MSM: Tell us a little bit about your background?
AL: I'm originally from L.A. I have over ten years experience in music, marketing, brand development, and talent management. I've worked with labels such as Greensleeves Records, Full Surface, Atlantic Records, and I am a former Indie record label VP for SIRI Music/Universal. I'm pretty much known for my creativity, unique and innovative marketing strategies within music, fashion, and lifestyle brands. Lots of people don't know this but I'm also a certified recording engineer, and a BMI songwriter. I am currently the Founder The Tesla Group, a boutique music, fashion, and lifestyle PR & Entertainment company based in NY-LA.
MSM: How did you know this was the industry for you?
AL: I've just always known! Music, sports, entertainment was always around me non-stop. My dad played briefly for the Kansas City Chiefs, he also played the guitar, and was always in some band growing up. My parents always told me I just immediately gravitated to anything that had to do with music and entertainment.
MSM: What are the necessary tools to stand out in this industry?
AL: You need to be fearless, and fearlessly creative! Never stop dreaming and surrounding yourself with people, places, knowledge and things that fuel your mind with information. You want to stay ahead of the curve, never behind or coasting alongside someone else. Expect trials and tribulations. Be prepared to get back up when you fall.
MSM: What is the story about the name of your company? The Tesla Group?
AL: Ha everyone one ask me that and I love it! Nothing about what I do is just average, everything has to be really, really big. I like to shock people, electrify....and that's really what the word "Tesla" means. So it was a good fit.
AL: I'm originally from L.A. I have over ten years experience in music, marketing, brand development, and talent management. I've worked with labels such as Greensleeves Records, Full Surface, Atlantic Records, and I am a former Indie record label VP for SIRI Music/Universal. I'm pretty much known for my creativity, unique and innovative marketing strategies within music, fashion, and lifestyle brands. Lots of people don't know this but I'm also a certified recording engineer, and a BMI songwriter. I am currently the Founder The Tesla Group, a boutique music, fashion, and lifestyle PR & Entertainment company based in NY-LA.
MSM: How did you know this was the industry for you?
AL: I've just always known! Music, sports, entertainment was always around me non-stop. My dad played briefly for the Kansas City Chiefs, he also played the guitar, and was always in some band growing up. My parents always told me I just immediately gravitated to anything that had to do with music and entertainment.
MSM: What are the necessary tools to stand out in this industry?
AL: You need to be fearless, and fearlessly creative! Never stop dreaming and surrounding yourself with people, places, knowledge and things that fuel your mind with information. You want to stay ahead of the curve, never behind or coasting alongside someone else. Expect trials and tribulations. Be prepared to get back up when you fall.
MSM: What is the story about the name of your company? The Tesla Group?
AL: Ha everyone one ask me that and I love it! Nothing about what I do is just average, everything has to be really, really big. I like to shock people, electrify....and that's really what the word "Tesla" means. So it was a good fit.
MSM: How do you go about choosing the "right" client
AL: That's a tough one. I feel like its the other way around. The right client
chooses me.
MSM: Tell us a little bit about your support system, The Tesla Team? Why is it
necessary to have such a powerful team?
AL: I used to be the type of person that would literally try to take on the world if I could, and it got me know where but stressed out, and left with split ends! lol The team that I have now is awesome! There are so many dynamics going on. From different ethnic backgrounds, to age differences, they all bring something unique, and fresh to the table. They've become like family, and The Tesla Group definitely loves to crack a good joke or two, so we always have a good time with whatever were working on.
MSM: From what I understand, you diligently worked on the "Catwalk Confidence" campaign by Doctor Legs. She was just recently featured on Oprah, tell us a little bit about how you revamped her campaign? What TV appearances did she do while she was a client at The Tesla Group?
