Latest / Black Fridays: Business Growth for Entrepreneurs, Creators & Professionals / Become a Profitable Creator Career in Your Own City - Ep. 196 w/ Amber Lewis

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Become a Profitable Creator Career in Your Own City - Ep. 196 w/ Amber Lewis · Black Fridays: Business Growth for Entrepreneurs, Creators & Professionals

0:00
[SPEAKER_01]: Detroit has influenced the world and I'm not seeing that kind of money flow through the city, but there's also an education gap and like how much money should I charge for this service.
0:10
[SPEAKER_01]: I think you get to be as bad by diversifying your streams, right?
0:13
[SPEAKER_01]: Like brand partnerships are great, but they rely on a brand.
0:17
[SPEAKER_01]: So what are some things that you can own on your end?
0:19
[SPEAKER_01]: I may more.
0:21
[SPEAKER_01]: leading a workshop, then I did teaching a 14-week course at university, right?
0:26
[SPEAKER_01]: And so when we look at ownership, that's the difference that it makes.
0:29
[SPEAKER_01]: Start with your own things, right?
0:31
[SPEAKER_01]: Like you should have your own content, your own products, your own whatever, and then brands should we in addition to that.
0:38
[SPEAKER_01]: I'm traveling all the time for these opportunities, right?
0:40
[SPEAKER_01]: Like we talked about the tour.
0:42
[SPEAKER_01]: He talked about going to
0:46
[SPEAKER_01]: But I'm like, where are we going in Detroit, right?
0:48
[SPEAKER_01]: Like, specifically for creators by creators, we need something for ourselves to be proud of, right?
0:54
[SPEAKER_01]: I'm even in most recent years, I've seen creators travel into these experiences to get that thing.
0:58
[SPEAKER_01]: Like, we're missing what we're seeking and I can build it.
1:01
[SPEAKER_01]: And so that's what Detroit creator weekend is.
1:24
[SPEAKER_00]: work in professionals, creators, entrepreneurs, I need you out of tap the air.
1:27
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1:37
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1:43
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1:44
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1:47
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1:54
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1:57
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2:01
[SPEAKER_00]: Use that promo code.
2:02
[SPEAKER_00]: I'll be seeing you at a bamboo location sometime soon.
2:06
[SPEAKER_00]: Now let's go ahead and get back into the episode.
2:08
[SPEAKER_00]: What up, though, Black Friday family.
2:10
[SPEAKER_00]: Welcome back to another installment of the Black Friday's podcast.
2:12
[SPEAKER_00]: Before again, to today's episode, hit that like button, subscribe, comment, watch some videos, send some of the family friends, love ones so that we keep this thing going.
2:20
[SPEAKER_00]: Now that we got that business out of the way, it's been almost, I think I did the math 13 months to the date and we want to welcome back the trait CEO, chief energy officer, Ms. Amber Lewis of social and city.
2:31
[SPEAKER_00]: How are you doing today?
2:32
[SPEAKER_01]: I'm good, thank you for having me, how are you?
2:34
[SPEAKER_00]: I'm doing well, thank you for coming back on the platform.
2:37
[SPEAKER_01]: Thanks for having me.
2:37
[SPEAKER_01]: I'm really excited to be here for sure.
2:40
[SPEAKER_00]: And like I told you before, last time we was trapping off the iPhone.
2:42
[SPEAKER_00]: So last time you asked us, I watched our episode of the other day.
2:45
[SPEAKER_00]: And I'm like, man, it's crazy.
2:47
[SPEAKER_00]: The difference of your coming.
2:48
[SPEAKER_01]: You know what that is?
2:49
[SPEAKER_01]: Crow.
2:50
[SPEAKER_00]: There.
2:53
[SPEAKER_00]: Exactly.
2:54
[SPEAKER_00]: Exactly.
2:54
[SPEAKER_00]: And so I would love to be able to start.
2:57
[SPEAKER_00]: Social in the city, you have mentioned how this is a platform that you have established and is quickly developing.
3:04
[SPEAKER_00]: We have well already is a media-based entity and a way that your creativity has the way to be able to flourish.
3:10
[SPEAKER_00]: And then the last time that we talked to you, you were continuing to find ways to elevate and build an infrastructure around the creator economy within the city of Detroit and being able to platform us and present this out to the world and bring opportunities here as well.
3:24
[SPEAKER_00]: But I got to ask you, I want to hear from the person themselves, what milestones, what cool things have you done within the last 12 months that you might want to be able to patch yourself on the back for?
3:34
[SPEAKER_01]: Wow, that's such a loaded question and it's such an important one because I feel like as entrepreneurs and creators, we don't take a lot of time to just really acknowledge the journey that we've been on and to celebrate our wins.
3:46
[SPEAKER_01]: So thank you for that question.
3:48
[SPEAKER_01]: I have to think about it.
3:49
[SPEAKER_01]: Like there are some big things that comes up in mind, but a year ago, like, where was I?
3:54
[SPEAKER_01]: What was I doing?
3:55
[SPEAKER_01]: What have we done since then?
3:56
[SPEAKER_01]: I mean, some big things, of course, are producing Detroit Creator Week in us coming up in that work that you mentioned, bringing culture con here for culture con cafe, they reached out to me to partner to produce that experience and I think that was a first step in a direction of bringing a world to Detroit and a little birdie told me that Detroit was the best stop.
4:15
[SPEAKER_01]: Come on then.
4:16
[SPEAKER_01]: And so those are like two major things.
4:19
[SPEAKER_01]: We've hosted so many events too.
4:20
[SPEAKER_01]: I think last time.
4:22
[SPEAKER_01]: Wouldn't it come on here?
4:23
[SPEAKER_00]: So that was August of 25 and then you were doing your, or you're wrapping up your coworking series.
4:30
[SPEAKER_01]: Oh yeah, that feels like so many lives ago, but since then, I also went on a creator economy tour, which was mainly self-guided, but a couple of the stops had support from black tech Saturdays and then Michigan growth office.
4:43
[SPEAKER_01]: To kind of follow out that mission right to connect with ecosystem leaders and people on the ground to see why they came to this city for this particular thing and what Detroit can do to build ourselves as a city who's known for something like the creator economy.
4:56
[SPEAKER_01]: I'll also attend a black week like I'm a conference girl.
4:59
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah.
4:59
[SPEAKER_01]: I am a com I love going places to learn and hear from people and connect with people.
5:03
[SPEAKER_01]: But also want to learn.
5:05
[SPEAKER_01]: Right.
5:05
[SPEAKER_01]: I think that's an easy way to grow your network.
5:08
[SPEAKER_01]: But also to grow your knowledge and also to just expand the possibility of what you can do and be a part of.
5:13
[SPEAKER_01]: And so throughout that creator economy tour, it kicked off in Houston.
5:18
[SPEAKER_01]: I was speaking at the She set conference on the business of influence.
5:21
[SPEAKER_01]: And then I went to New York.
5:22
[SPEAKER_01]: Once a culturecon did some street style interviews with attendees about Detroit and Detroit
5:28
[SPEAKER_01]: which I want to just say, that was my first time I blackweak.
5:32
[SPEAKER_01]: I had seen it a little bit because it's really specific to the advertising industry and that's probably one of the best conferences that I've been to.
5:40
[SPEAKER_01]: I hope to be able to go back this year.
5:42
[SPEAKER_00]: Where was it this year?
5:42
[SPEAKER_01]: It was in New York.
5:43
[SPEAKER_00]: Okay.
5:44
[SPEAKER_01]: So last year was in New York.
5:45
[SPEAKER_01]: This year I think it's in a different location.
5:46
[SPEAKER_01]: I actually need to look at it.
5:47
[SPEAKER_01]: But one of my mentors, Dia Drill, who's based here, told me about it.
5:52
[SPEAKER_01]: And so that was phenomenal.
5:53
[SPEAKER_01]: I heard from Mara Bracacchio, who I've interviewed since then about her new book.
5:58
[SPEAKER_01]: T.D.J.X was there talking about his podcast.
6:00
[SPEAKER_01]: And that's just a crazy concept.
6:01
[SPEAKER_01]: Because T.D.J.X got a podcast.
6:03
[SPEAKER_01]: Um, and just the CEO can't lie.
6:06
[SPEAKER_01]: It was there.
6:06
[SPEAKER_01]: I got to ask him a question about the creator economy and like how do you try to composition themselves?
6:11
[SPEAKER_01]: Um, and now was just a really incredible experience because it was a mostly black room, right?
6:15
[SPEAKER_01]: Um, and the breadth of knowledge and the access that you had was topped here.
