From Choreography to Enterprise: How Ms. Zabretta Built Multiple Streams of Creative Income

Ms. Zebretta: 00:00:00

I feel like talent is a given, but it's the way you operate and the way that you step in a room when somebody wants to be around you or somebody doesn't want to be around you. It's how good you can execute the job and stress free.

So if I know that I can make $24,000 a year and I put half of that away, I can go get my building for a thousand. That doesn't even include the other work I do because that's one stream of income I believe in. 5.

Ron "iRonic" Lee Jr.: 00:00:27

I don't have to chase money, money chase me because I'm operating from this pure, authentic space. Welcome, welcome, welcome to the Minding My Creative Business podcast. I am your co host, Ron ironically.

Shy Speaks: 00:00:47

Jr. And I am your co host, Sh speaks. And I am excited about today's episode.

This is the number one podcast for creative entrepreneurs to earn or learn strategy, structure and self development all in one place. And the person listen, she all about strategy, structure, self development. I absolutely love it.

This is for all of you movers out there, all of you shakers out there. Introducing choreography extraordinaire. Huh? You know, studio owner, nonprofit, I mean all the things. Welcome Ms. Zabretta.

Ms. Zebretta: 00:01:26

What a beautiful intro. Thank you.

Ron "iRonic" Lee Jr.: 00:01:29

So that's how we introduce you.

Ms. Zebretta: 00:01:31

Thank you.

Ron "iRonic" Lee Jr.: 00:01:31

How would you introduce yourself?

Ms. Zebretta: 00:01:33

I would introduce myself as a humble servant serving the entertaining community.

Ron "iRonic" Lee Jr.: 00:01:39

Okay, okay. I love that, I love that.

Ms. Zebretta: 00:01:41

Yeah. Cuz that encompasses everything.

Ron "iRonic" Lee Jr.: 00:01:43

Yeah, yeah. Like you mentioned you. So there's a, that non profit side. So you have the for profit, the choreography. But then there's that, that, that non.

Ms. Zebretta: 00:01:52

Profit that dive in, that helps the community if anything. I'm the director of a non profit. My mother owns it to help her start it. So it's a mother and daughter duo there.

Yeah, me and my sister both help my mom and things.

Shy Speaks: 00:02:04

Now there was another thing that I left out. She said she served in the entertainment community. I said choreography director of a nonprofit, owner of a student studio.

Ms. Zebretta: 00:02:13

Yes.

Shy Speaks: 00:02:14

And also a talent development company called Schooling Talents. And then of course just that other creativity. She's an actor and a model. So again I'm telling you all the things. All the things.

Ms. Zebretta: 00:02:26

She's not lying. Yeah, I'm over here like check, that's me. Check. That's. I guess that's true too.

Ron "iRonic" Lee Jr.: 00:02:32

So a lot of times I hear people that do these multiple things. Right. They always ask about like time management or balancing. Right.

So how do you go about balancing or juggling like those different facets of who it is that you are and what it is that you do.

Ms. Zebretta: 00:02:49

Meditation and guidance. So when I am starting my week, I look for month, because sometimes it just depends on how long a project is going. It all falls into place.

So, for example, I might have a banquet going on for school and talent, but then I have to hop on the plane and shoot a commercial, and then I might have to come back.

And so that balance comes from knowing your schedule ahead of time, not waiting to the last minute to prep, having a meditation to breathe through, because you can have some long days and some long nights and really listening to God to make sure that the people he put in place, they know how to carry out if you're not there. So I feel like God puts people in place for you in any type of realm you might have and any departments that's going on.

And that balance comes from knowing when to say yes and when to say, okay, let me step back, because this is. My team can handle this. And then we go over here.

Shy Speaks: 00:03:49

So truly, you are pretty much like a master at. Is what you're describing. You have to master kind of like self containment, temperance, you know, just all. It's like self control.

There's temperance, there's emotional management, there's mental management, so that you can have the mental clarity. And so a lot of that kind of leans into what we call, like, self development.

And so before I get into that, I want to be clear, because when we say you do a lot of things, sometimes people like, oh, this person is a slash person. Like, she's not a slash person. Like, all of these have different entities. So with a nonprofit organization, she chose to make it clear that. That.

That's the. We run that with my. My mother. That's her. The director. And then there is school and talent.

There are people in place that help run that particular entity. And then, of course, just as a choreographer, you know, I even know that you even have other choreographers that can help and run do.

So I've seen you be able to do this thing where it's like, I can do it, but I. I surround myself with other people who can do it. So let's just say there's a. A person who's a choreographer, and there's, like, no way to make it a business, right? How can I make this a business?

Because I have to be the one doing the choreography. I want you to be able to talk to us on. On how to, like, how do you create this kind of, like, scale, you know what I mean?

So that you can have, like, this duplication of other people doing things.

Ms. Zebretta: 00:05:17

So the scale comes from knowing people in general who are around you, their goals. Because if you have people around you who are trying to be under you because they're just trying to take and run, that happens. But be upfront.

I don't have these people or my team around me to say, oh, you with me? You under schooling talent, or, you know, you're with this brand. It's no. This brand was built with blood, sweat, tears, and strength.

So you can have a better path to do whatever you want to do. Just like there's multiple churches and there's multiple hospitals.

You can't sit here and tell me that they didn't start from under somebody and then branched out. So the first thing I always know from my team is, what's your goal? Because I'm here as a catalyst to get you through. That's. That's the ultimate.

See, he agrees. Yeah, that's the ultimate thing. That's the ultimate idea to make sure, you know, okay, this is my goal. This is what I want to do.

Now, what is your strength in that goal? And then you basically focus in on that and make that your stepping stool to get where you're trying to go.

So if I'm a choreographer for only Broadway, I only want to do Broadway theater. Okay? We'll use school and talent. So anytime I have banquets, award shows with different production companies, that.

That's where I will pull in that choreographer. Say, use this for your resume. And that way when we build your resume, we build your choreographer reel.

We can shop you to different shows in the community. And you can do theater in the community. You can do bishop arts, you can do T ball, you can do different types of theater. You can do plano theater.

All those for choreography. Those are your stepping stools. And then you branch out and then you go to the big wigs, right?

Shy Speaks: 00:07:08

So. Oh, she said, I need to know what your goal is. So you find other people. You know what they're go. Some people are looking like, how do I.

How do I find other people? Like, I can choreograph, but nobody gonna be able to do it like me and all that kind of stuff.

And then even if I did find somebody who can do it like me, how can I get them to do it? You basically said, find out what it is that they want to do, and then you have them to do that specifically in their realm.

Ms. Zebretta: 00:07:33

So you.

Shy Speaks: 00:07:34

I believe you're like an all around.

I've seen you choreograph in so many different facets but you're saying that I found somebody who specifically wants to do Broadway, and then I'll utilize you in a certain way. Yeah, that can. That's applicable to any creative entrepreneur.

So maybe I'm a. I'm a caterer, a culinary artist, and I found somebody who really wants to be big in baking. That doesn't mean that they can't work with us right now. They're going to work with us specifically handling all of those orders.

Ms. Zebretta: 00:08:03

Right.

Shy Speaks: 00:08:03

So that way they're still doing their thing, getting where they're going, but that gives you the access to them to utilize them to help. Help with what you need for your.

Ms. Zebretta: 00:08:11

Help them. Help me. It's selfless. You have to be selfless and use where you're at.

Look at what's around you, because nine times out of 10, your desire is coming from something higher and use the higher thing to look around and say, oh, I can see this. That's down the street from my house, and I can see this. And that person might know somebody and know somebody and know somebody.

