Flipping The Script: The Reporter Becomes The Story

I've been a journalist my entire adult life, and the entertainment beat has been my specialty. Over the past 20 years, I've conducted dozens of interviews with actors, musicians and authors. "Flipping the script," so to speak, and being interviewed is a bit surreal.

I was recently interviewed for articles published in the Call and Post Newspaper and Columbus Alive about my participation in the Local Author Showcase on Wednesday, Jan. 24, at 7 p.m. at the Lincoln Theatre Columbus, 769 E. Long St. I started out writing for both of these newspapers at the beginning of my journalism career in the early '90s.

To read the Columbus Alive article, click here.

When I take the stage of the Lincoln Theatre, I'll read from my novel, "The Chloe Chronicles." The story centers on a beautiful young mixed-race woman named Chloe Bareaux who is raised in Paris by her African-American single mother. As the plot progresses, Chloe embarks on a quest to piece together her complex identity.

I'm going to publish an updated, revised edition of "The Chloe Chronicles" this summer. During the Local Author Showcase, I'll read from a scene that reveals a shocking new plot twist about Chloe's father — a white Frenchman she never knew.

I'll also share anecdotes from "All Jokes Aside: Standup Comedy Is a Phunny Business," the book I co-authored with his Raymond Lambert about his legendary Chicago comedy. All Jokes Aside was a "star factory" that helped launch the careers of Steve Harvey, Dave Chappelle, Oscar winner Mo'Nique, Chris Rock, Carlos Mencia and many other  comedy superstars. 

At the Local Author Showcase, I'll be featured alongside my fellow writers Alexis Wilson (“Not So Black and White”), Kim Brazwell (“Browning Pleasantville”), and Vada Azeem (“The Boy Who Tried to Touched the Sun”). The event is part of the "Backstage at the Lincoln" Series, which seats the audience alongside the featured artists in an intimate setting. For tickets and more information, visit Lincolntheatrecolumbus.com/backstage.  

I'm really excited about the Local Author Showcase. When I showed my mom, Shelly, the articles in the Call and Post and Columbus Alive, she aptly observed, "The reporter has become the story."

I added that it's like a line from the song "Maniac" by Michael Sembello from the soundtrack of "Flashdance," one of my favorite movies of all time: "The dancer becomes the dance."

Jan. 24 Author Showcase: A Welcome Return To Where I Started

I’m really excited to kick off 2018 by participating in the Local Author Showcase on Wednesday, Jan. 24, at 7 p.m. at the Lincoln Theatre Columbus, 769 E. Long St. I will be featured alongside my fellow authors Alexis Wilson (“Not So Black and White”), Kim Brazwell (“Browning Pleasantville”), and Vada Azeem, “The Boy Who Tried to Touched the Sun.”

For tickets and more information, visit Ticketmaster.com or call 614-469-0939.

The event is part of the Backstage at the Lincoln Series, which seats the audience onstage alongside the performing artists in an imitate setting at the historic theater. 

Being invited by Lincoln Theatre General Manager Suzan Bradford to participate in the Backstage at the Lincoln Series is especially meaningful for me for a couple of reasons:

I started my professional writing career in the King-Lincoln District, the area that is home to the Lincoln Theatre. My first newspaper job was in the mid-1990s as a general assignment reporter and entertainment columnist at the Columbus Call and Post Newspaper, which was located right around the corner from the theater at 109 N. Hamilton Ave.

I'm a 2016 graduate of the Lincoln Theatre Artist Incubation Program. The program helps artists at different stages of our careers to hone our creativity and master the business side of show business.

During the program, we Incubation Program fellows learned:

Maximizing production value — Ensuring your production is of the highest quality, even with limited resources.

Insurance — Invaluable insights such as purchasing single-event insurance coverage to make sure all performers and equipment are covered in case any mishap occurs during a film shoot, play, concert or other production. 

Copyright and trademark law — Making sure your own work is protected and ensuring that you don't infringe on anyone else's copyrighted material.

Grants — How to identify individuals and organizations who support the arts and tailor your applications to their criteria.

One of the most helpful sessions was conducted by Suzan Bradford herself, who is also artistic director of the Thiossane West African Dance Institute. Suzan walked us through how to accurately value our services so that we are compensated accordingly.

The program also included mentor talks with artists from different genres, such as drummer Reggie Jackson. Reggie has toured and recorded with major artists in all musical genres and performed at festivals around the world.

Reggie offered advice on how to build a lasting career and establish mutually beneficial relationships in the entertainment industry. He also stressed the importance of being professional, showing up on time and constantly perfecting your skills.

I continue to apply what I learned from the Lincoln Theatre Artist Incubation Program in every facet of my work. Completing the program was like earning an advanced degree, and being armed with this knowledge is invaluable.