PROFESSIONALLY KNOWN: MISTA BLESS
BROOKLYN, NEW YORK | MISTA BLESS
INTERVIEW Shamika Sanders-Sykes
ELIJAH EDWIN TORRES (PROFESSIONALLY KNOWN AS MISTA BLESS) IS A SEASONED ENTREPRENEUR WHO HAS REPRESENTED, ADVISED, CONSULTED AND PARTNERED WITH COUNTLESS EXECUTIVES, CELEBRITIES AND ATHLETES IN MUSIC AND SPORTS ENTERTAINMENT. SHARING HIS EXPERTISE WITH HIGH-PROFILE INDIVIDUALS AND MULTINATIONAL CORPORATIONS, HE EXCELS AT CREATING ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES, NEGOTIATING DEALS, IDENTIFYING NEW MARKET TRENDS AND BUSINESS PLATFORMS. AS A MULTIMEDIA SPECIALIST, HE UTILIZES EVERY PLATFORM TO BUILD A NETWORK OF INVESTORS CREATING ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH BUSINESS CREATION AND EXPANSION.
AS THE FOUNDER AND CEO OF SL ENTERTAINMENT LOCATED IN THE FINANCIAL DISTRICT OF NEW YORK CITY, HE IS ALWAYS LOOKING TOWARD THE LATEST EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES, MUSIC, TELEVISION AND FILM INNOVATIONS.
ASIDE FROM HIS ENTREPRENEURSHIP, BLESS ALSO IS RECOGNIZED AND RESPECTED AS A LIFESTYLE SPECIALIST, PRODUCER, MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKER, BRAND ARCHITECT, MARKETING STRATEGIST AND HUMANITARIAN. I SIT DOWN WITH BLESS AS HE SHARES WITH US SOME QUICK PEARLS OF WISDOM.
VALIDATED: DESCRIBE MISTA BLESS.
MISTA BLESS: I HAVE BEEN AN AMBASSADOR FOR INNER-CITY CULTURE FINDING SUCCESS IN SPORTS AND MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT AS A TRANSLATOR SPEAKING FOR MANY ARTISTS AND ATHLETES IN CORPORATE BOARDROOMS. SOMETIMES THESE NETWORKS AND BRANDS HAVE DIFFICULTY UNDERSTANDING CULTURAL TRENDS DUE TO A LACK OF REAL INCLUSIVITY.
VALIDATED: WHAT HAS MOTIVATED YOU TO GO INTO THE FIELD OF BUSINESS?
MISTA BLESS: I ORIGINALLY GOT MY START AS AN ARTIST AND CONTENT CREATOR BUT EVENTUALLY SHIFTED INTO BUSINESS WHEN I EXPERIENCED THE LACK OF PROFESSIONAL REPRESENTATION. I REALIZED MY ORGANIZATIONAL SKILLS WERE MY STRONGEST ATTRIBUTES AND BECAME A VOICE FOR THE VOICELESS.
VALIDATED: TELL US ABOUT YOUR COMPANY, “SL CONSULTING & ENTERTAINMENT”.
MISTA BLESS: WE ARE A FULL SERVICE CREATIVE MARKETING AGENCY PROVIDING CLIENTS WITH DIGITAL PRODUCTION, DISTRIBUTION AND TALENT MANAGEMENT. WE ARE PARTNERED WITH GHAZI'S EMPIRE DISTRIBUTION AS WELL AS ROC NATION'S EQ DISTRO. WE HAVE HAD A LOT OF SUCCESS BREAKING TALENT, PITCHING CONTENT PLACEMENTS AND STRUCTURING ENDORSEMENT DEALS.
VALIDATED: YOU HAVE WORKED WITH A LOT OF CORPORATIONS. IS THERE ANYONE THAT YOU HAVE NOT WORKED WITH YET THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO?
MISTA BLESS: I ALMOST HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO WORK DIRECTLY WITH THE NBA BUT THEY PASSED ON A TALENT I REPRESENTED. I WOULD LOVE TO DOUBLE BACK AND WORK WITH THE GREATEST BASKETBALL LEAGUE ON THE PLANET.
VALIDATED: WHAT WOULD YOU SAY IS THE MOST CHALLENGING PART OF YOUR CAREER?
MISTA BLESS: ONE OF THE MANY CHALLENGES I'VE CONSISTENTLY ENCOUNTERED IS MAINTAINING MY INDEPENDENT IDENTITY IN A CORPORATE ENVIRONMENT WHERE ACQUISITIONS AND MERGERS ARE LOOKING TO SLOW DOWN OUR IMPACT IN A COVERT WAY POSING AS OPPORTUNITIES OR SUPPORT.