Networking and being selfless and learning how to work in a team team gets you way further in your humility than it does trying to be the biggest and the baddest.

Shy Speaks: 00:08:41

I'm gonna go find somebody to work for me. Like, no.

Ron "iRonic" Lee Jr.: 00:08:43

Now, how did you get to that. To that point? Have you always been like that, or was that something that took place over time? Because you've been doing this for a minute, right.

You're not just new to this, right?

Ms. Zebretta: 00:08:53

No, no. You're true to this all the way. True, false, true.

Ron "iRonic" Lee Jr.: 00:08:56

Right. So at what point did that happen? Because, yeah, we were interviewing someone else and they said something similar. Right. And that's even my.

I, like, I'm gravitating towards it because that's my approach as well, where it's like, I want to develop the person.

Ms. Zebretta: 00:09:08

Right.

Ron "iRonic" Lee Jr.: 00:09:10

So that you can succeed with me or without me.

Ms. Zebretta: 00:09:13

Right.

Ron "iRonic" Lee Jr.: 00:09:14

Either way, I'm. I want you. You know, so.

Ms. Zebretta: 00:09:16

Sprinkled.

Ron "iRonic" Lee Jr.: 00:09:17

Yeah. So where did that come from?

Ms. Zebretta: 00:09:19

That came from being a student. I've always. And you know how most people be, like, I don't have to learn it by experience. I listen, okay, I'm. That I hear you.

And I'm like, all right, you went through that. Mine might be different. It doesn't deter me away from learning my own experiences, but I am someone that listened to somebody's experiences and.

And use that to grow. Like, I. I didn't have, like, some big thing that happened or, you know, I Don't have no true Hollywood story like that.

You know, I got my back broke and I started walking and I started choreographing. So sorry, that's not my story. My story is I listen. I'm a daddy's girl.

My dad's always taught me to make sure that you are being a steward to everything you do and make sure that you're listening before and observing before you're speaking. Because that. That gives you so much lead way in everything you do, and it teaches you a lot without even saying a word.

Shy Speaks: 00:10:13

Yeah.

Ms. Zebretta: 00:10:13

And people will want to bring you on because you quiet, you know, like, I can just be meek and still. Can I have you assist in this? Sure, if I'm available. Not a problem. I have no, I have no problem being a student. So I've always been a student.

Anything that I've done and anything, and I'm still a student. I'm learning from, like, other students that I've taught. And I'm like. And then they're calling us saying, hey, can we get this person? This person?

And I'm like, how is that happening? And I Talked. Taught you 15 years ago, and now you're in a position of creative directing. It's blowing my mind.

Shy Speaks: 00:10:55

Yeah, I love that. I think a lot of times when people listen to this podcast, we're talking about strategy, we're talking about structure.

Last time I said some of y' all strategy needs to be get a mentor. Well, now I'm going to say, based on what you're saying, Ms. Z, some of you guys need to have the strategy of being a student.

Being teachable comes consistently learning. That is a strategy.

Ms. Zebretta: 00:11:17

Like it is.

Shy Speaks: 00:11:18

And then that's listening to, like, I'm listening with the intent to learn from somebody.

Ms. Zebretta: 00:11:23

That's what the society is built off of. Go to school, go to middle school, go to high school, go to college, and then live a successful life. Right?

Now, what if you did all that and followed it in your experience just being a student the whole time, you're still gonna learn, you're still gonna network, whatever that may be for you.

Shy Speaks: 00:11:40

Yeah.

Ms. Zebretta: 00:11:41

College is not for everybody.

Shy Speaks: 00:11:46

So let me ask you this. I talked about choreography and how you could potentially make that.

Like, you can put a business model around that by staffing other people in certain areas. So at this point, what you're basically saying is, I can be like a lead choreographer. This person loves Broadway.

This person loves maybe like all the student stuff, all the kids stuff. I'll put them over that. And this person loves this. And now we have a choreography team.

Ms. Zebretta: 00:12:11

Yes.

Shy Speaks: 00:12:12

So they're going to reach out to us for a choreographer, and I'm going to say, yes, I can come, I can take care of it. And then your. Your choreographer for the day is going to be this person. And so this is how we do that. Perfect. Now we have school and talent. Right.

For example, first of all, let's tell me some of the people you've like choreography, you've done choreography for, or some of the organizations or entities. You can go ahead and start right here.

Ms. Zebretta: 00:12:35

Well, definitely the lovely shy speaks. And you know what? Shy, you're so fun to choreograph for. Because I literally have to go into my intellectual bag.

And when I study your music, I have to say, now what do I want people to pull from this? Because you take people on a journey in your music in general. Right. So if I'm going to go on this journey, how can I make sure it's entertaining?

How can I dance fast at certain parts, not all of them, because you gonna rap fast.

Shy Speaks: 00:13:04

Jesus.

Ms. Zebretta: 00:13:05

And then how can I also make sure that I'm telling the story you want to bring across? Cause it's not just. It's not gospel. It's not just inspirational. It makes you dive deep into your thoughts.

It makes you dive deep into who you are, and you make people self reflect and self aware. So when I choreograph and I'm listening to your music and I meditate on your music first, and I'm like, that ain't gonna work.

Like, I never go with my first idea, if you notice what you don't know. But I. I never go with my first idea. That's why with certain parts, I'm like, you can hit this. And he'd be like, I gotta dance. Yep, you got it.

Well, which, which part? This. Left, Right. You got it. And then it just all forms together because it's like your music, like the dancers are your. Your foundation.

And then when you jump in, it's the meat and it brings all the whole vision together.

Shy Speaks: 00:13:55

Now, I wasn't expecting her to go that far either.

Ms. Zebretta: 00:13:57

I mean, I'm just telling you.

Shy Speaks: 00:13:58

But I appreciate.

Ms. Zebretta: 00:13:59

And I'm not. I'm not trying to, you know, pour.

Shy Speaks: 00:14:01

Or pull a drag, some of the other things. And so I love that way you answered that because it shows your creativity. You tell a story with your.

Ms. Zebretta: 00:14:10

Yes.

Shy Speaks: 00:14:10

With your choreography. And we're going to move on to the other entities as well. But I want to say, like, before we move past choreography in by itself.

What are some of the, like, proud moments that you've had?

Ms. Zebretta: 00:14:23

Choreography proud moments would definitely have to be the black Academy Arts and letters, because that's where we received four regional Emmys.

So that was always a problem because it's such high energy, and it's honoring Martin Luther King, which is something that we all know about civil rights.

But for them to be able to receive that high acknowledgement and then for the company, be a part of it and see a plaque with that on there, it's like, wow, I'm on the way to he got, you know, so it's there. So that would be a proud moment. My other two proud moments would be recently would be with Fred Hammond. He wrote a play and directed Hood Book.

And it's the beautiful story of Adam and Eve, but told in such an urban way.

Shy Speaks: 00:15:17

Yeah.

Ms. Zebretta: 00:15:18

And we had tons of fun because not only was I the choreographer on there, I had dancers playing angels and demons in this theatrical play. And the moves in his music. It's just crazy. It's like, if you know Fred. So it's amazing.

And then not only that, we filmed it, and I was able to play Eve, and that was a. Because I didn't know that that was going to happen. But when I was asked, I was like, and be the choreographer.

And then he was like, yeah, you got it. And I got my team. And we did. While we were shooting, I also became, like, one of the producers.

Ron "iRonic" Lee Jr.: 00:15:55

Wow.

