Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Darren Southern Plug Brown. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Darren Southern Plug, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us 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 started it out studying along side the great in my state like the Niche Carolina Magazine & the SC Music Awards. Taking the not inventing the wheel appraich, I just sort of model.my business plan after the greats to come before me.

People skills have been the most influential in my line of work. Creating a magazine issue requires networking snf building relationships with loads of creatives. Getting thrm.to talk about some of the most intimate details if their careers and lives. It takes great people skills to garner that type repore with folks.

The biggest obstacle in my journey as a magazine founder was also what I listed as my greatest attribute earlier. Unfortunately some of those in my field saw me as competition and did anything to derail my plans to no avail thank God. They saw the market as too small to accommodate a giant such as myself and wouldn’t even collaborate or show me the way.

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?

So I started out as an artist and back in my day only those with a true love and passion for the artwork participated. But. due to the large paydays that music brings when an artist blows a lot of people decided they wanted to rap or sing. I saw the influx of artists in the market and the ratio of those that actually made it and decided that I’d prefer to be behind the scenes. So instead of rapping and singing I decided to create a magazine that highlights the talents of others. Helping propel them to the next level in their careers. Getting your name out their and becoming known for your artist is the biggest problem for an upcoming artist. With our brands we solve this problem for them. Getting their name and art out to our vast network of readers and subscribers.

I am named Darren Southern Plug for a reason. Because I am Southern Plug and Southern Plug is me. For a long time every email, design, template, etc was created with my hands. Every interview, award show and all was conducted by me. That is until I built my awesome team. I just want the people to know that when they read a Southern Plug Magazine or come to a show or whatever that they are getting a peice of my heart because I literally put my whole heart into this.

I am the most proud of our Southern Plug Music Awards which has grown from a statewide music festival to include entertainers from all over the south.

Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

A.I. certainly. Like i said earlier when I started I did everything myself and boy would artificial intelligence have made my life easier. Designing would’ve be a breeze. Even writing articles would’ve been a breeze.

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

Social Media was at the beginnings of its height at the time that we started out! There also wasn’t so many restrictions either, and without social media there would be no Southern Plug. Being able to reach friends and non friends through groups, posts, and videos helped grow our email list substantially.

I would advise anyone starting to build their social media presence to defiently keep your personal and public pages separate. And, always remain conscious that everything you post, say or do on social media can have a barring on your public image. So, just keep it cute and always engage social media from a professional and politically correct stand point always.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.southernplugworld.online
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/southernplugmag
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/southernplugmag
• Twitter: www.twiiter.com/southernplugmag
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@southernplugmagazine3219?si=8-DY2qNyTOf3pFwA

Image Credits

1-4: Darren Southern Plug Brown
5-6: Da Voicebox
7: CWC Media Group