Twitter

So the wonderful world of Twitter has opened me up to a new world of people, who, I don't think I would have otherwise met. I'm excited now, to see who else I might meet and where they might take me.

So far I was introduced to Collective Concepts PR Firm. I admire what they're doing: trying to branch out and shed being classified as "urban". Its good for black people to break away from the mold, and the clientele they intend to attract, I think will help them do that. I took the train all the way out to Crown Heights in good ol' Brooklyn, New York! All by myself! Which for me, was something amazing seeing as how I got the directions from Google Maps! I was exciting to take the train by myself! I took the 4 then hoped on the 2 got off at Franklin and walked up to Sterling Ave. to Collective Concepts. Did the interview, although, I don't think I got the position. Reason being is that either I was asked a question about group work and I answered honestly and pretty much said, "I hate it." If I didn't get it cause I was honest, so be it, but I didn't sacrifice my integrity! I hate group work, too many bad experiences. I'm a leader so its hard for me to follow and accept anothers POV. I'm glad for the chance to meet with Collective Concepts. Had it not been for them, I would have not ventured out and taken the train alone- they, in turn, shown me my own independence and strength, so thanks C.Concepts! Whether I'm apart of their team or not, I wish them the best and have every intention to maintain contact with the founder, Garnett.

I also met Tom Medvedich, The Source Magazine's photographer. Such a sweetheart! I haven't met him personally yet, but he has offered to take me out and introduce me to people, and that I am so greatful for. Based on his Tweets and Facebook status updates, he's a busy guy! I have checked out his work, and its impressive. Based on the things I've seen, he seems to be someone I can work with. I like people who put love into their work, cause at the end of the day, your work proceeds you. Meaning, people may see your work before they see or meet you. Do a sloppy job, people think you're sloppy. I was raised to take pride in my work, and I like to surround myself with people who do the same, and I think that Tom does that. I look forward to one day working with him.

JBusinessNYC is another person I met via Twitter. He's a GIANT Magazine intern and works with HOT97. He's doing his thing all over the place. I watch him closely, pay attention to what he does, maybe learn from him. If I'm going to get my PR on, I better keep him on file. Which brings me to my next noteworthy contact...

MikeBoydJr, who I met through JBusinessNYC. I haven't even met him in person but he's already hooked me up with a media event! I'm so excited about it, but I don't want to mention it cause I don't want to jinx it. But at this point I have nothing but love for him for reaching out to me and helping be build a social life! I was saying to my cousin this past weekend how I have -4 friends, cause all the friendships I thought I built, fell through! So MikeBoydJr, is from BK and he's going to stop by WMG tomorrow so we can "chat about this and that". Then its off to Happy Hour on Thursday. I hope, MikeBoydJr, will show me a side of New York and introduce me to some people, so I can get my publicist on!

So is this networking?

Is This Home Sickness?

Its a Friday night and yet again, I'm home with nothing to do. Back in Canada, something would occupy my Friday nights. A dinner date with my girls, chilling with my family or at work. I'd be doing something! Don't get me wrong, I love NYC, i keep hearing how amazing this city is and all the things I have to do here, but where am i supposed to start? Who's supposed to show me Amazing NYC?! I wish I had the social aspect here, that I had back home. I need the interaction of people my age who are interested in the same things that I am.

I'm very impatient, so I can't help but ask myself if I'm trying to rush meeting friends. Each time I meet a young person, I say to myself, "Maybe this person will be my friend and I'll have a companion!" But so far, it hasn't worked out like that! I have yet to meet someone who I wouldn't mind spending time with after work. Guy or girl!

I'd put my life on it (or all the money that I don't have) that in August I'm going to have so many friends, that I won't want to ever leave NYC. It'd be just my luck that after 3 months in the city, I make no friends and then the month before I go home, I'll meet the man of my dreams or make some life long friends, whom I just cannot leave behind and will miss them dearly once I get back to Toronto.

SO what is this I'm feeling? Is it just the desire to to have a social life? Or am I homesick, cause home is where my social life is...

