J Events – ayminor

J Event: The Rundown with Robin Thede Show Taping

March 28, 2018February 2, 2024ayminor

The-rundown-with-robin-thede-VIP — Hitting the red carpet before a taping of The Rundown with Robin Thede.

Cheers to my first official post of 2018! I took a bit of a break from consistently posting to my blog as I began contributing at HypeFresh (and doing some other pitching), but I am committed to posting more original content to ayminor.com this year.

So let’s get to it—I kicked off March by attending a taping of The Rundown with Robin Thede (pronounced Thee•dee), a late night comedy show that takes on politics and pop culture every Thursday on BET. Though I’ve attended a few live show tapings in my day (including two tapings of 106 & Park on the same sound stage), this was my first time attending a pre-recorded taping. To my surprise, it was a very different experience. If you’re planning on attending a pre-recorded taping anytime soon, read on. Things to know:

Pre-recorded tapings can be VERY long. Based on my experiences attending live tapings, I incorrectly assumed we would be in and out the door in no more than an hour/hour fifteen, especially because the show is only 30 minutes (including commercials). We ended up being there for almost 2.5 hours (and we got there 30-45minutes late!) If you’re going to attend at taping, really commit to the time and the experience (and don’t be bumping back your dinner plans every 15 minutes, like me.)
Be prepared to channel your inner Denzel. So imagine you hear a joke for the first time that’s hilarious, you crack up. But imagine hearing that joke five times in a row—are you still laughing? Probably not. Ultimately though, as an audience member it is your job to keep that same energy, so if they choose the fourth take and not the first, the audience energy still comes through for the viewers at home.
Be on time if you want to be on camera. We got there late and ended up completely out of the camera range (as well as with a strained view of the stage). If your goal is to be seen, get there as early as possible with a good book and some water.
TV is not magic. Despite how seamless it may appear when it airs, producing even one episode of a television show is a tremendous amount of work! Thankfully the The Rundown staff on hand was personable and good-spirited, from the security person to her producers. I was so impressed with Robin. In theory, saying a two-minute monologue with a prompter seems simple enough, but imagine trying to do it in front of 200+ people! During the taping she played two roles, not only was she taping the show for her audience at home, but she also went above and beyond to make sure that we, her live audience, enjoyed ourselves. She came out before the show, answered questions, chatted with us during breaks—she really made it an experience! Hopefully any taping you attend has an equally generous host!

J Events: BPRS DC Hosts Panel ‘Entertainment PR Unfiltered’ with Powerhouse PR Professionals

June 27, 2017February 2, 2024ayminor

Photo courtesy of Black Public Relations Society, D.C. Chapter.

On Thursday, June 22, the Black Public Relations Society (BPRS) D.C. Chapter held their anticipated panel discussion, “Entertainment PR Unfiltered” featuring four PR Powerhouses – Priscilla Clarke, Gwendolyn Quinn, Candice Nicole, and Lisa Fager. I may be not be a PR professional, but something told me as someone looking to pursue a career in the industry, I needed to hear what these women had to say. Many of the lessons and stories they shared related to anyone who wants to work behind the scenes for an artist or entertainment company. A few gems:

Everything that glitters is not gold. If you’re going into the biz for the glitz and the glam, you may need to reassess your plans immediately. Life in entertainment means long hours, odd hours, and a lot of hard work. Priscilla Clarke told us about one a-list event during award season, where much to others’ surprise, she choose to skip out and instead sit outside the venue after a long afternoon getting her clients through red carpet interviews.

Publicist or Therapist? Gwendolyn Quinn had stories for days – I would love to take her to dinner to hear about her many experiences in the industry over the years. She dropped many gems, but one she stressed in particular is that as a PR professional, you have to be prepared to be the voice of reason for your client, and that can take many forms. Sometimes it’s boosting them up. Sometimes it helping them see their best selling point, and sometimes it can even be an ego check. A PR professional is a jack of all trades!

You can sleep before you die, but it may be at 3pm. Candice Nicole talked about her unorthodox approach to sleep – because the entertainment industry runs on both the East coast and the West coast, work as a PR professional can mean staying up until 3a to ensure a client has everything they needs while attending an event in L.A., or early mornings to get ahead of the producers and reporters on the Each coast. She was clear about one things, sleep is important, but it may mean having to sleep at different points in the day to make sure you are looking out for both your health and your clients.

Social Media– Foe, Friend, or Frenemy? And of course, we had to talk about the impact of social media. Lisa Fager talked about how much of a game changer it has been for PR professionals. The consensus of everyone on the panel was that it’s not an option to ignore social media – clients should have curated accounts featuring content that can build followers, interactions with reporters need to be managed, and it is always beneficial to have a client go through social media training.

