We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Beena. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Beena below.

Beena, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?

I was living in Orlando before I moved back to Tallahassee in March of 2023. I was a project manager in Orlando and my company went bankrupt so they let us all go. I was actively making moves to join the Army but instead chose to move to Tallahassee. It was hard in both Orlando and Tallahassee to find a job (I lived in Tallahassee for 8 months in 2021, mostly known as an Artist) My friend Danitza bought a camera when I moved back last summer. I started managing her as an artist and taking photos/videos. I began to teach myself in camera knowledge, color grading and editing. I also picked up graphic design, styling and creative direction and other useful, creative skills. I realized I had a natural eye for things and people were quick to praise me for my amateur work, so as a source of income, I decided to Freelance. To speed up my learning process, I believe I could’ve narrowed down the hatsI wore and figure out the roles I wanted to be great at, not the roles that would make me money. Instead of being mediocre in a little bit of everything, narrowing down my roles will allow me room to be great. I would’ve been further along in some ways if I had done so. The skills that were most essential was not the hats I was wearing, but the knowledge I gained from the conversations I was able to be a part of. As an artist in 2021, I would only be a part of so many conversations and usually only see one point of view- the Artist POV. As I gained knowledge of more behind the scene roles and was able to see the overview of it all, it helped me widen my knowledge and my perspective. In my experience, my biggest obstacles that held me back was the fact that I wasn’t entirely sure what I wanted to do. So I took on many roles and barely had time to sit back and see what it was that spoke to me. That has since changed.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My name is Selena Gamboa (A.K.A “Beena”).. I was born in Saipan and raised in Guam as a child. My father is Chamorro (Pacific Islander) and my mom is Chinese (Asian). My parents met at a bar in Saipan, my dad was having a drink while my mom was singing on stage. They fell in love and my dad taught my mom English. They had me and moved to Guam.

I left Guam in 5th grade and came to live in the states. I grew up as a military child and spent most of my middle school to early adult life in Washington State. During this period, I was a teen-mom, played volleyball, sang the national anthem twice, juggled two jobs, attending West Sound Tech for my CNA, and I was president for Jobs For Americas Graduates. I was on the newspaper and met the mayor. I was also right out of high school working as a Federal Employee for Defense Logistics Agency on Bremerton Naval Base in Washington state. I was on the newspaper again because me and two other employees helped saved our job from a fire.

In 2021, I moved to Tallahassee and I decided to tap into my creative side (that I got from mom) and pursed a career as an Artist. I forced myself out of my comfort zone and networked to everyone creative I could find. Through this I had a manager and a group of friends who were artists. I started Underground Creatives a few months into being in Tally, which was first just me and my friend Jay Filly curating networking events called “Taco Tuesdays” where creatives of all kinds came to have fun, eat tacos and network! We had it at a different location every Tuesday and ended the day with an after party at my place ( usually involved fun games of all kinds). We were known for always being a big group that was supportive, fun and always had the best energy at every event! I was then asked if we wanted a free table at Bajas to create a fun atmosphere. We needed a “group name” for the reservation… and that’s where Underground Creatives stemmed from.

After 8 months in Tallahassee, I moved to Orlando for a year. I got a job as a Project Manager for Senior Living Communities. After almost a year, I got released from my position because the company went bankrupt. I then actively started the process to join the Army. From there I decided it wasn’t the best option for me and I moved back to Tallahassee.

When I moved back, I didn’t continue my journey as an artist. Instead I sought out from something more. I began artist management. I picked up a camera and from there.. I started to pick up on styling, marketing, graphic design, creative direction, editing, color grading and more. I began to love it and so did people around me. I started freelancing and I started the phrase #BeenaDidIt. People began to book me and even wanted me around just because of my keen eye and creative direction. From there I started as a brand ambassador for Goldie Sound Productions and a few months later got offered a position as a Creative Director. As an artist manager for Danitza at this time, I was able to be a part of a few business trips in California and New York and gain more knowledge and experience in the Music Industry. I’ve also had the pleasure of working with FSU and showcasing my work through their Jumbotron and my designs in 10,000 seats. As well as the #1 HBCU FAMU and their organizations! #BeenaDidIt has also been a part of a lot of community projects. I’ve offered many of my services for free to schools, children, local & underground creatives and small businesses. I will continue to support my community as I love what I do and I love my community.

Underground Creatives (UC) is now a collective of 16 members who come together in camaraderie to create, support, collaborate, and to push boundaries to redefine what it means to be a creative. We have fun days, jam sessions days, content days and studio days. We’ve recently organized the All Collectives Skatepark Session and it was a success! ABC27 covered the event and it was an all around success! We are anticipating a part-two in June. So stay tuned! UC is currently working on a Collective Mixtape with all Artist Members. From there we are expecting a UC Showcase and a UC magazine. We’ll have more things in between!

As you can see, I love creating and bringing people together. I believe they are gifts God has given me and I will continue to share them! We are independent, not alone. Underground Creatives. #BeenaDidIt

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

When I first moved to Tallahassee, as a new artist, I was always in the front row at a show.. I always smiled, listened, supported, and showed my gratitude to the other creatives. I attended every event that I could, and supported every organization that I could. Through this, I was able to make valuable connections and showed people that I was consistent, loyal and actively pursuing my career in the local music industry. In 2021, I came back and I did the same exact thing, but I also added free services onto the list. My creative services supported many small businesses, local creatives, the local colleges and the community. To my show of community unity, love and gratitude people gravitated towards me and wanted to support me because I always supported them.

How do you keep your team’s morale high?

I think it’s important to be a leader that is standing at the front line ready for battle, rather than the leader who is at the back of the line ready for their soldiers to risk their lives for them. I think people respect me and look up to me because I give them a sense of loyalty, respect, importance and kindness. They see my intentions clearly and how much I care for the people around me. I showed them that I wouldn’t ask anyone to do anything that I wouldn’t do. I make sure that we keep the fun aspect of things rather than only business, people tend to lose interest if it’s no longer a pleasure and more of a chore. I always ask people if they have any questions and I asked them to share their opinions, always. I continuously support my team in every aspect of life and I’m never demanding, always asking and I never for one second, take any of them for granted

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.google.com/gasearch?q=selena%20gamboa%20news&source=sh/x/gs/m2/5
• Instagram: @Beenadidit/@ucdidit

Image Credits
Selena Gamboa, Adonis