We recently connected with LadyVee DaPoet and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, LadyVee thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?

The first time I knew I wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally was when a co-worker at my then accounting assistant job told me that I was too serious about my craft not to. He saw me daily “moonlighting” while at my job posting event flyers for my next show, writing poetry, coming up with new events and he acknowledged my professionalism even when I didn’t have an LLC.

I enjoyed going to other people’s creative events and attending spoken word shows to gain inspiration for my own craft. I took mental notes and attended artist talks on how to further this industry. There were some shows I admired that were very popular and some “fly by night” events that weren’t consistent and didn’t last more than a month or two. My goal became my business motto: To provide stages and microphones to voices that need to be heard! and since 2007, I can proudly say that my dream lives on in reality.

LadyVee, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I am DeVeata Williams-Pough aka LadyVee DaPoet of LadyVee Productions, LLC. After moving to Atlanta, GA from Augusta, GA in 2005, my creative business was born in 2007 after 2 years of inspiring competitive research of the spoken word community. In particular, I saw where ” nightclub event promoters” were attempting to produce creative events for poets and musicians and giving them a disservice because, in my opinion, they don’t appreciate or understand the heart of a true artist. That is what sets me apart — I’m an artist that creates platforms for other artists to shine.

What makes me the most proud is the fact that my business, combined with my husband’s business ‘Allen Pough Productions, Entertainment Music Group LLC, can offer a one-stop-shop for any independent artist. We offer open mic opportunities, creative workshops, graphic art promotion, custom music production, custom apparel , radio/live streaming services and any resource a spoken word artist, musician, singer, or hip hop artist would need to showcase their art to the world.

As a performing poet/speaker and an author of 4 books, I am available for book signings and artist feature performances. My greatest joy is to share my art with others and to provide the resources for others to recognize how valuable their voice is as well.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

March 2020 was our last in-person open mic variety show at Hodgepodge Coffeehouse in Atlanta. After hosting shows there since January of 2010, I was heartbroken to find out that their dining area was closing and the owner decided that she would no longer allow events at her coffeeshop. At the time, my husband and I had multiple venues hosting our Art Out Loud – ATL open mic and because of the Covid-19 pandemic, we had to understand that our event production business would suffer for the sake of people’s health and safety concerns.

After getting a webcam, revamping my Instagram and Facebook page and using Meetup.com to promote, I decided to take our show to a virtual platform. All of a sudden we had a global audience of performers and audience members and even some supporters who donated money to our artistic cause via Cashapp and Paypal. Monthly we went from having 30 to 50 people watching to hundreds of people logging on and viewing our livestream videos. We brought artists into the chat and continued the quality creative expression online.

I am very glad that with increased vaccination numbers we are able to be together in-person safely again. I am also glad that we learned the process of going virtual if we need to pivot our business this way in the future.

Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?

I wish I knew about artist grants and different funding resources earlier in my creative journey. Most of my shows and events had catering and feature artist fees that were paid out of my own pocket. Other people in my industry have access to sponsorships and know listings of different funding sources that would really help out when putting on creative community events and it definitely helps to fund artist projects like new book releases, etc. I thank Pw.org (Poets and Writers) for funding some of my feature artist performances at my shows and I’m always on the look out for more resources like this.

Contact Info:

• Website: artoutloud-atl.company.site
• Instagram: instagram.com/ladyveedapoet
• Facebook: facebook.com/ladyveespokenword

Image Credits
Allen Pough