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

Gerald-Brandon, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Let’s start with what makes profitability in your industry a challenge – what would you say is the biggest challenge?

The biggest challenges to profitability is trying to maintain a competitive post rate for staff while simultaneously being held in a financial choke hold with many larger companies that we are contracted with that never post on time for services rendered yet are our biggest clients. Causes us to often work in a deficit while we await payment z& can cause disgruntled or distrust with our hardworking, talented staff. Larger companies take huge advantage of smaller businesses.

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

Phyre Arts & Entertainment was founded in 2002 in Washington DC by Gerald-Brandon. It’s very first event was in May 2002 in NYC Off-Broadway sold out show. From that point on the company would go on producing 35+ events, & hired for countless performances all along the east coast in several major cities, namely NYC, Philly & DC & Now LA & starting its division in ATL & as well as a production this year in Paris, France! We are both an arts z& Entertainment production company and have a separate division that offers short performances, live entertainment, bar service and staff for private events. We put the creativity and art in our bar service and singing/performing staff.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

In 2001 when I first started my company and was in the middle of rehearsing for an upcoming event. We took a small break for Thanksgiving. Later that night into the early morning I was walking back home after walking a friend home. I unknowingly walked into the middle of some men attempting to kidnap a woman. At the moment I realized what was happening, the driver of the SUV that they were attempting to pull her into, locked eyes with me and immediately hit the gas, hitting me at close range in my side, winding me. I dropped to my knee.. praying and trying to figure my way out of the situation, I forced myself to stand. During this time the SUV was backing up to gain more distance and speed. By the time I stood he was coming full speed, hit me, ran over my back and head. Luckily I was knocked into the muddy field and cushioned a lot of he weight. I had two compression fractures in my necks and my back….. long story short, I returned to rehearsals a week after leaving the hospital with a neck brace and back brace on to finish teaching choreography for the show. My determination and resilience has been tested many times and my overcoming of situations has made me successful and hopefully an inspiration.

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

Initially our company was self produced events and productions only, which took a lot of time, rehearsal and money and though the pay off was great, they were too few and far between to sustain a growth that was necessary. After many of our events, people started asking if we perform for private events as for hire performers. This is when we thought it would be great to develop performances specifically tailored for those events. As we began working private events, I would notice they would have issues with bar service and service staff etc.. Outside of the company I was a restaurant and bar manager and many of my staff also worked as performers at that establishment, so I decided to extend my services to offer live entertainment, performances, vocal and dance, bartending services and waitstaff for private events as an event entertainment and services division of the company. This began to garner regular money flow and helps to back out productions monetarily, allowing us to increase the number of productions in a year, as well as production value.

Contact Info:

• Website: PhyreArts.com
• Instagram: PhyreArts
• Twitter: Triblphyre
• Youtube: PhyreTube