Today we’d like to introduce you to Jasmine Padgett.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Jasmine. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I started my company with a vision to promote women from a positive outlook. The abiliy to be prosperous while having the courage to be bold and beautifully talented. Looking back at the age of 21, I never thought my vision would allow me to be a leading force in the entertainment industry. I’ve followed in the footsteps of my father and his business partners who I consider to be now family. I was 12 years old working as their door girl counting thousands of dollars each party. The Atlanta night-life industry has a lot of respect for Bruce Atwaters Productions, Lucky Entertainment, & Fortune Entertainment, however, it was only a matter of time where the industry would be introduced to LYB Ent.
LYB Ent. stood for Lavish Young & Bougie Entertainment and it consisted of four female college friends who all shared the same interest and needed money fast! Each of us came from different backgrounds and were heavily involved in multiple Miles College organizations and sports. After speaking to Chase, owner of YoungFame Nation and long-term business partners about what I needed and why I needed it he simply said, ” I wish I had the money to give to you but I don’t. I just locked in a deal with the owners of Martinis Night Club to do college parties every Thursday night.” From there, it clicked! I immediately said I want in and asked whats the buy-in for a percentage of the door.
Called Michelle, Duckie, and Danielle and said we need to link asap I figured out a way to solve our money problems. We met at Duckie’s house and I broke down the plan and they said, ok let’s do it! Our first night we took home $2500 and I gave them each $200 and said here take this play with it and I will put the rest in a business account. Boy, were they pissed at me, but I explained to them that this is bigger than what we initially set out to do. They were so confused and didn’t understand why I just didn’t split it. I knew them well enough to say “ok if I had you this money, it’s going to be gone tomorrow.”
Moving forward, we all agreed to put the money in the account. The next day, I scheduled a photo shoot with Dez Wilson, a photographer from Alabama, to help us brand ourselves on social media. At the time, Twitter and Instagram became a major influence for visuals. I wanted to create a campaign that made college girls want to join using visuals. Our campaign grew tremendously big where we had recruited girls in Montgomery, Huntsville, Tuscaloosa, and Birmingham Alabama. You couldn’t watch your favorite BET or VH1 show, you couldn’t be on a college campus and you couldn’t log in your social media accounts w/o seeing a girl in an LYB Entertainment shirt.
It grew so big so fast the original members separated. A lot of it was my fault, but honestly, I went into this with a vision and no one understood my vision more than I did. I was hurt but at the same time ok with them wanting to separate. A lot of things started to fall apart, when dealing with large groups of girls comes the attention and drama you really don’t necessarily need or want.
I received a phone call from my business partner Chase asking if I could get some of the girls to do promo for a statewide college tour. My answer was yes. That moment opened more doors for me and drama for the brand. I would hear so many stories about my girls sleeping with artist and the entourage along with the drama of girl talking to the same guys. I put a stop to everything, moved back home after graduating and rebranded.
I didn’t know what I was going to do and I didn’t want to work under my family. At this time the production world became huge in Atlanta and I wanted in. So, I changed my company name to Lavish Castings.
Lavish Castings opened doors for me to work with people like Young Scooter, R-Kelly, Jagged Edge, Tiffany Fox, Columbus Short, T-Pain, Lisa Nicole, Emcee Nice, Slick Rick, MC Lyte, Jermaine Dupree, Mona Scott-Young, Migos, Kontrol Magazine, Sheen Magazine, Hip Hop Weekly & More. The more I put myself out there, the more opportunities came. I remember being at work (Store Manager of Family Dollar), receiving a phone call from a director name Slick23, at the time, he was the director of Atlanta Housewives and Love & Hip Hop Atlanta. He asked me if I would be interested in working with Love & Hip Hop Atlanta as an assistant casting director. I dropped the phone and cried like a baby. He kept saying hello probably three or four times until I picked the phone back up. I really didn’t care about the money at the time, but I defiantly appreciated the fact that someone like him would even consider me for the job.
