We recently connected with Chip Doug and have shared our conversation below.

Chip , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?

The art of curation is more than just putting people together. It’s more about putting the right people with the right energy together for the right reasons. Eye always had a passion for the arts in all forms. This passion was present from elementary school all the way to college. Whether it was directing a visual performance at our church’s variety show at 9yrs old or organizing fashion shows at college, eye found myself bringing people together to create an experience for the audience. Learning lessons is a constant part of living and eye believe that the timeline in which all my discoveries happened were meant to happen at those times. It’s up to us to show that we learned the lessons by applying them.
Listening in order to understand is an essential skill when working with people. Often times, visionaries have a specific idea as to what they expect from others, but not everyone will fit within the scope of the vision and that’s okay. Taking the time to get to know the character of who is around you will ensure that those that align with your vision will find you.
Even at my age, eye am still learning and the fact that eye am receptive to being taught will remove any obstacles on my path.

Chip , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

As a student at the University of Rhode Island (URI), eye was very involved in student activities. Upon graduating from URI in 2001, eye still had the desire to produce events. Many of the people that eye graduated with had started businesses and eye had the resources to put things together. In 2006 eye started directing fashion shows that highlighted the clothing from their businesses and the shows featured my family and friends as the models and musical performers. Throughout the years those fashion shows have evolved into a plethora of curated shows with specific focuses. It’s my belief that everyone who has had the opportunity to discover their gift has a duty to share it. The capacity to which they want to display it is totally up to them. Eye do my part by providing a stage for artists to connect with an audience. Each show is curated with love and care. For almost two decades eye have highlighted dancers, singers, instrumentalists, painters, drawers, craftspeople, DJs, models, fashion designers, activists, photographers, actors, poets and videographers. As a collective we come together to ensure that the patron is able to enter our world and escape from whatever is stressing them. We create an exchange of positive energy that is so palpable that it bathes the audiences in a euphoric aura that will inspire more creativity. Eye was created to create moments and that is exactly what eye do.
My favorite show to do is my show “When Stars Align”. It features over 25 creatives displaying their art and boats DJ Nyce Hitz, a live band and amazing performances. The majority of my shows are held at Fete Music Hall which is a phenomenal venue with a dope staff.

Eye have had the honor of curating sets for PVD Fest since it’s inception in 2016. Each year the powers that be have graciously allowed me more time to put together a show that displays some of the best talent our city has.

Recently eye have worked more closely with FirstWorks and other outlets to curate events. Hosting gigs throughout my city is another role eye enjoy and eye have been honored to be hired to host Culture Fest, R&B Summer Jam, Kickback with Keke and various other shows.

Eye have been blessed to be able to launch a line of successful merchandise, using my logo to pass on positive messages. Recently my friend Stanley Bois and eye have launched a multimedia production company and now are being hired to provide others with videos, commercials or general consultation. Stanley is owner of a production company called HotinRI and he casted me in both of his movies. The first one is called “Pray For the Bear” and it’s streaming on Amazon Prime, Tubi and other platforms. His upcoming movie “Innocence Lost” will be hitting theaters in the summer of 2024. Eye also serve as a cohost of DJ Franchise’s 360 in the Morning on WBRU 101.1FM. Ms. Rhodey is the third cohost and the three of us have a blast keeping our listeners on their toes. It is truly remarkable to be able to live within your purpose and lead with love.

Eye am most proud of my two children. Taliq and Reuben are the ultimate blessing and they have both grown to be two amazing humans with extraordinarily beautiful souls.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

Social media was essential in establishing my connection with an audience. Eye was very reluctant to sign up for Facebook. At first eye though it was a waste of time but one of my friends kept telling me about it and then eye did my research through observation. Eye was from the era of printing flyers and passing them out in front of night clubs. Once eye saw the benefits of Facebook eye just applied the old school hustle of passing out flyers to the blue ap.

Eye started out directing fashion shows and at the end of every fashion show eye had all the models and performers come with the same color shirt featuring my logo. A short time after eye had a new logo designed and put that logo up as my profile pic. The next day eye got a DM requesting that eye make a shirt featuring the new logo and that moment changed everything as it lead to me officially launching my merch. So social media literally elevated my hustle. Instead of trying to be on every platform, eye make sure eye get the audience to the ones that work best for me. Eye won’t engage on another ap unless eye master it and truly see its benefit. Sometimes being everywhere gets you nowhere.

My advice to those interested in building their presence is to always remember that it is your job to make whatever you are offering appealing. Support is earned and it shouldn’t be taken for granted. The fact that someone sees you and what you are creating is a blessing. So put all your heart into it and stay focused on your core values and your character. Never sacrifice who you are or what you stand for for empty instant gratification. As long as everything you put out aligns with who and why you are then you will do well. A connection to a Higher Power is essential throughout your journey.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

Eye know that eye was created to create moments and it’s a blessing to be connected to so many dope individuals. My mission is to travel the world promoting the discovery of self love and helping peole discover the artist within. It’s a big world and eye am truly enjoying the path that eye am on.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.chipdoug.com
• Instagram: chip_doug
• Facebook: Chip Tillman
• Twitter: chip_doug_

Image Credits
hotinridotcom Justincase Media Inc.