Today we’d like to introduce you to Jazzi Black.
Jazzi, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I never thought I’d be where I am today, I grew up participating in theater; had dreams of going on Broadway. Things took a change once I got to college (Prairie View A&M University or PVAMU to be exact). I had gotten a scholarship in theater but decided not to take the award because I didn’t want to spend a year in pre-requisites before I even started my basic courses. My advisor told me about Mass Communications, and I was like “What in the world is that?” She mentioned it was the study of Radio, TV, and Print… so I said oh well, why not?
During college, I did everything possible. Started off passing out flyers for the ONLY club we had at PV called the Q-Club. Didn’t even realize I was promoting, just thought I told people about the club and I get me and my friends in free lol. Then I got more involved on campus working for the student radio station, doing sports production with the basketball team which landed me an internship with ESPN, and was the Lifestyle Editor for our university newspaper called ‘The Panther.’
Post-graduation was difficult. Couldn’t find a job, so I ended up going back to school to get my M.A. in Professional Communication and Digital Media Arts. Landed an internship with MTV while I was in school and got to do some work with Revolt TV.
Got my second degree and STILL struggled, jumping from couch to couch at my friends’ house. Eventually decided to leave Houston and move back to Dallas. Started substitute teaching in March of 2017 to make some quick money. Everyday I would bring my laptop to the school and spend all day applying for jobs rigorously. I ended up getting an interview with a drone flying company and Radio One. The drone company offered me a job but mentioned it would only be for the summer and that I’d have the opportunity to work for NASA. I was SO IN! Until the last day of school, in the last class, I got a call.
“This is a little unorthodox, but I’d like to offer you the position at Radio One for the Sr. Digital Content Producer.” I couldn’t believe it. Two offers, but my DREAM JOBS, but I wanted longevity… so I went with Radio One.
I walked in the office that following week, with ONLY a phone interview. Never having interviewed with our General Manager, Program Director, or anything. At only 25 years old, I was working in a Top 5 Market…with an office at the entrance of the station. I had a brand new 27″ iMac and about $7,000 worth of equipment in a matter of a week. Can you imagine the pressure? However, settling in was a lot easier than I thought because the staff welcomed me with open arms like I was family… and boy was that a relief.
Within five months of creating content, the program director Mark McCray had called me into his office. I left his office numb. Went back to my office and continued editing videos like I didn’t just hear what I thought I just heard.
November 27th came around and next thing I know hundreds of thousands of people are listening to ME on the radio. It was pretty tough following behind Rickey Smiley in the Morning, but we did it. I remember there would be days I would cry because I wasn’t used to having so much attention and my anxiety would get the best of me… I didn’t understand how people who didn’t even know me could tell me “I love you.” It was all so new, and so FAST!
Now here I am today, celebrating one whole year in the game and all the Blessings that came along with it.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
No way! We got a lot of backlashes when the morning show first started. People were really angry. They loved Rickey Smiley! His national syndication started because of Dallas, and they weren’t ready to let him go. They wrote nasty things about us online, would call in JUST to tell us how much they didn’t want to listen, talked about how much they hated my voice, and not to mention I SUCKED at the traffic! : (sidenote: when we first started I had to pre-record the traffic.. now I do it live. : )
On top of that, my day starts at 3 AM Monday-Friday. You’re probably going to ask “How do you do it?” Well… it’s my job. So it’s not like I have the option NOT to show up, ya know? And Yes it’s gotten a lot easier but -it’s still not easy.
Working with a team like ours has been a crazy, fun, wild, learning experience. They’ve been in the game for a minute and pretty much know the ins and outs of radio. I had to learn to catch up,..and FAST! These were three strong personalities, and I knew I couldn’t have been in there for any ol’ reason. I studied them. I asked questions, Get my hands on whatever I could. And stood my ground. I come from a different generation, and I take pride in that. We get a lot of, and since I’ve been given that platform, I want to make sure I take advantage of the opportunity to represent the US.
Then I struggled with just keeping up with myself. Like radio has consumed most of me, so now I’m still balancing my new life AND my production company that’s alive and thriving… After all, it is how I got into the business. Plus my family and close friends, being social and then realizing you need a good sleep because these 2-hour naps not cutting it. It can be overwhelming. But… that’s something I’m working on for ME. Balance. In everything.
97.9 the Beat, Jazzi Black + Company – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
So besides radio, I have my digital media company Jazzi Black & Co. I create videos, fly drones, capture photography, and build websites. I’ve shot events from Margarita Festivals to weddings. Nationally recognized step shows or a recap of your birthday party, I do it all. I love storytelling and giving an aesthetic that makes my audiences feel like they were apart of what’s going on. I like trying different angles as I shoot, and when I’m producing the project, I like making it smooth. Compositions are everything, and I’m satisfied when I know people are vibing with the result.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
Success to me is “a consistent work ethic toward a goal(s), reaching those goals, and continuing to strive for greater accomplishments.”
I don’t believe success in measuring success like most people. Anybody can become an overnight internet celebrity, but how long will they last? It’s about longevity not about what’s hot now. Of course, you have to keep up but DOING YOU will always get your further. I tell people all the time it’s a marathon, not a sprint.
Don’t be so hard on yourself you’re exhausting more energy feeling bad than finding a result. We have to recycle our energy into getting things done. That is when we feel our Happiest- when we do something to make Ourselves Proud.
Being Bold can be hard. We’re humans, so there are days when we just don’t feel like it lol, and that’s natural. Stay confident, trust me… people are ALWAYS watching you even if you don’t think they are. Don’t let them see you sweat.
Self Checks are also important. I literally have to get on my own self. Like “Jazzi… you tripping. We gotta get this stuff done LET’S GO!”
Always, always, always, have your next play ready to go. I write down my 3-5-10 year goals because I really want to see them manifest, and I can’t do that if it stays in my head. I’m learning and growing at a rapid speed, so I want to Be Ready, so I won’t have to Get Ready.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.jazziblack.com
- Email: bookjazziblack@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jazziblack/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheOnlyJazziBlack
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/yojazziblack
Image Credit:
Anonymous Kyles, Captured By Jacob, Jazzi Black
Getting in touch: VoyageDallas is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
