9 minute read
Durell Peart
Q. It is a pleasure to interview with you. Tell everyone who you are and what you do?
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A. I want to first say that I feel honored and blessed for the chance to share a bit about my story and myself. My name is Durell Peart. I am originally from Brooklyn NY, but I was raised and still currently reside in the “City Beautiful” of Orlando Florida. I am a speaker, artist manager, and music business consultant. I am the founder of an artist management and marketing company called Double N Management & Marketing Group, LLC. I help indie creatives navigate the business side of the music industry. I think education is often the missing link for the majority of the creatives that I encounter so I’m big on helping them to create a framework for success. I think community is so important for indie creatives because of the ability to super-serve them and create a core audience. The core message of my brand for helping indie creatives is by building community they can achieve success without having to be signed to a major record label.
Q. What made you want to be in the entertainment industry?
A. When I get asked this question, I always say that the entertainment industry found me. I got my first taste of the industry by being a member of a local Orlando based hip-hop dance group called H.Y.P.E. (Hottest Young People’s Entertainment) We performed during the Florida Classic Weekend Battle Of The Bands Event where the crew brought me out at the end of the freestyle session as I danced with my crutches having been born with a disability called Cerebral Palsy. I performed my part of the routine in front of 18,000 people and I knew that the bug to pursue a career in the entertainment industry had bitten me. I did know though that I wanted to learn the business side, so I was fortunate to meet my mentor and big brother Lashon Jones. He took me under his wing and taught me how to navigate the industry. The entertainment industry at its core is all about people and the ability to build quality relationships. I really feel these are the two things that I am truly great at which is why I love what I do.
Q. Tell us about this new App Clubhouse and what your experience has been being on this App?
A. Clubhouse is definitely the new wave. I really love the app because to me the app is truly about social networking. What I also like is the fact that if you like engaging with others and adding value to meaningful conversations then you can build some quality relationships that can definitely generate leads for business owners. I also love going into the music related rooms and it basically mirrors a similar
experience that I’d have when I attend music conferences. The type of industry pros on the app who enjoy sharing great information that can help indie creatives create a framework for success is also what makes the experience I’ve had on Clubhouse really great and definitely worth my time.
Q. Let’s talk about your episode as a guest “Finding Direction” podcast and the motivation behind it?
A. My episode as a guest on the “Finding Direction” Podcast was a great experience. I was initially approach by a girl named Annie Clancy on Instagram and she let me know that she had researched me and that she thought my story was interesting enough for me to be a guest on her boss Stu Massengil’s podcast. Stu Massengil is one of Tony Robbins’ national trainers. The “Finding Direction” podcast is designed for young adults between the ages of twenty and thirty who feel lost and need to find direction. Stu and his team work diligently to find guests who are passionate and fulfilled to reverse engineer their life to get strategies, tactics, and actionable steps that his listeners can use and apply to help themselves. The title of my episode was called “Embrace Your Gifts” and I think what attracted Stu to my story and journey was the fact that I was born with a special need and that even with the limitations and impairments that I have to deal with daily I haven’t let any of that stop me from chasing and pursuing my dreams in the entertainment industry. Stu has had many influential guests on his podcast and I really felt honored that he felt that my story was interesting enough to expose me to his audience. I’m so glad we have the vehicle of social media where those who deem what we do to be valuable to them can find us.
Q. Tell us a little of your testimony and journey of how you became the man you are today?
A. My testimony and journey has been very interesting. I think starting out the gate being diagnosed with a disability called Cerebral Palsy definitely put me at a disadvantage simply because of the fact that I am limited on certain physical things that I can do, but for me I simply refused to let that stop me from pursuing my passion. I feel very fortunate to have discovered something in life that I absolutely love doing. I think there are so many people in life who truly never discover their passion that will drive them to keep going in life. I thank the good man above for blessing me with a passion and a personality that’s inviting and attractive to people. My experiences in life have given me the ability to always approach every situation with the “glass half full” mentality because that’s always simply been my outlook on life. Choosing a non-traditional career path in the entertainment industry goes right along with the fact that I always saw myself as someone who didn’t want to do the corporate suit and tie job because I don’t think it fit into who I wanted to be professionally. I feel like I’ve mastered the art of how to build and maintain influential and meaningful relationships over the course of my 35 years
of life. I know that part of mission in life is to be an inspiration and encouragement to others and that continues to keep me pushing forward.