Ms. Zebretta: 00:15:56

So those different hats on set was definitely showed me my strength. It showed me how far I came. Because before Ozzy would be like, oh, I'm choreographing right now. I need to keep the acting bag separate. Separate.

And I'm telling this little. I got a ghetto angel named Shaquana, Right? Yeah. Yeah. Shaquana came on here and said, this is not the time to say no. This is the time to jump into it.

So it made me think of other times I might have said no. And I didn't know it, but she was clear as day. Like, no, walk into.

And I'm like, you know, that nervousness, the butterflies in the stomach, that adrenaline that rushes, that's when you know you're doing it right. So I was like, okay, this means that I can't do it on my own strength. I'm gonna have to lean to a higher power for this.

Shy Speaks: 00:16:49

Yeah.

Ms. Zebretta: 00:16:49

So I lean to have higher power. And I was able to do those three different hats on there for Hood Book. And we should be hearing about the release and all of that soon. Thank you.

And then of course, my. My ace, my Boo Koon Dahmera from Danny Kane and Dirty Money. She's an extraterrestrial. You can't put her in a box type of artist.

I have so much fun with her on tour. We recently just did a show for south by Southwest. We got more coming up this summer. So she's always fun. Like, those are the times I'm all right.

I get on stage, you be like, you gonna get on stage? Yeah. I need to stay flexible. You know, two hour shows and wearing heels the whole time is like, I don't need my exercise for the week.

Shy Speaks: 00:17:35

Yeah, I'm good. So I need to lift. That's cool. I wanted to make sure before we move further into like school and talent and what qualifies you to run this company?

And then the joy of joy.

Ms. Zebretta: 00:17:48

Of joy of music and movement.

Shy Speaks: 00:17:50

And then we're gonna also talk about the, the. The studio. What's the name of the studios?

Ms. Zebretta: 00:17:56

So it's entitled Fame, Entertainment Fame. And it's a conglomerate of businesses working together.

Shy Speaks: 00:18:02

Yeah.

Ms. Zebretta: 00:18:02

So it's just not about school and talent. It's not about joy, music and movement. I even have a partner in there, Princeton James Productions. And he hires out of Tennessee, Louisiana, Atlanta.

He strictly does, like, movies and all of that. So we're just different businesses coming together to work together.

Shy Speaks: 00:18:21

Wow. Wow.

Ron "iRonic" Lee Jr.: 00:18:23

So as I'm hearing you, you know, name these, these accolades and these things that you've done that you're proud of, those opportunities. Do those opportunities come because of the talent or because you do good business?

Ms. Zebretta: 00:18:39

I would say those opportunities came from good business.

Ron "iRonic" Lee Jr.: 00:18:45

Okay.

Ms. Zebretta: 00:18:46

I feel like talent is an. Is a given. You gotta have it to be in this business. Right. To even have a stamp. But it's the way you operate.

Ron "iRonic" Lee Jr.: 00:18:56

Yeah.

Ms. Zebretta: 00:18:56

In the way that you step in a room when somebody wants to be around you or if somebody doesn't want to be around you, it's not about how good you can choreograph, it's how good you can execute the job and stress free. So I want to say talent, but I wouldn't be telling the truth.

Shy Speaks: 00:19:17

Right, right.

Ms. Zebretta: 00:19:18

It's definitely about how you operate.

Ron "iRonic" Lee Jr.: 00:19:20

No, and I appreciate you, you being honest. Right. Because a lot of times as creators, we think that it's the talent.

Ms. Zebretta: 00:19:25

It's not.

Ron "iRonic" Lee Jr.: 00:19:26

And it's not now, mind you. Talent gets you. Maybe looked at.

Ms. Zebretta: 00:19:29

Yes.

Ron "iRonic" Lee Jr.: 00:19:29

Right. But talent ain't gonna keep you there.

Ms. Zebretta: 00:19:31

It won't. It'll get the.

Ron "iRonic" Lee Jr.: 00:19:32

Yup.

Shy Speaks: 00:19:33

Okay.

Ms. Zebretta: 00:19:34

That's it. But then after that it got to be how you know, who you know, how you know. Is this book of person.

Shy Speaks: 00:19:41

Are you professional?

Ms. Zebretta: 00:19:42

Yeah.

Shy Speaks: 00:19:42

You know what I mean? Like that. Yeah.

Ms. Zebretta: 00:19:43

I'm a. Listen to shy. Tell me about. You should work with this artist. They're serious. More than this artist coming to me saying, can you work with me?

What's your brand? Because, you know.

Shy Speaks: 00:19:54

Yeah.

Ms. Zebretta: 00:19:55

Her words are more trusting, like, she's ready. All right, say no more. Let's do it.

Ron "iRonic" Lee Jr.: 00:20:00

Yeah.

Ms. Zebretta: 00:20:01

I don't need anything else. I got her word.

Shy Speaks: 00:20:03

Yeah. So. Okay. So. All right, so we got Fame Entertainment.

Ms. Zebretta: 00:20:10

Yeah.

Shy Speaks: 00:20:10

Right. So now there's this. This building that you have. Well, you've all. You previously had a kind of a. It was a spot in Arlington, Texas, which is middle.

Ms. Zebretta: 00:20:21

That was just a rehearsal space.

Shy Speaks: 00:20:22

A rehearsal spot.

Ms. Zebretta: 00:20:23

Yes.

Shy Speaks: 00:20:23

That was now a.

Ms. Zebretta: 00:20:26

This is. This is definitely an entertainer's workspace space.

Shy Speaks: 00:20:30

Yeah.

Ms. Zebretta: 00:20:31

So you know how you got the business workspace where you can go in and you got, like, the little cubes. You can do your. Your meetings and all of that? This is for entertainers?

Shy Speaks: 00:20:39

Yes.

Ron "iRonic" Lee Jr.: 00:20:40

Okay, explain. I mean, like, what's in there?

Shy Speaks: 00:20:43

Yeah, what's in there? I'm.

Ron "iRonic" Lee Jr.: 00:20:44

I'm hearing that.

Ms. Zebretta: 00:20:45

I know. Isn't it great? So this is something that's always been a fire in me.

I would say I always wanted to spot where people can come and feel like it was their own. So this is a little thing in me, I would say that is really, like.

It was what I would want if I was starting a business and I wanted to walk straight into a place. So Fame Entertainment has six rooms in a hall in the back for the community, of course.

And those six rooms have two dance studios so you can rehearse. Each studio comes with a mic in the in as well as a speaker so you can rehearse.

It comes different lighting so you can feel like you're on stage as an artist. There's a front room for whatever you need. Like, a lot of my beauty estheticians go in there.

They can set up, and it's a blank space for you to put up your retractables as well as anything you want to hang and make it feel like your own little shot.

Ron "iRonic" Lee Jr.: 00:21:45

Right.

Ms. Zebretta: 00:21:46

The next room is a podcast and studio room, so you can run whatever you want out of there. The next room is an office for your therapist to have sessions. So this is. It's blank. Like, you walk in. It's black and white. It only says.

Only says Fame Entertainment. And on the right, it says our partners and all plaques of people who we have worked with. Okay.

And when you walk to the back, it's literally like an event hall where people can rent risers, put chairs on and have a one woman show because it's two infinity walls back there. And then you can also put down tables, you can have baby showers, weddings, so forth. But it's a space where you can say, I can make this my own.

I could put my logo up. And the only thing you see is Fame Entertainment. Fame Entertainment is not a business. It's businesses within this space, but it's not a business.