6:18
[SPEAKER_01]: So shout out to Blackweed.
6:20
[SPEAKER_01]: So, but traveling into all these markets and some of the cities are hosted events, like a co-working event with Black Tech Saturdays.
6:26
[SPEAKER_01]: It was like working progress, meets Black Tech Saturdays, co-working.
6:29
[SPEAKER_01]: That was really cool.
6:30
[SPEAKER_01]: We hosted dinners and mixers where I was in charge of inviting creators from those markets out in order to be a part of this conversation of how are we merging tech and creativity and creators?
6:41
[SPEAKER_01]: So, that was really, really cool.
6:43
[SPEAKER_01]: I was also very tired because it was a six-week run, right?
6:47
[SPEAKER_01]: And in a mix today, I also went to another conference for the Change Collective, and so yeah, that was a change collection.
6:53
[SPEAKER_01]: It's not all changed collective, um, yeah.
6:56
[SPEAKER_01]: So that was, that was something big last fall that I was really proud of doing.
7:00
[SPEAKER_01]: And then I taught the first of its kind of influencer class at Michigan State, which is my alma mater in the program that I graduated from, which is the advertising and PR program was how to monetize your digital presence.
7:11
[SPEAKER_01]: And that was a crazy experience.
7:13
[SPEAKER_01]: It was hard.
7:14
[SPEAKER_01]: I came like it was hard.
7:15
[SPEAKER_01]: I think developing material is one thing, but the administration of it is a completely different thing and coming from industry into academia.
7:22
[SPEAKER_01]: There was definitely a gap, but the students learned a lot of good information and they did really well on their finals.
7:28
[SPEAKER_01]: I could tell that they grasp the information and were able to communicate and execute it.
7:33
[SPEAKER_01]: A lot of them just wanted to know how it worked.
7:34
[SPEAKER_01]: They're like, we want to be creators or we want to work for brands that hire creators and we just want to know how it works.
7:40
[SPEAKER_01]: We want to know what the business of it is and we want to know how we can really
7:45
[SPEAKER_01]: We were able to teach students who are sitting in the same seats that I sat in, was crazy like the first day of class someone was like, oh we have to go to the gym magazine launch and I'm like, I used to write from gym magazines like this earlier, but it was a really cool, really, really cool experience because I'm mostly done workshops and events like that, but to be able to teach in the academic setting was really cool.
8:06
[SPEAKER_01]: And then speaking of workshops, I did a four-hour storytelling workshop in intensive with Black Sex Saturdays with some of the founders who are part of their ecosystem as well.
8:16
[SPEAKER_01]: And I've just been well, like, I've been well, I've traveled quite a bit, but when I think about this work of making Detroit a power player and a global creator community, like those are some of the standout moments.
8:26
[SPEAKER_01]: In addition to, of course, all the partnerships and content that has happened along the way.
8:31
[SPEAKER_01]: So,
8:32
[SPEAKER_00]: Love it.
8:32
[SPEAKER_00]: I love it all and shout out to you for being able to do all of that in the name of being able to Expose Detroit and invite people to Detroit in the The vein of being creative.
8:43
[SPEAKER_00]: So shout out to all of that and then so as you are continuing to develop this infrastructure ecosystem Around the creator economy and Detroit now you're taking it to another level and you're doing your first ever creator weekend So talk to me about that and how to deck him about
8:59
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, so I mean, I've always felt like Detroit influences the world, right?
9:02
[SPEAKER_01]: I said that the last time he talked, but I noticed like, I'm traveling all the time for these opportunities, right?
9:07
[SPEAKER_01]: Like we talked about the tour, he talked about going to events in LA in New York and Houston in Atlanta, but I'm like, where are we going in Detroit, right?
9:15
[SPEAKER_01]: Like specifically for creators, by creators.
9:18
[SPEAKER_01]: We need something for ourselves to be proud of, right?
9:21
[SPEAKER_01]: I'm even in most recent years, I've seen creators travel entities experience is to get that thing.
9:25
[SPEAKER_01]: Like, we're missing what we're seeking and I can build it.
9:28
[SPEAKER_01]: And so that's what Detroit Creator Weekend is.
9:31
[SPEAKER_01]: It's a moment for us to have those resources, those conversations in that community right here in our city.
9:36
[SPEAKER_01]: And it's really a combination of events I've already done, but putting it into a larger paramount moment for the community.
9:41
[SPEAKER_01]: And so
9:42
[SPEAKER_01]: It's a four day experience.
9:44
[SPEAKER_01]: The first day is a welcome party.
9:45
[SPEAKER_01]: We're kicking it off at a new black on listening lounge and Eastern Market rent free.
9:50
[SPEAKER_01]: They were in soft opening phase.
9:51
[SPEAKER_01]: So this is actually going to be their first week that they're officially open and we're blessing this phase.
9:56
[SPEAKER_01]: And they're opening week shout out to rent free.
9:59
[SPEAKER_01]: And then the next day we're doing a half-day summit at Bamboo Midtown that's going to be four hours of program and where we'll have conversations around how to position yourself for paid partnerships How to tell Detroit's story and also how to build a sustainable career off of your creativity And I'm really really really excited about the speakers that we have for the summit, I'm just we haven't posted it So I don't know if you'll be posting like this today
10:22
[SPEAKER_01]: But we have D.R.a.
10:24
[SPEAKER_01]: Kill Patrick from D.R.
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[SPEAKER_01]: um and then in terms of how to build a sustainable career off of your creativity we have Aaron on demand who was on her run for her million dollar year.
10:49
[SPEAKER_01]: A lot of people don't know she's based in maturity tribe.
10:51
[SPEAKER_01]: Yes, she is.
10:53
[SPEAKER_01]: And then we'll also be talking to Rick and you along to Williams and then how to position yourself for pay partnerships.
10:58
[SPEAKER_01]: We'll be talking with Sedrick Campbell who recently was signed and he's grown over a hundred thousand followers and like a little bit of time.
11:04
[SPEAKER_01]: And then we'll also be talking to Jessica Nabango, which is a blogger.
11:08
[SPEAKER_01]: She's an author and she's the first black woman who's traveled to every country in the world.
11:12
[SPEAKER_01]: She's from right here in Detroit.
11:14
[SPEAKER_01]: She's coming out with her second book with that's published by National Geographic.
11:19
[SPEAKER_01]: And so she's one of the OGs, right?
11:20
[SPEAKER_01]: So staying longevity there, but also like keeping your values as a person who loves culture and travel, she's an artist as well.
11:28
[SPEAKER_01]: And so I'm excited about it.
11:30
[SPEAKER_01]: We have some really cool creators who will be moderated in those conversations and hosting the experience, like it won't be all me, of course I'll be there.
11:38
[SPEAKER_01]: But I'll be speaking, doing a state-of-the-created economy address and welcoming people in.
11:43
[SPEAKER_01]: And I might sit on one of the panel's TVD, you almost see how I fit.
11:46
[SPEAKER_00]: Okay, and so what day is all that going down with the panels and the conversations?
11:51
[SPEAKER_01]: That is on Friday, September 25th.
11:53
[SPEAKER_00]: Okay.
11:53
[SPEAKER_01]: From 12th to 4th at Bamboo and Midtown.
11:57
[SPEAKER_00]: And then the other day is because it does it go through Saturday or Sunday goes through Sunday.
12:01
[SPEAKER_01]: And so after after we learn, we don't start.
12:04
[SPEAKER_01]: Okay.
12:04
[SPEAKER_01]: Okay.
12:05
[SPEAKER_01]: Saturday is the Detroit creative shoe in that's in partnership.
12:07
[SPEAKER_01]: Again, with Shoemaker Studios, we did that last year.
12:10
[SPEAKER_01]: It had 300 people signed up about 250 came out for the shoe.
12:14
[SPEAKER_01]: But we're doing that in partnership with design core during Detroit some month of design, right?
12:19
[SPEAKER_01]: Detroit is the only U.S. UNESCO City of Design, and our emphasis is on creativity, and so what better ways to capture the creators who are right here in the city than in partnership with the people who not only got us that assignment, but manages that designation.
12:32
[SPEAKER_01]: And so I'm really excited about that.
12:34
[SPEAKER_01]: It's sad one of my favorite buildings in Detroit, which is the main range of the Detroit public library, such a beautiful space.
12:40
[SPEAKER_01]: That's going to be fine.
12:41
[SPEAKER_01]: It's going to be so good.
12:41
[SPEAKER_01]: We're doing an elevated academia theme, so everybody don't get they fit soft.
12:46
[SPEAKER_01]: I'm really excited about
12:48
[SPEAKER_01]: I'm in this Sunday as our final day, we've learned, we've partied, we've done shoes and content, and Sunday we just want people to be able to come together, kick back, and have a cookout.
