Saturday
12Dec2009

I Got Street Cred!

By Tuesday P. Brooks AuthorTPB | DateSaturday, December 12, 2009 at 7:23PM

Okay maybe not “street cred” exactly. It’s more like a credible profile on Linked TPB_LinkedIn_image In. :) I just want to give my testimony as to how having a good reputation goes a long way. And, how easy it is these days for people to gain access to your “rep.”

I have subscribed to many of the most popular social sites because it has been reported to assist with business and social networking. Until now, I had no real evidence of its value.

After querying key people that I know in publishing for a line editor, on behalf of a client who is about to self-publish his memoir, my inquiry garnered some impressive options. The author and I made a choice and I went on to work out the deliverable and payment schedule. The editor, whom I’ve never met, sent an email that asked “Are you the same Ms. Brooks who runs Ajoy?” “I am.” “Okay, I am familiar with your company and you are on Linkedin. So, I will take half up front and half on delivery. Normally, I don’t do that but you have a good reputation.”

Over the years, I had not received a lot of feedback on my business reputation. I was glad, that at the very least, completing my “profile” on Linked In had served me well.

My feeling on reputation is that you can’t “create” a good reputation. It’s really based on perception. If you want people to perceive your reputation positively, I would say honesty goes a long way and is the most important quality one could have. At the end of the day, even if those you interact with are not getting positive news, they will appreciate your forthrightness (is that a word?) and will be clear on your decision(s).

Building your street cred “profile”:

  • Be honest with people you interact with professionally (and personally, for that matter).
  • Don’t put yourself out for more than you can actually accomplish.
  • Do what you say you’ll do. Your word is your bond.
  • Edit your “profile” regularly with the positive influences you’ve been on people and businesses.

Do you know your professional reputation? Where do you get feedback on your rep good or bad?

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Sunday
06Sep2009

It’s a New Day

By Tuesday P. Brooks AuthorTPB | DateSunday, September 6, 2009 at 1:25AM

 

Last year, June 2008, the House of Representatives and Senate designated the Donald Lawrence, Gospel Artist/Producer month of September as Gospel Music Heritage Month in honor of gospel music’s “valuable long-standing contributions to American culture.”  Several Senators and Congress people along with the Gospel Music Channel television network and The Recording Academy launched the initiative to have the legislation passed.

Gospel music happens to be one of my favorite genres of music. Both, old time gospel and some of the more contemporary songs. This is the 2nd official year of Gospel Music Heritage Month and I am celebrating!

The Gospel group that I manage, Maharold Peoples, Jr. & Tribe of Praise, has been requested to perform in concert by Gospel music advocate, Carl Davis at one of the designated celebrations for Gospel Music Heritage Month, Lunchtime at the State Department (Washington DC), Wednesday, September 9th 2009.

Then, How Sweet The Sound, church choir contest sponsored by Verizon Wireless is touring across the country, hosted by Donald Lawrence and Marvin Sapp. It will be at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ on September 25th.

The one event I haven’t made it to yet is a combination of two of my favorite things, football and gospel—Super Bowl Gospel. (Although, this does seem a little contradictory the way players pound on each other during games :)). But, the two couldn’t be more exciting for me! …2010, February in Miami, ahhhhhh, let’s see.

Okay, back to my question. Gospel music lovers have the opportunity to enjoy many, many Gospel/Christian music events that happen throughout the year. (I love the job of traveling to listen to the Gospel). Most, I would say are sponsored by Church factions and religious organizations or radio & television media professionals. But is it the same when paired with commercial, non-religious entities?

It’s really interesting to see how major mainstream corporations have no problem aligning their brand with this particular segment of music, that is, traditionally known African-American inspired music, to promote their brand. Although, McDonalds Corporation (by way of a regional consortium of franchise owners) with its McDonald’s Gospelfest—Entertain Your Belief,  has been doing it for 26 years. Now corporate America (does this exist anymore? okay, never mind) is sponsoring gospel related shows on cable television, advertising on gospel radio channels and sponsoring live gospel events.

This is exploitation. But is this the good exploitation (standard advertising and publicity) that benefits major marketers AND gospel artists?  Or, is it the bad exploitation also known as selfish utilization?

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Saturday
22Aug2009

About A Really Really Nice Person

By Tuesday P. Brooks AuthorTPB | DateSaturday, August 22, 2009 at 7:09PM

You know it is really not that often you come across a really, really nice person. A...Another Man's Poison, Off Broadway person who is nice and giving for really no apparent reason. They don’t know you, couldn’t want anything from you. It is, seemingly, just their personality.

I am sharing an experience I had just this past week while working on an Off Broadway play. It wasn’t that it was so exciting, or even exciting for me per se. It was just unexpected, especially when people who work in media, whether theater, film, TV, etc. sometimes can be snobbish, stand-offish and just not personable. (I’ve only had a few “nice people” experiences in film so far).

While working with the producer, Sheila Speller, at the Peter Jay Sharp Theater on West 42nd Street, I had to step out to pick up my son from Camp Intrepid, which luckily was just blocks away (44th & Hudson River). When we returned to the theater to wait for daddy to come get our boy, I knew it would be a challenge to keep a curious 7 year old contained while I continued to work, but what could I do? (I mean, outside of being armed with chocolate chip cookies).

