Black Tie Lounge

I've been MIA from the blog scene for quite some time, so I have to return and give the people what they want. This week is pretty exciting. Oscah has his debut performance at Radford University. I'm excited. I've been learning more about media relations and how to approach reporters. I'm getting some insight into what it is like to work with artists, which has its ups and downs. To be honest, I'm being pulled in so many directions right now with finishing graduate school and looking onward to ward my career I have not been able to give his performances the attention that I have given if I was full time. As an aspiring PR account supervisor, I can't help but wonder how similar what I'm doing for him may be to doing client work. I'm holding my breath hoping that it is not this rough. I really wish I could have sat down with him and been more strategic about the moves he wanted to make and the PR programs that could support those efforts. We've been ab...

Not much going on over here except March Madness. This is the first blog since forever that I will actually put some time in. I've been consumed by studying for my comprehensive exams. I'm still not where I want to be in my studying but I can say that it is getting better. I had a committee member add a concept to my question that I never ever in my life been exposed to. The real reason I wanted to blog is because now that I found the answer and am in better shape to competenly explain an idea I had no clue about two days ago, I'm seeing how I've overcome some challenges in this program. Whether it was from my lack of motivation to actually apply myself or if it was my lack of interest, I can say this: I got it done. It's always after the fact that I see what I'm capable of. I come out of academic challenges more confident because I do know this stuff. I thought I was going to spend more time talking about that but my mind has switched gears. It is official: I...

School is back in session and everyone is talking about what they did for the summer. Some students traveled and others completed internships. Thanks to the Lagrant Foundation (TLF), I got the best of both worlds when I was selected to intern with The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism (TBMOT) on the first international internship sponsored by TLF. I have to admit that my work involved covering events at an annual festival, reporting on Independence Day celebrations, a press conference aboard a cruise line and learning more about the islands by hanging out with local Bahamians at block parties, cook outs and beaches. This four-week internship placed me at offices in Nassau, Bahamas and Plantation, FL. While, in Nassau I worked with the news bureau department for TBMOT. My first assignment was to write a release on the Junkanoo Summer Festival, a cultural festival featuring musical performances, cooking demonstrations, tropical drinks, and games for visitors of all ages. Another assignment bro...

Pretty soon I'm going talk about something other than the MOT internship, but for now I'm really using this blog to organize my thoughts and keep a record of my experiences. It's crazy how everything is still fresh in my head. Now if only I could relate those experiences to communication or PR theory. I'll deal with that one as it comes. So my experience with MOT has included: a press release on Junkanoo Summer Festival, to include junkanoo rushes and the security policies; a speech from the Minister for a fraternity; Domestic Tourism campaign; a radio spot; a press conference and a release on that conference; a bunch of research on the media landscape in Nassau, which I have not found much to actually report; write ups on SATW, brainstorming for the Miami Heat, a possible gospel celebration, business plan meetings, write ups for NAB, website recommendations, tons of other meetings to include e-commerce, religious markets, aviation markets, and passion markets. So what ...

I notice how my posts are so long. To spare those that aren't readers I will try my best to keep things short. I fly back into DC this Friday. As much as I do like working with the Tourists Office, I'm kind of glad to go home and be around familiar faces. The one difference between the Nassau Office and the Plantation Office is that there are more departments in the Plantation Office. Put it this way, I'm getting more exposure to the various departments. In one week I've worked with vertical markets (boating,fishing, golfing) aviation markets, the film commission, communications, and strategic planning. I've been exposed to various projects such as our corporate partnership with the Miami Heat, BET's Gospel fest is looking to hold its next event in the Bahamas, STWA is also looking to host an event in the Bahamas. I sat in on another advertising sales call and today I get to chat with the guys from E-commerce. It has been well. One thing I wish I took advantage ...