12:58
[SPEAKER_01]: And so we're doing a family friendly cookout in partnership with Belial and Detroit dark.
13:02
[SPEAKER_01]: That's my boy.
13:04
[SPEAKER_01]: And we just want people to wear their Detroit shirts, wear their alma mater merch, they have their own brand.
13:09
[SPEAKER_01]: Like, where would I
13:13
[SPEAKER_01]: Okay.
13:13
[SPEAKER_01]: I'll have DJs, we'll have food trucks, and people can bring their own set up as well.
13:18
[SPEAKER_01]: Blankets, food, beverages like whatever they want to bring for their own cookout or picnic experience.
13:23
[SPEAKER_01]: So that's Sunday.
13:26
[SPEAKER_01]: I'm just excited.
13:26
[SPEAKER_01]: Like, it took a lot to get here.
13:28
[SPEAKER_01]: This is work that I've been called to do for a very long time.
13:32
[SPEAKER_01]: You know, I answered a phone, but sometimes the call just gets so loud, you know, like, okay, let me answer, because if I don't, I will be to start some out on a separate, but also you just see the need of the community, like, even when we go on on a hiatus from events like when I went on tour, people kept coming up to me like, wasn't the next crater of it was the next crater of it, and I'm like,
14:00
[SPEAKER_00]: for sure and uh working if people listen to this and they rate a tapping right now they're about to pause the episode and go get some tickets.
14:06
[SPEAKER_00]: How do they get those?
14:07
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah people can get tickets for Detroit Criter weekend.
14:10
[SPEAKER_01]: I get Detroit Criter weekend.com.
14:12
[SPEAKER_01]: It's also in my bio as social in the city or in the bio of SNCC.events.
14:16
[SPEAKER_01]: Detroit Dahr also has his bio in the city of Detroit just collapsed on a post for it right before I walked in here settled.
14:24
[SPEAKER_01]: There's a lot of places where you can find it but I need to find you there.
14:26
[SPEAKER_01]: Okay.
14:28
[SPEAKER_00]: For sure, for sure.
14:29
[SPEAKER_00]: So everybody makes sure it's all tapping with the creator weekend.
14:32
[SPEAKER_00]: And I got plenty of more questions for you.
14:34
[SPEAKER_00]: We're not going to let you go in the world just yet, but you already know what time it is.
14:37
[SPEAKER_00]: It's time for Freestyle Friday.
14:38
[SPEAKER_03]: Right.
14:43
[SPEAKER_03]: Right.
14:43
[SPEAKER_03]: Right.
14:43
[SPEAKER_03]: Right.
14:44
[SPEAKER_03]: Right.
14:44
[SPEAKER_03]: Right.
14:44
[SPEAKER_03]: Right.
14:44
[SPEAKER_03]: Right.
14:45
[SPEAKER_00]: So you told us about how your dad used to had y'all in the car Freestyle in itself.
14:49
[SPEAKER_00]: You might as well just going to give us some bars for the creator weekend.
14:51
[SPEAKER_03]: Right.
14:51
[SPEAKER_03]: Right.
14:53
[SPEAKER_00]: Right.
14:54
[SPEAKER_01]: Right.
14:54
[UNKNOWN]: Right.
14:54
[UNKNOWN]: Right.
14:55
[SPEAKER_00]: Right.
14:59
[SPEAKER_01]: You know, we come back.
14:59
[SPEAKER_01]: I just feel like I need to be okay.
15:01
[SPEAKER_00]: I need to be a man this setup is weird now I ain't got the table right in front of me to give a proper beat.
15:06
[SPEAKER_00]: Let me see what I can do
15:10
[SPEAKER_01]: If we like me and also chit it up is the trick creator we can then we both are running up social in the city y'all me try see you know it's at summer twenty four thirty seven thing you know where it's gonna go yeah fire free the weekend mixed up make sure y'all make sure y'all go cop that off that piss that was what you did
15:34
[SPEAKER_00]: he taught you well.
15:35
[SPEAKER_00]: Thank you.
15:37
[SPEAKER_00]: So thank you for the bars.
15:39
[SPEAKER_00]: So now I'm just going to be.
15:40
[SPEAKER_00]: Of course.
15:41
[SPEAKER_00]: Of course.
15:41
[SPEAKER_00]: So now I just got a couple of freestyle Friday questions for you.
15:44
[SPEAKER_00]: So first, if so you got created, we can obviously come up.
15:47
[SPEAKER_00]: But I would love to know if you had
15:50
[SPEAKER_00]: And somebody, whoever handed you a black card, but there's no issue, what type of event would you throw and like, what would that look like?
15:58
[SPEAKER_01]: Oh, that's such a good question.
16:01
[SPEAKER_01]: Because I have so many events, I guess.
16:03
[SPEAKER_01]: I feel like if somebody handed me a black card, I would plan a year worth of events.
16:06
[SPEAKER_01]: Okay, we would definitely emphasize wellness.
16:10
[SPEAKER_01]: because that's important for us as creatives.
16:13
[SPEAKER_01]: We would do a lot of educational pieces, but I will really work to build out activations based on small businesses in the city.
16:18
[SPEAKER_01]: So, you know how you go to a larger conference, or try to show and bring us have there.
16:22
[SPEAKER_01]: Set ups, let's do that for Detroit businesses, black-on- Detroit businesses.
16:26
[SPEAKER_01]: Um, how will love to take some creators on a brand trip, right?
16:30
[SPEAKER_01]: Like just a Detroit creative ranch, it don't have to be sponsored.
16:34
[SPEAKER_01]: I mean, I've got a black card.
16:35
[SPEAKER_01]: Like we can get some people, but it's not about a different brand.
16:38
[SPEAKER_01]: It's about the experience that you have as a creator and capture in those moments.
16:42
[SPEAKER_01]: Um, I would do Detroit creative weekend larger, right?
16:46
[SPEAKER_01]: Like this is a pilot to see how it goes to see the appetit we've already again, had over 590 tickets reserved in a week.
16:54
[SPEAKER_01]: The appetite is there.
16:55
[SPEAKER_01]: But just to see how it flows, I would do a bigger.
16:58
[SPEAKER_01]: I would do a bigger.
17:00
[SPEAKER_01]: What other events I would do?
17:01
[SPEAKER_01]: I would do some dinner parties.
17:03
[SPEAKER_00]: Okay.
17:04
[SPEAKER_01]: I love dinner.
17:06
[SPEAKER_01]: Like, I feel like the dinner table is a place where so many meaningful conversations happen.
17:11
[SPEAKER_01]: where people get to let their guards down and just enjoy a good bite like that's the best way to be vulnerable and have a conversation with somebody.
17:18
[SPEAKER_01]: Um, and so if I had unlimited budget, we'll be doing dinners regularly and invite in different niches of ecosystems to the table to kind of solve some problems or talk about solutions for the ecosystem.
17:32
[SPEAKER_01]: What else would I do?
17:35
[SPEAKER_01]: I'll probably buy a clue.
17:36
[SPEAKER_00]: Okay, all right.
17:37
[SPEAKER_01]: I can even like, I would buy a bit.
17:40
[SPEAKER_01]: If somebody gave me a black card and said do an event, I'm gonna buy a space to do on the events.
17:45
[SPEAKER_01]: Like a multi-level space that's a content studio that obviously has like the coworking component.
17:51
[SPEAKER_01]: So where can progress could just live there?
17:54
[SPEAKER_01]: Um, I do think like we have content studios in Detroit and the Metro Detroit area, but I think when it comes to like actually having a sit, like if you're a chef or Streamer like haven't spaces built out for that, and I think that also ties into that trade trade show concept.
18:09
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah.
18:10
[SPEAKER_01]: I would definitely do something like that too.
18:11
[SPEAKER_00]: Fire
18:13
[SPEAKER_00]: How many brands do you have now under social in the city or Amber Lewis, I have to say, yeah, social in the city, working progress, create a weekend, uh, was it create a workshop, one on one or create a one on one influence or one on one.
18:25
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah.
18:26
[SPEAKER_01]: You.
18:27
[SPEAKER_01]: I just get a holding company.
18:29
[SPEAKER_01]: There you go.
18:30
[SPEAKER_01]: These places to live.
18:31
[SPEAKER_01]: There are more things happening.
18:33
[SPEAKER_01]: And some of them aren't always activated, right?
18:34
[SPEAKER_01]: Like, we haven't done a work in progress since last year.
18:37
[SPEAKER_01]: And people are like, what's the next work in progress?