VALIDATED: HOW VALUABLE IS MARKETING IN A BUSINESS AND WHAT DO YOU THINK ARE SOME MISTAKES BRANDS ARE MAKING IN MARKETING?
MISTA BLESS: WITHOUT PROPER MARKETING YOUR PRODUCT, BRAND OR SERVICES WILL NEVER REACH THE CONSUMER. MOST COMPANIES HAVE DIFFICULTY IDENTIFYING THEIR CONSUMER BASE AND MARKET VALUE WHICH CREATES AN INCONSISTENT STORY LINE IN THEIR MARKETING CAMPAIGN.
VALIDATED: EXPLAIN TREND ANALYSIS.
MISTA BLESS: IT'S AN ATTEMPT AT PREDICTING THE DIRECTION OF A SPECIFIC MARKET BASED ON PREVIOUS TRENDS AND TANGIBLE DATA. MOST MAJOR RECORD LABELS USE METADATA TO TRACK DIGITAL ANALYTICS AND INSIGHTS FROM SOCIAL PLATFORMS AND STREAMING COMPANIES LIKE SPOTIFY TO STAY AHEAD OF MARKET DEMANDS.
VALIDATED: HAS THE PANDEMIC PLAYED ANY PART IN HOW BUSINESSES WERE AFFECTED IN YOUR FIELD?
MISTA BLESS: IT ACTUALLY CREATED AN INCREASE IN NEW CONTENT. TECHNOLOGY HAS BECOME VERY INSTRUMENTAL IN ENTERTAINMENT AND FREE PLATFORMS LIKE YOUTUBE GIVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR CREATIVES AND MUSICIANS TO PERFORM AND MONETIZE THEIR CONTENT.
VALIDATED: YOU RECEIVED A GOLD MEDAL FROM THE 44TH PRESIDENT, BARACK OBAMA FOR YOUR CHARITABLE SERVICES. HOW IMPORTANT IS THE POWER OF CHARITY WORK AND WAS THAT EXPERIENCE EXPECTED?
MISTA BLESS: I GREW UP IN A ERA OF BROOKLYN WHERE VIOLENCE AND DRUG ABUSE WAS AT AN ALL TIME HIGH. MOST OF MY PEERS AREN'T ESTABLISHED DUE TO INCARNATION OR THE LACK OF RESOURCES THAT WEREN'T OFFERED TO MINORITY FAMILIES. CHARITY AND SERVICE WORK IS VERY IMPORTANT TO THOSE COMMUNITIES THAT WERE AFFECTED. I NEVER EXPECTED TO RECEIVE ANY AWARDS FOR CHARITY WORK BUT IT'S HUMBLING TO RECEIVE A GOLD MEDAL FROM BARACK OBAMA.
VALIDATED: WHY SHOULD FINANCING BE AN IMPORTANCE FOR PEOPLE INVOLVED IN HIP HOP?
MISTA BLESS: FINANCING IS ALWAYS NECESSARY IN BUSINESS BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY USE THE TECHNOLOGY THAT'S FREELY AVAILABLE LIKE INSTAGRAM, FACEBOOK, AND YOUTUBE TO BRING AWARENESS TO YOUR MUSIC OR MOVEMENT. I WATCH A LOT OF ARTISTS WASTE MONEY ON OVER PRODUCING MARKETING CAMPAIGNS WHEN SOMETIMES SIMPLICITY IS THE KEY.
VALIDATED: WHAT IS ON THE AGENDA FOR YOU IN 2021?
MISTA BLESS: I THINK IT'S TIME FOR ME TO STEP OUT AND SHOW MY FACE MORE USING MY INFLUENCE AND EXPERIENCE TO SPEAK AND EDUCATE. ALOT OF MY CLIENTS ASK ME WHY DO I ALWAYS PLAY THE BACKGROUND BUT THAT WILL CHANGE IN 2021.
VALIDATED: WHAT WOULD BE THE MOST PERFECT ADVICE YOU WOULD GIVE FOR SOMEONE ENTERING THE FIELD OF MARKETING AND CONSULTING?
MISTA BLESS: ALWAYS RESEARCH MARKET TRENDS AND CONSTANTLY NETWORK. MOST OF THE BUSINESS DEALS I CLOSE ARE FROM ESTABLISHING VALUABLE RELATIONSHIPS. HAVING THE ABILITY TO MAKE CALLS AND PITCH IDEAS IS FOUNDATIONAL IN FINDING SUCCESS.
THANKS AGAIN FOR GIVING ME AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE ON YOUR PLATFORM. MUCH LOVE!
VALIDATED: FOR MORE ON MISTA BLESS, FOLLOW HIM ON IG: @MISTABLESS