Celebrity Coverage

Backstage Pass: How Jason “J.” Carter powers Pulse Of ONE Music Fest – Essence

Published

4 months ago

November 8, 2024

IAM

Source: Alexx Green @alexxshotthat

Running a two-day outdoor music festival with over 50 bands, 30 sponsors and tens of 1000’s of attendees takes a variety of people power. One such festival is ONE Music Fest in Atlanta; its co-founder and chief marketing officer, Jason “J.” Carter is certainly one of the people behind this power.

For fifteen years, the event has remained certainly one of the few independent black music festivals within the country. Despite the symphony of sounds that ONE Music Fest will certainly bring, the director begins his day with a moment of silence.

“I’ll wake up and I’ll just be still,” Carter tells ESSENCE. “I imagine myself moving throughout the day. And honestly, I look ahead to the success of the day and I like to see everything flowing. I’m a very visual person, so I just conceptualize it, internalize it. The idea of ”looking forward to success” and declaring victory is something Carter learned from his mother many years ago. “As mom says, ‘Pick it up.’ Own it. Make it happen.”

The founder’s morning practice also includes words of affirmation, prayer and hydration – two glasses of water, to be precise. The days begin slowly but deliberately – all in preparation for a large event that may take a complete 12 months to finish. “Feeling rushed, anxious and stressed. I try to not let any of this seep into my person, into my space,” he says.

After a moment of silence, Carter talks to his wife, does a number of push-ups, takes a shower and begins. Before heading to Atlanta’s Central Park, the principal makes a number of calls to his team. Doors open at noon, but he arrives closer to 9 a.m. to be sure the day goes as planned. Needless to say, this is just not a straightforward task. The director is a master of relationship management, connecting sponsors, brand partnerships, talent and other stakeholders. Somehow he manages to do all of it with none problems.

“I play a variety of ping-pong across the festival grounds, but I do not feel like working either. I believe the moment I feel like work is a day, I’ll stop doing it. Carter continues, “I really, truly love and appreciate the ONE Music Fest audience and family we’ve built through the years. So let’s hope this issue continues to evolve over the subsequent 15 years.

ESSENCE accompanied J. Carter on the bottom in Atlanta during day two of ONE Music Fest. Here, the entrepreneur and executive gives us a day within the lifetime of what exactly it takes to successfully organize a multi-day festival.

Source: Alexx Green @alexxshotthat

6:00

“The first thing I do on the day of the festival is still.” Carter continues, “I say a fast prayer, drink two glasses of water, and jump within the shower. But I believe peace is significant.

Despite the early hour, J. Carter doesn’t make breakfast. “I usually don’t eat before 12:00. So no, I drink water in the morning. I did 50 push-ups, I take a shower and this is my breakfast. Then I will eat a balanced lunch. This usually gives me energy throughout the afternoon and evening.”

Source: Alexx Green @alexxshotthat

7:30

The founding father of ONE Music Fest says festival mornings aren’t the norm. “I usually check into the hotel on Friday to be close to the event and close to the team if we need to make an impression before we go to ground zero.”

After fielding “a few” calls from his festival team, he makes sure his guest list and family have the precise references. He made the primary two phone calls with the event and festival coordinators.

“I take into consideration every part from what we want to do in production to creating sure my aging parents can get out and in of the festival freely. This applies to private matters in addition to team organizational matters.

Source: Alexx Green @alexxshotthat

9:00

“We usually arrive at the festival on the first day of the festival between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m., depending on how much work needs to be done. This year was completely different for some reason. We were ahead of the curve when it came to procedures, production and staging. We almost got caught in the system this year, considering how hectic the entire year leading up to the festival was. When we got there, everything was in place.”

Source: Alexx Green @alexxshotthat

12:00

“You will catch me walking alone throughout the festival. Just feel it or just stand in the corner; I just watch people,” Carter tells ESSENCE.