18:40
[SPEAKER_01]: And I'm like, girl, I'm a work in progress.
18:43
[SPEAKER_01]: But this year, I really wanted to do a large event where we broke the world record.
18:46
[SPEAKER_01]: For most, I'm on a people call working at once.
18:48
[SPEAKER_01]: Okay.
18:48
[SPEAKER_01]: I just didn't have capacity to execute it.
18:50
[SPEAKER_01]: Okay.
18:51
[SPEAKER_01]: I don't know.
18:52
[SPEAKER_01]: I don't know how many sub brands are within the social and the city ecosystem.
18:57
[SPEAKER_01]: But all of them are servicing, you know, Detroit businesses, Detroit creators, and Detroit in general.
19:03
[SPEAKER_01]: So we have a wellness event that we did in New Orleans and Detroit College show yourselves some love.
19:10
[SPEAKER_01]: So that's another one that doesn't get a lot of shine or love because we don't do it as often.
19:15
[SPEAKER_01]: We have work in progress.
19:17
[SPEAKER_01]: We have just social and the city in general, and we have Detroit creative weekend influence 101.
19:24
[SPEAKER_01]: We have Vixen that I do in my best friend, as Jay, which is a party.
19:27
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, many, many more.
19:32
[SPEAKER_00]: For sure, for sure.
19:33
[SPEAKER_00]: And then you mentioned how you went on the run, you went on tour.
19:37
[SPEAKER_00]: And now you are.
19:39
[SPEAKER_00]: It's conferences and like we talked about before you start recording so a lot of things going on very busy I'm sure the calendar is booked but once you get a chance to once it slows down and you got the day to yourself You got no agenda not going on what does that they look like for Amber what you're gonna do?
19:56
[SPEAKER_01]: I'm going to the spa, that's one thing I'm going to, I love a massage, even when I travel, every city I travel so I'm getting a massage.
20:03
[SPEAKER_01]: Like if I could pick a dream job for myself, it would be to be a spa critic.
20:08
[SPEAKER_01]: So I'm definitely going to the spa, I'm going on a walk.
20:11
[SPEAKER_01]: I do that regularly anyway, but if I have nothing on the agenda, my walk will be prioritized.
20:15
[SPEAKER_01]: I usually walk to the water.
20:17
[SPEAKER_01]: And I'm gonna watch some TV.
20:19
[SPEAKER_01]: I've been watching DRR from Detroit.
20:21
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, judge Randy just dropped on to be.
20:23
[SPEAKER_01]: I need to watch that And I also was watching a show call writer died with Octavia Spencer.
20:30
[SPEAKER_01]: I don't want his Gary last name right because I was the one Xavier Miller.
20:32
[SPEAKER_01]: I'm like she's not But yeah, so those are the things and then I like to read But I could also take a day trip.
20:40
[SPEAKER_01]: Okay, it depends on my energy level on the one day off
20:44
[SPEAKER_00]: Okay, so if it's chill, then you're gonna run the wellness play, but then if you, if you got a little energy in the tank, you might have a flat.
20:52
[SPEAKER_03]: Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
20:54
[SPEAKER_00]: So what thank you for partaking the freestyle Friday.
20:57
[SPEAKER_00]: We have to get a freestyle this time.
20:58
[SPEAKER_00]: So we got to add that to the mix tape playlist.
21:01
[SPEAKER_00]: I got that, yeah, I got to put together some point.
21:03
[SPEAKER_00]: But I wanted to be able to go back into talking about the creator economy.
21:08
[SPEAKER_00]: So we did touch on that last time that we had talked in.
21:12
[SPEAKER_00]: If you haven't had a chance yet, go check out that episode with myself and Amber the first time that we had talked on the podcast.
21:18
[SPEAKER_00]: But I wanted to be able to try to break that down a little bit more as to what is included in the creator economy?
21:29
[SPEAKER_00]: What number one, what does the creator economy even mean?
21:31
[SPEAKER_00]: And then secondly, what's included in the creator economy?
21:34
[SPEAKER_00]: Like what's considered
21:41
[SPEAKER_01]: I think that's a good question, um, because everybody's asking that question, like, M.I.
21:46
[SPEAKER_01]: a creator, um, and realistically, if you are creating and producing any type of content, you are a creator, it doesn't have to be on social media, it could be a short film, it could be a photo, it could be music, right?
21:56
[SPEAKER_01]: We're actually doing a challenge in partnership with Black Tech Saturdays next week for the take creative control week that emphasizes that even if you're a fashion designer.
22:06
[SPEAKER_01]: There's, I can't tell you how to be a creator or if you are, that's the something that you have to identify as, right?
22:12
[SPEAKER_01]: But when we talk about the economy, we're talking about money.
22:15
[SPEAKER_01]: Right.
22:16
[SPEAKER_01]: It's a $34 billion industry in 2026.
22:19
[SPEAKER_01]: Over 200 million people identify as a creator.
22:22
[SPEAKER_01]: And when we look at the Detroit ecosystem, like, I'm going to do research so we can have our own numbers within the creator economy.
22:28
[SPEAKER_01]: I know I have over 700 creators in my ecosystem.
22:31
[SPEAKER_01]: I did a coalition meeting that I launched last week with other leaders of creator ecosystem so we had Robert Courtney from creator con there, Taylor from Creative Mornings, Ashley from the Detroit Creative community, we had Alex from the Creator Club and we had Taga from the Michigan Creator Collaborative, just really tell we can create our own industry standard.
22:53
[SPEAKER_01]: We also invited the creative union.
22:55
[SPEAKER_01]: They weren't available for the reschedule but they'll be at the next ones.
22:58
[SPEAKER_01]: But really like, we all need to come together as people who are leading different ecosystems so we can identify, you know, the parameters around Detroit's creator economy and the industry standards also are needs and see how we can resource pull our resources together to service them for the community.
23:15
[SPEAKER_01]: But yeah, it's 34 billion dollars and Detroit has influenced the world and I'm not seeing that kind of money flow through the city, but there's also a education gap and like how much money should I charge for this service.
23:27
[SPEAKER_01]: I was in an article with cranes, I think two years ago now with a couple other creators and like I'm like, yeah.
23:33
[SPEAKER_01]: My rate started this and they're like, a business actually called you like, oh, I paid these two creators this amount of money.
23:39
[SPEAKER_01]: And there's an knowledge gap right on how much you should charge and that's something that we're addressing and Detroit creator weekend when we talk about building your income stack.
23:47
[SPEAKER_01]: Um, but it's really just.
23:50
[SPEAKER_01]: the movement and the work that drives creative production that also drives people spending money Right like everybody's hiring photographers and videographers and content creators to come help tell their stories But how are we measuring the ROI on it?
24:06
[SPEAKER_01]: Right we know we've seen content creators post videos that have saved businesses from closing That is an economic driver and so the work that I'm doing is pivoting
24:15
[SPEAKER_01]: Content creation and creators in general looking like hobbyists or people who are just expressing their creativity to an actual industry that has economic impact.
24:26
[SPEAKER_00]: out of that 34 billion how much you think is owed to the city of Detroit all of it we need all of it.
24:35
[SPEAKER_00]: I agree with you 100% and as you were talking about the creative coalition that you had put together from these different creator organizations and groups what does that look like to be able to come up with like a standard of what creativity looks like
24:53
[SPEAKER_00]: Let me see, do I want to layer this or do I want to ask it?
24:55
[SPEAKER_00]: I'm going to ask it one by one.
24:57
[SPEAKER_00]: I have a follow-up to that, but I want to know what does that look like to be able to try to come up with what standard or what the looks like.
25:04
[SPEAKER_00]: Basically, like don't come play with Detroit when it comes to our art and creativity.
25:08
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, well, I, when I think it, it looks like us having a baseline of what we willing will not accept.
25:14
[SPEAKER_01]: And that's what anything alike.
25:15
[SPEAKER_01]: We should have that kind of standard for ourselves, right?
25:18
[SPEAKER_01]: Like, hmm, if somebody's coming to offer in this, but they're asking for that, like, is that valuable?
25:23
[SPEAKER_01]: Like,
25:24
[SPEAKER_01]: Putting parameters around what we will and won't do, and then too is also engaging our community, like right, like what's fair to me might not be fair to you.
25:34
[SPEAKER_01]: And so I can't make a decision on the hack of everyone, but we can engage community members in order to inform what those parameters should be.
25:42
[SPEAKER_01]: Um, I have my own experience.
25:44
[SPEAKER_01]: That's what I teach from, right?
