Inspiring Interview

2Inspire Ltd is an organisation that promotes women in business and they have recently started a youth academy to promote and encourage talent among young people. You may recognise the name from a previous entry on my blog for when I went to perform at a networking event of theirs a couple of months ago. They recently asked me to do an interview with them to feature on their blog. I was cautious to begin with, not that I am a stranger to interviews or enquiring minds about what I do but I was worried about the depth of my answers, particularly because it was going to be in print form. I am glad I did it, it was a pleasure and I even inspired myself which was much needed at this point in time. Nonetheless, any reader can tell that I am passionate and hardworking with what I do. Let me know what you think.

There are questions regarding what a typical business day for me is like, how I feel about inspiring and empowering young women, how I started my business and advice I have for others. There are also some very blunt and honest answers that would not surprise my peers or colleagues in the slightest. You may also be shocked to see names like Hugh Hefner, Spike Lee, Donald Trump, Jennifer Saunders and Maya Angelou in the same sentence but it'll make sense once you read it. Read, enjoy and feel free to comment. View full interview

On the Self-Promotion Tip

The pictures above are the images on my new promotion flyer that advertises my poetry and custom poetry card services. I've wanted to go beyond social media, business cards and just print flyers specifically for my poetry work for a while now. These include info about my blogs, current projects, social networks, booking & contact details with a cute picture to match. Might I add that it's designed by moi. I have been designing flyers, particularly for my events, for years now and it feels good to make one for myself.

So now, when I am performing at an event and I am asked what my Twitter, Facebook, website or latest projects are I can simply hand these out to answer all questions and have it stay in their mind.

Regardless of how small this may seem to some it's a big deal to me. For artists and performers self-promotion is the name of the game but it has always been something that I have shied away from. I am used to getting work through referrals and as I am quite a private person I was happy with that. However, audiences and fans want more than that and I am learning to step out of my comfort zone.

Being that I have a media and entrepreneurial background it is only natural for me to know and adopt the consistent, smart behaviour of marketing in order to promote my business however, when it comes to promoting myself by putting my pictures everywhere and creating an online presence solely focused on me.....I hesitate. I like undivided attention when it comes to my work or what I have to say but too much attention on me as a person makes me feel embarrassed or as Grandma would call me "stupidly modest." It was a huge push for get me to set up my personal blog- and post pictures! I was even late to get on Myspace (2007) but for the sake of my film work I got there! Now I am jumping on the bandwagon altogether and giving my audience what they want. Enjoy, there's more to come.

To book me for a show especially for Black History Month as well as Breast Cancer Awareness Month please get in contact: 
LKSamuels@infinitipromotions.co.uk
@LK_ReelDeevah

An Author's Sensation

I am officially an Author! I am currently developing more than one book but my debut book of poetry is soon to be released. This is an incredible feeling. So much has gone into this new or should I say "revived" part of me without me even realising for the most part. It was inevitable as I used to write the longest of intriguing stories at school and in my spare time as a child, I've written scripts and have enough poems and story ideas to publish five books for that matter, if I had the time and money to do so. For the past two years, in the little time that I get from all my other work I have been researching the publishing industry as well as today's self-publishing strategies. I also went to a Publishing Boot Camp this summer that was insightful to say the least. I'm on my grind!

The Deevah Renaissance Vol.1 is the first edition in a series of poetry books to come from me. This debut collection will be giving you some of my best, some of my favourite and most certainly my crowd favourite poems and more. I am in the final stages of editing, designing and concluding the final draft. However, without the large marketing, production and distribution efforts that come from the backing of a publishing house, I am in great need of financial support. Therefore I am starting an online crowding funding campaign to reach my financial goal of having my long-awaited book printed and distributed appropriately. More details of how you can donate towards my fundraising campaign and sponsor my project can be found via www.sponsume.com once my online campaign and promo goes live. I will keep you updated of when it officially becomes interactive.

If you would like to sponsor my project directly please email me LKSamuels@infinitipromotions.co.uk

Performance at Lipped Ink

It was a pleasure to do a surprise performance at Lipped Ink (The Poetry Café) last night by joining the open mic and performing one of my latest poems 'My Sermon, My Plea.' Please note that this passionate piece is less related to it's title by content and is just named as such due to it's delivery. I damn near take it to church with that one. You'll understand once you hear it. The audience was beautiful and they fully understood.

It was also a pleasure to hear all the versatile accents that hit the stage expressing their love for the art. And for my fellow Poets of which there are always familiar faces in this small world, it is always nice to be in your presence whether we see each other perform or just bump into one another at these events (specifically the one's who put art before ego). Catching up with old friends and friends and fellow artists is always enjoyable.