It's been about a week since I left Nassau and now I'm working at the Corporate Office in Plantation FL. My experience in Nassau was pretty cool. I felt right at home the entire time and its good to have spent time in another country. Working there really has me considering doing public relations for travel markets. I have more and more of a fascination to go to other countries and be exposed to opportunities abroad. I'd like to visit or even work in London, Dubai, visit Paris, who knows. I fit right in down in the Bahamas. Before I left I got to experience junkanoo on a smaller scale but junkanoo none the less. I'll talk later about the Plantation office. What's on my mind now is this project that I have to do for my experience. I have to remember that I am trying to get credit for this experience so that I have less course work to complete. i'll have to do quite a bit of reading as far as theory goes because I have absolutely no clue where to go or where to ta...

I'm about to leave the office. I can't believe that my time went by so fast. I'm trying to remember that I am going to Ft. Lauderdale to finish out the internship, so even though I'm done here I'm not completely done. I've had a ball. I didn't wild out too much. I'm a mellow guy so it doesn't take much for me to have a good time with the people I'm with. Today I had lunch with Clarence and the one and the only Tommy Thompson. He's a really important with the Ministry of Tourism. He's is really cool and down to earth. He's like one of those uncles that has all these stories about their life because he has been so many places. Lunch was cool. Looking back on everything, I only wish I had more time to get my hands dirty with some of the campaigns that will go under way once I leave. Everyone here has been a major help to me and overall this experience has helped me to think outside of the states for career opportunities. I really want to...

I actually made it to Atlantis last night. That mug is huge. I was walking forever, but it's got some pretty nice looking lounges and restaurants. Basically Atlantis is a hotel/theme park/mall. So everything that you would generally find in those places you can expect to get at Atlantis. I've got some video footage of The Dig, which is an aquarium that the have next to a lounge and restaurant. We also went by Marina Village, which I wasn't too impressed with but it's worth a visit. Save up so you can visit Cafe Martinique at Marina Village. Hmm what else can I tell you about. Mind you, we went there at night around 9:30. I wasn't expecting all that walking and I was hella tired. It's better to visit during the day but to see all the stuff near the water you may need a day pass, which will run you about 50 bucks. You'll get better photos in the day.

As my stint in Nassau comes to a close I'm thinking of all the things that I haven't done while I've been here. No swimming with any dolphins, no scuba diving, no jet skiing, and to be honest I'm really not mad. I'm glad that i got the view of Nassau that I have been given. I did get a chance to go to Adelaide Beach my first day here and I just left Goodman's Bay over by Cable Beach a few hours ago. Actually, I tried my way on the Bahamas transit system. First of all there is no schedule. All you know is that it runs from 8-7:30. For some buses its 8-6 p.m. There are no specified stops except for the 10 bus which runs downtown. You just yell out where you want the bus to stop. The people in Nassau have trouble with the bus. It's so unorganized!! I went to Goodman's Bay which is a beach right behind a park. Its across the street from Cable Beach golf course and near all the major resorts in Nassau. If u are ever here look for West Bay Street and you'l...

Let's talk about work. I've been here for a week and the work I've done has ranged from press releases to brainstorming meetings to client meetings to events. I could have worked the media tent for Junkanoo Summer Festival but I opted to go to Andros Island instead. I really don't like the fact that my stint in the Bahamas is only two weeks. I hope I get more out of this opportunity considering the short amount of time I'm being rotated through the major offices. In other news, I've learned that the communication infrastructure in the Bahamas is not as up to date as what you may find in America. In talking with Clarence, I find out that you get a lot of stations and papers claiming to be number 1 or the most listened to. They Bahamas really lacks a measurement system to really rate the viewership of programs and media. I'm not sure if it is a political thing or what. I found a blog about the broadcasting landscape of the Bahamas . I don't know what to ma...

I'm off work today because it is a Bahamian national holiday. Today they celebrate 35 years of Independence. I've talked a lot about what I've been doing and not much about why I'm here. I've posted mad pics and a few videos on my adventures but I have yet to talk about my job. Let's see, I'm working with the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism interning in the Communications department. Mt office is located in downtown Nassau on George St, which is right off of Bay Street near the Staw Market,Diamonds International, and Little Switzerland. This may sound like a high profile job but if I show you the floor where my offices are you'd probably be wondering why my office is such a whole in the wall. I'm not complaining, since I have everything I need in there. I come in the first day with my apprehensions because I was told that Bahamians are very conservative and don't like Jamaicans, which alluded to me cutting my dread locks. Let's clear that up. The...

