Meet Adeja Allen | Talent Agent | Music Executive | Brand Builder | Entrepreneur

We had the good fortune of connecting with Adeja Allen and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Adeja, what’s something about your industry that outsiders are probably unaware of?
There are definitely a lot of things that outsiders are unaware of. Unfortunately though, with the prevalence of social media everyone thinks they are an expert!

(Laughs) The music industry is the only industry I know where people with no experience think they can do a better job than those who are established professionals. For example, no one walks into a hospital and tells the surgeon, “hey doc, I wouldn’t use that tool/procedure, this one would’ve been better!” That’s an exaggeration of course but my point is, since there’s this perceived low barrier of entry so people think it’s “easy”. Secondly, it takes A LOT of patience to truly be successful. Building and developing stars is realistically a decade long job. I think in general the public just tends to think it’s all fun and parties; it’s not. Most people are unaware of the time, persistence, dedication, MONEY and resources necessary to “make it”. Everyone wants to look important online but the real work behind running these machines is anything but ‘Gram-able’.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Artistry Booking is a full service talent agency representing a wide array of clients – from artists and Influencers to record labels and cannabis brands. I co-founded the company in 2018 after being an agent and consultant for five years, (in the industry for about fifteen.) One thing that has always been important to me is ingenuity. While we certainly rely on proven strategies and data, we also look for unique ways to utilize creative thought processes. Also, work in real time. Most traditional agencies tend to overlook valuable opportunities for clients simply by being “out of touch”. No, literally, some agents are IMPOSSIBLE to get in touch with. We believe in focusing on accessibility and in servicing the BEST clients, not the MOST clients.

As far as obstacles, there are definitely many ups and downs in entertainment business. Things can change drastically almost overnight. I’ve seen a lot during my career but nothing at all like COVID-19. We had been in business for about five months in when the pandemic hit and brought live music to a screeching halt. Touring completely stopped which of course meant no touring revenue. Thankfully, our team and our families are safe and healthy. The toll that this virus has taken on so many people is devastating, but it taught some very important lessons: take NOTHING for granted and remain FLEXIBLE. We definitely had to get creative and shift our focus to permeating the digital space via exciting new partnerships in crypto, Metaverse and NFT’s. The change in landscape was definitely a challenge but we are recalibrated and look forward to closing more deals and getting bigger opportunities for our clients.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Well, you definitely have to make sure you check out Spice House Buckhead (IG) @SpiceHouseBuckheadATL that’s my spot for food and vibes! Other than that, I pretty much depend on my team and the ATLiens to take me out since I am not from the A. If I was I’m sure I’d be a hookah fanatic (laughs) but, I am not really a hookah person, I don’t mind it but it’s not a must for me. As far as food, I know I have not even scratched the surface of all the amazing restaurants in ATL but I definitely love the brunch at KOD! I always enjoy the strip club experience in Atlanta it’s a culture all it’s own. Strip literally everything you need there: sports, entertainment, interesting people, amazing food and great service. No ATL visit is complete without stops at Magic City, Allure and Blue Flame.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
God comes first in all things, of course so shout out to Him! I’m forever thankful for the support and mentorship from my partner Max Gousse. My entire Artistry family is incredibly amazing and so dear to me. Shout out to very artist that has trusted me with their career, every executive I work with, every amazing team who I’ve had the opportunity to collaborate with and every brand that’s given allowed me to help them grow, I am extremely thankful for my family and friends who are truly my heart and soul. They deserve the biggest shout out for their love, caring and understanding! Love to all.

Website: www.artistrybooking.com

Instagram: @artistrybooking

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adeja-allen-56315a66?trk=people-guest_people_search-card

Image Credits
Visuals.af