25:45
[SPEAKER_01]: Like I've been a full-time creator for six years But my first pay partnership was in 2013 before this industry was even labeled what it is and so have a breath of knowledge But that's through my own lived experience everybody has their own experiences and so
25:59
[SPEAKER_01]: I can't tell you do or don't take this partnership, but I can tell you to consider these things when you're making that decision, right?
26:06
[SPEAKER_01]: And it also is going to require trust.
26:08
[SPEAKER_01]: I think that's a big part of it, right?
26:09
[SPEAKER_01]: Like if we're saying we're creating this standard and we're going to hold ourselves so this standard and we're going to hold this industry to this standard.
26:15
[SPEAKER_01]: We have to trust that everybody who made that agreement will show up and actually do it.
26:19
[SPEAKER_01]: And so
26:20
[SPEAKER_01]: You don't have to be okay with saying else opportunities and walking away from them if they aren't aligned right like you're going to have to and I've done this work in my own like this budget doesn't work reach out to me when there's a more a lot of partnership opportunity like I'm okay with that because
26:38
[SPEAKER_00]: I liked the way you were today.
26:39
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah.
26:40
[SPEAKER_01]: I would rather us not work together and I'm stressed out or I feel undervalued and maybe delivering less quality because I didn't get the value that I felt like I deserved then to do it anyway and be burnt out and and.
26:55
[SPEAKER_01]: It's just, you know, better for everybody if I say no when I don't want to do it.
26:59
[SPEAKER_03]: Yeah.
27:00
[SPEAKER_01]: And so I think making sure that people are comfortable with that.
27:03
[SPEAKER_01]: A lot of people feel like, oh, this is my opportunity to do this thing.
27:06
[SPEAKER_01]: So I have to do it, but it's like, is it equitable?
27:08
[SPEAKER_01]: Right.
27:09
[SPEAKER_01]: I think that's the shift that we need in the creator economy.
27:13
[SPEAKER_01]: is this equitable and equity doesn't always mean a dollar sign for people, right?
27:18
[SPEAKER_01]: It could add to a partnership that you've been seeking or a level of, you can butter things too, right?
27:25
[SPEAKER_01]: Like, I need a social media manager, you do social media out of this for you and you command in a social media for taking a threat like,
27:31
[SPEAKER_01]: you can figure out what's equitable for you, but just positioning people to have the line frame of this has to also make sense for me because that's the key component to a partnership that has to be mutually beneficial.
27:41
[SPEAKER_01]: And so a lot of times people come in with these partnerships that only benefit the brands that are reaching out.
27:48
[SPEAKER_01]: How are we partnering if this only benefits you?
27:51
[SPEAKER_01]: That's an extraction, right?
27:53
[SPEAKER_01]: That's exploitation.
27:54
[SPEAKER_01]: That's not partnership.
27:56
[SPEAKER_01]: And so, just kind of educated on the framework and the landscape of what's happening.
28:01
[SPEAKER_01]: And the creator economy, what partnership should look like, how you can price yourself, what add-ons you should be using in terms of usage.
28:13
[SPEAKER_01]: What else do we charge more for?
28:15
[SPEAKER_01]: Child, everything.
28:16
[SPEAKER_01]: Read, read shoes and read edits.
28:18
[SPEAKER_01]: Oh, yeah, for sure.
28:19
[SPEAKER_01]: Castle fees, like, considering all of those things that could add to the amount that you're charging for the work that you're doing, I know some creators in other markets who built formulas to help people decide how much they should charge.
28:32
[SPEAKER_01]: I know some creators in other markets who are working on policy.
28:35
[SPEAKER_01]: right and so it might take all of that.
28:37
[SPEAKER_01]: But at baseline, we need to all have an understanding.
28:40
[SPEAKER_01]: And so that's where we're starting with the coalition.
28:44
[SPEAKER_00]: And with the coalition, based on parameters that you all kind of agree upon and come up with, is that information to is that for the perspective of like this is how these different groups operate and the standards that we're going to set amongst us or it's just like to be cascaded throughout anybody
29:04
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, so it's starting with the groups, but it is to be cascaded out, right?
29:07
[SPEAKER_01]: Like, we can only hold ourselves to a standard because we're doing the work, right?
29:11
[SPEAKER_01]: But we want to share this information in this framework and grow who's at the table, right?
29:16
[SPEAKER_01]: I'm invited people who I saw building in four creators and there are a couple people who I'm invited who aren't able to make it, but I told them in that, that first meeting, like, we're going to meet quarterly.
29:25
[SPEAKER_01]: The next one shouldn't look like this.
29:27
[SPEAKER_01]: We should have more people at the table.
29:29
[SPEAKER_01]: And so,
29:30
[SPEAKER_01]: I think it's easier to have the people who are leading it to kind of distribute the information through.
29:35
[SPEAKER_01]: But we're still figuring out what it even looks like and what it means.
29:37
[SPEAKER_01]: I think my ask was that we aligned on messaging, right?
29:41
[SPEAKER_01]: So if I'm saying Detroit influences the world, it reaches a certain amount of people.
29:44
[SPEAKER_01]: But if we're all saying it, it probably reaches a wider net.
29:47
[SPEAKER_01]: And so how can we align there?
29:49
[SPEAKER_01]: There's a resource share.
29:51
[SPEAKER_01]: But there's also just us knowing what each other are doing.
29:54
[SPEAKER_01]: We can't rely on algorithm for all of our information.
29:57
[SPEAKER_00]: And the second part that I was going to ask you, given your time working for the city trade and the work that you currently do now, with the Detroit, how is that played a part in the work that you're looking to do now with the coalition and being able to kind of establish those parameters?
30:13
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, I think it's insightful, right?
30:15
[SPEAKER_01]: Like working at the city, you see how many groups of people are always convening at the table, whether it's communication managers from different departments or a city council who obviously meets regularly.
30:27
[SPEAKER_01]: Right, you just see the impact that people coming together to share and also have a unified vision and mission to go forward on.
30:35
[SPEAKER_01]: And so that's kind of informed my insight, okay, what would a coalition like that or a room like that look like for creators?
30:42
[SPEAKER_01]: Um, and just showing me the framework there, right?
30:45
[SPEAKER_01]: Like, I think my work with the city was a great foundation for my work as an entrepreneur.
30:50
[SPEAKER_01]: Mm-hmm.
30:51
[SPEAKER_01]: Um, and my work in social media, right?
30:52
[SPEAKER_01]: Like, it was kind of like a pilot for the content, the partnerships, and they'll work that I'm doing now, um, and giving me, again, the opportunity to see possibility through what can be done, right?
31:03
[SPEAKER_01]: Like, the first time I was on camera.
31:05
[SPEAKER_01]: posting and producing TV shows was at the city and now I do that full of time and so I'm always grateful for that experience and for that season in that era and that lens to the work I do with visit Detroit right like we're producing a series that's coming out this month.
31:19
[SPEAKER_01]: It's a five series pilot of a multi media campaign about how Detroit influences the world.
31:27
[SPEAKER_01]: And so the first episode is focused on art and design and architecture because it's
31:34
[SPEAKER_01]: Um, Kiana from design core engage.
31:37
[SPEAKER_01]: We talked to Rick Williams.
31:39
[SPEAKER_01]: We talked to Randy Hamilton who was a black architect who was working for over 33 years here in the city building.
31:45
[SPEAKER_01]: All of the buildings that we know and love.
31:47
[SPEAKER_00]: You're literally just on the podcast.
31:49
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah.
31:49
[SPEAKER_01]: That's the bill off of me hosting and producing TV shows at the city of Detroit.
31:53
[SPEAKER_01]: And so I think interconnectedness is something that we should just always be mindful of and pay an attention with, even when it comes to the work that we do right like earlier you ask, how many things do you have under the social and the city umbrella, but to me they're all the same, right?
32:06
[SPEAKER_01]: Like because they're all interconnected in the framework and the tools that I've learned and the skills that I apply to them, right?
32:14
[SPEAKER_01]: And so,
32:15
[SPEAKER_01]: to me.
32:16
[SPEAKER_01]: It's on the same.
32:17
[SPEAKER_01]: And now it's really cool because I get to collaborate with the city of Detroit and visit Detroit as my own brand.
32:22
[SPEAKER_01]: And I think that's just the fruit of the labor.
32:25
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah.
32:26
[SPEAKER_00]: And by the way, I love seeing the videos with you and kill the squid like down the fire.
32:29
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, yeah, yeah, I'm all be fire.
32:32
[SPEAKER_01]: And she's a great example too of like a creator like taking a skill set and trying something new learning something new I'm building a whole new umbrella and leg of her business from that right like she's a DJ who picked up a camera and Did it for fun like she was shooting film photos and then she started doing videos and now she's touring and doing videos and
32:52
[SPEAKER_01]: I think she's in Paris.