Ron "iRonic" Lee Jr.: 00:22:43

I love it.

Ms. Zebretta: 00:22:44

And it's a workspace.

Shy Speaks: 00:22:45

Like, she's just so smart.

Ms. Zebretta: 00:22:47

Glory to God.

Shy Speaks: 00:22:49

And so also intentional to help create space for others. Right. I think that I love that when it comes to. Okay. Getting the building, finishing out rooms, figuring out. Yeah, yeah.

What made you laugh right there?

Ms. Zebretta: 00:23:10

It made me laugh because I am a handy girl, believe it or not.

Shy Speaks: 00:23:14

What?

Ms. Zebretta: 00:23:15

So I put click, like literally the click and lock floors. I put them all down.

Ron "iRonic" Lee Jr.: 00:23:21

Wow.

Shy Speaks: 00:23:22

Wow.

Ms. Zebretta: 00:23:22

Literally got shit. Did it myself.

Shy Speaks: 00:23:25

Yeah. So you like. Okay. Nobody. Yeah.

Ms. Zebretta: 00:23:27

When you say that, I'm like, I remember the, the nights, the long nights. I'm like, this is going to be great. And then the back room has square scriptures underneath the floor.

So we all wrote down different scriptures and put it underneath the, you know, the underlinement, of course. And we put it underneath there. So that room is blessed.

Shy Speaks: 00:23:43

Yeah.

Ms. Zebretta: 00:23:44

Like we don't. That's why I was laughing. I was like, I remember these, the floors. Right. I have fun before. I love, I love. I'm a handy girl.

Shy Speaks: 00:23:53

Yeah. So, okay, so let's talk about this. If I'm a person, I'm like, okay, I want to create this. I want to create a space like this in my city.

You know, I mean like, you're from dfw. Put it in dfw. I'm from the Chicago metro area. I want one up here. What?

Like if they're wanting to do something like that, you know, you got a bunch of different companies working together. Yeah. What's something they need to know? Like, because since you've.

You've put it together, you've like back office wise, logistics wise, aside from floors and all that kind of stuff, what's something else they need to know about trying to create a space like this?

Ms. Zebretta: 00:24:24

I would say knowing your budget for the first three years, you're going to be in there and tell yourself, if I don't get one customer, does my budget cover everything? Just if you wasn't Buying the building. You know, you got sponsors like that.

Shy Speaks: 00:24:43

Yeah.

Ms. Zebretta: 00:24:43

If you don't get one client, can you carry this note or this rent for three years?

Shy Speaks: 00:24:51

That's good.

Ms. Zebretta: 00:24:52

Right off that, even if you are subleasing, can you carry it from month to month? I want to go that route. But know your budget yearly, and it's not about saving that till you get there. It's not even about. I'm.

I'm a little biased when it comes to using other people's money. I know that's the module, using a loan to get where you're trying to go. I personally don't care for that. I like, am a person who likes to build.

Likes to hold and start small and.

Shy Speaks: 00:25:19

Let it grow and grow.

Ms. Zebretta: 00:25:20

Yeah, I'm fine with that. Because I. I don't. I don't care for debt. It's not my thing. Like, I pay it off and I keep it pushing.

But I would tell them, start looking at your budget for three years. For example, I have a dancer. This is like best friend of mine. I've known her for 10 years now. Gosh.

And she actually just opened up her own spot in Oak Cliff. So she's seen her sister go through this. We've talked about it, but that was something she said I can do. I'm gonna take this, and.

And I'm a run, and I'm going to go open. And I'm so proud of her. Yeah, super proud of her.

Shy Speaks: 00:25:58

Yeah. Okay, so pricing. How do you price something like this? Give us a pricing strategy.

Ms. Zebretta: 00:26:04

So I would say that. Say that you come into some funds of like $20,000.

Shy Speaks: 00:26:11

Right. Whether they borrowed it or somebody invested.

Ms. Zebretta: 00:26:14

It or got it. Okay. All right, so. And this is only for me getting my own studio. Right. Not for me to start when we start from zero.

Shy Speaks: 00:26:23

Oh.

Ron "iRonic" Lee Jr.: 00:26:26

Let'S start from zero.

Ms. Zebretta: 00:26:26

Yeah, let's start from. Start from zero. Say I want to be a choreographer. That's what we're talking about. And I want to start from $0. I have nothing in my bank account.

Okay, what's the first thing I do? First thing I would do is team up with another choreographer.

Then with that other choreographer, I would say, hey, is there any way that we can split payment somehow so I can start building. Start my building fund? Then after that, I'll go to every event in that city, and with those events, I will market myself as a choreographer.

I'll start small.

Small jobs are just doing choreography for whatever somebody needs a dancer for a event, a video shoot, or, you know, some festival in Dallas, I get on there, right? Because I know that they have hire artists in Dallas. Say I'm in Dallas. I get on there so I can do that.

Then I get on other organizations like Thumbtack Gig Salad to see if I can start getting some clients there. I will build my clientele. By that time, I probably got like maybe one grand, two grand in the bank. And I would do that as long as I need.

Because I'm learning, then I need to learn. This person who I've teamed up with. How much is mortgage? How much is not mortgage? How much is rent? How much is your lights? How much is your gas?

Because some places come, you got to pay more for gas. How much is. How much is your water? Then I'm looking at that, and I put that in Excel sheet and I make that my goal.

Say that that full month for me, like a 2,000 square foot. Let me go back. A thousand square foot building is gonna probably cost me a thousand dollars a month plus everything, right?

So I know I need a thousand dollars a month, which is $12,000 a year. Okay. Then three years is 12 times 3. 36. Okay. I know I need $36,000 in order for me to run this business.

If I'm not bringing in at least a fourth of that a month from the small things that I'm doing, I need to wait on getting the building. Say I start bringing it in. Say I start bringing in more than that. Say I'm bringing in $2,000 a month, and I'm still working with this choreographer.

Now I'm traveling now I've made it. I don't. And I came up a little bit, and I'm working with. But I'm also giving referrals. I'm big on that. If I work with somebody, I give a referral.

Thank you for bringing this person to me. I appreciate it. Lunch on me for the next couple of months. That's just who I am. I think that's good business.

I learned that a long time ago when I was working with BET a long time ago. Just in way people did business.

Shy Speaks: 00:28:55

Yeah.

Ms. Zebretta: 00:28:56

And then I'm making two grand a month. Okay. I could probably get my. Okay, yeah. All right, good. I can. I can. I can do this now. This is just two grand a month.

I probably still got a nine to five. I probably still. I'm dancing myself. I'm pro.

Shy Speaks: 00:29:11

Right.

Ms. Zebretta: 00:29:11

But that's two grand, Right. Okay. So I take that and I say, okay, let me just start putting away 500,000. That whole time. I should have Been putting away a money. Right.

So I should have at least ten grand saved up so I got almost enough for one year. Almost enough. So if I know that I can make $24,000 a year and I put half of that away, I can go get my building for a thousand.

Shy Speaks: 00:29:41

Yeah.

Ron "iRonic" Lee Jr.: 00:29:41

Right.

Ms. Zebretta: 00:29:42

And then that doesn't even include the other work I do, because that's one stream of income. I believe in five.

Ron "iRonic" Lee Jr.: 00:29:48

Okay. Okay. So let's lean into that as a choreographer or, you know, whatever. That's one. So how are we going to where we get this other.

Ms. Zebretta: 00:29:57

These other two is I'm an actor and I'm a model.

Ron "iRonic" Lee Jr.: 00:29:59

Okay.

