Get to know of Own Your Power’s very own living Jazz legend…Diva JC! See why she loves what she does.

Simone

Name of business:

FYI Communications, Inc. and Women in Jazz South Florida, Inc.

Main service/product:

Music performance, education, production, and books.

How long in business:

13 years

What does your business do? 

fyicomminc provides entrepreneurs, artists, authors, musicians, and cultural producers with corporate and marketing services including: corporation filing, website design and management, social networking, blogging, brochure and flyer design, printing, publishing, copy writing, editing, press releases, promotional material, graphics and logo branding, proposals, business cards and letterhead, letter writing, and special events.

fyicomminc has over 38 years of experience in the entertainment and publishing industry and understands the obstacles artists face promoting themselves. We educate our clients on the real-time opportunities the Internet presents to artists.

Any interesting fact(s) you can share about your industry? Many people know about the “show” in SHOW BUSINESS. Few know about the “business”!

Most popular problem you help people solve?

Branding and marketing with website content and social media.

What year did you kiss Corporate America goodbye and why do you hope to never go back?

In 1996, I was working as a legal secretary for an abusive attorney. I never ever want to feel like that again. With my company, I don’t abuse myself (except I work too hard) and I will never fire ME!

How do you stay motivated?

I wake up every morning happy to be alive and an entrepreneur.

Biggest pet peeve in business? Meetings! I cannot stand them, though they are a necessary evil.

What’s a bold move you took that turned your business around?

Wrote and self-published nine books. Didn’t wait for a publisher to say, “Yes, your book is good. Let us publish you.” All my books are now available at http://stores.lulu.com/divajc.  I have three workshops I’ve designed to work with school-aged children and get paid very well to bring ARTS Education into schools where the arts have been CUT!

One thing that you would change if you could? Being the only employee in my company. I would hire three people to do the work I do.

What’s your favorite area on www.ownyourpower.ning.com?   SIMONE!

What’s a unique talent that you have that might surprise us?

I am the Webdiva. Google Joan Cartwright!

You know the expression, ‘You can’t take it with you,’ … well, if you could, what would ‘it’ be?
My CDs and Books for everyone in Heaven.

It’s sadly time for your last meal on earth…what would it be? 
Two broiled lamb chops with Basmati Rice and Broccoli, Tomato and Cucumber Salad with Olive Oil, Dill and Lemon Dressing, Dark Chocolate-covered almonds with Butter Pecan ice cream.

Have you used Social Networking to gain new contacts/business? If so, what have been any results?

I was on MYSPACE for a long time, but it started moving too slowly.

Then, I moved to FACEBOOK, where I’ve connected with over 1300 new friends.

Then, I do a weekly radio show onwww.blogtalkradio.com/musicwoman that has connected me with several quality female musicians and their fans around the world. Finally, my network, www.musicwoman.ning.com grew so much I had to delete members who didn’t add content, so I could pay the lowest monthly cost to keep the network ($2.95 a month for less than 150 members).

The best thing is that the U.S. Embassy rep found me online by typing in “Jazz singer, Florida” and paid me several thousand dollars to come to Kingston, Jamaica to perform on Feb 26 (2010) at the Blues on the Green Concert. Also, they bought 48 of my books to donate to two schools I visited during the 5 days I was there. I got made coverage on TV, Radio and in newspapers. All because of GOOOOOOGLE!

Most exciting moment that you got your time to shine? (ON TV? Won Award, Cover of Magazine? etc.) 

Freddie Hubbard and the Kool Jazz All-Stars of 1983 recorded my composition SWEET RETURN on Atlantic Records in June 1983; after I was an M.C. at the Kool Jazz Festival in Philadelphia, PA, where I introduced Patrice Rushen in 1983 and Ella Fitzgerald in 1982. Ella hugged me in front of 10,000 people. Oh, My goodness!

What was your last barter and what was if for? (i.e.: Printing for Business Consulting, a Dress for a Hairstyle)

I helped a friend redesign her website and in exchange, I have received so many wonderful ideas to move my business forward that just keep coming.

What’s in your CD player/iPod right now?

My show with singer/composer Nadia Washington. All my shows for MUSICWOMAN are available on itunes.com

If you could have superpowers, what would you want? 
To fly anywhere in the world I want to go and everything I need when I get there.
I want Scotty to “Beam me up!”

Website: www.fyicomminc.com, www.wijsf.org, www.joancartwright.com, www.divajc.com

Contact info you want in article: (email and/or phone) 
954-740-3398, joan@fyicomminc.com

Joan Cartwright, Executive Director
Women in Jazz South Florida, Inc.
Diva JC