Thanks to meticulous pre-planning, the festival helps avoid last-minute emergencies. “If you run a festival with over 50 different performers and talent, you employ over 4,000 people on the festival grounds. Everyone has their own life. Everyone has their own problems. Everyone has their own dramas and personalities. So the thought that nothing will ever happen is rare, especially for artists who have a team around them.”

“There are artists who can tour 100 to 200 days a year. It’s exhausting. So some artists might wake up to bad weather, miss their flight, or someone in the band might have some issues that then translate into what they have to do.” Carter continues, “But one thing I can’t do is stress about something I can’t control. Being in this space, you have to be very solution-oriented.”

Source: Alexx Green @alexxshotthat

14:00

As co-founder of ONE Music Fest, Carter definitely must “work the room.” It involves artists, politicians, family and the press. The festival is already 15 years old and boasts over 30 local sponsors – essentially the most in history.

The CMO explains: “I also visualize early within the morning who I want to the touch and see? Who must see me? Who should I confer with? Who do I even have to be sure they’re taken care of?

Source: Alexx Green @alexxshotthat

18:00

Managing a multi-day music festival means you could have to be flexible. Rolling with the punches is the secret. It’s value noting that each BossMan Dlow and Cardi B fell unwell ahead of the 2024 festival and canceled their performances. Carter’s job is to regroup and switch things around.

“It’s difficult. Nobody sees it this way, right? They want to blame the festival.” He continued: “BossMan Dlow announced earlier this week that he’s sick and is canceling every part. He continues to be a human being who needs to watch his well-being and health, mental and physical health. If he needed to take a mental break, let the person take a mental break.

The co-founder also reflects on how things have modified for the reason that news of Cardi B’s hospitalization and subsequent cancellation of her ONE Music Fest appearance. “Cardi had a baby and if she has postpartum problems, it happens. It’s not the festival’s fault, it’s not Card’s fault. It happens.” He continues: “At a variety of festivals you possibly can just say, ‘I assume we just do not have a headliner.’ But we said, “No, we won’t do that.” That’s why we deal with our relationships. ONE Music Fest has partnered with the management teams of Latto and DJ Drama – they created a set with several different artists, including singer-songwriter Jeremiah and Atlanta’s 2 Chainz. The set was definitely a hit.

Source: Alexx Green @alexxshotthat

9:00 p.m

This 12 months’s ONE Music Fest headliners included Latto, Jill Scott, GloRilla, Gunna and a couple of Chainz, but in J. Carter’s case, just one band took the cake. “Earth, wind and fire. Without a doubt,” says the founder emphatically. “I had to go to that stage to enjoy this show and I’m so glad I did.”

This 12 months, the Carter Festival hosted over a dozen relations. Watching the legendary band perform together as an entire was deeply remembered by all of them.

“What would I like to get out of this? [ONE Music Fest] the most? He looks at the connection between the people in this audience – the smiles, the excitement, the energy (sorry for the language), but “Oh, y–t!” moments,” Carter says.

Source: Alexx Green @alexxshotthat

22:30

“We’re removing people,” Carter says. “Typically, all departments – from security to website operations to media and promotional partners from Live Nation – come together for a toast and a sort of mini celebration. It’s right after the festival.” This 12 months, Hennessy and Don Julio provided libations for this commemorative moment. It’s a vacation!

Source: Alexx Green @alexxshotthat

12:00

“When I go back to the hotel, I do nothing. I do absolutely nothing. Thank you for a safe event, without any problems – no one was injured. Everything really went according to plan.” He continues: “And then I literally should fight myself to take a shower, I’m so drained. I just wish to be quiet and lie down. But I’m normally dusty as hell.

After a “good 30 minutes” of bathing, it was time for bed. Carter’s head hits the pillow around 1:30 a.m., but unlike most nights, he allows himself a number of extra moments (read: hours) of leisure. “I usually stay in bed for a good 10-11 hours,” he finally says.

