On Sunday, October 23, 2011, I took my two young sons to see Marsha Ambrosia in concert at Center Stage in Atlanta.  I took them because I wanted them to: (1) see how excited people/fans can get about creative artists (not just ball players); and (2) be inspired in thinking about career choices that involve something other than a nine to five in a cubicle.  Despite the fact that my 6 year old fell asleep before Marsha completed her first song, my goal was realized.  However, in realizing my goal, I learned a great deal about myself and my law practice.

                We went to see Marsha Ambrosia in concert because I love Marsha Ambrosia.  I think she is a phenomenal talent.  She is creative, sassy and passionate.  However, the idea to attend a concert with my children was born the night I saw Anita Baker in concert at Chastain (an open air amphitheater seating more than 5,000) about seven or eight years ago.  Anita Baker had a pianist on the stage, along with a horn section and back-up singers, that ripped it up.  When I saw the pianist play, I thought I had to bring my children to see this.  I went to the Marsha Ambrosia concert expecting the same live music and crystal clear sound, and got a shock.

First, let me preface the remainder of my comments on the concert by writing that I know absolutely nothing about the music business.  Although I knew the venue would be smaller than Chastain, I thought the size would add a certain intimacy to the performance.  I was wrong.  There was little live music.  For most of the concern, a DJ played recorded music, to which Marsha Ambrosia sang.  If I did not know the words to the songs, I would have been lost, because the sound quality was awful.  When she performed, her wardrobe and dance made me think she was trying to be Janet Jackson.  Later, a young college student told me she was actually trying to copy Beyonce, which he suggested every female artist in the music business was trying to copy.  His trenchant remarks made me genuinely reflect on what I saw at the concert, and more importantly, what I sell in my business.

The best parts of her 75 minutes on stage were when Marsha sat in front of the keyboard, and just sang from the heart.  It was a small part of her show, but it was pure brilliance, because she is a singer, an artist, not a rock star.  When she sings she reminds me of Jean Carne, Candi Staton, Vivian Green, and Dee Dee Bridgewater.  But I suspect because most readers have no idea who these artists are that Marsha Ambrosia has elected to listen to her management or others that have told her that her product is not special, and persuaded her to morph into something else, or perish in oblivion.  Special is special, irrespective of numbers.  And Marsha Ambrosia needs to recognize, and embrace, that her brand in the marketplace is competing against Musiq Soulchild, Vivian Green and Anita Baker.  Artists, not mega rock stars.

As I reflected on the show during the week, I realized that I must remain vehemently faithful to my vision of my law firm.  I cannot grow a ponytail, get a tattoo, and start wearing earrings in order to appear eccentric or iconoclastic.  I cannot charge $ 25,000 for a simple drug case, in order to create the impression that I possess some magical talisman, or delude clients into thinking that they can buy their way out of trouble, if they have enough money.  Other criminal defense attorneys are marketing themselves in this way, and doing a far better job at it than I could ever hope to do.  So, why be a lousy Beyonce or Janet Jackson, when I can be a great Marsha Ambrosia, which some folks, albeit a smaller percentage of folks, genuinely appreciate and prefer. I need only to remain true to myself.  The alternative looks horrible.  I saw it for myself.   

I need to continue to try and educate clients, so they have an understanding of the pathology that underlies the behavior that leads to the criminal conduct, which leads to the criminal arrests.  Only by educating clients can they change their mindset and their behavior and minimize their contact with the criminal justice system

                As for my clients, I am hoping they want something genuine also.  It is too easy to cry racist when the police officer pulls you over at 2:00 a.m.  However, the officer did not purchase the alcohol that led to you blowing a .234 on the breathalyzer.  It is too easy to claim it is a misunderstanding when the police respond to an incident of domestic violence at your home at 10:30 p.m.  However, your impatient wife knows that you cannot be working eighty (80) hours a week, and still coming up short on the monthly bills.  She doesn’t argue with you because she is insipid, she knows you are being unfaithful.  And that is why you are facing domestic violence charges again.  The answer is simple: be faithful, honor your vows, ask for forgiveness, learn to communicate better, change your behavior.  None of the aforementioned are easy, but they all lead to a more productive, peaceful and pleasant life.  And in the end isn’t that what you want.