Setting Up For Another Remote /Virtual Fall Season
Join us next week for Culture and Code Festival. Text 'Culture & Code' to 415-843-8100
I spent most of the first part of the quarantine writing, producing video “shows”, hosting “Virtual Dinners” and “Virtual Jeffersonian Dinners” and DJ Sets for office parties, birthday parties, and Shabbat dinners. Yes, I do believe I became a bit maniacal and was using content production as a way to hide my anxiety but haven’t seen my therapist yet to confirm!
Either way in “Quarantine 1” I used the “Culture & Code” platform (newsletter, IG, and Festival) to predict trends, illuminate signals, and armchair quarterback culture from the safety of my Los Angeles home. Every day I felt gratitude, love, warmth, and I will own that I feel like I have been a “remote working success story.” Even my wife remarked at how a widely-seen, globally-connected socialite could be seemingly thriving and yet never wearing pants, rarely driving a car and definitely not leaving the house. I traded in rushing from one LA Soho House meeting to another valet parked appointment and dashing through airports trying to make connecting flights to sitting in my makeshift “home virtual content studio” hosting “dinners” with incredible people from around the world.
You know what, I never want to go back to that life. Now that I realize that half the meetings I had could have happened in Zoom, it’s a wrap homie. This pandemic has allowed me to reevaluate my time. Not to say I didn’t love some of the random meetings I would take, this moment has given me a discipline of my time that I will never leave. I have a regular morning schedule, a weekly content beat, and best of all super quality time with my family; wouldn’t trade any of that for the world or your overly priced lattes.
Through all of this, I know that one of my gifts and superpowers is having an incredible network of other “superheroes” and knowing how to build environments that spark ideas, facilitate relationships, and drive opportunities. I am building the “rooms where it happens” whether virtually or physically.
Also happened in Quarantine Season 1:
I turned 50 years old
My daughter (see above) graduated from high school and attending Chapman Univ in the fall—from her bedroom.
The Authenticated Co-Produced “Black-In Festival” a “Virtual Juneteenth Festival” with Win-Win and Kwame Anku.
Got way better as a DJ
Became obsessed with Matcha Tea
I took many meetings with Family Offices, Corporate Execs, VC’s on how to unpack their white privilege
I also owned all of my privileges as a successful black man who has no boss and very few filters. This is for those of you who watch me on IG “giving away the cheat codes for life".”
I literally am returning emails, texts and DM’s from mid-May. Apologies to all of you I missed. I have been knee-deep in the fight FAMILY.
During Pandemic I wrote often about the following:
Why DJ Cassidy’s “Pass The Mic” Youtube Show Is The Show We Have Been Waiting For
I have bumped into DJ Cassidy basically my whole career. We aren’t friends but I have spent more time at parties listening to DJ Cassidy sets as he along with guys like D-Nice, Mark Ronson, Biz Markie were the industry DJs you were most likely to bump into from London to Paris to New York to LA. Cassidy is always wearing a signature hat and is usually the best-dressed guy in the room. When I think of fancy industry parties with black people I think about DJ Cassidy.
Cassidy was Puff’s favorite DJ and also was mentored by the late great Andre Harrell. His knowledge of black music is impeccable and his respect of the soul and hip hop heroes is evident all up in this new Youtube show he started called “Pass The Mic.” What started as a Zoom show that he broadcast on Twitch, Cassidy locks in with Patrice Rushen, Cheryl Lynn, Phillip Bailey, Robert “Kool” Bell to make up “Pass The Mic: Volume 1".” I couldn’t stop watching, these are my heroes and in certain cases as a “child of the music business” some of these folks are like “aunts and uncles.” As if that wasn’t it, he dropped Volume 2 focused on Hip Hop. Nothing disappointed us at all as this was an incredibly curated group that were my 1985-1995 hip hop icons. Big Daddy Kane, LL Cool J, Pete Rock, Naughty By Nature, Puba, could go on, watch it for yourself.
This “Pass The Mic” show works for the following reasons.
He pays homage to the artists some of whom never got the recognition they deserve
The quality of the production works because Cassidy is not trying to do this on Instagram and has chosen Zoom plus live broadcast
You are not going to stop watching it, it so good it doesn’t allow you to stop watching
The hip hop artists especially brought their energy and signature style and brand and it’s pretty evident why they are the legends. (For God sake he has a Run DMC live set in 2020!)
This should be on advertising agency media planners list for buy but I am not sure that ad people will get it. Somebody’s brand should partner with Cassidy and I’m reaching out to him through my network so stay tuned.
DJ Cassidy you have done an incredible thing for the culture. As Sway said in his interview with you, “you are not a customer, you are a CONTRIBUTOR”
“The Other America” A New Kind of “Show”
George Floyd happened in Minneapolis and we went into the “second pandemic” and the fight against white supremacy where I spent most of my days meeting with companies, investors, family offices all of whom wanted to know they should be thinking about in the future.
So with that, I launched “Other America” with Shira Lazar as a way to create safe spaces to have conversations about racism. Every other Sunday we bring together storytellers, healers, and activists together to have brave conversations. We’ve covered Black Lives Matter, The Black Queer Community, Environmental Justice, Atlanta, and A Celebration of John Lewis. Next few weeks we will dive into Portland followed by Anti-Semitism and the relationship between blacks and jews.
What’s Unique About “Other America”
We view this as a “show” where we book monthly guests, have a studio audience.
There is a community in Whatsapp that discusses the episodes
We involve healers, therapists, storytellers because we believe this is important with subjects that are not fluffy.