A well-deserved rest.

This article was originally published on : www.essence.com

Celebrity Coverage

Cosmetic school: Expert for additional long nails – essence

Published

21 hours ago

March 3, 2025

IAM

“At that time we only had acrylic,” Angie Aguirre says Essence, who puts ESPY-Jones in the primary episode. “We didn’t have a number of things we have today.” Starting the series, in honor of the Black History of the month, Aguirre, nail artist Sha’carri Richardson, resembles a black story for extremely long nails-at the identical time spreading techniques from the past.

From memories of curved acrylics on Flo Jo of the Eighties to the red manicure in Donn Summer, and even the nail of Stiletto from the Nineteen Thirties about Queen Nenzim from the Democratic Republic of Congo, manicure for construction has a wealthy history hidden behind every decorating extension.

Using the attention shadows as a substitute of the airbrush machine (which within the Nineteen Nineties was a big, loud pedal machine), she recreated one of the vital popular styles that has since appeared today as a preferred look.

Often appropriated in popular culture long, loud nails are historically called “ghetto” as an offensive statement after they wear black women. Meanwhile, they are sometimes seen as fashionable after they wear white celebrities.

“We usually set up trends [and] People kick, “says Aguirre within the film while painting about traditional nail art visible within the Nineteen Nineties.” When pop culture gets it, they change what they want to be like that. ” However, “black women wore these nails long before social media.”

Now that the nail industry is to succeed in USD 36.27 billion until 2032Aguirre explains the influence that black women have on beauty and what the longer term of those historical manicures will seem like. “Nail game has become very innovative,” he says, with latest products reminiscent of Gel-X. “[It’s] It is very different from what was during the day. “

This article was originally published on : www.essence.com

Celebrity Coverage

ICEM: Black Love was all over the blue carpet during ABFF HONORS

Published

2 days ago

March 1, 2025

IAM

ICEM: Black Love was all over the blue carpet during ABFF HONORS

Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Images

On Monday, at the SLS Hotel in Beverly Hills A Who’s Who of New Stars, Hot Talent and Legends was at hand to honor the best in black talent on the screen for the American Black Film Festival awards. Honores for the Night to Aaron Pierre, who received the Rising Star award (while the crowd sang: “Aaron Pierre, to Mufasaaaa”), Essence Black Women in Hollywood Honree Marla Gibbs, who received the Hollywood Legacy award, Keke Palmer caught the Renaissan prize. Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor received the same honor for girls.

Many people got here out to have fun, including presenters Ava DuverNay, Anthony Mackie, Boots Riley, Kelvin Harrison Jr. and Regina King. But in Hollywood there have been many stars and massive names, which also got here out with their partners to enjoy the annual event. They began a blue rug with sweet PDA and good vibrations, able to enjoy an important night.

From Larenz Tate and Tomasina’s wife to Dondre Whitfield and Salla Richardson Whitfield, Loretta Devine and husband Glenn Marshall, Lance and Rebecca Gross, and newlyweds Yvette Nicole Brown and Anthony Davis, Love was in the air. (Another essence of black women in Hollywood Honore, Teyana Taylor, was a supporting Aaron Pierre there, and there are rumors that these two enjoy their company, which, for which we’re here.) More couples appeared to this event than since the prize season. Scroll to see and feel all love.

01
Kelvin Harrison Jr. and Sophia Rose McDowell

Los Angeles, California – 17 February: Kelvin Harrison Jr. And Sophia Rose McDowell take part in the seventh annual American Festival Black Film Festival in SLS Hotel, the luxury collection hotel, Beverly Hills on February 17, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo Kayla oaddams/wireimage)

02
Loretta Devine and Glenn Marshall

Los Angeles, California – February 17: Loretta Devine and Glenn Marshall attend the seventh annual awards of the American Black Film Festival in the SLS Hotel, luxury collection hotel, Beverly Hills on February 17, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo Kayla oaddams/wireimage)

