A week ago, I rushed into a last-minute event gig aroundLA that left me with a revelation. The next morning, I hopped on FaceTime with my twin cousin Raven Raquel, then my big cousin Rashan joined the call, then I left them on with each other for me to go chat with my boy Blake Stanton, before spending the remainder of the day trying to sort through my thoughts in the library. I didn’t get far.
In part one, I open with the back story to why I Woke Up Pissed. It took ‘til the end of me yapping with my fingertips on a keyboard in part two, the next afternoon spent in the library, to realize that I was really venting and This Is My Therapy.
Last-Minute Event Gig That Started It All
If this is the first page to which you’ve come, you’re in luck! It’s part three and I’m going to tell one concise story of how working the Fanatics Studios launch party as a cocktail waitress told me [inserts figure head with volume projecting], get on yo’ motherf—king sh-t, h—!
Where was I?
Standing on the Clippers basketball arena floor, in a build-out that turned the court into a cocktail party, I had no idea the awakening that I was in for that evening. Somebody with some event production power called the shot to get some girls dedicated to servicing the VIP area and in a matter of hours, we were there. The section roped off for the most important of all these important guests was situated directly before the stage where presentations, to my new found knowledge, would be made.
Circulating, the first guests I meet were wrestling twins, Jimmy and Jey, such gentlemen. I bring them beverages, one after the other, as they didn’t find their way to the VIP section simultaneously. I chat with each and am sure to check on them throughout the short evening. In between, I offer James Harden and Tom Brady, in different moments, both of which decline.
Then, of course, I answer the calls of those that couldn’t await my approach. [snarls, before I could open my mouth] You think we could get something to drink around here?! Duh. You think I’m here for my health? I’ll have you know, I hit my steps for the day before clearing Intuit Dome security. I’m not walking up to you with a cocktail serving tray to hit you over the head with it, unless you and your little friend get sassy again. (If any potential clients are reading this, I promise that I’m nice and guests love me).
And, certainly, I assured production (the client) that kept checking on me that I kept checking on them (the guests). That’s another thing, not that any rich and famous folks that are guests at these ritzy events will read this, but please stretch your pea brain to understand that there’s someone breathing down my back to make sure that I check on you; I’m not walking up to you because it’s something my heart is dying to do! Only YOU and people weird enough to be in your fan club care about you, raggedy a— b-tch! One person in the section will be upset that a server didn’t greet him quickly enough, then the next person will be appauled that you had the gaul to speak to her at all. Can’t win for losing… so, f—k ‘em, I smile and move right along.
[skips giddily to the bar]
Working Event Gigs Without Knowing the Bigger Picture
As a multi-passionate-creator-aspiring-actress-writer-director-ADHD-freelance-industry worker, the creative hustles and event gigs that I do run the gambit. We all do a little bit of everything in Los Angeles — the cost of living living is too high and the consistency of work is too low for it to be any other way, unless you get a full-time job and I refuse to go back to that hell. Most of the time, it’s too many moving pieces going on in different places for me to have a clue about what’s going on if it’s not pertaining to exactly what I have to do.
I was about to say, the only time that I have to know what’s going on is when I’m working as a promotional specialist, but even then, the event gigs that I’m typically booked on, putting “specialist” after promotional instead of “model” is merely a way to say that in addition to wearing a cute branded outfit, we talk. Even then, as a promotional specialist, we’re to know about the product we’re promoting. The same goes as a brand ambassador working events, you get a scoop about the brand and where they want you to stand. That’s pretty much it. So f—king basic. Ugh. Lord, please deliver me to something more challenging.
The only time that what I have to do actually pertains to the event itself is when I’m a member of production. (Side note: Remind me to tell y’all ‘bout the week-long contract that I worked as a Sales Coordinator for Essence during Essence Fest. Now, that, that was fantastic. Forget Production, I was in the Sales room, we tell them what to do!)