32:53
[SPEAKER_01]: She's on her way to Paris right now to do a video from visit Detroit.
32:57
[SPEAKER_01]: And so that's just a beauty of being a creative person is like if you have the framework and the discipline to learn a new skill, then you can.
33:04
[SPEAKER_00]: That's a bar.
33:06
[SPEAKER_01]: And it could be a revenue and an income stream for you.
33:10
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah.
33:11
[SPEAKER_00]: Speaking of which, let's talk about money.
33:13
[SPEAKER_00]: So in terms of the creator economy, based on your research, based on your experiences, what would you say for people who, I want to see if I could try to specialize in making more specific, let's say people who are doing content creation.
33:28
[SPEAKER_00]: So more so short form, maybe long form.
33:30
[SPEAKER_00]: things like that focus on video or photography, weather, or case may be, but uh what where are the biggest bags out there?
33:37
[SPEAKER_00]: Is it through sponsorships, brand deals?
33:39
[SPEAKER_00]: Is it through other avenues that people don't necessarily talk about as much, but like where's the the pot of money?
33:45
[SPEAKER_00]: So we all can go swimming in it.
33:47
[SPEAKER_01]: I think you get to be as bad by diversifying your streams.
33:50
[SPEAKER_01]: Right.
33:50
[SPEAKER_01]: Like, brand partnerships are great, but they rely on a brand.
33:54
[SPEAKER_01]: So what are some things that you can own on your end?
33:57
[SPEAKER_01]: Is it streaming?
33:57
[SPEAKER_01]: Is it a digital product?
33:59
[SPEAKER_01]: Are you doing affiliate links?
34:00
[SPEAKER_01]: Right.
34:00
[SPEAKER_01]: Like, think about things that you can also own.
34:04
[SPEAKER_01]: But education is big in the creator economy right now.
34:07
[SPEAKER_01]: I think that's something that's not talked about a lot.
34:11
[SPEAKER_01]: I'll say I may more leading a workshop than I did teaching a 14-week course at university, right?
34:18
[SPEAKER_01]: And so when we look at ownership, that's the difference that it makes.
34:23
[SPEAKER_01]: So I don't think there's a shortage of place where money isn't a credit economy, and I think that's the beauty of it because it's so new and unregulated.
34:31
[SPEAKER_01]: People are making millions and billions of dollars, right?
34:34
[SPEAKER_01]: Like off of one deal, or off of one product drop.
34:38
[SPEAKER_01]: I've seen a lot of creators like launching their own products that are related to the niche in the content that they do.
34:44
[SPEAKER_01]: So it's not a shortage of ways to make money and a creator economy is just figuring out what makes sense for you and your brand.
34:51
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah.
34:51
[SPEAKER_00]: And it's interesting that you say that you made more money doing the workshop than you did, like teaching of course, because what I've learned from like studying more so like in a podcast space, those type of creators, people look up to.
35:03
[SPEAKER_00]: When you kind of from the ownership standpoint bringing in to your own domain versus kind of like waiting on like on waiting for this brand to call me back or whatever or this person to give me this opportunity, that's where you have the
35:18
[SPEAKER_00]: create your own hands and and you're able to play a Harvey want to from the ownership standpoint because you can develop it, you have the flexibility to identify how much money you could make or not make leave on table, whatever case may be, but you create that, you are the one that's pushing and generating that versus like waiting for something to come to you.
35:37
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, you have your own baseline.
35:39
[SPEAKER_01]: I think ownership is so important.
35:40
[SPEAKER_01]: And I want to DSA as a vocal major.
35:43
[SPEAKER_01]: And we were always taught how you practice is how you perform.
35:46
[SPEAKER_01]: And so I think I always teach people who come to my workshops to start with your own things.
35:51
[SPEAKER_01]: Like you should have your own content, your own products, your own whatever, and then brands should we in addition to that, that shouldn't be the only thing or the only way that you're making money.
36:02
[SPEAKER_00]: For sure.
36:04
[SPEAKER_00]: And are there any money players that people might be missing out on like something that you know, just like dang if people knew more about maybe it's affiliate or do you know anything along those lines that people kind of skip over where they try to jump like Brands give me money.
36:17
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, I think.
36:19
[SPEAKER_01]: I feel some, I feel ways, I think I could be better at affiliate marketing.
36:23
[SPEAKER_01]: I don't really do it at all, but I'm always recommended things to people.
36:27
[SPEAKER_01]: I think there are ways that money players that we all can grow from is just like noticing where you're strengths and weaknesses live.
36:33
[SPEAKER_01]: And also noticing where it makes the most sense for you to put your energy in, right?
36:37
[SPEAKER_01]: Like somebody can tell you affiliate marketing is, you know, where I make my most money, but that might not be the same thing for you.
36:43
[SPEAKER_03]: Yeah.
36:44
[SPEAKER_01]: And so it's really a game of trial and error to see what works.
36:50
[SPEAKER_01]: And you can make a money play out of whatever works for you.
36:53
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah.
36:54
[SPEAKER_00]: Have you considered writing a book or doing a book?
36:56
[SPEAKER_00]: I was going to say that might be my, are you working on it now?
36:59
[SPEAKER_00]: OK.
36:59
[SPEAKER_01]: I have book, I have concepts of a play.
37:03
[SPEAKER_01]: No, I do have, I would like to write a book, right?
37:07
[SPEAKER_01]: It's so funny because someone who I know who's very intuitive was like, I see a book coming up for you and I launched an ebook that was a spin-off of the influence
37:19
[SPEAKER_01]: I also developed a digital course in partnership with Link Tree last year based on Hood Outwork Shop, which I don't promote.
37:25
[SPEAKER_01]: While we're talking about Mr. Moneyplace, I've got a lot of books.
37:30
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, but a book is a few books.
37:33
[SPEAKER_01]: I have concepts for a few books.
37:34
[SPEAKER_01]: I just also have to have Tom to work on them.
37:38
[SPEAKER_01]: But yeah, that's a dream.
37:39
[SPEAKER_01]: I think teaching was a dream for me.
37:41
[SPEAKER_01]: So I thought that was something that I would do in my 40s or 50s.
37:46
[SPEAKER_01]: Maybe in my 60s I have a school or something like that so to see that happen so early was like a jump scare.
37:51
[SPEAKER_01]: It was like, oh, I can do this right now.
37:52
[SPEAKER_01]: All right.
37:53
[SPEAKER_01]: Let's go.
37:54
[SPEAKER_01]: But it's also one of those things where you I feel like I need a more training in
37:58
[SPEAKER_01]: more knowledge on how to do it, you know, and really just like with everything we're all figuring it out and you just do it and learn as you go.
38:06
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah.
38:07
[SPEAKER_01]: So I said all that's say, yes, we will do it.
38:11
[SPEAKER_01]: Stay tuned.
38:11
[SPEAKER_01]: You ready here, fire.
38:15
[SPEAKER_00]: Stay tuned.
38:16
[SPEAKER_00]: So in turn, so you have mentioned being able to
38:21
[SPEAKER_00]: Well, I forgot that transition, but one thing I did want to ask you, based on our last conversation, you are developing a creator weekend, and so that's coming up next week, and speaking of doing events, you know, stranger doing events, and you had mentioned in our last conversation that you had opportunity to learn from some OGs and mentors, and you asked that like really do this and still do this at a high level, and so I heard this TikTok the other day,
38:48
[SPEAKER_00]: I'm not going to event that's done by men or men because we think about defense completely different and other men, I'm like, you absolutely right now the man who was throwing the men with my brothers and then with other people as well.
39:02
[SPEAKER_00]: How we think about stuff too completely different ways, even doing stuff with my wife, like just like on a personal level, like I will completely miss something think about something and then I might pick up something that she might not necessarily think about her consider.
39:18
[SPEAKER_00]: My question I'm trying to get to is, what actually makes a good event, what makes a good experience in European and after doing this for so many years and in so many different ways?
39:28
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, I think what makes a good event is did it achieve the goal, right?
39:32
[SPEAKER_01]: Like, and as an event producer, you identify what that goal is, but for me, it's always, I don't want to call them audience.
39:41
[SPEAKER_01]: But attendee experience, right?
39:43
[SPEAKER_01]: Like, the actual sentiment that you get from the people who are in the room, that to me, kind of determines the success.
39:49
[SPEAKER_01]: Like, yes, we could have executed every aspect of programming and we could have sold out.
39:54
[SPEAKER_01]: But if we sold out and people are coming to the room
39:58
[SPEAKER_01]: Then I don't think that was successful.