Ms. Zebretta: 00:30:00

So that's too.

Ron "iRonic" Lee Jr.: 00:30:01

Okay.

Ms. Zebretta: 00:30:01

Then I also do the nonprofit. And I also am a person that I would say branches out into other things.

Ron "iRonic" Lee Jr.: 00:30:11

Okay.

Ms. Zebretta: 00:30:12

I branch out into other businesses where I'm a silent partner investor completely. Well, I own them, so kind of. But not really. I'm just back.

Shy Speaks: 00:30:24

Yeah.

Ms. Zebretta: 00:30:24

So I would say that none of them have anything to do with entertainment. Dabbling in something else. And then my fifth one is always a wild card.

Meaning, like, it can be one of those things I did for the year and I'm like, oh, I'm gonna do. I'm gonna do a production this year for fun.

Shy Speaks: 00:30:43

Yeah.

Ms. Zebretta: 00:30:43

Or I'm gonna dive into seeing how I can get. Be a part of. Of this cleaning company and see how many clients we get. So those are. That's my fifth income.

Shy Speaks: 00:30:55

So.

Ms. Zebretta: 00:30:55

So we were just speaking of one. And with that one, if I got half of my.

Shy Speaks: 00:31:01

You got 12,000 already done.

Ms. Zebretta: 00:31:04

Then you're going to have to invest in yourself so you can go get it because you already got the clientele. It's just going to keep building. And then you start creating things in that building that serves your business.

So then you won't just do choreography. Like, for example, in Arlington, it was strictly a rehearsal space because I knew I did not have the bandwidth. I am not a dance studio.

It's just not me.

Shy Speaks: 00:31:27

Yeah.

Ms. Zebretta: 00:31:28

I'm not gonna. I'll send them out to. I actually promote other places. Like, hey, go over here, go over here, go over here.

Because we're not doing hip hop class four times a week. I'm. I'm not that. I'll train artists. You'll do a vocal class. You'll do a. You know.

As well as your choreography class, and you'll do a songwriting class. And how can you get into Netflix with your. With your music? That's. I do master classes, but other than that. But Arlington was Strictly that.

So our events over there were strictly going to be master classes, rehearsal, which took up majority of the time at anyway.

Shy Speaks: 00:32:03

Right.

Ms. Zebretta: 00:32:03

And then as well as rentals. Rentals, that's it.

Shy Speaks: 00:32:06

So that's another stream of income because now you're renting out this building.

Ms. Zebretta: 00:32:09

That's that wild card.

Shy Speaks: 00:32:11

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Ms. Zebretta: 00:33:09

That's the wild card.

Shy Speaks: 00:33:10

So, so this person, they, they got the building, they're probably still working, but now they can rent out the space. They're using the space to train their clients to dance. Whoever they teach in still working with.

Ms. Zebretta: 00:33:20

The person that helped them. They're working with the person with help because that's important.

Shy Speaks: 00:33:23

All right, so now, now, now where.

Ms. Zebretta: 00:33:24

Are we going now? We're going into making sure that you're doing stuff in your building. So like I said, with the events, like, you just can't train your clients.

You got your rentals going on. Then you want to see how, what, what's your next step? You can't just do choreography. How do you want to brand yourself now?

Now you should have a good idea how to brand yourself. For me, as a choreographer, I'm branded as the person who's gonna bring a different type of wow to your stage.

Like, it doesn't matter if I'm in Broadway, doesn't matter if I'm on award stage, a banquet hall or a music video. I know different scales from production of how to scale it down for not down, but narrow for camera.

I know how to make it Big for Broadway and theater. So I'm known for understanding those different elements and that you're going to get more than you bargain for.

Shy Speaks: 00:34:14

Right.

Ms. Zebretta: 00:34:15

You're not going to just get a choreographer.

Shy Speaks: 00:34:17

Yeah.

Ms. Zebretta: 00:34:17

You're not.

Shy Speaks: 00:34:18

I would say you.

To me, you've branded yourself in such a way to where it's like you're a choreographer but you're also like you're going to bring a creative direction to it. So it kind of like saves people money if somebody doesn't have like a huge budget. You need a creative director.

I mean, you need a director, you need a producer, you need a. You need a dancer, you need a da da da. You need a da da.

Ms. Zebretta: 00:34:37

Yeah, I'm a one stop shop. You ain't got to worry about your dancers. You ain't got to worry about your creative director. I'm already there.

You ain't got to worry about your producing to make sure you look good. You ain't got to have another assistant because I'm probably going to run around and do all of that as well. So they. I'm known as that.

And you ain't going to just get the choreographer be ready. She ain't going to let you do much. She going to make sure you right, though.

Shy Speaks: 00:34:54

Yeah.

Ron "iRonic" Lee Jr.: 00:34:55

Right. But in doing that, you are also able to charge a little bit more. And it's like they're saving. So it's the thing. It's like I'm able to charge more.

They're saving a little bit because they don't have to do all this because I bring so much to the table. So it's a win win for both.

Ms. Zebretta: 00:35:10

Yep. That team helps them. Especially when we're traveling. If we're on tour, our team, if anything is maybe five. We don't. And that's band included.

Ron "iRonic" Lee Jr.: 00:35:19

Yeah.

Ms. Zebretta: 00:35:20

Five people for two hour shows.

Ron "iRonic" Lee Jr.: 00:35:23

Yeah.

Shy Speaks: 00:35:23

Wow.

Ms. Zebretta: 00:35:24

It's crazy, right?

Shy Speaks: 00:35:25

It's like what, two dancers?

Ms. Zebretta: 00:35:26

Two dancers, two piece band and the artist. And we. And the manager will call. Yeah, the manager will call me sometimes to make sure everything's good. And I'll act as front.

Ron "iRonic" Lee Jr.: 00:35:39

Wow.

Ms. Zebretta: 00:35:40

So you don't have to worry about hotels for this and hotels for that and hotels for this person and this band and this five piece. Like you're good because you're one musician. Plays three different instruments.

Ron "iRonic" Lee Jr.: 00:35:49

Right.

Shy Speaks: 00:35:50

Okay. Okay.

Ms. Zebretta: 00:35:51

It's crazy.

Shy Speaks: 00:35:52

It's crazy. So. Yeah.

So it's so crazy that heavy rolling in reality, people tell you like, you need to just do this one thing, but it's like the more you listen to people who are succeeding. They actually do more than one thing.

Ms. Zebretta: 00:36:06

Yeah.

Shy Speaks: 00:36:07

That's. That's what makes them have a competitive advantage.

Ms. Zebretta: 00:36:09

Yes. Right.

Shy Speaks: 00:36:10

That's a. It's. And so the, the. Another guy, he was talking about how he had wraparound services.

Like I do this, but I also bring this, this, that and the third. It wasn't things that he was necessarily doing, but it was extra elements that.

Ms. Zebretta: 00:36:22

He can bring in.

Ron "iRonic" Lee Jr.: 00:36:23

Yeah.

Shy Speaks: 00:36:23

That he brings in.

Ms. Zebretta: 00:36:24

It takes the headache away.

Ron "iRonic" Lee Jr.: 00:36:26

Right.

Ms. Zebretta: 00:36:27

Yeah.

Shy Speaks: 00:36:27

Really serving the people.

Ms. Zebretta: 00:36:28

You know what's funny other way that I feel like I even dived into is because there were certain ways that you, you. It's a certain way you like things. Right. I can show you better than I could tell you.

Ron "iRonic" Lee Jr.: 00:36:38

Right.

