We recently connected with Chris Cartwright and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Chris , thanks for joining us today. Have you been able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen? Was it like that from day one? If not, what were some of the major steps and milestones and do you think you could have sped up the process somehow knowing what you know now?

I quit a lot of the numerous dead end jobs over the years that were taking up my time and focused on building through the network of people I already worked with in music and sports to work various places either full time, part time or freelance. Once I mapped out where I wanted to go and the main focus of work I wanted to do plus the help of reliable colleagues I started working more events and with great people across the board. It definitely helps being in a busy market such as South Florida to work in as well. Having a personal risk/reward analysis does too once you get more experience but starting out I would say the main thing is stay working, learning and being consistent.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

My name is Chris. I got into the video and broadcast production side of things from technical school in the Miami area after graduating high school then while in tech school taking TV production class I got a job with the Miami Heat as a utility/grip which is pretty much entry level in production doing equipment setup mostly and assisting camera operators. This is in a time where instructors and schools more often had job placement for students which led credibility to their programs and success rates of those in them. As far as the entertainment and talent management side of things I started doing music at 13, recording music in professional studios at 17 on South Beach with a music label called Kingpin Station while also learning the business side of things like BDS spins, reading contracts, learning about record pools, marketing, artist development, etc. This was also at the same time I’m in technical school for video production so it made sense to combine all of that knowledge together. Years later, me and my partner Erv Kannon decided to start Seaplane Entertainment Group together with help from one of our great friends Wilfredo Almonte (RIP).

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

I’ve learned from the talent management and music recording side that as a manager, consultant, CEO or even label mate and member or a group musically you personally can’t want “it” more than those you represent and or work with. Many times people starting out have a collective goal but over time due to numerous personal, professional and outside unforeseen factors the individual focus of a few or all tend to change drastically. Being someone who works with music and live performers of all kinds you have to sometimes keep them grounded and focused on the whole long term goal instead of inflating a lot of short term ones. Sometimes it doesn’t work but if that’s the case let them know it may not work out and hopefully part ways amicably with mutual respect in tact. You also have reassure them that you’re on the same team to try and win instead of a “boss” or mean problem solver of sorts. I had to learn to let things be and act accordingly.

Where do you think you get most of your clients from?

Honestly just showing face and being at the local events whenever possible. Social media is great but when they can put a name, a look, a voice and a feeling to a brand or account at a networking event or sports event it means more to that person or business representative you may be around. Building a rapport out in the open to me is crucial, for new talent coming up especially. I do get that some people are more introverted than others but it is simple and effective even if you’re not the greatest talker or self promoter. Ice breakers of sorts in public, just being polite and knowledgeable goes a long way just like in many customer service professions. People will respect you being you within reason and appropriate setting.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/seaplane.ent
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/seaplane_ent

Image Credits
Portraits by K