I’ve been seeing a pattern where women in the music business have been using sex to sell their product/services and then complain when men slide in their DM’s on a non business-related tip.

To the women out there who promote their business in a sexual way, what exactly do you expect to happen?? I say that with all due respect. You’re posting pics of yourself half-naked in sexual poses and then posting the service and dollar amount for said service.

One could say, the men “should know better” and just be about business and while I might be inclined to agree, the fact is, that’s not how things work in the real world. Men typically go for (*as in approach) women they are (sexually) attracted to. You, the woman, are using sexual appeal to get the man to buy from you. He might actually need the service you’re providing, but don’t be surprised if he’s interested in what else you’re providing.

My thing is, if you’re truly skilled at what you do, then you don’t need to use sex to sell it. If music marketing and promotions is your thing and you’re good at it, then just sell that and let your work speak for itself. Contrary to popular belief, all men aren’t sex-driven in everything we do. We can conduct business and keep things professional.

However, let’s be real, we know why you’re in a male-dominated industry and promoting your business the way you do. You think by appealing to men’s sexual desires, it’s a way to get him to drop his guard and spend money. It’s a way to bypass his senses and get him to spend money based on how aroused he might get off your photo(s).

I’m not one to knock anyone’s hustle. Get it how you can get it, but believe it or not, some of us men aren’t that thirsty and foolish. We can see right through your manipulative tactics. You might be able to take a selfie with your ass in the air, but that selfie isn’t going to move some of us to invest in your business. If it motivates some men to do that, cool, but just know by doing that, you’re catering to the low-hanging fruit.

If you’re a woman in a male-dominated industry, it’s understandable that you have to compete and in doing so, you might be influenced or coerced into doing some things you might not like in order to elevate. It’s not ideal, but we know this has been a reality for awhile now. My thing is, using sex to promote your business will always attract men who will want to do more than just business.

You can’t mix business professional etiquette and a “pleasure mechanism” with manipulative tactics and expect that there won’t be people who will inevitably want to mix business with… pleasure. If you want potential clients to approach you about business only, maybe keep your business image a bit more conservative. Present yourself in a more conservative fashion and you may have more serious and business-minded men inquire about business only. Just a thought. A long one, I know