40:00
[SPEAKER_01]: It was maybe you can put that number on your deck.
40:03
[SPEAKER_01]: Like, oh, 300 people showed up.
40:05
[SPEAKER_01]: But if nobody is saying that they walked away being better at whatever they came there for or having more clarity or getting it, you know, making a connection, right?
40:15
[SPEAKER_01]: Like, you have to identify what those goals are.
40:18
[SPEAKER_01]: But even when my team earlier, yesterday, I'm like, we have to think more about guest experience, right?
40:23
[SPEAKER_01]: Like, yes, we have our programming.
40:25
[SPEAKER_01]: We have our venues.
40:26
[SPEAKER_01]: We have some sponsors and partners.
40:29
[SPEAKER_01]: We know what Detroit County weekend is.
40:31
[SPEAKER_01]: We got the content, we're doing collab posts, but what's happening when people get there?
40:37
[SPEAKER_01]: And what do we want them to walk away with?
40:38
[SPEAKER_01]: Not just from each experience, but from this weekend as a whole.
40:42
[SPEAKER_01]: And so to me, that's what success looks like.
40:45
[SPEAKER_01]: It's like, is this something that people are asking for again?
40:48
[SPEAKER_01]: If it never happens, it will be missed.
40:51
[SPEAKER_01]: And just making sure that we're providing value and actually feeding the market and the audience that we're serving, what they need.
40:58
[SPEAKER_03]: Yeah.
40:58
[SPEAKER_01]: I'm always doing like little niche research pieces even in the post that I did today About Detroit creative weekend and collab with the city of Detroit.
41:06
[SPEAKER_01]: I'm like Detroit creator is what will make it But what will make the industry better for you is in more paid opportunities like I'm always asking those questions because that informs how I program
41:16
[SPEAKER_01]: right like I could have a million ideas all day like yes I'm a creator but this program isn't out for me I'm producing it so that other people can benefit so their feedback and their input is the most important thing to me right so is there any of the inspiration memory that you've been to and you like man is this they knocked it up the park black wait black wait yeah
41:39
[SPEAKER_01]: already like I was just very impressed.
41:42
[SPEAKER_01]: I think a lot of times, especially when it comes to panels, information can be service level or it might be something that you've heard before, but the amount of information that the panelists were sharing, how accessible they were, I think that's the most important thing.
41:56
[SPEAKER_01]: Yes, you can hear from people all day, but
41:59
[SPEAKER_01]: Are they accessible?
42:00
[SPEAKER_01]: Is it relevant and relatable cannot apply this?
42:02
[SPEAKER_01]: And that's why I had Detroit Creator Weekend for doing those conversations, but we're also doing 15-minute micro workshops right after each conversation so that you can learn a tactical skill that you walk away with related to that conversation.
42:15
[SPEAKER_01]: right everybody learns differently so I can't just say that by hearing someone else's story or their insight that you will apply that but if I give you a framework based on that story in that conversation you're more than likely to apply it and then you know we'll have the visual component too people are visual learners and so I think to me if I'm coming somewhere to learn I want to hear about it and then I want to do it and apply it and then I want to tell somebody what I did and apply so that I can have those at least three touch points that I can walk away with knowing
42:45
[SPEAKER_00]: I feel like that's the biggest miss that a lot of these conferences have is not having that workshop component or some type of application to the stuff that is being talked about because at this stage in my life and in my career I'm conference out like I don't panel to death talk to that keynote to death like what give me something that I can take and actually do that's going to help me solve a problem.
43:09
[SPEAKER_00]: make some more money, save me some time, whatever the cash may be, like, oh, here's the people origin story.
43:15
[SPEAKER_00]: I ain't got to hear all that none of them.
43:17
[SPEAKER_00]: But I can go, let's, let's get down to what we really came here for.
43:20
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah.
43:21
[SPEAKER_01]: And when I was at CultureCon last year, there was also a session.
43:25
[SPEAKER_01]: I don't remember the agency's name, but they had talked to the framework of their pitch deck that they sent to clients and partners that they want to work with.
43:34
[SPEAKER_01]: And then at the end
43:37
[SPEAKER_01]: love that.
43:38
[SPEAKER_01]: Tell me why this page matters.
43:40
[SPEAKER_01]: Tell me the story of when it worked for you, give me that case study, and then give me the QR code to use.
43:46
[SPEAKER_01]: Not having used it.
43:47
[SPEAKER_01]: I didn't scan it, look at it, and I did learn from it.
43:50
[SPEAKER_01]: And so to me, that's just way more impactful.
43:52
[SPEAKER_01]: How can I apply this to the work that I'm doing right now?
43:56
[SPEAKER_01]: Like, I want you to be able to walk out of there saying, oh, I have this new
43:59
[SPEAKER_01]: statement that I say every time people ask me what kind of creator I am.
44:02
[SPEAKER_01]: I'm going to try these different three, I'm going to try these three different income streams and I'm going to use this tool to tell my story more effectively, right?
44:12
[SPEAKER_01]: Like to me that's success for people who come to this image.
44:15
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, definitely.
44:17
[SPEAKER_00]: And as you are continuing to build your already impressive creative resume and portfolio, what are some things if you had to look at the future version of Amber to be able to say like, I want to get to that level or look back in that version of Amber, look back and say, damn, I accomplished that.
44:34
[SPEAKER_00]: What are some of those things that you are working towards being able to build those nonsense?
44:39
[SPEAKER_00]: You can have those those stories,
44:41
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, I think personal success metrics looking forward.
44:46
[SPEAKER_01]: I want to just be able to show up, right?
44:48
[SPEAKER_01]: Like, I want to be able to have the vision, have the partnerships, but have a team that executes all of those things.
44:54
[SPEAKER_01]: So when we have a summit or a welcome party or an event, I'm not doing all the stuff that stresses you out before you have to enter the room, right?
45:03
[SPEAKER_01]: Like, I want to be able to go into the room and just be able to be present and communicate and network with the people who are attending.
45:09
[SPEAKER_01]: Um, that's been a personal success metric of mine for a while, and I think Detroit Crater Weekend is one of the first times where I have It's a small album ID team in place to help kind of do that.
45:21
[SPEAKER_01]: We'll see.
45:21
[SPEAKER_01]: We'll see how it goes next week.
45:23
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, right?
45:23
[SPEAKER_01]: Like that's that's a pilot and I told my team that they're like, okay, what a success.
45:27
[SPEAKER_01]: I said me being able to show up, right?
45:30
[SPEAKER_01]: And right now, I'm in a weed survey like I went to a workshop earlier.
45:33
[SPEAKER_01]: I'm standing out of volunteer form.
45:35
[SPEAKER_01]: I'm eating with the production company.
45:37
[SPEAKER_01]: I'm texting and emailing with the city about this post that we're collaborating on.
45:41
[SPEAKER_01]: I'm making a post right in the coffee.
45:43
[SPEAKER_01]: I'm still very here, so I'm right now.
45:45
[SPEAKER_01]: But when it comes to the actual events, I'm going to be able to just show up and be present and meet people and hear their stories.
45:52
[SPEAKER_01]: Connect them with people who can move their career forward.
45:55
[SPEAKER_01]: That is like a personal success metric that I look at, but I know that's possible Because the first create cultivate I went to I want to say it was 2021 or 2022 in New York I saw Jacqueline Johnson who is the founder of that
46:09
[SPEAKER_01]: She was just showing up, I watched the production team, walking around her, I watched the content team, on point, she would know the things I needed to do.
46:16
[SPEAKER_01]: I watched the volunteers, greeting people, and passing out refreshments, and she was literally standing there, hey, how you doing?
46:24
[SPEAKER_01]: It's so good to see you, thank you for coming.
46:25
[SPEAKER_01]: And that really makes a difference in guest experience.
46:28
[SPEAKER_01]: It's the person who curated this room, able to be present with me.
46:31
[SPEAKER_01]: And so that's to me, looking forward, and we're looking a week out, but it's still the future.
46:39
[SPEAKER_00]: And now the person who throwing events himself is hard to do is that could what you say when you throwing out trash and trying to put out fires and all that type of stuff.
46:47
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, and it's also just a mindset shift, like when you come from being the person doing everything, suggesting people to be able to do the things that you've done, it's a learning curve, right?
46:57
[SPEAKER_01]: Like everybody involved, and so it's also just a level of letting go in amount of people to do what you hired them to do.
47:06
[SPEAKER_01]: And having systems, I think you'd be underestimating the importance of systems and they're so important because if you have a question, we need to have our VIM Bible that has every logistic thing you put ever wonder at every event.
