase your sales? Are they finding fresh new songs for you? Do they have the ability to move you up another level? If the answer is no…WHY ARE YOU STILL THERE?

Your success is YOUR responsibility. It is time for you to stop “PASSING THE BUCK.”
There is no one…NO ONE… in SGM who cares more about your ministry then YOU.
The things that will advance your ministry are the things that YOU do!

What you do for yourself begins with an honest inspection of the people and companies with whom you are working. It is easy to get caught up in the hype of what a company has done for someone else. But, you need to worry about your ministry, period.

It’s a “bottom line” question. Can these people help me or not?

Blaming others for our lack of progress is the easy way out. Leaders choose to control their destiny so others don’t. They believe that choice more than chance determines their circumstances.

I leave you with this quote; “If it’s to be, it’s up to me.”

As always, I welcome your comments.

God Bless You

Nick Bruno
http://www.nickbruno.com

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