We had the good fortune of connecting with Danielle S. Reed and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Danielle, how do you think about risk?
To want to work in the TV, film, music or entertainment industry is a risk in itself, because of how difficult it can be to navigate these industries and networks. Nothing is ever guaranteed and the competition is steep, but I eventually became unafraid.
Looking back at the last five years of my career, I realize now that I took a lot of risks in college and throughout my 20s. My first big risk was leaving home to go to Syracuse University hundreds of miles from everything I had ever known, Atlanta. Taking these risks molded me into being a fearless leader, entrepreneur and creative. The second big risk I took was to study abroad in Madrid, Spain for five months in 2015. This was also a life-changing experience that would leave its mark on me forever. Next was the risk to jump headfirst into the music industry as a Talent Manager in 2017. The next big risk I took was to produce my first unscripted TV show called #AtlantasOwnTV. After that, I took a risk and applied for an NCBUniversal’s TV Hosting Workshop in LA, and got selected! I had no money in the bank, but I made a way to fly to Los Angeles and back for the experience. Finally, one the of biggest risks I ever took, I decided to audition for the W.E.E.N. Academy in New York in 2019, I got selected and moved to New York within months for the program, then moved back to New York a week after the program, to start my first TV gig at Starz.
These were all very risky ventures for me because during these years (2017-2019), I was unemployed, underemployed and literally sleeping on someone else’s couch or splitting an Airbnb. But at the time I saw these movements as necessary to get me to the next level in my career, and in front of the people and companies I wanted to work for. I had to learn to accept that media, TV, film and music is a risky business, and if I wanted to be a boss of the business, I had to learn it inside and out.
Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Reed Limited Entertainment (RLE) is a public relations and social media consulting company based in Washington, DC and Atlanta, GA. I am the Co-Founder and Chief Marketing Officer. I consult clients on the best ways to attract and maintain publicity, interviews and positive, public exposure for their brand or business and I create and manage strategic social media campaigns and promotion. With over eight years of experience as a journalist and media personality, I’ve written for my high school newspaper, the Blue & Gold, produced news packages in newsrooms, been on live shots with reporters in the field, and in 2018, I was selected to attend NCBUniversal’s 4th Annual TV Hosting Workshop in Los Angeles, California. I specialize in representing clients in the TV, film and entertainment industry, hence the name Reed Limited Entertainment.
I am most proud of my first two placements, which occurred in Atlanta in 2017, while I was still managing talent. I placed my clients on Sister Circle Live with Kenya Freeman from Project Runway, and my clients and myself on an episode of Love & Hip Hop Atlanta. I was also very proud of RLE’s first official event, ‘NYC NIGHTS’ in November 2017. Music artists from Atlanta and New York performed live New York City. This year we’ve hosted four virtual events so far and we’re rolling out new monthly Social Media Workshops for Talent, Entrepreneurs and Business Owners. Public Relations Workshops will be coming in Fall 2021!
RLE offers B2B and B2C consulting for three tiered levels, Beginner, Experienced or Celebrity Press & Publicity, Social Media Management & Marketing, and Event Promotion & Management.
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?
Here are the Top 5 places I would recommend anyone to go when they visit my hometown of Atlanta, Georgia for the first time:
1. Trap Music Museum
2. Starlight Drive-In
3. Escobar ATL
4. Slutty Vegan (either location)
5. The Gathering Spot
Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I dedicate my Shoutout to my father Derrick Reed! He was one of my biggest supporters and harshest critics at the same time. He told me all the time, throughout my childhood, high school and college years that I had a great voice, I spoke well, and he could see me on TV with my own talk show one day, like Oprah Winfrey. Oprah Winfrey is also one of my biggest inspirations as a Black woman multimedia journalist and reporter in the 21st century. Shoutout also to my Syracuse University and YMCA familia!!! And of course I must give credit to my inner support circle of my mother Karla Russell, and sisters Ambre Reed and Stephanie Reed.
Website: https://www.reedlimitedent.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/daniellesreed/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/DanielleSReed_
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ReporterReed
Image Credits Ayejhane Sneed