47:21
[SPEAKER_00]: Don't ask me nothing.
47:22
[SPEAKER_00]: Look at the Bible.
47:23
[SPEAKER_01]: I'm not gonna say no.
47:24
[SPEAKER_00]: I mean, you know, I'm bad.
47:24
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah.
47:25
[SPEAKER_01]: If you can't ask me.
47:26
[SPEAKER_00]: Right.
47:27
[SPEAKER_01]: The Bible guy.
47:28
[SPEAKER_00]: Look at the Bible.
47:29
[SPEAKER_00]: Or the the Amber GPT.
47:30
[SPEAKER_00]: The NGPC.
47:35
[SPEAKER_00]: Have you been able to find a way to at this stage enjoy the events that you're curated and put on?
47:41
[SPEAKER_00]: Because I know for me it's hard because like, you know, either even if you do have availability to go out and talk to people, you kind of you still pull in a lot of different
47:49
[SPEAKER_00]: It'd be hard for me to turn my mind off with certain stuff.
47:52
[SPEAKER_00]: What about you?
47:53
[SPEAKER_00]: Have you been able to find a way to enjoy?
47:55
[SPEAKER_01]: I have found ways to enjoy.
47:57
[SPEAKER_01]: Not even just the events but the work.
48:00
[SPEAKER_01]: Okay.
48:00
[SPEAKER_01]: Like, even with doing that show with Visit Detroit, I was like, deep in some logistics and trying to figure out some projection pieces and then I just step back and I...
48:11
[SPEAKER_01]: I'm like, wow, like this is the result of a seed I planted 10 years ago, right?
48:15
[SPEAKER_01]: Like, I wanted somebody to pay me to do a show.
48:18
[SPEAKER_01]: And it's here.
48:20
[SPEAKER_01]: And so I think it's just having those micro moments within the work and within the event or the production to be present and to be grateful.
48:30
[SPEAKER_01]: Right, I think gratitude is what allows you to enjoy it, right?
48:33
[SPEAKER_01]: That doesn't mean it's going to be easy, but it means that you know that you've done the work and you're grateful to be in the room as well, right?
48:40
[SPEAKER_01]: Like, you always hear, I'm so happy you put this together.
48:42
[SPEAKER_01]: I'm so happy it is.
48:44
[SPEAKER_01]: But you have to be so happy too, because if...
48:46
[SPEAKER_01]: you're in a room that you're curated or produced and you're not happy that will be felt throughout the experience.
48:52
[SPEAKER_03]: Yeah.
48:52
[SPEAKER_01]: And so I can think of moments where I was stressed out in an event and it's showed in this experience, right?
48:59
[SPEAKER_01]: Like maybe not for the whole room, but maybe to somebody I was talking to like, I don't want to use to go do this real quick.
49:06
[SPEAKER_01]: you have to be present.
49:07
[SPEAKER_01]: And so I am enjoying it, right?
49:09
[SPEAKER_01]: Like, I know I'm gonna enjoy.
49:11
[SPEAKER_01]: I'm gonna be tired.
49:12
[SPEAKER_01]: I'm like, I got an A&A.
49:13
[SPEAKER_01]: I'm making a appointment every day, three, four hour events every day.
49:18
[SPEAKER_01]: But I'm gonna be in those rooms just so grateful to God for being able to curate them, having being a vessel for the vision, and then having the community show up.
49:30
[SPEAKER_01]: We moved over 500 tickets without people really knowing what program it was, right?
49:34
[SPEAKER_01]: We still haven't announced some at speakers.
49:37
[SPEAKER_01]: People just saw some it and they're like, I'm going to go grateful.
49:41
[SPEAKER_01]: But that's also a result of the events we've done before.
49:44
[SPEAKER_01]: Like they know it's going to be something good.
49:47
[SPEAKER_01]: So I'm enjoying it already and it's not even here yet.
49:50
[SPEAKER_01]: So I'm just hoping that I carry that same level of like, intention and presence and gratitude and each of those experiences.
49:56
[SPEAKER_01]: And then
49:57
[SPEAKER_02]: You know, at events, it gets to a certain point where it's like, it is what it is.
50:00
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah.
50:01
[SPEAKER_01]: Like, if all the details are executed the way that I envision people don't know that, right?
50:05
[SPEAKER_01]: Right.
50:05
[SPEAKER_01]: People are still enjoying the room that we're in.
50:07
[SPEAKER_01]: And it's still trying to shift the mindset.
50:09
[SPEAKER_01]: So like, let's just enjoy the room that we're in.
50:12
[SPEAKER_01]: Let's make sure our heads are where our feet are, right?
50:15
[SPEAKER_01]: So.
50:16
[SPEAKER_00]: Love it.
50:18
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, for sure.
50:18
[SPEAKER_00]: No, I think that's that's very wise of you to get be able to get to that point And I like what you said about finding those micro moments because I try to do that I'm not as good at it yet, but like just sit back in the late day This is on my thought of and it's actually happening like it's here like and just like sitting a moment for a second before you start You know scrambling doing whatever
50:38
[SPEAKER_01]: That always boils my mind like this idea that was in my head is a thing and like I am in the constant practice of making ideas a thing and I think you know we talked about how many things are under the social and city umbrella.
50:52
[SPEAKER_01]: There's a room for those things because I constantly am empty in my soul right like we are a vessel where things move through not for us to hold and so that just gives room for us to be able to do the next thing.
51:04
[SPEAKER_01]: Or to have a day of enjoyment where as low news are taking a trip, right?
51:08
[SPEAKER_01]: Like what we have to ask creatives and creators like empty ourselves of the ideas.
51:13
[SPEAKER_01]: They don't have to be perfect.
51:14
[SPEAKER_01]: They just have to be done, right?
51:16
[SPEAKER_01]: And when they're done, there's room for refining.
51:19
[SPEAKER_00]: Well said, and so before we get up out of here, I want to ask you if you could look at your camera and tell the people if it's one thing that they can expect to get out of creator weekend that it's going to change their lives for the better what would it be?
51:35
[SPEAKER_01]: One thing that people can expect to get out of Detroit Creator Week in, that will change their lives, is the vision of what's possible for you as a creator right here in the city of Detroit, right?
51:45
[SPEAKER_01]: I think we always say, you know, Detroit influences the world, Detroit Creator's this, Detroit Creator is that, but we still trouble other places for opportunity.
51:53
[SPEAKER_01]: I think us having this moment will really flip a switch for the work that we have to do in this market, ask creators, ask community builders, or ask people who are just showing other than our content.
52:05
[SPEAKER_00]: Amen to that.
52:07
[SPEAKER_00]: Perfect.
52:08
[SPEAKER_00]: And working with people tapping with you, Amber, if they're not already following you, if they're not part of your newsletter, your website, all the good stuff working with people tapping with you.
52:15
[SPEAKER_01]: So you can find me on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, social and the city at social.
52:21
[SPEAKER_01]: The letter in the city.
52:22
[SPEAKER_01]: I'm also on LinkedIn.
52:24
[SPEAKER_01]: I love LinkedIn.
52:24
[SPEAKER_01]: Don't sleep on LinkedIn.
52:26
[SPEAKER_01]: And then we have DetroitCredor weekend.com for all things.
52:29
[SPEAKER_01]: DetroitCredor weekend.
52:31
[SPEAKER_01]: And if you want to know about what's happening in the city of Detroit, you can check out our you if you want to know about what's happening in the city of Detroit, you can check out our events page at sntc.avents.
52:43
[SPEAKER_01]: That's social and the city events and also sign up for the guest list.
52:46
[SPEAKER_01]: We also have a newsletter that's specific for creators called the creator corner and you can find all of that at the link in my bio in my link tree.
52:53
[SPEAKER_00]: Perfect and Amber, thank you for coming back on the podcast and talking to us about this creator economy creator weekend and all the above and I'm still grateful for your intentionality to Obviously you're I don't want up by say obligation I guess you can share obligation to this idea Detroit, but the intentionality and your commitment to the creator economy that surrounds it so we appreciate you pulling back up
53:20
[SPEAKER_01]: Thank you for having me and having this platform for conversation and for all the work that you do as a creator to tell our stories right here in the city like you're a key and integral part of that career economy too.
53:30
[SPEAKER_01]: So thank you for having me again.
53:32
[SPEAKER_00]: I appreciate that.
53:33
[SPEAKER_00]: That's high praise.
53:33
[SPEAKER_00]: Thank you very much.
53:34
[SPEAKER_00]: Thank you.
53:35
[SPEAKER_00]: Everybody watching Listen, we're going to tap in with you all soon.
53:37
[SPEAKER_00]: Peace.