KERRY SMALLS

Publicist
The Chamber Group
kerrysmalls@gmail.com

Interview

• Where are you originally from?
  New Jersey

• Where do you currently reside?
  New Jersey / New York

• What prompted you to get into the sports/entertainment industry?
  I used to work in front of the camera, wanting to be media personality. After I started attending programs held by the Grammy 365 Network, of which I became a member, I attended various conferences and speed networking events and grew a likeness for all of these careers behind the scenes that I was hearing about and could visualize myself living out these careers. The journey was long from this point on, but this really sparked my interest and landed me my first internship in the entertainment business.

• Please outline the services you provide for clients and any specialties.
  I provide publicity and brand consultation services for clients across music, TV, Film, Sports, Non-Profit, lifestyle + hospitality and tech.

• What type of clients do you typically represent? What factors do you consider when deciding which clients to take on?
  I typically represent music artists and actors/actresses. I work for a firm, The Chamber Group, where clients are divided based on experiences and relationships. I am charged to spearhead client campaigns, from large scale to small, but every project that we take on we have to have genuine interest in and be passionate about. We are also very clear that we take on clients who are willing to commit to at least 4 months of PR services as we believe this s the amount of time it takes to really get a campaign off the ground and provide real, long standing results.

• What is one thing people would be surprised to know about your profession? What is one of the biggest misconceptions?
  I think one of the biggest misconceptions is the glamour of the career. There are many days where I have questions if I made the right decision by getting in the entertainment business. I push past these days and remind myself of the lives I have impacted and even changed through my skills and my job. You would also think by the way social media makes it seem, that the entertainment business is one big family. Many people "act" as if they support you and your career and the term friend and family are used loosely. People should know relationships like that are rare, no matter what social media may want you to believe. Don't focus on becoming "besties" or "family" with people. This is work. It's a job. I pride myself on being great at my job, not on who I have been able to become best friends with. If amazing friendships come out of me being great at what I do, then it's of course a win win/overall.

• What are some challenges or obstacles you have faced as an African-American in this profession?
  You know.. I work for a black-owned firm and I will say.. the way that we position ourselves has actually given us an advantage. Black culture is influencing the world right now, and to be at the pulse of it, where business, CEO's and brands are looking at firms like ours to tell them what's on trend, what's cool and who they should work with puts us ahead of the curve. I think the biggest challenge, as an individual and as a representative of an agency, is to always lead with integrity, grace, style, class and intelligence. You will enter rooms where there may be a misconception about your level of professionalism or intellect based on the color of your skin. You can not let this get to you. You enter those same rooms with your head held high, and as a master of your craft. People will notice and you will leave gaining the impression of an ultimate professional and changing the perception and mindset of those people for the next African-American professional that walks through their door.

• What do you think can be done to improve diversity with regards to representation?
  I think we all need to advocate for each other as a community. Of course I do not think the bar should be lowered just because we are black.. Meaning put someone on, refer a client or go into business with someone just because their black. We need to hold our people accountable when it comes to professionalism and business courtesy. We need to challenge each to other and raise each others work standards and levels of expectation. We need to work hard to erase this idea that "working with someone black comes with a level of unprofessional, laziness and lack of knowledge that we just have to accept." This is 100% false. I believe once we do the work in strengthening our own community, is when we can focus increasing the # of bodies we have in certain rooms and elevating that. Recommend you neighboring publicist, creative director, accountant, attorney, chef, graphic designer, digital marketing person. But make sure you are recommending someone who also raises the bar and can go into these rooms on your behalf and continue to show that are people not only have the right to be in the room, but can OWN the room.

• What advice would you have for other African-Americans looking to enter this profession?
  I would say be clear about what you want. Check your intentions at the door and really be honest with yourself. Working in careers where your job is to be of service to someone else's life/livelihood can be draining and taxing. Be sure that you are passionate about whatever it is you chose to align yourself with and the rest will follow along with hard work, precision and common sense. As an African-American, I understand there may be a feeling that you need to downplay yourself in order to rub elbows with certain people. You may feel the need to scale back on your charisma, flavor, swag...that natural thing that all of our people are born with. Certain situations won't require it nor know how to handle. Code switching may be the only way you are able to get ahead and get into certain rooms and I get that. But just be smart. Use your gut instinct. If certain environments that you once though were for you no longer suit you, get out and work diligently to find a home that not only appreciates your flavor, your flare and your swag, but prefers it because it gives their business a competitive advantage. I truly believe we all should be able to shine exactly the way we are!

• What is the best way for people to get in touch with you?
  Email is preferred. Reach me @ Kerrysmalls@gmail.com.