I went to lunch at S'barro with Clarence, you'll see some video footage of him pretty soon, but yo check this. The good news is that S'barro serves more than just Italian food. the bad news is that a bowl of Curry Chicken--I'm talking about the same size portion as the baked zitti-- and a gatorade cost me $12. 50!!! What kinda ish is that? I see that I'll be packing PB&J sandwiches to work after today.

It's my third day at work and fourth day in Nassau. So far every night around 10 pm D'Nard, Aphanese, and I go to Paradise Island to pick up Kiver--remember he works at Atlantis. I've managed to wake up more and more tired than the night before. It's all good. I'll do my best to give you a summary and bring you up to date. My second day I had breakfast with the lovely Ward sister's at Sailor's Choice. It's right off of E. Bay Street in downtown Nassau. Well first we stopped by Ms. Kay Ward's house to pick her and her daughter Brittany up. Then we went to Sailor's Choice. Breakfast was pretty good. I had stew fish and some bread that I forget the name. Ms. Pat's other sister Deloris joined us. Those women are hilarious. They remind me a lot of my mom's sisters. It's funny how they laugh and joke but there ends up being a message in what they say. We went from joking about how bad Deloris was growing up to the power that our words do ha...

I'm going to take a deep breath and try my best to cover the last three days in Nassau. Sorry that I haven't been on top of things but I have been enjoying myself. Shoot, I'm in the effing BAHAMAS yall. I arrived in Nassau at about 8:15 on Saturday July 5th. One of my bags did not make it when I did. Ms. Marylin Johnson,who works with the Ministry of Tourism in the People to People department , was there to pick me up. People to People links travelers with the locals. Travelers stay with a host and are treated to a home cooked meal. The difference is that they experience the Bahamas as a local and not a tourist, which is good because I'm getting hook ups at many of the expensive tourist spots. So, I hop in the car and she takes me to Millennium Gardens, which is a neighborhood in Nassau. I'd say its about 15 minutes from downtown Nassau. Ms. Johnson tells me that I'll be staying with Ms. Pat Ward, who is actually the sister of who I was originally supposed to be...

I'm just about packed and ready to go. Ready to go home to Stafford,VA that is. I fly out of Reagan Airport on Saturday afternoon. No I haven't done all I could do to prepare to move. It looks like I may be paying extra to keep my stuff in the apartment for a few extra days. Let's not talk about how much I've paid so far. Two rents considering I won't even be in town. I plan to forget about it all when I get to Nassau. I'll be home tommorrow afternoon. Fourth of July is my big reunion with some high school friends. It's crazy how I'm still cool with quite a bit of folk I went to school with. It is refreshing to go home but then again I can only enjoy myself so far. People grow and people change. I've definitely done that, but it is still good to get up with people that know a certain side of me. I'm looking forward to seeing AJ & Miya Brown. Miya was a friend since middle school. She got married two years ago. . . yeah two summers ago. Her fa...

I'll be in Nassau Bahamas in two weeks. I'm excited!!! Then again I'm not sure what to expect. I need to move out of my apartment soon to save the headache of dealing with it while I'm away. I haven't met with my advisor much but that can be taken care of. Back to the Bahamas, too many places to go so little time. Then there is Ft. Lauderdale. Too many places to go with so little time. This is going to be so awesome. This is the summer that will take my breath away. I've been praying that so much and now I'm definitely going to see things I have never seen before. I need to get an itinerary. I gave blood today and my blood would not flow. What a waste of time. Good news. I don't think I have met anyone that does not like my hair. Let me say that another way. I get a lot of compliments. People, generally females really like it. White females, not that I have jungle fever, of course black females, Asians. Oh, I think they like me. I still need to call Kim ...