(Left to Right) BPRS Programs and Events Director Ciara Brooks, Priscilla Clarke, Candice Nicole, Gwendolyn Quinn, Lisa Fager, and BPRS President Antonice Jackson. Photo courtesy of Black Public Relations Society, D.C. Chapter.

J Travels: Coachella 2017, A Look Back in Photos

May 7, 2017February 2, 2024ayminor

Coachella. The end all, be all music festival. The Woodstock of our generation. The destination in the desert for the who’s who. And I was there. Ah! It was the opportunity of a lifetime, a trip I could never take on my own – not even four flights and 20 hours of travel was going to keep my away from my coveted wristband. The experience was over in a blink, but thankfully memories live forever. So let’s ride off into the desert together… a look back, in photos.

Self-indulgence is a thing.

Milk-Makeup-Zanna-Roberts-Rassi-Sephora-Coachella

VIP: A strange, crowded place where you can stand next to Katy Perry and mistake her for a Justin Bieber impersonator.

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Everything is beautiful. The people. The scenery. The vibes. Everything.

J Feature: Making the Cut for Refinery29’s Hottest Coachella Hairstyles

April 27, 2017February 2, 2024ayminor

Not gonna lie, getting back into the swing of things after my trip to the desert has been ROUGH, but nothing can take away my post-Coachella high. It was only made sweeter by an unexpected surprise, my friend spotted my feature in Refinery29’s “Hottest Natural Hairstyles at Coachella” article!

SIS YOU FAMOUS?? @ayminor cc: @refinery29 https://t.co/1A8Tp5Euqx

— Jam (@_junboom) April 19, 2017

Check it out below! More on Coachella to come!

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J Quote: 60 Seconds with Candice Nicole of Candice Nicole PR

November 2, 2016February 2, 2024ayminor

candice-mackel-candice-nicole-in-my-own-lane — Candice Nicole, owner of pr boutique Candice Nicole Public Relations, poses with recording artist Von Vargas as she receives an award for her contributions to the music and entertainment space. Find a full recap of *In My Own Lane* here. Photo via @kelvinjstudios.

J Events: Baltimore Recording Artist Hosts “In My Own Lane,” an Event for Creatives Who “Fit Out”

October 24, 2016February 2, 2024ayminor

von-vargas-in-my-own-lane-carolyn-malachi-japhia-life

On Friday, October 21, Baltimore recording artist and producer Von Vargas hosted an event for local creatives who are paving their own way in the music and arts space.

Ever since growing up on the Westside of Baltimore, Vargas (né Von Smith) has always felt he was in his own lane—choosing the arts over the pressure to conform to the conventions of his urban environment. As he has grown as an artist, producer, DJ, host, and creative services professional, he has looked to use his platform to inspire others to continue down their own creative path, whether it be in public relations, arts education, or music production.

in-my-own-lane-kelvin-j-von-vargas — Von Vargas. Photo via @KelvinJStudios.

“Being in the industry for years, I’ve seen dope artists who don’t fit the ‘norm,’ so they may not get the same exposure given to the next artist…” Vargas said. “I feel it’s my duty to advocate for artists who create fearlessly, contrary to the norm.”

The 3-hour, curated event included performances from two artists personally selected by Vargas, “Philadelphia’s own” Japhia Life and “Grammy-Nominated” singer Carolyn Malachi.

in-my-own-lane-kelvin-j-japhia-life — Japhia Life. Photo via @KelvinJStudios

Japhia Life, who continues to defy the label of “Christian rapper,” performed a short set featuring songs from his latest release “The Profit.”

Malachi, accompanied solely by a bassist, showed her range, fusing soul, R&B, jazz, spoken word, and hip-hop into her titillating set. She treated event attendees to her latest single “Blowing Smoke” which will be featured on her upcoming album “RISE [STORY 1].”

in-my-own-lane-kelvin-j-carolyn-malachi — Carolyn Malachi. Photo via @KelvinJStudios

Vargas ended the night with a live band performing songs from his 2016 release “Metropolis Binocular,” as well as a few other surprises from his catalog. Among them, the event anthem “Fit Out,” a testament to the importance of staying true to oneself, even if that means going against the grain.

At the event, three dynamic, creative professionals were honored for their contributions to the music, arts, and entertainment space: music producer Wendel Patrick, PR maven Candice Mackel of Candice Nicole Public Relations, and artist Rufus Roundtree. Mackel and Roundtree were in attendance to receive their awards and impart inspiring words.

The event, which was held at the Motor House in Baltimore, was sponsored by Applebees, Lobe’ Dangle, LTH Accounting Services, Liam Flynn’s Ale House, and Kelvin J Studios.