Today we’d like to introduce you to Darius Jackson.
Hi Darius, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I started as a music artist at the age of 16. Over time, meeting new people and feeling like there was more to learn, I took music business courses and sat in on panels to help expand my knowledge on the business side. This led me to move into the artist development space, where I started teaching artists what they didn’t know about the industry. While doing this, I met Hollywood Pompeii, who is now one of my close friends, Hollywood Pompeii, who brought me in to learn more about video production and content creation. This in tune led me to working with an independent label in Vegas, It’s Gorgeous Musique. I worked there for 3 years as an A&R, working on the production team, and helping do stage management for tours. Throughout my time with the label, I helped sign over 50 artists to their distribution and started working with artists like Breadwinner Kane, Saucewood Winnin, Neecy J, Trap Beckham, and Sleepy Loco. This increased more of my knowledge on the business side while getting me around some of my childhood favorite artists as well as music execs. After 3 years with the label, I felt it was time to part ways and head back to New Orleans. I started school again at Full Sail University for Entertainment Business, and I was offered a position as CEO at Hollywood Pompeii Studios. I’ve been here for about 4 months now, and since I’ve become CEO, I’ve helped get a website development for the company, got a distribution partnership with Vydia where now we can offer our distribution, and brought in managers and team leaders to help train new engineers and videographers. I’m still looking to work with artists and help them develop in any way possible, and I feel like now I have way more experience and things to offer to help an artist get to the next level.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It has been nowhere near easy. I would say the struggles I’ve faced are learning how to navigate new areas of the industry with not a lot of knowledge. Not being able to close certain deals or being able to speak up to get certain opportunities during certain times, and learning to proper way to network with certain people. I’m still a student in this game because I know people who have been doing it for 20+ years, so I take their advice and apply it to how I do business.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m known for being the glue and structure to most businesses to which I attach myself. The last two companies I’ve worked with brought me on to hire new employees, train them, help develop more structure for the business, and find talent. So I’m always brought in to do a multitude of things, and I think that’s where I thrive. Companies know I can come in and help expand their business cause I work like I’m 10 people.
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
Seeing the people around me happy and seeing the results of my work. I feel like the career I’m in is about helping make stars and helping people live out their dreams. I love that part of the job, seeing someone who came from nothing who may not have even thought they’d make it out do it.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://jaybaggs.myportfolio.com/
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/hollywoodbaggs
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/darius-%E2%80%9Cjay-baggs%E2%80%9D-jackson-6381b6185/