Seeing as I’m usually not a part of the event production for my gigs aroundLA, it’s rare that I know what an event gig that I’m going to work is about. And baby, believe you me, I don’t care… as long as the money is there. I could be serving drinks at a baby oil filled night, as long as the pay rate is right.
This particular event gig in Inglewood, Fanatics Studios launch party, was a rush call, which means there for damn sure was no way for me to even have a near-accurate guess. I searched on Google, “is there a Clippers game at Intuit tonight?” Nope.
Yeah, I had no clue.
Wait, this is about what?!
Even once we arrived, got changed into our sporty twist of cocktail dresses, and got the lay of the land from the man directing FOH^ that night, and him mentioning a Tom, I don’t think anything was lighting up in not one of our four brains. It wasn’t in mine, not even with huge red LED screens that read “Fanatics Studios” above “Fanatics & OBB Co.” in smaller print. That meant nothing to me; honestly, it’s as if I didn’t see it.
You see the scale of the sign behind us?! Of course I saw it, but I didn’t see it, you know what I mean? With the ability to rent out thee entire Clippers basketball arena for an event, serve shrimp cocktails and sushi, amongst other items on the buffet and have an open bar all, I guess I was looking for a household name, a brand I recognize, even if it’s not one that I buy into.
A sports betting company joins forces with an entertainment media company. Hm.
Michael Rubin, billionaire CEO of a sports betting company, takes the stage first to introduce the reason we’re all here tonight, making a joke that he would read the teleprompter if he weren’t illiterate. The crowd must’ve been filled with a bunch of braindead bimbos and business types with briefs cutting off circulation around their balls because barely anyone laughed. Michael Rubin made a few remarks that I found funny. Still, the audience was bland.
During the Fanatics Studios launch party, as I stood off to the side of the VIP section to not block anyone’s way during the presentation, I scanned the room. It immediately brought me back to FanDuel x Spotify’s SuperBowl party in New Orleans when Meg The Stallion was doing her set and said, “I don’t care if your bank account starts with an M or a B, you need to be looking at me!” She made a couple of cutting comments, obviously annoyed by the audience’s lack of energy, attempting to incite them. It didn’t work. Those darn button-ups and blazers stood there, staring at the stage (when they weren’t… checking their work phones??), they barely rocked side-to-side. [holds right hand to heaven] Strike me down if I’m telling a lie. Okay, a lineup of pale-peach-skinned business men announcing a new venture is one thing, but a hip hop artist hopping around on stage rapping from the root of her vocal chords?! HOW CAN YOU STAND STILL?! Whew child, these folks are a bore.
(I wrote bullet points on a physical sheet of paper to keep me on topic; let me try to start sticking to ‘em for the rest of this and not go on anymore of my lil’ TK tangents).
Watching Fanatics Studios Announce My Old Idea
“A joint venture with OBB Media, Fanatics Studios will produce and share various forms of video content,” the New York Times writes. “Expand into content,” Michael Rubin says from the event launch party stage that people kept telling him. He’d already made millions in merchandise of sports gear and crossed over into billionaire status with sports betting, or before it. (We never really know the full truth with these rich people and their shameful amounts of money).
A year ago, this man known for his business acumen and keen ability to spot trends decided it would make sense (money) to expand his well-known name in sports business to media and wanted to be sure to go about it in the most logical (profitable) way.
Michael Ratner, another Jewish male that multiplied the wealth he was born into, was the perfect pick for Rubin’s plans, already having pitched, produced and led successful sports and entertainment productions, including Cold As Balls, where Kevin Hart interviews athletes while sitting in ice tubs.
All predictions are pointing towards a powerhouse platform with this new joint venture.
What in the world does any of this have to do with you, TK?
“Original content at the intersection of sports and entertainment, connecting fans more closely with athletes,” is all I heard from that stage.
THAT IS WHAT I SAAAAAAID.
