Today we’d like to introduce you to Byron-Gabriel Proutt
Hi Byron-Gabriel, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Over 15 years ago, I was working as a PR Director for a firm when I began communicating regularly with one of our clients. We had built a great rapport over the phone, and everything seemed to be going well. However, when I visited the client’s site to discuss a specific project, the greeting I received was completely different. What had started as excitement quickly turned cold. The client, in a professional manner, informed my boss that they did not work with people of color.
Though hurt by this experience, I didn’t let anger drive my actions. Instead, I used it as motivation to start my own company, Byron-Gabriel Public Relations. I didn’t want to force a client to work with me, especially when my boss had defended me. But I also didn’t want to be put in that kind of situation again. This experience became the catalyst that inspired me to create a business where I could define my own terms and build relationships based on mutual respect and trust.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
The road hasn’t always been smooth, but when I hear about the struggles others face, I realize mine have been relatively manageable. Personally, I’ve always preferred having both a 9-5 job and my own business. Balancing both roles alleviates a lot of the financial stress on my companies. I’m a great organizer and multitasker, so over the years, the companies I worked for had no idea I was also running my own businesses. It wasn’t that I was hiding it, it just never came up, and it never interfered with my commitment to my 9-5 duties.
However, in December 2023, I was laid off, and in January 2024, I launched Good Duck Productions. This was a significant shift for me, as I invested all of my savings into the new company without the cushion of a steady 9-5 income.
This marked the beginning of a new struggle, one that pushed me to make sacrifices I hadn’t anticipated. But I believe deeply in the work we do at Good Duck Productions. A few months after opening, I turned the company into a non-profit to offer donors a tax break for their contributions.
There was a moment not long ago, in early January 2025, when I found myself gathering up coins around my house just to put gas in my tank. I’m sharing that moment in this article because I want to remember it. It was a tough day, but it also serves as a reminder of how far I’ve come and how much I’ve learned. These hard times have made me appreciate the successes even more. When you believe in what you’re doing, those challenges are worth it; and they make the triumphs even sweeter.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
With my latest company, Good Duck Productions, I wanted to create projects that truly mean something. That’s actually our slogan. I started this company in January 2024, and it came to me in prayer to create projects like documentaries and safe spaces for DEI discussions that are accessible to anyone.
Do you see where I’m going with this? That was January 2024. Fast forward to January 2025, and look at what’s happening with DEI initiatives. It’s incredible how everything has unfolded. God knew where the leaders of this country were going to take us, even when I didn’t.
I’ve always been a filmmaker, and I’ve always loved interviewing people, but I didn’t fully understand until now why God was guiding me to start Good Duck Productions in this specific direction. It’s becoming clearer with each day and I feel more certain than ever that I’m right where I’m supposed to be.
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
What a great question! People can collaborate with me by reaching out to me via my website and/or donate via the website to help bring these free to the public projects alive.
I absolutely love collaborating with others to bring modern day light to topics that will help educate a multitude of people(s).
And we do offer services for suggested donations that help benefit both parties! 🙂
Family Memories Video – Someone from Good Duck Productions will come to your location, set up audio and video equipment for you to interview your family member(s). Good Duck Productions will do all the video editing. We will also take digital videos from you (optional) to use in the editing of the video process. Once the video is completed, we will give you access to the completed video for you to download.
Event Production – Good Duck Productions wants to help your event become the success that you envision. We will be responsible for the planning, executing and managing all aspects of an event from start to finish.
Podcast Production – Podcast Producer; Good Duck Productions will come up with the episode layout, segments and suggestions to coincide with the direction of the Podcast. Concept Development and Planning; GDP will help creators/host(s) with brainstorming topics, creating a content calendar and basic outlining of episode structure. Editing and Post-Production (rates vary)
Pricing:
- Family Memories Video – $500 (Inside of the Dallas/Fort Worth Area.) / $1,500 (Anywhere in the United States; travel expenses are included in suggested donation)
- Event Production – 25% of Event Budget (Local to Dallas/Fort Worth area.) / 25% of Event Budget + Travel Expenses (Outside of the Dallas/Fort Worth Area.)
- Podcast Production – $150 per episode / Concept Development and Planning – $100 an hour
- Editing and Post-Production – $300 per episode – Audio-only editing and post-production per episode. For video podcasts, depending on the location, $500 per episode
- ** $1,000 Retainer for Event Production and Podcast projects. Retainer is good for a year.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.GoodDuckProductions.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/goodduckproductions
