Jo-Ná Williams’ life in entertainment began 15 years ago, and her path to coaching the artist entrepreneur and providing legal protection was paved in industry experience. She was 17 years old when she started out working as a backup vocalist. Even though she was young and determined to get her work out into the world, she knew that something was wrong when there was no paperwork and she was not credited for her work. At the same time she was contributing to the success of others. As a result of that experience, something in her shifted. Jo-Ná wanted to work with other artists to show them what to do and how to take care of business so they are protected, and to empower them. After completing law school and receiving multiple offers from different law firms, Jo-Ná understood that whatever it was that others were seeing in her she needed to see in herself, because obviously there was something there. "If they are seeing this in me, I need to see it in myself!" She said. As a result, she eventually founded J. A. Williams Law: the Artist Empowerment Firm in 2011 to provide artists with ways to successfully navigate their careers in the entertainment industry. Law school does not teach one to be entrepreneurial. Jo-Ná had to learn for herself and discover a way to do what she wanted, and now she is able to coach others to do the same. She now teaches others to create a business structure for what it is they want to create in the world. What is an artist?

Anybody who is creative. Artist is an all-encompassing term. Jo-Ná herself is a musician, a writer, and it is anybody that can hone in on the creativity inside of them. Anyone who identifies with the word artist is welcome to work with her. She works with online and new entrepreneurs, musicians, authors, fashion designers, and creative entrepreneurs.

What are people typically experiencing when they decide to contact Jo-Ná and seek help?

-They are at a place where they realize that they need some kind of structure.

-They decide that they would like to have a solid business, clean up some of the mess on the backend, fill cracks in the foundation, or just get advice on what it is they might need from a lawyer.

-They need assistance with intellectual property, including Internet piracy and law, takedown notices, trademark registrations, copyrights. Jo-Ná  has important considerations for the artist entrepreneur:

-Entrepreneurship is important, and small business owners are the pulse of our society.

-You don’t have to get into huge trouble. You can prevent getting into trouble from the get go.

-People who want to put their creative projects out there, need to make sure that they have security. They can create a solid foundation for their business and for their life overall.

-The most important thing people need to know is that before you start creating and collaborating, you need to protect yourself. Ask:

"What are the splits going to be?" "How will I be featured on this particular track?" -The best practice is to have an agreement set forth before you even go into the studio. Definitely talk about what is going to happen had of time and get it and some form of writing, even if it is through email.

-Often times in litigation, no one really knows who owns what. Ask "Who is going to be getting royalties?", "How are things going to be divided up?" -Go into the creative process prepared, because should something happen and the song or project get notoriety and make money, you want to make sure that you are given credit and compensated for your part. -Set up a corporation where everybody is part owner before even getting a record label. Even when you have a small fanbase, by the time you get traction, you can come to the table with leverage. -Instead of coming to something as a starving artist come more prepared, more as an equal. A lot of people prefer for an artist to not be set up that way and often times will take advantage of the artist, but it pays off and becomes a big advantage and you can negotiate better terms. You don't have to be in debt to a label for five or six albums. The label also sees that the artist has traction and they're not going to lose their shirt investing in this artist. - It is very important for an artist to come to the table as an entrepreneur. Come to the table with a sense of pride and ownership of what you're doing. Some industry people like that, and they believe that's part of creating a star. Some of them do not believe in that because they're holding onto an old paradigm. This is no longer viable and no longer marketable. -Invest in a coach that will teach you how to sell. If you don't know how to sell, you are not in business! The new idea of selling is getting in front of your target and providing them with something that you know they need. Selling is serving. When looking for a coach, do your research! A coach can be either the best thing you do for your business, or the worst thing that you do, depending on who you choose and how you choose them.

It is her responsibility, Jo-Ná feels, to pull her clients out of the fear, because many times when they're investing in themselves, they are afraid. They are not necessarily positive or trusting, and they see no money in their bank account and yet they're being told to invest something. Risk is a part of it.

Jo-Ná’s top piece of advice?

-Keep track, don't be an avoider! Face your numbers even if your numbers say zero. Believe that your numbers will increase as you continue taking the right steps. Get a good system to track everything, because if you don't, you are flying without a safety net.

-Most artists do not think like a business. Set up the right foundation even if you only have one client. Get into the habit of doing that. Don't avoid your finances! It might feel scary, but it is guaranteed that it will feel better and better. The one thing that entrepreneurs struggle with the most when they first start out is clarity. The way to get clear is find out what and who is for you and what or who isn't. To hear more from Jo-Ná, sign up for the newsletter on her website. She communicates with her subscribers every week, and sends tips on how to set up your business properly.

If you’re an artist and you're interested in learning how to build a more authentic brand, or how to navigate through the entertainment industry, visit http://www.jawilliamslaw.com for her legal services.

She can also be found on Twitter @JWilliamsEsq