Tabb MGT has ARRIVED

In late 2011 respect was a major issue in my life. I had had multiple conversations with my clients  (friends) about respect as a verb, respect as a display of honor, as a marker of their loyalty to me (at that point we were barely Tabb MGT, I was just 'La working on stuff' to me). This was feminism is practice - I had to teach my friends (clients), sometimes through tears, that they had command respect for me from all whom we'd work with.

I'm sure that they are hyper-aware that I am a woman, one of the few YOUNG women who do what I do, I behave like a woman - although they sometimes forget and display frustration: La stop acting like a girl! - but  they know. They actually know more when we are not in our own space in our comfort zone, because that's when other people notice. I had to remind them that other people "noticing" I am a woman, in a leading, non-romantic, position in their lives can raise eyebrows, cause confusion, lead to invisibility, or dismissal OF ME, not them. I had to remind them that we share the responsibility in making people understand that I am at the table - that's my FAVORITE line of 2012, by the way - and I must say that by 2012 it was a dwindling issue  - except from one of my own.

For the first few months of 2012 I did not speak to one of my clients (closest FRIENDS) because I felt like the respect was lacking, it was more so in the tone of being taking for granted, yet through 4 panel discussions, 2 Prom Dress Drives that was planned by my community organization Mic Check 1-Two!, the taping of 9 episodes on many, many winter Sundays for the Evan Polk Show, the writing of my intense literature review for my graduate thesis he waited patiently and let me get over it - you know women do that right?? *insert sarcastic tone* - that was really his response to why he hadn't reached out to me! But honestly, WE got over it. We grew up in our time a part and became better business partners and friends and subsequently he and Wes Manchild put together an AMAZING album (over SEVEN THOUSAND -7,000 - people agree with me) that was released in August - that's the magic of the music industry, an album that may take ONE month to create can be sat on for multiple waiting for the right time.

In preparation for the release of this album I solidified a business relationship with now one of my very close friends, Rashaad Lambert, of iamnotarapperispit.com, - who officially joined Tabb MGT as Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) in about Oct '12.

I jumped ahead.

The Evan Polk Show was released, it was hilarious - we've gonna try this again in 2013 to make sure thousands of people think so.

I don't remember what I (Tabb MGT) was doing before August 2012. Honestly. Let's fast forward again.

August was a big month. We had the ONE-year Anniversary for DJ Ricochet at Mikey's: the turnout was fantastic, Clique Vodka sponsored it, people were walking up to me at the end of the night telling me great job - I had no idea they knew I did anything (I kinda live in fantasy land sometimes); we had begun preparation for Chill Moody, Beano, and Hank McCoy's Who Do You Love LIVE from LOVE Park, we were finalizing all of S.K.'s No Sympathy: planned and catered the listening party, released No Sympathy, and I planned my little sister's surprise 21st birthday party.

*just note that I have made very little mention to the fact that I graduated grad school, got a new job in July and work 40 hours a week in Delaware.

Ok, I'm not going to take you on  play by play of the rest of my year - but this is definitely where it got interesting. Just when I decided I take myself as a business seriously - meaning, I am a business - I knew I did good work was when all of my business preparation got put on hold - to do other stuff:

The 2nd Annual InterCommunal Giveback Feast & Concert

The TriState NYE Countdown for a Cause Red Carpet Affair


It was in my initial meeting for the New Year's Eve party that I realized I had truly, truly earned my seat at the table. I wrote down (almost) everything that I did in the last year and I surprised myself.

And it was the eve of New Year's Eve (yesterday haha) that I realized that I had worked really hard on multiple things, for multiple people and businesses throughout this year and that I had certainly ARRIVED. So if you are coming to the party tonight and you see my logo on the red carpet wall and see my friends and family in the Super-Ultra VIP section and wonder why or how, just know that I (and some chosen supportive people) have worked very, very hard in 2012. It was not because I was cute, I am, but partly because I am cute and competent.

Now, let's figure out where I'm headed...