marc grant, david hamilton, and holly starr
presents
House Of Style Productions
marc grant, david hamilton, and holly
starr
presents
Right Place at the Right Time
"Making It"
Knowledge, Wisdom, and Guidance for The Talented
by
David Hamilton
photo by d. hamilton ( october 2003 )
Right Place at the Right Time
________________________
I had just moved across country from Phoenix, Arizona to Orlando, Florida in
early 1999. I was going from the desert to Puerto Rico in one swift move,
culture shock and all. As I was pulling into Orlando, I decided to turn the
radio on to hear my competition Russ Allen and his Jamz Crew. The station
sounded 100% focused to the listeners in Orlando with Paco Lopez on in the morning, targeting the listeners
that made up the hip lifestyle of Orlando. Russ Allen's ability to program a
station directly to the city life style / listener was going to make it harder
for me to get attention on a new radio station. As I listened closely to the delivery
of the radio station, I began to take notes as to how I was going to have to
build my team on the radio at night at 95.3 Party. I knew I was going to need a
team to make a difference on the air, and a solid team that was dynamic and fun
to listen to. I also knew I was going to have to have someone on my show that
represented Orlando, someone that knew the city, and someone that would make a
difference because they wanted to, and not because they had to, or were
appointed. After meeting with programming and knowing my dilemma was only
getting worse, I knew the clubs were the start to finding the right person, and
at about this time, I needed a drink too. I had scoped out a few night clubs, a
comedy club, and even a few good strip clubs, where I got a feel for the city
and the people in it. It was about 1:30 a.m. on a Friday night when I had
accidentally bumped into a group of young guys like me laughing at one
particular kids stories about his girlfriend who was following him around in a
pink robe and curlers as he went clubbing. This kid was in his own comedy
routine, making sound effects, telling jokes, attractive to the females watching
him, and improvising a silly story to make people go from distant chuckles to
extreme laughter. Then out of nowhere was this pudgy kid who started in with the
taller of the bunch calling him the lil guy, and laughing because he was like
almost 6'1. The taller guy of the bunch started talking in some quick witted
Spanish Lingo with a little hip hop edge, and I knew right then and there this
kid had talent, he was Puerto Rican, he was Orlando, and most of all, he was
trainable. I approached him as he continued in his role of the desperate
boyfriend trying to escape psycho girlfriend and said, "dude, how would you like
to be on the radio at a new station going on the air here in Orlando?" His
response was a little hesitant, more like a, who the hell is this white kid who
sounds like he is pretty much full of something. I pulled out a few business
cards and told him to listen to the station since it had already started airing
music. After studying my work, visiting my independent record label, and
getting information that I was actually legit, Lil Shawn was born into character
at the all new 95.3 Party Orlando.
It is all about being in the right place at the right time........ which is why
# 4 on the list of building your career is practicing what you do and who you
are out in public..... :Lil Shawn discovered his talent long before he met me,
formulated a plan to go out and try to get into radio, was in public cracking
jokes, and promoting himself......... thus, he was discovered, built a buzz at
the same time, and he is Making It.....
1. discover your talent
2. formulate a plan to focus on
3. practice your art ( always ) everywhere you go
4. promote yourself ( shows ) word of mouth....
5. which will all help you build a buzzzzzzzzz
Pudgy in front, myself in back, listeners, and Lil Shawn on the end
below is a picture of myself and Lil Shawn signing shirts and
meeting listeners, being out in front of the people that listen !
N--E--X--T-----P-A-G E----------------------- >
David Hamilton
contact information
www.ezstreetrecords.com/address.htm