03
Yvette Nicole Brown and Anthony Davis

Los Angeles, California – February 17: Anthony R. Davis and Yvette Nicole Brown participate in the seventh annual American festival Black Film Festival in SLS Hotel, a luxury collection hotel, Beverly Hills on February 17, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo Kayla oaddams/wireimage)

04
Salli Richardson Whitfield and Dondre Whitfield

Los Angeles, California – February 17: Salla Richardson Whitfield and Dondre Whitfield are collaborating in the seventh annual American Black Film Festival festival in SLS Hotel, a luxury collection hotel, Beverly Hills on February 17, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo Kayla oaddams/wireimage)

05
Founders of ABFF Jeff Friday and Nicole Friday

Los Angeles, California – February 17: Nicole Friday and Jeff Friday take part in the seventh annual American Black Film Festival festival in the SLS Hotel, a luxury collection hotel, Beverly Hills on February 17, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo Kayla oaddams/wireimage)

06
Lance Gross and Rebecca Gross

Los Angeles, California – February 17: Lance Gross and Rebecca Gross attend the seventh annual Arman Black Film Festival awards in the SLS Hotel, the luxury collection hotel, Beverly Hills on February 17, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo Kayla oaddams/wireimage)

07
Lenengreen dies and Tomasinain Frig

Los Angeles, California – February 17: Larenz Tate and Tomasina Parrott attend the seventh annual awards of the American Black Film Festival in the SLS Hotel, a luxury collection hotel, Beverly Hills on February 17, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo Kayla oaddams/wireimage)

08
Charles D. King and Stacey Walker King, founder and CBO Macro Media Company

Los Angeles, California-17 February: Stacey Walker-King and Charles D. King take part in the seventh annual American Black Film Festival festival in SLS Hotel, a luxury collection hotel, Beverly Hills on February 17, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo Kayla oaddams/wireimage)

09
Michael Jai White and Gillian White

Los Angeles, California – February 17: (LR) Michael Jai White and Gillian White take part in the seventh annual Honorary American Festival Black Film at SLS Hotel, a luxury collection hotel, Beverly Hills on February 17, 2025 in Los Angeles, Kalifornia. (Photo Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

10
WME COO Dan Limerick and Dawn Limerick

Los Angeles, California – February 17: (LR) Dawn Limerick and Dan Limerick, COO, WME take part in the seventh annual Honorary Film Film Film Film Film Film at SLS Hotel, Hotel Luxury Collection, Beverly Hills February 17, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

11
Chris Spencer and Vanessa Spencer

Vanessa Spencer, Chris Spencer during the seventh annual American Black Film Festival festival, which took place at the SLS Hotel on February 17, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo of Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Images)

12
Teyana Taylor and Aaron Pierre

Aaron J. Thornton

This article was originally published on : www.essence.com

Celebrity Coverage

Lead with the goal: Laysha Ward about walking in your power – essence

Published

3 days ago

February 28, 2025

IAM

(Photo Marla Aufmuth/Getty Images)

In a world that always tests our confidence and beliefs, Laysha Ward reminds that real leadership begins from the inside. As a former executive vp and director of external involvement in Target, she spent many years of supporting diversity, equality and integration, while helping leaders to adapt their goal with their influence. This summer, Ward was honored as a black woman in business at the Essence Culture Festival, recognizing her trailblazing work in the field of corporate leadership and strengthening the position of the community. Now with her recent book, Drops the jewels About navigate the goal, Imposter Silence team and constructing an appropriate support system to develop. From honoring the lessons of our ancestors to the authenticity of navigating the corporate spaces, Ward shares the strategies that shaped her journey – and the way it helps others in doing the same.

Lead with the target: Laysha Ward about walking in your power

The recent book Laysha Ward “Lead Like You Man”,

We met Ward to speak about the power of management based on the goal, the relationships that shaped her success and the advice that the younger Self would give.

