Being A BOSS! The Realness Of Being INDEPENDENT

To be an independent artist is great because you're your own boss, but it's not an easy route for sure. Many don't understand what it truly takes to be a successful indie artist; the amount of work and time that goes into the job is unremitting. You don't have any partners helping split the workload or financial burden.

I built HunnyB Entertainment as a platform for my music career, and in conjunction with my husband's production company NHD Productions, we create everything from the music production, to the composition, the lyrics, the recording, the mixing, the mastering to then the marketing of the record. We also produce our own music videos, find and hire the directors, the editors, the makeup artists, the wardrobe designers, find the locations, and create the concepts. After all this we then have to continue marketing the song along with the video. HunnyB Entertainment is also moving into producing music videos for other artists.

To be independent, means securing your own gigs, being online scouting for performance opportunities, even radio opportunities.

As an actor, I do have an agent, but having a boss mentality, I don't sit around and wait for my agent to call me with an audition. I am actively seeking work, networking, building relationships, attending workshops because I want people to know I exist. Along with being time consuming, you also have to be part of different online memberships which aren't cheap.

I have also written a feature film entitled "Feel The Beat," which I want produced. It would be nice to find a production company to back me, but if not you better believe I will produce this film on my own.

This is the truth about being independent. It's a lot of time, money, and energy. The fact is, I am building a business alone, from inception to the completed product, and then pushing it out the public, hoping and praying it will be receptive.

It's hard work. I won't lie, I cry myself to sleep some nights. I give and give and give, and sometimes receive so little. Other businesses try and take advantage of you, and it can be deflating. But a boss never quits and keeps grinding.

The work never ends, and sleep is almost non existent, however the rewards are greater than great! The entertainment world and business are my passions, and to be able to do what I love is priceless. I work very hard, and sleep hardly because I want to succeed, and I can't feed my family on passion alone. I will continue to build HunnyB Entertainment as a brand, and hopefully one day look back and say, "Wow look at this. My sacrifices were all worth it."

HunnyB Entertainment will be an empire!

I AM A BOSS!

Colour Blind Casting

I know this is a very touchy subject, but one that has to be talked about and addressed. The lack of colour blind casting, has been an ongoing struggle for many ethnic minority actors, through the ages, and still continues to be an issue even now. The opportunities are more yes, but I still see theatre companies producing shows that could allow for more diverse casting, but don't.

I am seeing many more television shows being made for multi ethnic actors, which is fabulous, however we are still being type cast. Also, without a doubt, the movie industry still needs to catch up.

Selma star David Oyelowo recently admitted he had to leave the UK to find roles as it was revealed almost 60% of British films over the last 10 years failed to cast any black actors.

A few weeks ago, I decided to see which shows Stratford, in Canada, had planned for it's season, and after going on their website, it was revealed that they were producing A Chorus Line and A Little Night Music. I clicked on the cast list for both shows, and to my delight, 2 of the lead roles in A Little Night Music were black women. Amazing! However, they only had 3 performers of colour in a cast of 19 and in A Chorus Line, only 5 performers of colour in a cast of 32. Even on the creative team for A Chorus Line, there was not 1 person of colour, whether it be black, asian, hispanic, mixed race or any other. The creative team of A Little Night Music, had only 1 person of colour out of a team of 19.

I go online to many UK theatre production sites, and when pictures of their non race specific shows pop up, I see mainly white faces.

I believe that change is happening, and one day I hope to be on the other side of the table, producing, fighting for more diverse casting.

For now though, I will continue to hone my craft, and hopefully continue to be blessed to bring characters to life, as honestly as possible, despite the colour of my skin.

Letting auditions go!

How many of you artists have finished an audition, and then it takes you a whole 48 hours, even longer sometimes, to let it go? Either you replay your performances in your head, or try to remember what you might have said to the panel. What did the panel say to you? Was it before or after you sang? Did their facial expressions say, "oooo I like her" or "I'm bored?" Did I babble too much? Was I supposed to memorise the script, even if I got it last minute and they only said to familiarise myself with the material? Did I sound nervous? Should I have maybe belted there? Was my skirt too short? Maybe I shouldn't have done that neck role to loosen up before I sang. Did I seem desperate?

Obsessing over an audition that's finished can be so detrimental. I have travelled the wrong way trying to get home, because my head was still in the room. My brain almost feels paralysed after a casting; I can't think.

So how do we let the casting experience go, and just move on with our lives? I DON'T KNOW! HELP!

I wonder if the answer is in this saying, "If it's meant to be, it will be?" No point wasting away 48 hours of your life on a couple minutes you will never get back. How many times have I had amazing auditions, yet have never gotten a call back, then had what I thought were sure losses, and then got the job. We can analyse a casting to death. At the end of the day, we will never know what was really going on in the heads of the panel, and if we were in the moment, we will never be able to truly replay the performance. 

I am so guilty of over analysing everything, that it literally can consume my whole day. This needs to stop. The obsession needs to stop. We work so hard, and for so many hours, for 2 minutes in a room. We get invested, and so yes, it's tough to just LET IT GO! AAAAHHHH....if someone has the answer please help?

I am in rehab now, courtesy of my husband, and will update you on my progress, as well with any methods that seem to work.

God Speed!

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