Today we’d like to introduce you to Katoriae Brown.
Hi Katoriae, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
My journey to Entrepreneurship started as a teenager. I wanted to make money but I didn’t want to be dependent on anyone else signing off on me making it. I always saw employment as a middle man to my success. I’ve always wanted my own but I didn’t know how to aggregate enough money to thrive. I obtained a degree in Communications from Morgan State University which eventually landed me in a media director position at a noteworthy mega church. While there, the pandemic hit and my duties tripled but my paycheck did not. In addition to having full time employment, I freelanced in the same field which allowed me to set my own rates. Knowing what I was charging clients compared to what I was receiving to dedicate over 60 hours to a company began to infuriate, no, motivate me. I woke up one morning and realized my 9-5 was not the path that would lead me to becoming a millionaire let alone a billionaire, so I asked God to show me what was next for me. My Pastor, Apostle Mike Freeman of Spirit of Faith Christian Center teaches us to put a demand on the Word of God. In asking for God to show me what was next, I added a deadline of TUHDAY! I said ‘You lead, I’ll follow but I need to know today.’ Throughout that day I travelled to different places not really knowing why I was there or what I was there to get until I ended up far from home and in a random mall. I walked around annoyed because I don’t shop. Just as I was about to renege on my promise to follow as I was being lead, I turned to see a vision of my future store, The Spotlight. I was instantly flooded with visions of ring lights, balloons and cameras. I felt I was being told to put it in a mall. It was ringing in my ears, PUT IT IN A MALL. I then took it step by step, contacting the mall, conducting a walk through and ultimately signing a contract for a selfie museum in a 4000 sqft space in Towson Town Center and now I’ve just signed another contract for a second Selfie Museum set to go live this coming June.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The road was not always smooth, however, once I decided what it was I was going to invest my time and energy into, the road smoothed and the doors started swinging open. Everything I needed was in reach, from materials, to assistance, to finances; I had, or had access to everything I needed. I truly believe, where there is vision, there is provision. Prior to this situation though I experienced thousands of no’s. I’ve been blessed with many talents and have pursued careers as a singer, painter, and a model. I’ve found some notoriety form of success within each industry but nothing close to what was expected. I would always come close enough to feel the goosebumps but somehow or another’s things just didn’t pan out the way I thought they should have. From being put off a tour bus to as I thought I was going to become Beyoncé, to being told I was too fat for Sony to sign, to winning first place in a modeling competition and the brand refusing to crown me, literally so many no’s.
After the last incident with the crown, I withdrew from attempting to shine in the spotlight and accepted a 9-5 career path, which just wasn’t for me, but while there I was struck with the bright idea to create a Spotlight for others. Ultimately, that was the key to the success I am currently experiencing, making a space where others can shine. I finally realized it wasn’t just about me.
We’ve been impressed with The Spotlight, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
The Spotlight, also known as the DMV’s birthday headquarters, is an interactive selfie museum housing 25+ colorful sets where guests can create their own content for social media, small business owners can take shots of their products and where you can have our team execute photo or video shoots for you. You can host your birthday party, baby shower, girls night, or even date night at The Spotlight. We aim to provide a warm atmosphere that helps guests get comfortable in front of the camera. In addition to creating content we also have special events from time to time, such as: speed dating, live music, sip and paints and model/photographer meet ups. Our sets change with the seasons and holidays and can even be customized to fit your birthday theme.
What matters most to you?
What matters most to our team is that our guests feel beautiful when they are in our space and leave pleased with images/videos they love. It matters to us that people feel good about themselves when they are with us because we have all had people talk down on us and haven’t always felt we looked our best even when we probably looked just fine. The world can be a cruel place so we intend to be an oasis of love in a world full of hate.
Pricing:
- $25 per person for a 30 mins Selfie Session
- $45 per person for a 60 mins Selfie Session
- $100 for a 30 min Professional Photoshoot of 1 guest (100-150 High Resolution images on a flash drive same day)
- $50 for each additional person in the Professional Photoshoot
- Party packages starting at $400 and exclusive space rental starting at $1000
Contact Info:
- Email: info@thespotlightlive.com
- Website: www.TheSpotlightLive.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/imatthespotlight
- Facebook: HTTPS://Facebook.com/imatthespotlight
Image Credits
@BrianTru
