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

Lynne, appreciate you joining us today. Can you tell us the backstory behind how you came up with the idea?

I come from a background of fashion and theatre. Once I married and started a family, I had drifted away from my true passions of performing, to be a good wife & dedicated mother. But something was missing from my life so I had to get back to the theatre. Therefore, I will focus on how I started my company “Publicity4you” – the media & marketing of Black Theatre in Los Angeles. It all started when I attended a show for the Los Angeles Women’s Theatre Festival. Women (“LAWTF”) who performed original solo performances in multiple genres, dance, song, spokenword, theatre, poetry, etc. The LAWTF show was amazing, it made me tear with joy – however the seats were almost empty. I decided to volunteer for the organization back in 1999. Where could I fit in and be the most successful, I landed on the Marketing Committee. I had to create a plan to fill up the house and created the mantra “Standing Room Only.” I also created an email campaign. Back then there was no social media and email was basically new. By the 2000s, email had gained ubiquitous status. I had no budget – so I had to incorporate “Gorilla Marketing” which meant I had to canvas the streets to distribute postcards. I said “who is our market?” Patrons who go to the theatre! So I would go to all the plays and pass out our flyers or place them on a stand. Soon thereafter, I created a “newsletter” promoting multiple theatrical events because my passion grew and my clientele grew from only promoting for LAWTF. I also taught myself how to contact Media so the newspapers, radio & television would cover the productions. I learned how to write & distribute a press release in order to gain media attention and hopefully a review in L.A. Weekly, L.A. Sentinel or L.A. Times. It is important to build solid relationships. I promoted celebrities who had solo shows and my name was being called upon and still is. I promoted the NAACP Theatre Award for a few years and the success of the Award Show became phenomenal. I moved over to promoting Black Films for The Black Hollywood Education and Resource Center. It was fulfilling work, it was long hours, but budgets were small. I ran this company for over 20 years and it was successful. I went back to school and received a degree in Filmmaking. Since my passion is acting, I decided to stop doing PR and I put Publicity4you on the shelf so I could now focus on acting, directing & producing. It is a natural process to elevate and go after the things that make you happy. PR made me happy for a long time. I still get calls, but my focus is now on my acting career. Something I learned along the way is I was dividing my time up and I had to focus more on my first love – acting. PR definitely opened a path to getting back on stage & screen. I know it was successful because not only did I enjoy what I was doing (helping others), but my clients were happy and I still receive calls – that’s good if people still call on you – it means they trust you and they love your service. That is a win!

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?

Currently, I am most proud (outside my family) is I directed a Poetry Play called “GIL SCOTT-HERON BLUESOLOGY” which opened in Inglewood at the Willie Agee Playhouse last March (for my birthday) and had a run in the Hollywood Fringe Festival at the Hudson Theatre for the month of June 2024. Even though I was “DIRECTOR” and “Producer” – I had to put my PR hat back on. We wanted “Standing Room Only” – no marketing budget – I returned to Gorilla Marketing – distributing postcards everywhere and even posting them on street polls and walls where other posters resided. Including posting on all social media platforms and of course, calling, texting and talking about the show to everyone who asked “what’s up?” It worked because we were sold out and even over sold. The show will be back September 8, 2024 visit www.GilScottHeronBluesology.com for details. The greatest news is my show won the International Fringe Encore Award which means it will be going to the SoHo Playhouse off Broadway in New York for Black History Month (February 2025) and ultimately Scotland to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival which will lead to an International Tour. All my work has paid off for years of dedication, persistence, passion and prayer. I studied Theatre, Dance, Voice and Stage at Inner City Cultural Center which laid a solid foundation for me and I am able to carry on the legacy of C. Bernard Jackson and my mother Doris Conner who pushed me to always do my best, to help others and love.

Have you ever had to pivot?

I went back to College to finish my Bachelor’s Degree so I pivoted from theatre to filmmaking. But my PR skillset never leaves my thoughts and theatre is still a deep love for me. I recently pivoted and invested in obtaining a Cannabis License through Social Equity. My Smart Dispensary GREEN VIBES ONLY has been a long journey to generational wealth, which is still in the early stages. In between I keep being creative. Green Vibes Only will be the catalyst to opening a film production company, theatre and school for teaching the arts to our youth…continuing the legacy of Inner City Cultural Center. My way of giving back to my community, my culture, my passions. I will speak it into existence, manifest the dream I’ve always held in my heart. I continue to evolve. I continue to share. I continue to heal through the arts. I manifest that the arts are healing to our community and culture. I shall pass the torch and our youth must carry on. I am proud that my daughter, Paris Nicole, is carrying the torch and paving her own way in the Arts. Paris also write, directs and produces her own films and content. My first born, Kiriandra, is a master in hair design and styling. My daughter Laetitia is also an artist, painter, photographer and visionary. So each of them will carry on the legacy that I have built a foundation for them to evolve. My sons are not in the business. I am currently in a film on BET “Young. Wild. Free.” and continue to perform in multiple Independent Films – while my goal is a series regular on T.V., the opportunities are vast. Therefore, no matter how many times you pivot – continue to evolve and NEVER GIVE UP!

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

Most rewarding: When I’m in the audience watching the audience oooh and ahhh, clap, laugh, get emotional – I know that what I created has touched someone. For GIL SCOTT-HERON BLUESOLOGY – I created a shaker from an empty toilet roll and/or empty cardboard paper towel holder. It was covered with the flyer for our show and filled with beans or rice to create a sound when shook. We passed it out as advertisement. Then we passed them out to each patron as they entered the theatre. I instructed them to shake it if something hit for them. The audience went crazy shaking and making beautiful music throughout the show. Once again, my PR skill set kicked in. Not only were we advertising Bluesology, it was a gift to our audience. The audience was able to participate and it made the show interactive. I heard the people say “This is a great idea!, This is ingenious” My heart is full. An idea that worked. An idea that audiences appreciated. When people still talk about your show, or talk about your performance, when you touch someone, they are moved, sparked or inspired – hopefully healed though the arts – that is the most rewarding.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.LynneConner.com
• Instagram: The_Lynne_Conner
• Facebook: Lynne Conner
• Linkedin: Lynne Conner
• Twitter: Lynne Conner
• Youtube: Publicity4you
• Other: COMING SOON: GREEN VIBES ONLY (a Smart Dispensary)

Image Credits

lynne conner