Ms. Zebretta: 00:36:39

So I dived into it because it was even editing for production. I dived into it because I didn't like a project when I was 18. 17 probably some around there somewhere you know, gets blurry.

I was, I remember getting it and I was like, God, that's not it. Well, he got a little upset. I was like, I. I appreciate it. It's just. It's not, it's not it, mind you. This is a 17. 18 year year old girl. That's.

Young lady.

Shy Speaks: 00:37:05

Yeah.

Ms. Zebretta: 00:37:05

Teenager that's talking to somebody that's been doing this for over 20, 30 years.

Shy Speaks: 00:37:09

Yeah.

Ms. Zebretta: 00:37:11

Chewed me out.

Ron "iRonic" Lee Jr.: 00:37:12

Yeah.

Ms. Zebretta: 00:37:12

And I was like, if you think you can do better, this is the time. I got cds back. Here are all the CDs of all of the footage. And you try it.

I sat down, figured out how to edit in a night, in one night and edit the video and push play. Met with him again, said this is how I would have liked it. How'd you do this? I learned the program.

And when, you know, when you feel a certain way, you got unthinkable strength.

Ron "iRonic" Lee Jr.: 00:37:41

Exactly.

Shy Speaks: 00:37:42

I was gonna say you sound like you kind of gotta be a little crazy.

Ms. Zebretta: 00:37:44

Yeah.

Shy Speaks: 00:37:46

And that's real.

Ron "iRonic" Lee Jr.: 00:37:46

Cause it's like a lot of, you know, you're the exception. Right. And I always tell people, I say we can't build around the exception. We got to build around the rule.

Ms. Zebretta: 00:37:56

Yeah.

Ron "iRonic" Lee Jr.: 00:37:56

Right. Because. But you know. So that the exceptions can break the rule.

Ms. Zebretta: 00:37:59

Exactly.

Ron "iRonic" Lee Jr.: 00:37:59

Right. But if we build around exception, everybody gonna think that they can do that and everybody can't.

So that's why when we hear talk, people talk about niching down. That's the rule. And you should so certain people to niche down.

Ms. Zebretta: 00:38:09

Yes.

Ron "iRonic" Lee Jr.: 00:38:10

But somebody like yourself, you niching down wouldn't be wise because then you're boxing yourself in you can't. And you're this extraordinary talent.

Ms. Zebretta: 00:38:18

Yeah.

Ron "iRonic" Lee Jr.: 00:38:18

And you gotta expand.

Ms. Zebretta: 00:38:20

I got. You got.

Ron "iRonic" Lee Jr.: 00:38:21

Yeah.

Ms. Zebretta: 00:38:21

It was always place. Because one person did it doesn't mean that there's not more than one way.

Shy Speaks: 00:38:26

So I feel like this, man, I love the conversational style interviews, but I think like when our listeners are listening in, I think they're listening and hoping to like get the, get the tea. They want the juice, they want the. They want to know what they need to be doing.

So I feel like you gave, you've given them that on like, what's your scenario of like how to get started? This is how you get started building up your book of business. It's gonna be building up your clientele, getting your money up.

You talk to them about partnering with somebody from zero.

Ms. Zebretta: 00:38:56

Money shouldn't be a, you know, an excuse.

Shy Speaks: 00:39:03

And then also you talked about getting a spot. Now this spot can be a place that you can operate out of and you can make some extra income from.

But then you get to this point where you have schooling, talent or this, you're. You're. You're training artist. That's another thing beside. So. And, and you're not the person currently doing all of that.

Like, how do you set up a model like that where it's like, hey, we train artists, we make sure they're ready for their shows, we make sure they're ready. And then we're like, how do you set that up? Tell us about that.

Ms. Zebretta: 00:39:47

Really, when it comes to setting it up, it doesn't even require.

Shy Speaks: 00:39:50

Which.

Ms. Zebretta: 00:39:51

This is something that I could say I can get better on marketing with it, but I don't even have to. It gets marketed in people's shows. When people see the artist perform, they're like, who did that show?

And then the artists are like, you know, I did that show. Like, yeah, you did, but who did your entire show? It's like, oh, that's schooling talent. This choreographer, this dancer.

Or they'll go up to the dancers and be like, can you dance for me? And you know, because they don't, they don't really know. They're like, yeah, but you gotta talk to her or talk to this person.

I have a very loyal team.

Yeah, my team knows right off bat, if you go to a show and you're approached at one of a school and talent show, it's only respect to make sure they know how that show was made because they're looking at the entire vision. So when it comes to that, that's a, that's. That's an anointing that's different.

Shy Speaks: 00:40:45

That's an important piece that you just talked about right there.

This actually kind of goes into like legalities and structure because some people, somebody's thinking like, okay, I want to do this, but every time I take dancers somewhere, people are swiping my people, keep swiping my people. I keep, I build up a bunch of dancers and then they're going on.

Well, number one, I think people stay with school and talent who, people who are dancers or who do whatever it is else that you see that they're enhancing the artist show with. I think it's because you. They keep a good rhythm of work that they weren't getting by themselves. They didn't know how to get this work.

So you basically help these dancers get work, right?

Ms. Zebretta: 00:41:25

Yes, get work. And then as well as create more streams. Because some of my dancers don't just dance with us, they also teach in the schools on our non profit side.

Then they may work at the building. So they're learning the behind scenes, that work ethic.

They're learning their talent, how they can dive into and touch youngers as well as their own peers. Okay, so they have a rhythm of work.

Shy Speaks: 00:41:50

Exactly.

So you're not just providing them with opportunities to dance with other artists, you're providing them other opportunities to work with the youth and students and outreach through the non profit. And you're also providing them with opportunities to work another stream of income by working at the space.

And so it's really full on immersion into the entertainment world that they're being able to get to. Your referrals to work with. The artists are coming by word of mouth.

Ms. Zebretta: 00:42:15

It's coming by word of mouth, by.

Shy Speaks: 00:42:17

The show itself, the presentation itself. It's like, it's so good, people want to know who this is and. And then you have this legal structure in there.

And I'm not sure if it's like a contractually obligated. But it's like, is it contractually obligated to where they have to say like yes, you can book me through. You can.

Ms. Zebretta: 00:42:33

Well, it's not. It's not book me through cuz I let them fly. Yeah. I don't have an agency.

Shy Speaks: 00:42:39

Yeah.

Ms. Zebretta: 00:42:39

And I have been asked many times if I will start one.

Shy Speaks: 00:42:42

Yeah.

Ms. Zebretta: 00:42:43

But that means that I have like, for me to even want to do something, I have to really be guided towards it. I can't just do it. I don't. I'm really not a person that works for money.

Ron "iRonic" Lee Jr.: 00:42:51

Yeah.

Ms. Zebretta: 00:42:52

It has to. Money Gonna come. I let it chase me.

Shy Speaks: 00:42:54

Yeah.

Ms. Zebretta: 00:42:55

I don't chase it. So with that being said, it's not. I don't tell the. The dancers you gotta come. It's. It's out of respect.

Shy Speaks: 00:43:03

Respect? Yeah.

Ms. Zebretta: 00:43:04

If I find out something else is being done or said behind backs, it's like. It's betrayal. So it's said up front, and then people do it. It's whatever. Like, you live your life how you feel.

It just probably won't be with me, that's all.

Ron "iRonic" Lee Jr.: 00:43:19

But how do you. Is that something that. Obviously you're intentional about it, but is that something that. How do you enforce that?

