News

Learn How Doomtree Runs Its Business

11:25 a.m. · April 18, 2011 · by Andrew Winistorfer

Minneapolis' Doomtree are living the giant rap posse lifestyle--like a mild-mannered Wu-Tang Clan, or something--but on an indie budget. Being that they don't sell enough records to be signed to a major, or hire employeees, Minneapolis City Pages talked to Dessa and Lazerbeak about how they run the label, and handle the band's finances. Here's a sampling:

Can you share a learning experience from running the label? Is there something you did early on that you wouldn't repeat?

 

Dessa: I imported models from corporate America that I thought would set us apart as a reliable organization. I insisted that we arrive with absolute punctuality to our soundchecks--which resulted in a lot of idle cigarette-smoking while we waited for the venue techs to arrive and unlock the doors.

 

Lazerbeak: I used to assume that art and music could be created on a strict deadline, just like action items or tasks. "Well the album has to go to press in two weeks, so just write and track one song every 1.25 days and I'll check about getting studio time from 2:00am-7:00am every night." Turns out it doesn't quite work that way.

 

Can you talk about the label's ambitions? Can you see yourself releasing records from artists outside of the immediate DT collective?

 

Dessa: My ambitions, for myself and for Doomtree, are too large to discuss without seeming certifiable.

 

Lazerbeak: Big dreams and big goals, that's for sure. We've discussed putting out records from artists outside of the collective, and I could see that happening at some point down the line if everything lined up right. At this point though we're just super focused on building up every member in the crew to a high level of individual success, all the while waving the Doomtree flag around everything that we do. I will say that at some point down the line, we definitely plan on opening up food court chains with each of our individual amazing restaurant ideas (huge shouts to Trill Burger, Pain Town, South Sides, and Dessa's as-of-yet untitled smoothie stand).

It's an interesting look into the workings of an indie crew. The idea of Lazerbeak holding the cash while Dessa does the press releases and someone else (P.O.S.?) doing the T-shirts is pretty funny to me. Read the whole thing here.