So... with these type of connections, this should be a walk on audition. I go down to Metal Blade Records from time to time to see how the guys are doing and even get to jam from time to time in the ware house. For free.
I guess this is a hip hop thing. For the jazz and rock gigs I have been part of there was never a fee.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dondria
Dondria Nicole Fields (born January 6, 1987), better known by her stage names Phatfffat or Dondria, is an American R&B singer, currently signed to So So Def Recordings.
Dondria was discovered on YouTube by So So Def founder Jermaine Dupri.[1] She was born in Dover, OK, and raised in Texas. Dondria began singing at a young age in her church choir after her friend David Baker asked her to join with him. In 2006 she created a YouTube channel using the username "Phatfffat" to showcase her singing talent. With Youtube she built a sizable following online, and eventually she was contacted by Dupri via a Youtube Message. Although it took several messages before she responded, when she did she was flown to Atlanta to meet Dupri. Originally she was asked to record a song with R&B Group Jagged Edge, but eventually was offered a solo contract. In September of 2010 she lost her sister shantel fields jackson in a car accident in Rodchester New York [2]