I mean, once again, I know you said people are going to do them.

Ms. Zebretta: 00:43:28

But is it meetings, okay, Production meetings prior to shows? I don't just get in rehearsal and just teach them and bring the artists in.

Like, if you notice every time you come into rehearsal with dancers, they're always professional. Dancers are trained to be that way. If you notice, they don't ever speak when I'm teaching. They're behind most other dance rehearsals.

If they're with an artist, they'll have ideas. We don't need that right now. You hold that and we'll talk about it later. Like, there is a way.

Way to oppose yourself in any type of rehearsal or any type of production.

So that's enforced, I guess you can say, by them understanding up front the way that I would like for them to conduct themselves when they're working with us. Because there's a way I will conduct myself when working with them if I get asked about them, if we're out in public. Hey, I like that dancer.

All right, cool. Not a problem. I can definitely see if they're available people. Okay, you. Are you available for X, Y and Z?

You're more than welcome to do, you know, But I. I like to help them because then you'll know how to conduct yourself and keep this going.

Shy Speaks: 00:44:34

Yeah, I like it. So. Because you don't. It's not like the structure is structure that's there. That's communicated. It's standards. It's culture.

Ms. Zebretta: 00:44:41

It's very much culture.

Shy Speaks: 00:44:42

Like, not necessarily a legality that is, like, you know, sign the contract, and if somebody come up to you on the stage, you have to say tours. Yes. Okay.

Ms. Zebretta: 00:44:51

I'm more strict on tours.

Shy Speaks: 00:44:52

Okay.

Ms. Zebretta: 00:44:53

When it comes to touring, I would like for people to have an understanding that, you know, this business was. Was built for a platform for you, and that needs to be said.

Shy Speaks: 00:45:05

Right.

Ms. Zebretta: 00:45:05

Because that's how you keep it going.

Shy Speaks: 00:45:06

Right. And for other people too in the future. Right.

Ms. Zebretta: 00:45:09

So but the contracts for, for our local or just a little bit of the out of state stuff. No, it's just a respect and that's why my circle's small.

Ron "iRonic" Lee Jr.: 00:45:19

Yeah.

Shy Speaks: 00:45:19

Yeah. Okay. You got something? Okay, so you guys say something? Yeah, no, because I was. You know, so we have this kind of like a model whereby we.

Well, first of all, you have enough entities that's there to keep. Give people multiple streams of income because they just can work in different aspects of the. Under the different divisions that's associated with.

With the company, which are companies. Let's talk about this new Fame entertainment space that we have in the Richardson, Texas area. If I'm someone who's trying to create a.

A co working space for creatives in my. And I'm in Nebraska, so I need to know this. How do we, how do we price this thing? Like give us like.

Yeah, they just rent out room by room or do they rent it out? Do they rent out the whole facility room by room?

Ms. Zebretta: 00:46:14

So we'll have a dance rehearsal going on while somebody is doing esthetician work in the front. The main thing that I make sure is not a lot of sound around is our recording. Even though it's soundproofed in there. Recording and podcast.

Ron "iRonic" Lee Jr.: 00:46:29

Yeah.

Ms. Zebretta: 00:46:29

So I might do that with our therapist because there's not going to be a lot of sound and I won't have a birthday party going on in the back. So that's the main thing. I'm very careful on when it comes to that. Other than that I would price it like this. The whole space is priced room by room.

You will get quality and quantity. For example 9, for example. This is reality. Each room is priced at 25 an hour, which is reasonable.

Ron "iRonic" Lee Jr.: 00:46:58

Very reasonable.

Ms. Zebretta: 00:46:59

Most studios. Thank you. Most studios are 35, 55 for this space. But you're going in as an artist. You're paying for yourself. You're paying for your production.

You got a video shoot. You want to do this because you want to get off your heart because your grandma told you you could sing.

So how can I do this on the budget and then possibly shoot a video on infinity wall in the back?

Ron "iRonic" Lee Jr.: 00:47:19

Wow.

Shy Speaks: 00:47:20

Wow.

Ms. Zebretta: 00:47:20

So I priced it at 25 an hour. Now you just got to be efficient with your time.

Shy Speaks: 00:47:26

So when it comes to pricing, I mean I'm, I'm in Ron's world, but I'm. I'm we in business period. So I understand strategy and, and I also understand. I usually ask all the structure questions and logistics and back end.

But pricing strategy wise, there's a, there's a strategy to either be expensive or would you like luxury price or to be affordable? And it's. And you chose to go afford affordable because of the people group that you're serving?

Ms. Zebretta: 00:47:54

Yes. And. Well, not necessarily. Yeah, because I wanted to go affordable to let the people know. Whoever walked in this building, you never know.

For example, there was a class going on for the non profit. I had Fred coming in for a rehearsal in the back and people were like, that's Fred Hammond. Yeah. Because you, it's. These are, these are God's people.

These are regular people.

Shy Speaks: 00:48:23

Regular people. Right. You make it so affordable that Fred could book. He can afford it. But then also somebody else random could have booked and they just passing by.

Ms. Zebretta: 00:48:31

They passing by because you never know who you're gonna walk into. So it's not this, this level of.

Ron "iRonic" Lee Jr.: 00:48:37

Yeah.

Ms. Zebretta: 00:48:37

Oh, is this person here or is this person here? Yeah, luxury is great.

Shy Speaks: 00:48:43

Yeah.

Ms. Zebretta: 00:48:43

It's just different.

Ron "iRonic" Lee Jr.: 00:48:45

Part of your business model that I'm hearing, and it's from all facets and all aspects is, is that service piece, right, where it's like you're always looking out for everyone else. Right. I'm not just. It's like, yes, I'm benefiting from it, but no, I'm looking out for the choreographer that's up and coming.

I'm looking out for this person and that person. Even in this space. I'm looking out for the entertainer or the creative.

Ms. Zebretta: 00:49:10

Yes.

Ron "iRonic" Lee Jr.: 00:49:11

That's just. I mean, that's phenomenal.

Ms. Zebretta: 00:49:14

Glory, Glory.

Ron "iRonic" Lee Jr.: 00:49:15

I love it. And it's. And it's been profitable for you.

Ms. Zebretta: 00:49:17

Yes.

Ron "iRonic" Lee Jr.: 00:49:17

There's a lot of times people think that they can't serve because, well, there's no money in service. But actually it is. When you fully understand it and you.

Ms. Zebretta: 00:49:26

Got it, you're doing it from a.

Ron "iRonic" Lee Jr.: 00:49:27

Genuine and authentic place. Like you said earlier, like, I don't have to chase money, money chase me because I'm operating from this pure, authentic self space.

I'm not fabricating anything. I'm not. I don't got to do anything. That's not me. I can show up as me authentically, consistently. Right.

I can show up with the strategy and structure that I have in place. That's how I don't even have to market. The fact that you said that was mind blowing. Like, wait, I don't have to market.

Because though you don't have to market, but the way that you show up, the way that you deliver an experience that does the Marketing for you. So I don't have to have anything extra out of side of myself.

Shy Speaks: 00:50:06

You know what's so crazy about the way it is a blessing? It's because like Lamborghini, I don't know, you don't see no marketing. You don't see no commercials for them. You don't see. And it's.

And so usually you think the high price things you don't have to market. But it's kind of crazy that you have this affordability. But still you like a Lamborghini.

Yes, in the way this approach is like we don't actually have the it because people want it.

Ms. Zebretta: 00:50:30

Yeah.