I remember during the confinement of 2020 when I first told my boy Blake about it, being a businessman (or an interested participant), he asked, “what do you want to do?” He continued with the real question, “who do you want to interview?” Blake began listing categories. Businessmen? Entertainers? Rappers? Actors? Athletes? What?
“Athletes as entertainers,” I told Blake.
I felt there was a sweet spot that wasn’t being fully tapped into at the intersection of sports and entertainment. Hmm, ring a bell? I was speaking from personal experience and opinion of a person that doesn’t really follow sports, but can see the appeal of this person that’s insanely skilled, disciplined, dedicated and whatever tf else as a public figure, as a person I’d be willing to chat with or listen to.
(We’re not going to talk about how I was really trying to Internet stalk this man with which I’d spent a limited amount of alone time and was trying to get more intel about his dating history and anything that he may have been hiding before spending more, which is why I’d scanned hella sports talk shows and that’s how I was able to know that there wasn’t enough out there in the coverage, format and conversation style of which I was looking to find. And before you judge, ask yourself, have I ever stalked a romantic interest’s social media? If you haven’t, you’re the weird one, b-tch.)
I wanted to interview athletes, specifically, in ways that had originally been reserved to entertainers, where we get into their lives off the field. No numbers, no stats — it’s not about that (and I don’t know them anyway).
On stage at the Fanatics Studios launch party in Inglewood, one of the multimillionaire Michaels said how the first sporting coverage produced by Fanatics Studios will be ESPYs 2026, and as I read online, it refreshes my memory: feature films, documentaries, live events, digital projects.
Cold As Balls is cute, whatever. The Shop, yeah, whatever. Unique settings, yeah, okay. And I had my own way…
Original content at the intersection of sports and entertainment, connecting fans more closely with athletes.
Standing at the bar, grabbing a glass of wine for Michael Ratner’s mom, and diet coke for his dad, if I remember correctly, all I could think was I know you are f—king lying to me, as I turned my head over my right shoulder. I started walking closer.
Realizing I Had Walked Away From aroundwithTK
You mean… AROUND?! AROUND with _______ ?! An interview series birthed from a bike, a girl on her bike, figuring out life… an interview series by aroundwithTK?!
Two years ago, March 2024, I shot the first episode of AROUND in the format that I desired it, a pilot, if you will, with a guy friend of mine that was approaching his 10th season in the NFL, AROUND with Troy Hill.
My idea that I had since I bought my first bike in adulthood.
Bachelors degree in Broadcasting hot in my hand, away from home in a big new city, wondering how I could make my dreams a reality by combining two passions. It’s 2018. I wrote it out on paper for the first time, I mentioned it to a couple of Neiman Marcus co-workers at the time. It was a floating thought amongst many, many directions that I could go. Settling into L.A., I let it float away.
2020, it returns to me. I ride my bicycle to a friend’s house party. I bring up the idea at some point after then. Months later, once again.
2021, I compromise, just to get something done. I shoot a few videos AROUND, on the turf of the experts in any given field, instead of bringing them on mine (a bike). A plastic surgeon in his Beverly Hill office, a celebrity pole dance instructor in her home studio, an esthetician in her beauty suite. I produce, post and promote them.
I even went on Let’s Make a Deal and asked Wayne Brady if he would come aroundLA with me. He’s witty, making a funny remark about he’ll stay miserable behind the wheel of a car with everyone else in Los Angeles. It was a no.
2024, I can’t take it anymore. That’s when I finally link with my NFL friend and shoot what I’d been mentioning over the last few years again and again.
All sorts of foolishness, technical difficulties, life changes, rearrangements, procrastination and maaaaaybe a sprinkle of fear or self-doubt happens. I never produce the pilot we shot.
2026, you can’t be serious, b-tch. Here goes that f—king idea slapping me in my flat a— face.
Could’ve, should’ve, would’ve
Am I painting the picture clearly? Are y’all seeing what I see?
