I chatted with an old co worker of mine from the magazine in Atlanta today. I asked him about everyone and he gave me all of the updates. ~smile~
I guess you never miss what you had until it’s gone, huh?
Because I’ve worked for Black publications for most of my career I have had a wealth of experiences but none was as fun as the time I had in Atlanta at the magazine. I remember after I left then JB left to become an editor of another publication, we talked about making a movie about our experience at RO.
Some of the writers referred to the job as “the plantation”. LOL! There was so much drama, the good kind, and so many strong personalities. I would never give away that experience for the world! Even when I was there, I knew it wouldn’t be long term, but I’d sit back and just relax in the moment, wondering where each of us writers would end up in 5 or 10 years. I’d imagine us all sitting back as we ran our own publications and laughed about how we got our start.
Across the board, when you work for a publication, automatically the BEST people to get to know are the graphic designers. They are sooooo silly and creative and usually are laid back. There were 3 designers at the magazine and they all sat next to each other. Lord! LOL! The conversations they’d start! They need their own show!
The graphic designers at the newspaper in Miami were the same way and the graphic designers at the PR firm were cool as hell too! The graphic designer for the newspaper in Houston..man…we still keep in touch! In fact, I just realized..I keep in touch with ALL the graphic designers I’ve met. They are so non judgemental and just….cool with it. At one job, one of the graphic designers was my weed man. LOL! He’d bring my sack to work on his lunchbreak! Ahhh…Those were the days…
The writers at publications are always very emotional and kinda…high minded. They feel like they are just as important as the celebrities they are interviewing.
But the best thing about working for publications is the fact that there’s no heirarchy like there is in corporate America. Everyone’s role is equally as important and we have a strong system of interdependence which sometimes causes drama because if one person is slacking, the whole process is affected.
At the magazine in Atlanta, there were so many different characters. There was a lead salesman named Al who reminded us of Kramer. He’d bust in the door and kinda fall in and everyone would laugh. The people in the business office would come over and we’d make fun of them or they’d make fun of us.
The people who maintained the buildings were all a part of the family too. You had to be cool with them because they would let you know when a new shipment of t-shirts or hats would come in and they always rocked the latest promotional gear.
The sales people were so funny! They’d hassle you about getting the editorial for their clients in at the last minute. And they’d hassle me about assigning someone to cover various events to please the client. It was there that I learned that advertisers run the show. If you pay, you get press and for the first time I was told, “Allow them to proof the copy (story) before you send it for layout.” I was like, “WHAT?!” That’s a sin.
Working for a publication, you get to enjoy the perks. You get to go to all the shows and events for free, you get to meet all the celebrities and they would fly the writers all across the country to cover events.
I remember when National Spa Week came up on the calendar and I had to cover it. Basically, I invited my friend Kim to go with me and they pampered us and massaged us, gave us facials, manicures and pedicures and free food. All I had to do was write a story about our experience.
When Disney on Ice came to town, their PR department wanted us to cover it so I asked them for free tickets and I gave them to Tamara so she could take her daughter. Awards shows…walk right in. Club concerts… Here’s my press pass. I love being a journalist!
The BEST part about working there…for me, was the opportunity to interview countless businessmen and women. Millionaires and billionaires from across the country. You KNOW I asked them all to tell me about their keys to success and the characteristics they had to develop to become who they were.
It’s the same thing I hope to do with my website. I see now how all of those interests led me right here doing what I am doing now. I’ve always wanted to run my own internet publication that focused on inspiring people I just needed the experience and now I have it.
I received a response from my first BIG website sponsorship proposal. They said No. ~smile~ It didn’t upset me, it made me smile. I just thought about Kanye and how he heard so many No’s before he got his chance to shine. And even when he earned his opportunity, no one just handed it to him. He had to PUSH and make sure his voice was heard and look at my baby now! He is sooo the male version of me.
I dream of one day working with him on a few songs and maybe adding my own voice to a cut. I think we’d be great performing poetry together. I’m not interested in him romantically, but I’d love to see how brightly our stars could shine together.
Hahaa! My friend Marsha just texted me saying, “Hello ladies! Does anyone know a man who wouldn’t mind if I squeezed him up a bit? No sex, just some squeezes. I’m jonesing for some man loving. The devil is a liar! Pray for me.”
Girl… I really feel her. I crave affection and attention, although I don’t want just a squeeze. I’d rather men just stay away from me because I can’t be held responsible for my actions since it’s been sooooo long since I’ve been truly embraced. I feel so sorry for the next man who comes near me. If he touches me AT ALL, he’s gonna get raped. You can’t open the flood gates with Ms. Tee.
I’m aggressive.
~smirk~