Shy Speaks: 00:50:31

And the Lamborghini, they don't want it because it's expensive. If you really want a Lamborghini, you're not buying it because it's expensive. You're buying it because the horsepower.

You're buying it because the tires, you're the, the, the dime, the edge and all that. So there's something that I want out of. It doesn't matter how much how. If you're really into all the car, then that's why I want that.

Because it's so robust. And this is why I want to work with fame, entertainment at school and talent or be a part of. Because it's so robust. It's. It, it markets itself.

Ms. Zebretta: 00:51:00

It markets itself. It's a family. Like I might be reaching, but it's like the Jesus model. Yeah, Jesus went everywhere.

Shy Speaks: 00:51:06

Yeah.

Ms. Zebretta: 00:51:07

And people were following just because of what they, what they, they just want to see if it was real. So it's, it's like that. Like I just want to see if it's real. And then we create this family, this community that everybody comes together and it's.

Yeah, it's just fun.

Shy Speaks: 00:51:22

It's just fun.

Ms. Zebretta: 00:51:23

Yeah. You don't know who you're gonna see when you walk in there. And that mystery itself makes people want to come.

Shy Speaks: 00:51:31

So I know it's a relatively. A newer, well business from this side because you had the previous space, but this business, is it to the point where you had it in and of itself.

Is it like the event space, co working space? Is it like five figure months, four figure months, six figure months?

Like tell people so they can have a, have a, a ballpark figure of like, okay, if I start something like this, I can, I can, I can get this to four figures or five figures.

Ms. Zebretta: 00:51:59

I would say around the five plus month.

Shy Speaks: 00:52:02

Okay. Yeah. Okay. So they can get to that point and then now they can, like you said, knowing your numbers. Because if I'm trying to create a code.

Ms. Zebretta: 00:52:09

Yeah. Know your numbers. I need to know that, you know, every time the lights come. Come on, a rounded amount based off of the month of your utilities.

How much is going to take per day to have these lights on?

Shy Speaks: 00:52:21

Wow. Yeah. Okay. And then also, man, there's so many other things I ask, but I. I will say this, and this is one of the questions that we usually ask. Ron.

Usually ask, but I'm going to pose it to you.

Ms. Zebretta: 00:52:37

Okay.

Shy Speaks: 00:52:37

If you are speaking directly to somebody in our audience, they're a creative entrepreneur, they're from the dancer world, and they're trying to figure out how to move from being a freelancer to being an entrepreneur. What advice would you give them?

Ms. Zebretta: 00:52:53

I would tell them, don't follow. Create your own path. Because right now, everything's on. You know, you can market yourself on social media. I get all that. That's great.

You know, do a video here. Oh, yeah, girl, you did that. But at the end of the day, that does not get you clients.

That does not get you the clients that you're looking for in your area. It may give you some online, but then what? You don't have a brochure, you don't have a card, you don't have a reel.

You're just showing that you dance. So start there. Start with dancing in your community and then build it from there. But create your own path. Don't try to follow somebody.

And I will say this. I used to be a person that hustled. Hustle, hustle, hustle. What's next? What's this? What's next?

And I've gotten to a place that's something that changed. I got into a place where I'm like, God, whatever you want is going to happen.

And no matter how fast I get there, I'm still gonna have to wait till you push. Go. So I just allowed the time to be spent. I enjoy my family. I enjoy my significance. I enjoy my team. I enjoy the shows.

I enjoy having busy days, even though it can go from sun up to sundown. Like, I enjoy those moments because we can look back and be like, how did I get here? Did I enjoy the journey?

Shy Speaks: 00:54:10

Yeah.

Ms. Zebretta: 00:54:10

So in creating your own path, enjoy the journey.

Ron "iRonic" Lee Jr.: 00:54:15

Listen, that's mic drop right there. Mike drop.

Shy Speaks: 00:54:17

Listen, I want to say this. I want to thank you for. I think you're. Is she the first dancer that we've had on one? Like, actual.

Ron "iRonic" Lee Jr.: 00:54:26

Okay.

Shy Speaks: 00:54:27

I think fat first actor that we've had on.

Ron "iRonic" Lee Jr.: 00:54:30

No, no, no. We had a rot Dang Yeah.

Ms. Zebretta: 00:54:32

Okay. Female actor.

Shy Speaks: 00:54:34

Female.

Ms. Zebretta: 00:54:35

You see how I did my own past up. Model. First model.

Shy Speaks: 00:54:40

First model.

Ron "iRonic" Lee Jr.: 00:54:40

First model.

Ms. Zebretta: 00:54:42

Yes.

Shy Speaks: 00:54:44

So I want to just thank you for coming on, sharing your time, stepping away from, you know, the.

The space, fame, entertainers, all the different conglomerates that operate under that schooling talent, reaching out to other artists, trying to make sure you're working with them and making sure things are going with as the director of Joy of Movement, the nonprofit organization, and just stepping back from that to speak to other creative entrepreneurs who are, like, wanting to figure out how to blaze a trail. So shout out to you, thank you.

Ms. Zebretta: 00:55:11

Guys for having me. What you guys got going on is beautiful. Yeah, I think it's awesome. Awesome.

Shy Speaks: 00:55:16

Thank you so much.

Ms. Zebretta: 00:55:17

And I want to see more.

Shy Speaks: 00:55:18

Yes.

Ms. Zebretta: 00:55:19

Yeah.

Shy Speaks: 00:55:19

I want to say thank you to you all as well for tuning in. If you're watching at this point, that means that you are committed, right?

You're committed to learning how to truly get the right strategies, the right structure, and the right self development. This is self development by actually listening to this and watching this. So shout out to you. Thank you so much for watching.

We do this just out of the kindness about our heart. We want you to do one thing out of the kindness of your heart.

Just like the video, all you gotta do, you know, oh, you know, right there by is a little subscribe button. Just click. That's all you gotta do. That's all we ask. No, seriously, share this with somebody else. Especially if you know somebody else who's a mover.

Maybe they're not choreographing. Maybe they're in a different room realm of dance, but they could glean something from this.

If they're trying to figure out how to stretch themselves and expand, please share this with them. And we got one other thing we want you to do because you can't just stop right here. You got to get in community. So.

Ron "iRonic" Lee Jr.: 00:56:22

So we want you to go to our website, mmcb. I'm sorry, mmcbpodcast.com that's mmcb podcast.com and join the Creators Corner community.

So in doing that, you will get a newsletter where you will get strategy, structure and self development as well as be surrounded with other creative entrepreneurs that are on the same journey that you are on and have community that can hold you accountable, but you can also hopefully network, break bread. Right? Been plenty of communities where I've been able to break bread in. So we encourage you all to do the same. So do that today.

Shy Speaks: 00:56:57

I love it today. Not tomorrow, not no other day. Do it today.

Mmcdpodcast.com.com now, before you get out of here, I always like to end our episodes in the same way, and that is with your opportunity to speak. You know, we've been talking. Our guest has been talking. You've been listening. But now we want you to speak.

I believe in speaking affirmations and mantras over ourselves. So I want you to repeat after me, everybody in. Here we go. To say it all together. Okay? All it takes. All it takes is intention. Consistency.

Ms. Zebretta: 00:57:33

Consistency.

Shy Speaks: 00:57:36

And laser focus.

Ms. Zebretta: 00:57:37

And laser focus.

Shy Speaks: 00:57:39

To mind my creative business.

Ms. Zebretta: 00:57:41

To mind my creative business.

Shy Speaks: 00:57:44

Peace.

Ron "iRonic" Lee Jr.: 00:57:44

Peace.