AL: Good old Dr. Emily Splichal, who became Dr. Legs after The Tesla Group! Wow she has really been an amazing, and interesting success story. This was the first time I had ever worked with branding a Doctor, a podiatrist at that. She came to us with two DVD's which she produced herself called Catwalk Confidence. Though the DVD's were ok, I just saw so much more potential in her, and the concept so I started with developing an image behind the concept and built out from there. As a result and without giving away all my secrets, she has not only been branded as Dr. Legs the fitness guru, physique doctor, life coach, book author, but she's been on The Today Show, CW11, then we teamed her up with NYSC which tripled her press, Garden Of Life's supplement called Lovely Legs and just off that she had a rotating billboard in Times Square, and the list goes on....but I definitely don't want to take all the credit for this...my trusty companion Marigo Mihalos helped with this a great deal, she was amazing!
MSM: You are nonstop around the clock, what keeps you sane?
AL: If loving the lord is wrong, then I don't want to be right! Coming To America with Eddie Murphy and Arsenio Hall said it best lol. All jokes aside, I have a strong faith in GOD, he is first and foremost in my life, and he keeps me sane.
MSM: Best memory from your years in the music industry?
AL: Wow so many! Honestly I have to say one of my fondest memories are with the label where I got my start back in....I think like 1999ish at Greensleeves Records. Its all Reggae label that was based out of London, I was at the NY branch, and at that time was when Reggae music started to cross over into the mainstream market. We had artists like Red Rat, Mr. Vegas, and I believe Elephant Man. So getting placements with MTV on their shows was huge back then, it was a lot of fun to be a part of that. One other would be my credits in Billboard Magazine.
MSM: Least favorite part about the PR Industry
AL: Wheweeee some of the people, and the politics!
MSM: Favorite item on the menu at BBQ's in Times Square?
AL: This is the best question yet! I cannot remember who introduced me to BBQ's....but I love you whoever you are. Go with the sticky wings, cole slaw, and a Peach Raspberry Pina Colada (texas size) with the shot! That is Ahlilah's BBQ's special. Plan ahead by making sure you don't eat the whole day until you get there, because the calorie count you will consume there is deadly, but so worth it.
MSM: You grew up in the Valley... so for real...New York or LA?
AL: HA HA HA awww don't make me choose. I am such a Valley girl, Sherman Oaks, Encino, Northridge you name it but I got to go with NY. Home will be home, but NY is where its at.
MSM: Female Icon You Look Up To?
AL: My mother. She's just beautiful, smart, incredibly strong. I don't know what
I'd do without her.
MSM: You have been in this business a long time.. you have met everyone under the sun.. but which celebrity gives you the jitters?
AL: Well I haven't met this celebrity yet....but Morgan Freeman's old butt is absolutely my favorite actor and I think I'd pass out if I ever met him.
MSM: AER 2010 is approaching; tell us a little bit about the event.
AL: Well the concept for A.E.R happened after my mother beat lung cancer about two years ago. The experience was life changing. The hardest part about the experience was the lack of knowledge I knew about lung cancer. All I knew was that ok she has to go through chemo, she'll lose her hair, and she may or may not make it through. I didn't know what radiation was, or the pain and suffering my mother would have to endure...I didn't know anything. And it bothered me that we as people tend to wait until something happens to a love one or friend before we educate ourselves about the things that are going on right in front of our eyes.
So A.E.R Advocate,Educate, Revolutionize is all about bringing awareness, educating, and encouraging a younger generation of philanthropist. We do this by bringing the who's who in music, fashion, sports and entertainment together for one night once a year in March. Its an amazing, awesome event in support of CancerCare a non-profit organization that has been around since 1944 and provides a wide range of free services to survivors, families, people affected by any and all types of cancer.
MSM: What is your definition of success?
AL: Your level of happiness.
MSM: To Twitter or not to Twitter?
AL: Oh I love Twitter.......tweet it up!
MSM: What is next for Ahlilah Longmire, the power mogul!??
AL: Well I won't spill everything, but I have new music projects in the works with Multi-Platinum producer Chad Beatz, I am also the Executive Producer of a new show called "The Trend" which I we just started filming in Nov. Definitely more charity work for the upcoming year!
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