Q. I see you are a partner with “New Skool Rules”, the largest international urban music conference and festival in Europe. Tell us more details about how you got involved?
A. This is a great question. I have been a partner with New Skool Rules since 2019. I first connected with Henca Maduro and her husband/partner Greg in January 2018 when I attended the conference and festival for the first time in Rotterdam, Netherlands. I loved the fact that I was introduced to such a great event focused on international urban music. Henca is a music industry veteran for over twenty plus years with a focus of helping creatives establish their global footprint in several countries. New Skool Rules initially started as a non-profit because Henca saw a need that creatives in the Netherlands had exceptional talent but there wasn’t an infrastructure in place to help them with the proper education and networking opportunities to build a successful career as a creative which is why she started the conference and festival. I believe she has had 10 or so editions of New Skool Rules where she has provided a platform for the urban music industry professionals from all over the world to come to Europe to get educated, network and build the relationships that can help all of us take our situations to the next level. When I got the opportunity to build with Henca I saw a great opportunity for us both to bring value to each other. I realized that my mission in helping indie creative create a framework to build and establish a core audience, I believe a major building block in that framework is being global. I saw a great opportunity to align together because I work with a lot of indie creatives who have never traveled outside of the country to perform, and I knew that Henca is always on the lookout for great new untapped talent that needs to be exposed globally as well as them needing to expand their network and global footprint. I approached her in October of 2019 and asked if we can work together as I can help to bring creatives from the USA to the Netherlands for their first international festival performance. I also looked at this opportunity to create a position within my brand to establish myself as a global connector, so it made perfect sense to get involved. I consider Henca & Greg great partners, colleagues and friends of mine.
Q. What invention does not get a lot of love but has greatly improved the world?
A. My answer for this one might be a bit off the grid but for me it’s the dating apps. I think it has really help people like me expand my social circle and hopefully find a connection that could lead to love. This is something that is important to me and I’m sure to many other people around the world.
Q. It’s a new year, what are some of your goals for the year?
A. Yes, we are definitely in a New Year; so, let me also wish everyone a Happy & Prosperous New Year. I have a few goals for the new year and a couple of them are to finish my e-Book and the other is to create a course to help creatives establish their brand position. Online courses and e-Books are definitely a way for me to continue to monetize and create additional equity within my personal brand.
Q. Can you give us any tips or advice to someone who wants to be in this industry?
A. I can for sure give a few words of advice for anyone who wants to enter into and build a career in the entertainment/music industry. The entertainment/music industry is first and foremost a people industry. I strongly feel that if anyone who wants a career in the industry, they must become great networkers and relationship builders. Relationships are the life-blood of a long career in our industry. I also think a common misconception that creatives and even some industry pros have is
that it’s all about the glitz and glam that will equal success, but I often say that success in the industry is about falling in love with the work and the process that ultimately leads to success. Let me take a quick minute to speak to the indie creatives who want to be in front of the camera. Please remember that success is relative. I was told by one of my mentors that no two people achieve success the exact same way. So many creatives think they need the music industry to be successful in the music business and that’s simply just not true. As an indie creative when you’re intentional about building community and knowing the problems in which you are solving that is a key ingredient for building success.
Q. Where can the readers follow you?
A. The readers can follow me on all social media platforms: Instagram: https://www.instagram. com/durellpeart Facebook: https://www.facebook. com/durell.peart.am Twitter: https://twitter.com/ durellpeart LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin. com/in/durellpeart/ My Stand Alone Website: http://durellpeart.com/
If any of the readers are interested in reaching out to me personally, please leave your number at the link below: https://textdurell.com/.