Him and Daniel (Love & Hip Hop Producer) needed someone who could fill a room of 100+ people. I had less than 24 hours to make this happen. Unsurprisingly, I was able to get it done. My background is promotion and marketing so that was a walk in a park for me. They couldn’t believe the number of people that showed up. I became the go-to person for room fillers. Which was a great thing for me but not so good for my brand. Not knocking them or anything because it was definitely an honor to be a part of that, however, a lot of aspiring or upcoming talents no longer wanted to work with me while working with them due to the lack of payment. So, eventually, I had to step away. A lot of people called me crazy but if the business doesn’t make sense for you and your brand its not worth it.
Soon, after the industry started changing. There were fewer production jobs and girls who would do anything to be closer to celebrities even if it meant doing it for free. Everyone has to start somewhere but it really affected the models and casting directors who did it for a living. Social media played a huge role in that as well. It’s allowed regular girls to contact directors who would book them w/o pay for exposure. Which then became a problem for me. Once again, I find myself trying to figure it out.
It wasn’t until I sat down with an old friend, TomCat Bennet. We were going on a few projects together and he noticed a change in my work ethics said I wasn’t motivated enough anymore. And to be honest, I wasn’t. He advised me to look at everything I was doing and everything that I have done all to say “You’re too talented to be in stuck in one position forehead.” I was so confused and baffled at the same time. But he was right. I had to realize that I am the source or the reason why people are able to get ahead in this industry. For example: A director may call and say “Jas I need models for a video shoot”, hang up and call right back asking, ” Do you know any good make up artist and hair stylist who can take care of the models while on set?’ My response was always yes!
With that being said, I now operate my company as a full-service network that consists of a makeup artist, hair stylist, promoters, models, waitresses, stylist, bartenders and more.
The Lavish Network may seem new but my team collectively has ten years strong in this industry doing what we love. It has opened many doors for young adults to take a chance with their talents.
The Lavish Network creates a path for young entertainers who choose to further their career and place them in a setting of great opportunity.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Reading my story, it was definitely not a smooth road for me. This industry is cut throat and dominated by men and social media.
My advice would be to keep the same vision, however never be afraid to expand that vision. Even if it means you have to change your plan. Use your resources and build lasting relationships in the process of implementing your plan. Set high standards for you and always protect your brand. Lastly, never go without introducing yourself to an entire room.
Please tell us about The Lavish Network.
The Lavish Network is experienced with capturing and executing the vision of our clients. By providing quality marketing and branding campaigns, talent, and staffing, while securing mutually beneficial and lasting relationships that provide us vast opportunities. Those opportunities, in return, translate into creative and exciting work environments that foster the edgy, unique, and diverse thought process of our clients, talent, and staff.
We have partnered with many small and large companies in Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Los Angeles, Nevada, and Illinois for production, marketing and promotions, events, editorials, talent development, tours, and more. Our clients are always satisfied with our selection of talent and staff. Our team understands the importance of going beyond what’s expected and familiar while getting the job done!
As a brand, I’m proud of the growth. There were days I felt like giving up, days I thought this was a waste of my time and money. I passed up so many opportunities after college for something I grew to love as a kid. I was supposed to be an accountant in my parent’s eyes, but my heart won’t let my dreams go. I could walk in a room and no one would know who I was until they saw my resume or asked me what did I do for a living? By the time, I would leave my purse is literally filled with business cards that could add to my network of the industry influencers and aspiring talents.
Do you think there are structural or other barriers impeding the emergence of more female leaders?
The industry is a wide open market but small market for women. Karen Civil said it best we are assumed to be the jump-off, girlfriend, secretary, or assistant. Never a woman of power until we step up and introduce ourselves. Now, that may come off as bitchy or too much for some but what are we to do. Women have to work twice as hard while keeping a clean image. We face more than just the boys club antics. The girls club is just as hard. There’s always an “I wonder who or what she did to get to this point.” It becomes a competition for leaders instead of a community of leaders. There’s too much money in the world for us to box ourselves and not help to create the next mogul. I look up to a lot of the women in the Atlanta market, however, I would love to see us come together and create something big for the next generation.
Pricing:
- Booking Rates Vary
- Consultation $25 per Hr
- Event Planning Vary
- Marketing & Promotion Vary
Contact Info:
- Website: TheLavishNetwork.com
- Phone: 6787481731
- Email: JasminePadgett@TheLavishNetwork.com
- Instagram: _TheLavishNetwork
Image Credit:
J3Visions, Dez Wilson, Fred Luse
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