HOUSTON: The Soulcial Series presents Marsha Ambrosius, Jesse Boykins and D. Rose LIVE IN CONCERT!

Unless you have been living under a rock, you have been hearing all of the hype about the upcoming "Soulcial Series" concert this Friday, Dec. 17th at Groundhall. Grammy nominated singer/songwriter Marsha Ambrosius, will grace the stage performing music from her up-n-coming album, Late Nights & Early Mornings. Marsha is the former member of the R&B duo, Floetry and has been known to us as the "Songstress." Also gracing the stage, Soul Train Award nominee: Jesse Boykins, Houston's own: D. Rose and Baltimore's R&B diva: Paula Campbell.



This type of concert doesn't come too often in Houston, but a group of entrepreneurs, also known as the "Soulcial Series" crew, are making it their business to do so. You know we love giving our Houston peeps "shine" especially when they're doing something positive and standing out from the rest. We had a chance to speak to "The Soulcial Series" and get more information on who they are and what we can expect on Dec 17th. Check it:



SC:When you go on http://thesoulcialseries.com/ you find out what the essence of "The Soulcial Series" is all about; but what we want to know is who is behind "The Soulcial Series?" Tell me about each person and what they bring to the table...

*(DJ CRUIZE CONTROL/KING MC – IDEAS UNLIMITED) It’s nearly 20 years of experience being in the entertainment business. It is the passion and the love for the music that has kept us doing what we do. We know this is our purpose, because we don’t consider this to be a job. Music is our life, entertaining others brings us joy. It’s our passion. It’s appreciating the beats, the melodic tones, and rhythms, but the inspiration is watching our music charms the soul…Cruize understands the music and the artist, he can feel the music and understand how to deliver it to the crowd, regardless if it has been heard. Cruize deals with the business side of things, booking the artist and negotiating everything to get them to Houston
*(LISA JANUARY/CANDACE STROTHER TASTE OF CLASS ENTERTAINMENT) Collectively we share a passion for real music, and quality events. With Taste Of Class Entertainment, being the women of the group, Candace Strother and Lisa January are an integral part of the threading that makes the soulcial series. Candace, who specializes in relationship building with partners, makes a strong contribution to marketing. Lisa, specializes in venue decor along with executing our vision for each event.
*(Urban Limelight Marketing Agency (ULMA))  is a lifestyle and culture marketing & creative agency based in Texas. Branding, Marketing, Social Media, Advertising, Strategy and Consultation. We are responsible to both the brand & the community. We aim to reach goals by creating momentum prior to launch, rapidizing the brand maturization process. Our position within the collective is more so on the marketing and amplification of the brand and brand story.

SC: What is the goal for "The Soulcial Series?"
SS: Our goal is simple. We want to unite individuals through music, arts, and culture. The only constant that you will see with the Soulcial Series is "GOOD MUSIC." Truly, that is the one thing that brings people from different backgrounds together. A premier music event that redefines the meaning of true music in the region…. To be a brand recognized as presenting quality events with introducing the Houston market to progressive soul artist.

SC: What can we expect from "The Soulcial Series" event on December 17th?
SS:A very high energy, smooth show that has a great flow of transition and artistry… We expect people to walk away feeling like, "That was way more than I expected” and "Houston needs more shows like this" or "That was one of the best shows I’ve been to."

SC: What up-coming events can we look out for with "The Soulcial Series?"

SS: We will be educating our followers monthly with interactive listening events, One to Two quarterly shows and a festival either fall or later summer of 2011.

To purchase your tickets and for more information: http://thesoulcialseries.com/ 

DON'T MISS IT!!!!!

Good Professional Luuuuuvin!

We've all heard that stay-at-home mom, mother always said, day-time talk show, cliche phrase "You can't love anyone until you learn to love yourself". Guess what, it's true! Not only is it true in relationships , but it's something we as professionals tend to forget in BUSINESS!

Many times we get so used to the daily grind of soliciting business and sales by "showing love" to clients and potential business contacts, that we forget to show love to our own career.

Take your profession out for a spa day! Here are a few tips that can rejuvenate your business.

1. DETOX YOUR CAREER

We're well into the second quarter people...make sure you sit down and evaluate how the last quarter went and where you plan to go from here. Detoxify your client roster, your digital rolodex and remove projects from your desk that won't benefit your future plans. A business detox is necessary to eliminate all the toxic junk, all the paper, and all the people who are in the way of your success. Refocus and re-plan your career moves for the year.

2. GIVE YOUR BRAND A FACIAL

Is it time to refresh your brand? Show your business some love by upgrading and polishing your branding and marketing materials. Take a look at your business card, your brochures, flyers, promo cards and your website--it may be time to switch it up! You may even want to give yourself a new look to go along with your new brand. Do you need a new corporate picture to replace that company photo that looks nothing like the new you?

If you employ a designer for your branding and marketing collateral make sure you select a creative team that understands your vision and demonstrates the ability to make your message shine.

3. DE-STRESS YOUR SPACE

Chaotic space makes business waste! Stop fooling yourself into believing that it's okay to work in your own organized chaos. If you're working that well in junk, imagine how well you could be doing if you took the time at least once a week (or every other week for those who just can't find the time or discipline to do it weekly) to organize your workspace. Designate 15-30 minutes to rummage through your madness and get everything in the right place.

It honestly feels great to know that everything is filed out of your sight until you need it, paper scraps and old correspondence are in the recycle bin or shredder, your cute paper clips and Post-Its are neatly put away and all is well with the world again...plus it makes you feel all professional and stuff.