Essence: What inspired you to put in writing?

Laysha Ward: I wrote this book to serve on a big scale-to assist more people live a living. I desired to help readers depend on their purpose and direct the meaning-the world really needs passionate, based on the goals of leaders who act with honesty, intention and humanity.

How do you retain authentic as a frontrunner in corporate spaces?

LW: I offer three steps that serve me well: 1) Stay faithful to your goal and values, irrespective of what the work environment throws you at you. 2) holistically manage your life and profession; You are just one person. Breake the wall between personal development and skilled growth so which you can make deliberate selections which are in line with your profession and life goals. You are the general director of your life and profession – you call what is true for you. 3) Care relationships – provide your kitchen cabinet, personal and skilled advice of directors, with many trusted advisers, from cheerleaders who create your noise team after pretenders who provide you with heavy love and push you to development.

The recent book Laysha Ward “Lead Like You Man”,

What is the most influential relationship in your profession?

LW: Because I’m in favor of watching my life and profession, my answer is dual: first, Mr. Bill Kiffmeyer, my husband and driving on a die, who enabled me to live and lead in a way that’s in line with my goal to serve. A life partner isn’t required, but in the event you determine to have it, your selection is incredibly necessary. It will help or make your ability to conduct meaning and goals. The second is Mrs. Coretta Scott King, the wife of the deceased Martin Luther King, Jr., a member of my kitchen cabinet, who pushed me towards my purpose in key moments in my journey. Both are necessary parts of my history.

How can young professionals defeat the Imposter team?

LW: Always keep in mind that you might be worthy of space you enter. Put on and invest in you. Know which you can and you’ll learn to simply accept and succeed in situations that cause fear and anxiety. Once you undergo fear and doubts, you’ll gain confidence to maneuver through it. Still. This tingling of fear will grow to be an old friend, and a way of conquer fear will grow to be equally familiar, if no more familiar than fear itself. A goal to progress in perfection. To sum up? Believe in yourself, and others will imagine in you too. Even if not, stand in your purpose and power.

How can leaders increase the importance of Dei’s efforts?

LW: With an entire change in pressure, noise and politics, one thing that leaders can do is remain steadfast and assured knowledge that diversity, justice and integration are good for business, team, community, and ultimately for shareholders. Don’t quit. The best firms and organizations in various sectors use their goal and values to administer their strategy and decision making. And I still imagine that organizations and bands that create an actual sense of belonging – with cultures that value diversity, equality and integration – provide much stronger results and performance over time, serve their clients and construct the best teams.

What leadership lesson remained timeless for you?

LW: Many lessons I even have learned over the years got stuck with me. But at this point two stand out: first, listen and be interesting. True curiosity opens the door, and listening creates a path for higher solutions. Secondly, be open to the possibility that even those that are very different from you have an interest and interesting – and may even be people with whom you might have common things. Don’t just surround yourself with individuals who appear to be you, behave such as you, think such as you or talk such as you. Don’t live in the echo chamber. To listen. Be interesting.

What advice would you give to the younger?

LW: I’d say Little Laysha to always remember what mother and pa taught her to do the best, helping others and show gratitude. I’d tell her: It won’t at all times be easy. You will meet with many obstacles that could make you’re feeling like throwing, but not, because now we’ve got come too far to offer up. As great -grandfather at all times says: “We are not where we want to be, but we are not where we were.” This is what they call immunity and progress. Always keep in mind that you might be the wildest dreams of our ancestors. We are all pleased with you and we’re looking forward to seeing the amazing things you’re going to do.

What next after this book?

LW: I’m working on people to be prepared to effectively lead at the moment and all moments ahead of us. To expand the impact on readers who need to deeper, I even have established cooperation with global experts in the development of leadership in the room to create No online tool costsDesigned to get to know you where you might be. No quizzes, results or long exercises, without pressure to be perfect – only a commitment to make progress.

This article was originally published on : www.essence.com