We are doing our part to create a safe space for real conversations about race, identity and equity work.
We do believe there is a need for anti-racism work to happen immediately in your homes and offices.
Our focus is on the now because we believe the time is of the essence and the movement for the rights of those who have been left out has to be seen as a marathon, not a one-time affair or hashtag.
Currently In My DJ Crates
come join my live video streaming DJ sets by sending ‘DJ to 415-843-8100. i’ll text you when i go live in my private club.
What I Learned in Quarantine, Season 1 That I’m Bringing Into The Fall
I’m Kinda Done With Virtual Summits / Panels / Talks
This probably makes no sense considering that’s all we are doing these days at The Authenticated. I realized a few things during March-May. The first is “just because you can don’t mean you should” and that goes for your summits, gatherings, etc. We were inundated with more dance parties, graduations, game nights, etc then our schedules would allow. Now that the realities of this new world are becoming more apparent (not to mention I think we are headed for Quarantine part two) I have really been thinking about thoughtful ways to use up “the internets” and have been designing a solution with that in mind. We are combining content plus community in really interesting ways for the next season of The Authenticated. Starting in August we are launching an Authenticated “season” approach (shout out to Noah Raford in Dubai and his futurist group, I’m in their current season)
The Power Of Keeping It “Old School”
When I was in college I used to have monogrammed stationery with my initials and I would send it to all of the fancy people I met at my internships and jobs. Super old school but I’ve been thinking about this as this world is a lot of screentime for me who has been on the internet and in front of a computer longer than most people. What has been amazing is the power of “voice” and audio. I’ve spent a lot of time as an early user of Clubhouse, the new talk of the town in Silicon Valley. Such a simple thing, voice chats, old school “party lines”, etc. I’ve been doing more and more of it and it feels right.
Your Network Is Truly Your Net Worth
Invest in your relationships. Take the time to reconnect or connect with incredible people. Guess what?? The random bump-ins at conferences in the lobby of Soho House or the “being in the right place at right time” at a restaurant is gone for the foreseeable future. What’s never gone out of style is a good ass phone call and/or jumping on a video chat. Again another “old school” trend that is going to have a new season.
“Your Network is Your Net Worth” Coined by my friend and former CMO, Virgin Porter Gale years ago for her book with same title.
If You Want To Make Systemic Changes You Have To Change Systems
As we look at finding ways to create a more diverse and inclusive way of life we have to look at the root causes of so much of what plays into racism. Systems that have kept marginalized communities down for so long are now having to reckon with their past. In my work in venture capital advisory, I have been spending the bulk of my time showing founders that the work begins at the “cap table.” Who companies choose to bring into their company as equity partners can speak volumes to the commitment or lack thereof.
Will We See A New Role Called “Chief Cultural Officer?”
I think there is a new opportunity to create a new role within companies. Instead of Chief Marketing Officer, I see the opportunity to create a “Chief Cultural Officer.” This area should utilize a mix of data, analytics, insights, and “hood Spidey Sense” to help brands understand what’s happening in culture and help position the brand. While a role like this has been an extension of Social Media Marketing (I used to run a social media agency and implemented things like this) today this role has the opportunity to affect the entire company (HR, PR, Marketing, Product Marketing, Customer Service, etc). This is an initial thought, would love your thoughts and ideas.
We Are Back For Another Season Of The Authenticated & Culture & Code
Culture & Code: Invest In Signals
August 12-August 14th
Text “culture and code” to 415-843-8100 we have limited seats available.
For the last 4 years I moved around the world gathering our community in cities like Detroit, Atlanta, Miami, Stockholm discussing topics like mobility, education, entertainment, venture capital, street art. We called this event experience “Culture & Code” with the idea that every city has creativity, ideas, capital, influence, and hustle, and our job was to build environments to showcase that magic. Guests would fly in from around the world to meet our network and interact with cities in ways they hadn’t in the past. We were given a “hood pass” that allowed our traveling, 72-hour tribe to get access to the “third door” in every city.
So we are coming back with something special for our community and friends. Members of The Authenticated are the founders, creators, investors, and builders of business from LA to Dubai, Stockholm to Denver, and Rio to Cape Town. We will spend time with startups looking for capital, inventors looking for partners, corporations looking for inspiration. Living in the pulse of global culture gives us a true read on “signals” and we believe that early detection helps us play a significant role for our investors, advisors, clients, and tribe.
We are always looking for new members so feel free to reach out. Our next cohort will start in early September. There are 300+ members in the community and we produce weekly events, have a mobile app and directory and you will likely be blown away by the genius and diversity.
Next week, August 12-August 14 we will produce a Culture & Code to showcase some of the current signals we are listening to. We’ve partnered with live streaming platform Run The World who has an incredible platform geared towards virtual conferences that actually allow attendees and speakers to interact. You will hear from experts, brands, and creators in the following:
Generation Z
eSports
Entertainment
Education
Dubai / UAE
While this is primarily for our members and friends we are opening up to invite you to join us. Please email Andy Platnum (andy@authenticated.la) or text us “culture & code” to 415-843-8100
Culture Signals We Are Watching
Amazon been approved by FCC to launch 3,000 satellites
The South Got Something To Say: NPR Celebrates southern hip hop
Michael B. Jordan partners with Amazon to bring movies to drive in and supporting small businesses
Denim sales are on the decline as we all enhance our athleisure game
Fyre Festival Gear Available on US Auction
MSCHF is dominating the internet with fun