My Sister is a Sneaky Snake!'
NNPA

Ask Gwendolyn Baines

Dear Gwendolyn:

 For the past 25 years I have been in the music business. My sister and her husband started a business at that time. They made money. In fact, they became rich.
This is the problem: During the years of their money-making, they never offered to assist me in any way with my career. Now they are broke. He spent the money on his family and on ladies of the street, not to leave out his drinking buddies. They all got the money.
Last week I had to stop my sister from constantly saying “we” can do this and “we” can do that. I found it most irritating. My record was released a few months ago – and is rising up the charts. I dare my sister to think I am stupid enough to allow her to become involved with my life at this point. I have struggled so hard and for so long. How can I get rid of her?
Robert
Dear Robert:
Hold your money and she will go away. You don’t have to disconnect her as your sister, but just don’t connect her with your bank account. She didn’t connect you to hers. Let her know you have no intentions of bringing her into your success.
Let me tell you this: I want you to be sure to have an accountant. You will need to hire two. You know. An accountant to audit the other accountant. I also want you to enroll in a business course. Remember this: Don’t get so busy recording and performing you fail to look after your financial affairs. Too many artists end up broke without a dime to spend due to this type error.
Oprah Winfrey has often stated that when she informed Bill Cosby of her talk show deal, he told her to sign her own checks.
Robert, think about it. Money can go away fast when you entrust someone else --- to control it.
Visit gwenbaines@hotmail.com

Dear Gwendolyn:
Two years ago I had a brainstorm and by the time I generated the needed funds, someone had the same idea and produced the product before me. I later found out that it was my roommate who let my plan out. She was working at a country club and telling some of the workers about my idea. One of the men seated at the bar called her over and apparently she told him all about it. His wife produced the product and they made millions of dollars.
The year I graduated from college, I was telling my sorority sisters the recipe to my sweet bread. Apparently one of them was memorizing it and gave it to her mother. Six months later her mother put it on the market (trademark and all). They made millions and moved to a 2.5 million dollar house in Florida on the ocean.
Gwendolyn, I am tired of trying to get rich. I am tired of others getting rich from my ideas. What can I do?

Janet

Dear Janet:
You are not a writer so you will never have a best seller. You are not a scholar so you will never win the Pulitzer Prize. I say this because I do not want you to stop planning. Continue to achieve whatever it is you have been given the brainstorm to do.
Let me tell you this: Having a roommate can be the most difficult thing. Roommates have a tendency to snoop into your most private papers. Or, roommates just talk and tell each other their plans. This is bad. I feel you need to seek the advice of an attorney. Although you cannot copyright an idea, but you can trademark an item.
The next time you have a brainstorm, tell no one regardless to how excited you may become. Even if you try to secure funding, let the synopsis give two-thirds of the plan, holding one-third in case the loan is not approved. By doing so the lenders will not have your entire blueprint.
Janet, there are people in this world who will take your ideas and get rich leaving you to sleep on the street. They have no conscience. So many ideas and inventions were stolen, especially during the time of slavery. Unfortunately, the practice continues. But think about. No one can steal your idea --- if you don't tell it.
God a problem? Don’t solve it along. Write to: GwendolynBaines@hotmail.com