Networking

My "work" week ends here, on Thursday! This week has been very productive and I'm liking the way that things are going right now, I'm very optimistic.

I've decided to take in as much of what my "mentor", I'm not sure if I can call him that, or if he knows, Preston Green has said to me. If I want to become this super amazing publicist, I need to network: build and maintain relationships. Preston suggested that I go to Twitter and reach out to people. So I go on Twitter and start following all these random people!

I reach out to some people and people reach out to me. Turns out this intern from GIANT magazine and he's Funk Master Flex's P.A, is following me on Twitter! YAY a friend, finally! Turns out he know's Preston Green too-- small world, even on Twitter!

But the real issue that I'm having with networking, is: I reach out to all these people, they reply to my posts, I know they're well connected, but how do I ask them for anything? Do I say to the E in C of VIBE, "Hey D, I'm here in New York for the summer, I have nothing to do, can I be your friend and come with you to industry parties?" Is there a proper way to network? Or is it as simple as just reaching out to someone and making a connection. If there's a formality to networking, I don't know it!

Its like going up to Jay-Z and giving him your demo. I feel like I'm using them, which is what networking technically is, but "networking" is the formal name. I guess I feel bad for asking them to do things for me cause as an intern, in a new city without a job, I have nothing to offer them.

I need to figure out, how to reach out to people, without feeling guilty, I just hope I'm doing this right...

Super Mega Publicist

So I've been out in NYC for about a month now. I know how important it is to maintain my blog. Its like, Twitter, if you never update your Twitter, then who cares?! So I'm promising myself that after today I will make more of an effort to blog more regularly.

Today, I had a meeting with Preston Green of WEA, who helped me get my career path started. One of the first questions he asked me was, "What do you want to do here?" I didn't know! I'd thought that I wasn't in the right department, that maybe doing Corp. Communications wasn't for me. Long story short, by the end I figured out that I PR is where I want to be. So Preston helped me to reach out to Richie Abbott in the WMG L.A offices, who gave me some sound advice: know everything and everyone in every place if PR is where you want to be! He then allowed me to reach out to Nadia Ali in the WMG NY offices, and the idea of a Fall Publicist internship came up!

Now this is something to think about. I want to do it, but I have to think about school and taking this last class that's only offered in Fall and then if I say, "Screw it all!" stay in New York until December, I have to work! I can't go on without being employed! I need to develop a social life, meet and interact with people my own age.

I realized that I wasn't taking this as serious as I should. I need to eat, sleep, breath and shit New York. I just need to make some money to do it! Now I'm trying to follow all who I can on Twitter, mega celebs or not, just people who even in the most miniscule way, could be a possible contact, or will post info about an event I can go to and network that way. I need to eat, sleep, breath XXL, Source, Vibe, AllHipHop.com and let this life and culture consume me.

So now what? Am I on the road to becoming a super mega- publicist? I sure as heck hope so! All thanks to Mr. Preston Green!

WARNER MUSIC INTERN!

So these past couple weeks have been so crazy! I've decided to start blogging more to share my experience over the next few months as Warner Music Groups, Corp. Public Relations Intern (I guess that'd be my offical tile).

This whole thing started back in October, I was set to go work with Kadilsha Cain from Asylum Records. When I got to the US/ Canada boarder, I was denied entry. I was devastated, but pushed on, and stayed in contact with WMG's HR. Long story short, I re-applied and went for the interview about two weeks ago. I got the call back and cried when I was told I was chosen.

The word to describe how I felt: baffled! I was floored at the fact that of all the people who have applied, a little Jamaican/ Canadian girl was chosen!

Thus, I have made the choice to chronicle my last month in Canada and the next four months that I will be spending in New York.

Its my final three or so weeks here and I have a lot to take care of. The current problems I face:
1. Money (and lack there of). I've been working since I was 14 years old, so the thought of not having any income, to me, is terrifying!

2.School. My teacher is trying to tell me that I will loose 10% if I miss the two days which is total BS, since other students miss school for their internships as well).

3.Packing. All my clothes not enough space!!

This is the chance of a lifetime. My blog is my corner, my world, welcome to my life.
*~T*~