5. SET YOUR NEXT APPOINTMENT

Our careers need love too and lots of it, so schedule a regular spa day for your business life. DO IT NOW! Set your business spa day every quarter or at the very least every six months. It will keep you in check with your ever-growing career and ultimately the business benefits can help you grow professionally. After all, you can't show love to anyone else's business until you learn how to love your own.

Pt I: Five Things The Media Dislikes

There are 3 "R's" we must maintain when dealing with media and the public: Reputation, Respect and Relationships. One can not stay in good standing without the other. In fact, as a publicist, if you do not have a good reputation, and you have no respect and no relationships, how can you give your client and/or service the credibility it needs?

As an up-n-coming pr pro, building relationships is EVERYTHING. Especially with media. The following are five things the media dislikes. Trust me when I say this, TAKE NOTES. The last thing you want to do is alienate the very people you need to help you publicize your product or service.

1.) Sometimes You Have to Accept The Word "NO"

Yeah, yeah. We've all heard it, persistence is a good thing. But in some cases it can be annoying. Media professionals will not build relationships with a pusher who calls 500 times after they're told "no." If your media contact says "no," accept it and move on. It's not even necessary to ask "why?" Sometimes it's better to just move on before you potentially ruin a valuable relationship.

2.)Long Pitch Letters and Press Releases

Seriously, in a world of deadlines, who has time to read a long drawn out press release? If it's too long, they won't read it. One page is all you need. If the media wants more, they'll ask for it. Have a great headline, state the major points in a strong first paragraph, and bullet everything you want to stress. Include secondary information in a background release.

3.) Lying, Hype and Misrepresentation

The truth always emerges and when stories aren't based on facts, the media usually ends up holding the bag. Your media contacts won't forget who got them burned; nor will they give you the chance to do it again. As for hype, media pros know a good story when they see one, and their antennae usually cut through the hype. *cough* That goes for twitter.

4.) Name Dropping

Name dropping is kind of lame and no one likes a name dropper. This often indicates that the story is weak. In most cases, the connections that celebrated names are intended to conjure up are tenuous at best and unless the celebrity is directly involved, they seldom change the story's value. While name dropping may work with friends, it will hurt you with media professionals.

5.) Follow-Up, Follow-Up, Follow-Up

Media depend on others to supply them with the information they need to do their jobs. Don't send a press release and call or fax, and then don't follow up when additional information is requested, you make it difficult for them to meet their deadlines. If you say, or even imply, that you're going to do something. do it and do it promptly. Otherwise, your contacts will consider you unreliable and unprofessional. If you don't respond promptly, it may be too late. You can't expect the media to wait for you.

Stay tuned to the socialchix.blogspot.com for the remaining ten things the media dislikes! Also, coming soon...Things that the media loves!

Source: "Guerrilla Publicity" by Jay Conrad Levinson, Rick Frishman, and Jill Lublin

THINKIN’ OF A MASTER PLAN: Business/Career Planning for 2010

The sleigh bells have already started ringing and we can just taste the eggnog already. 2009 has come to a close and we are already looking 2010 dead in the eye! So what kind of career and business moves are you planning to make in the New Year?

We all made those rhyming statements last year about what we were leaving behind in ’09, but where was the plan? Did you find that you added business ambitions to your

resolution list last year that you’ll probably be adding to the list for 2010? Make the difference this year—develop a realistic plan that will help you actually complete the task at hand. Don’t know where to start? The Social Chix are here to save the day!

1. START BROAD

Goal setting is the key to planning because identifying your what you WANT

will determine what you NEED. Ponder on your goals for the next 5 years and where you’d like to see yourself and your business. What kind of money can you make? How much do you see yourself expanding? What kind of accomplishments would you like to make? What awards in your field would you like to win? These are the kinds of questions you want to ask yourself when positioning yourself in the coming years. Think of the kind of clientele you’d like to service and what you’d like to be able to say about your career or your company.

List your goals out “brainstorm” style and decide which of these goals or what steps towards these goals can be made in the coming year.

2. BREAK IT DOWN

First, break the year into quarters. This will allow you to section off your planning and your measure of progress through the year. Next, dissect your goals and decide what steps must be taken to make each goal a reality. Try to think of the resources you may need at each step whether it’s information from business assistance agency, money, certification of some sort or someone in business you know who can help you in some way.

Develop a list of tasks for each step that leads you to each of your goals for the year. Include the steps needed to obtain the resources you’ve listed as well. Now, you can place your steps and tasks into each quarter and then identify what months each task should fall under. Once you’ve gotten this far you should begin to assign weeks and then days to your tasks. Understand that some of your plans may change and move around, but it’s so much easier to move your tasks by the day later on than to have no clue where you’re starting (which can be discouraging as hell!)

3. TRIM THE FAT

As you plan your progress for 2010, you will notice that some of your goals will take longer than just one year to complete. That’s okay! It’s also okay if you realize that some of the goals you thought you wanted to complete are no longer in sync with your overall plan—This is good! Yearly planning helps us to weed out the unnecessary “business baggage” we hold on to all year when we don’t plan. You know, the stuff you keep holding onto in the back of your mind thinking you should’ve done all the way to December.

4. GET TO WORK YOU LACKEY!

Now that you’ve planned your journey to the success of 2010, you can rest knowing you’ll be a few steps closer to your next big business move. Did we say “rest”? Sorry, if you’ve tasked out this year in as much detail as you should have, you probably won’t be doing a whole lot of resting, but you can at least feel good about the all New Year business celebrating you’ll be doing for 2011!