I’m So NOT A Groupie!

I must be getting really OLD because recently I attended a local Teen & Young Adult Expo sponsored by Radio One Raleigh. It was an Expo to empower young adults and get them ready for the real world. There were seminars about careers, steps for success, how can the internet interfere with your future, youth entrepreneurship, leaving the nest, paying for college, Glamour Makeovers, and Real Talk a session about teen relationships, sex, and choices (just to name a few seminars). It was followed by a concert full of national and local talent. I was planning to take my daughter but, it didn’t work out that way and it turned out to be a business move instead of pleasure.

The reason I was at this event in the first place was because I needed to network and connect with employees at the local radio station in an effort to promote an upcoming music festival that my job is putting together. So I had a one track mind going in! I needed to find the PR person for the station, one of the DJ’s and whoever handles contests and giveaways. I was successful in my task and I made all my connections with some help from a generous employee. You the man!

There were teenagers EVERYWHERE, I mean this was all for them in the first place. I made my way over to the table where the DJ was conducting interviews, oh… they were broadcasting live! So, I see Terrence J stroll by he’s one of the hosts on BET’s 106 & Park, I know this because my tweens and my teen tune in regularly. I haven’t really watched 106 & Park since Free and AJ were hosts. Terrence J is cool and he’s on his way to speak on the Real Talk panel. That was like an “ah ha” moment for me!

I went to the table to try and speak with the DJ in between interviews and he has two guys sitting on each side of him. Now, the whole time I’m there I know they are obviously “somebody” but, I’m clueless and all the girls are snapping pictures and screaming. So, I’m still focused… I need to speak to the DJ, I completely disregard the guys on both sides of him and I ask him if I can leave him with my business card and some information and we can connect at a later date. He agrees and I get his contact number and I’m on my way to continue networking at the event. So, the guy to the right of the DJ was Josh Powell (2 time NBA Championship- LA Lakers) now going to the Atlanta Hawks and the guy on the left was J. Cole Hip Hop Artist, then shortly after Dorrough stepped out, another Hip Hop Artist. All these guys careers are HOT right now! Not to mention… I watched the NBA championship game!

Now, I’m within an arms length of these guys and was clueless. I’m sure my daughter would have been star struck! All I could do when I found out exactly who Josh Powell was; is think how proud the VH1 Basketball Wives would be that I’m NOT a “Groupie”! Anyhow, that was my first experience in my marketing new gig. I had a Blast!