You mean to tell me, my idea was viable? There was a place for my idea? There was a market, a growing market, for my idea? You mean to tell me that my thought of an increasing demand did exist and that the idea that fell into my spirit YEARS ago could’ve had room to grow?! You mean to tell me that I should’ve gone for it, gone harder for it?!
Now, I am not saying that I would’ve been picked up by a powerhouse platform like Fanatics Studios is set up to be with an official 2028 Los Angeles Olympics already locked in. One thing I’ve never been, maybe to my own demise, is delusional. I’m sure, even for their smallest of digital content to be shared on social media, they’re going to continue to enlist established names in the sports and entertainment business, such as their guests in attendance, Taylor Rooks and Druski.
What I do know is that I’d’ve been able to have a digital trail of evidence that I’ve BEEN doing this type of content — as a result of it always having been my interest and authentic to the life that I live, as well as the person that I am. It’s not an act. I would’ve never had to act. It’s true to me.
They showin' fake racks in pictures
like that's gon' attract the b-tches
That was really me, n-gga
I didn’t have to act in Conflicted
At the very least, it’d be clear that I didn’t copy off of anybody nor start doing something because everybody else is doing it, neither go with a trend to fit in. I’d have years of audio, video and written content, readily available to the public as proof! (Whew child, what type of childish trigger is that?!)
She’s copying me!
Nuhnt uhnn! [growls]
Well, now what, TK?
(I asked ChatGPT how to stop spiraling and finally get to the point in part three of this personal essay series of sorts, after rambling uncontrollably the first two times that I sat down to tell this story. The AI language model m’a dit:
pas de justification
pas de storytelling
juste l’acte intérieur
It says that in closing, one sentence will suffice: Alors j’ai décidé de recommencer l’effort. Or, Alors j’ai su que je devais revenir à aroundwithTK.
And I’d like to listen, but… Oh, by the way, I share thoughts on that server almost completely in French, and have instructed it to respond to me solely in French. It makes me feel as though I may be circumventing some of the brain rot that dependency on ever-efficient search engines may be causing my fellow Internet users. If I could pack a real person in my pocket, similar to my former co-worker from Neiman Marcus, B. Barry, that would cut me off or move me along, to help me stay on track, I would. Until I can learn how to self-regulate my rambles, … [palms facing upwards, arms bent at elbows, shoulders shrug]).
See?!
Standing on the floor of the Clippers basketball arena that 424 Productions had immaculately built into an event space the same day for Fanatics Studios launch event, the most I may have thought was “aha! I’m brilliant after all, looka there.” It was a cross between eyebrows scrunching in confusion and jaw dropping in disbelief.
These freaking merchandise and media moguls with millions in their throw-away accounts are making a MAJOR move with this Fanatics Studios launch, on an almost identical basis of an idea that came to (and never stopped nagging) me 8 years ago. Not knowing any of the things that they know, not having been in any of the business that they’ve been, somehow the Universe still decided to tag me in. Giving me this idea, not letting it let go of me. SEE?! I could scream. But to whom? Thee only one that needed to was me.
Mercy me, Lord. Another day, staying up until the next. I couldn’t stop. I started in the library at the top of the afternoon, on a thick sheet of paper that my girl from the hospitality gig world had torn out of her apparently nice notebook for me. (I appreciate the way it feels between my fingers). Now, I’m wrapping up from bed, lap desk above my thighs, half hour past midnight. Update: After adding SEO details, it’s now 6 minutes ‘til 2am and my head is pounding.
Who knows if this’ll ever add up to anything? I don’t. I’ve just decided that I’m going to keep going regardless. It’s cathartic. In the rare chance that I’m not here alone and another pair of eyes have read words on this page, thank you for coming AROUND.
Glossary
^FOH = shorthand for front of house in restaurant and food service industry; includes bartenders, servers, hostess, food service manager, etc. not to be confused with foh (f—k outta here) in text talk