The stage manager for …Another Man’s Poison began her process of making sure everyone on the tech team was present and preparing for the 7pm show. I could vaguely overhear her saying stuff like “…and he’s the person who controls the sound” and “she’s the person who turns up the lights…,” “let’s see what these guys back here are doing...” All the while, Rawm had wandered from my sight, into the theater.

It wasn’t until someone shouted “Tuesday, look at your son!” and I watched my (scrawny I might add) little boy donned in waaay oversized rigging gloves drawing the ropes for the scenic stage curtain, that I realized she was taken him on a full fledged tour of behind the scenes in the theater. Dressed in headset and mic he communicated with the stage hands backstage and learned what buttons to push for crickets, cars whizzing by on the street, police sirens, voice-over announcements and airplanes taking off. He got to see the costumes being prepped and the stage hands also gave an impromptu dance performance on stage (the show takes place in the 70s so there’s always good music on queue.)

My son enjoyed his time at the theater so much he was beside himself. I finished what I was working on without any disruption and he was engaged the entire time… all because of a fun-loving cast and crew and one woman who took the perfect opportunity to create a learning experience that will probably never be forgotten. Thank you, Bayo, for just being a really, really, nice person.

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Tuesday
11Aug2009

The Reality for Real Actors

By Tuesday P. Brooks AuthorTPB | DateTuesday, August 11, 2009 at 7:37AM

 

So the other night I was asked the question: “How long, would you say, this reality stuff has been going on on TV?” I responded with my usual “I dunno.” I don’t really know but my earliest memory is the MTV show The Real World that “starred” Kevin Powell (which I had never watched). I had forgotten all about the show COPS. Turns out reality TV has a longer history than I realized. If you’re interested you can get a brief history of Reality TV at Wikipedia.

The only thing I AM really, really sure about is that I’M OVER REALITY TV!!! Sorry… had a moment. Okay, I will admit that reality TV has it’s benefits. Certainly from a programming standpoint for the networks. The sensationalism of reality television draws eyeballs which in turn draws loads of advertising dollars. Reality TV has also been an effective platform from which to catapult successful careers in media, entertainment, politics, fashion, business, etc. This is actually one of the things I appreciate most about the reality television genre. I believe it became a viable career springboard for the “ordinary person” unexpectedly.

I enjoy the heck out of some reality shows and Mark Burnett is like a TV Deity to me. But good grief. Now, every broadcast and cable station has their own twist on reality that covers food, fashion, talent, dance, sports, romance, family relationships, make-overs, business, charity, auto & mechanics, police activity, and it goes on. A large portion of television real estate is being used for this voyeuristic TV viewing genre. I don’t want to continue with this behavior! I might need a patch though. (And yes, there is somewhat of a contradiction in my thought pattern here :)—that’s the unstable part).

Seriously, I’d like to get back to watching drama that is not trying to fool me into thinking that I am watching a scenario play out in real time, un-edited and unscripted. Reality television is about as staged as fictional drama, the difference being a cast of “regular” people vs. trained actors (like Sanaa Lathan pictured above). I’m beginning to feel like skilled, professional thespians are becoming an endangered species (where’s PETA when you need them?). Are you still loving Reality TV? Do you think “real” actors are endangered?

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Monday
27Jul2009

Banking on Beauty

By Tuesday P. Brooks AuthorTPB | DateMonday, July 27, 2009 at 4:54PM

Craig Pearson, Jr. Nationals, NC Beauty Pageants! Everybody knows these are contests where women (and men albeit not as popular) compete primarily based on their physical beauty. Pageants began as early as 1854 but more formally in 1921. By the 1960’s they were a booming platform for young women to get attention (arguably negative and positive).

One of my favorite web sites to peruse for news and informational tidbits is Today’s Drum. They report GOOD NEWS! Despite all of the horribly distressing news we hear on a daily basis, there’s actually good things happening on our earth. Anyway, I digress.

I was surfing Today’s Drum and happened upon the story about the first black Miss England. Which of course led me to think about the long-lasting debate about the relevance and appropriateness of beauty pageants. They have been protested since their inception yet continue to exist. The feminist movement really demonized pageantry in the 60’s by crowning them sexist and misogynistic. At the same time, you have pageant defenders who feel they serve a purpose for catapulting careers, supporting education (through scholarships), building self-esteem and are no more objectifying than men’s pageantry (aka body-building) such as Mr. Universe and Manhunt International.

Not because I am an “eternal” crown holder, do I believe pageants serve a purpose :). Nowadays, the "pros" are that they prominently display talent, intelligence, activism and ambitions of young women. This 20 year old English woman, Rachel Christie, is clearly using it as a platform for her athletic career—she’s a heptathlete. Hept wha? yep, had to look this one up.

So, I just need to sort out how these pageants are different from other forms of entertainment that women choose to participate in such as talent contests, fashion shows, music videos, concerts, award shows, dance troupes for sports teams, etc. where they ALSO choose, to dress scantily clad and go the distance with hair, make-up, accessories and the like, to show off their “natural” assets and to look “beautiful.” Are they not objectified in this context?

Not all pageants include the swimsuit component these days and they tend to focus more on personality, poise, intellect and ability to communicate. Not to mention, the winners and runners up win loads of money! A talented musician, a naturally smart person, those with natural athletic ability can exploit their “gift” so why shouldn't a natural beauty (and not without hard work, I might add. Walking in 3-inch heels ain’t no joke)? What say you-- withdraw pageantry or bank on beauties?

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