Road Show Productions Brings
Businesses And Entertainment Toeedier
By UntU Man ago
Post Staff Writer ■'
There is no question that Charlotte
is loaded with talent. It is also true
that there are several businesses or
groups who are constantly searching
fqt talented people Where the
problem comes in is when the
talented people and the businesses
_fail to help each other through poor
communications
As head of Road Show
Productions, Michael Graham plans
to change all that. His company, that
was transplanted from his native
home in D.C. two years ago,has set
as its inain^goal - the idaah of
bringing businesses and entertain
ment together.
“Road Show Productions is a
promotions and public—relations
company for people who want to
increase their image by using the
ideas that the company suggests,”
explained Graham. The agency is an
idea that Graham started in Wash
ington, D.C.. •
Now in what can be considered the
early stages of the agency, Graham
is basically concerned with
promotions and fundraisers, but also
has definite plans of wp«nHing the
overall concept of the business,
which will include videos and stage
- productions.
With plans of settling in an office
soon, .Graham, who has been
operating from his home, is eagerly
anticipating some of the activities
that are already in motion'atRaad
Show Productions.
In October, Hoad Show Produc
tions will be sponsoring a local
* comedian, Antonio Slmmiwi, whan
performance will be held at Spirit
Square. Road Show Productions has
also been contacted by a major
- corporation in Pittsburgh who is
interested in Road Show Productions
promoting some concerts in this
area. “In addition to the concerts,
this same company has expressed
an interest in Road Show developing
a late night entertainment show,"
informed Graham.
These are the type of engagements
Graham is banking on to help
expand and boost the company’s
image as well as the people who
affiliate themselves with Road Show
Productions.
However, one of Road Show
Productions’ biggest projects to date
is “Tour ’85.” “What that is,” began
Graham, “is a video graphics show
that is scheduled to begin during
Black History Month next year. This
. show will contain a variety of black
information from world history to
entertain tnent' tor corporate
information and will bepn display at
trade shows, in shopping malls and
• 1
Michael Graham : '
.Aspiring entrepreneur
available to other groups or
businesses interested in having the
display. It will tour In ten of the
major cities like Charlotte, Atlanta,
and D.C. and will be sponsored by
corporate Black companies/'
But Graham’s ideas do not stop
there. He tabes about having an
information center set-up in his
office whereby people can come and
check out not only the possible
entertainment ventures, but also
explore the job openings from
around the country, listed by equal
opportunity employers. “Hopefully,
thiB information center will contain
everything that is going on in the
black community. We plan to have
contact with every major agency
and agent.”
“I also intend to sponsor a major
television production onpe a year, to
be shown on Cablevision 3.”
Graham is particularly concerned
that major- companies in the area
use local talent for their advertising
purposes. “I feel vegy strongly that
a consumer is more likely to buy a
product from someone he can
identify with rather than from a
total stranger. My goal Is to get that
point across to these companies,”
asserted Graham.
Although Graham is here in
Charlotte to stay, he does plan to
expand his operation to include
Atlanta and D.C. ‘‘I’ve already sent
a couple of representatives to find
outlets where we can set up offices. ”
Employed with the accounting
department at the Marriott Hotel,
..graham is the son of Alemater
Graham and Golden Fricks.'
He attended Central Piedmont and
received his Interdenominational
license from the Livingstone
Seminary. •
Graham is the pianist for the H.O.
Graham Gospel Choir and ooe of the
lead singers of the contemporary
gospel group, John Kee and the Kee
-■Singers. ... \
For more information about ifeed
Show Productions call 372-9208. T
*or November blectwn
October 8 Is Last Date To Register
- By Karea Parker
— Poet Staff Writer
..People who haven’t participated
in an election on the city, county,
state and national levels for yean,
am gathering in registration lines
f<* the 1984 vote.
3*s politicians shake hands ,and.
deliver speeches, they remind
citizens how crucial it is toselect the
right decision-makers.
If you haven’t already registered
to vote at. one of the many voter
registration drives held in the city, a
Conference For
Small Business
Wffl Be Held Here
" The AABWE Institute For Busi
a Southeastern Regional Conference
for small business owners on Fri
day, September 21, and Saturday,
September 22.
** The Conference will be held at the
Quality Inn in Charlotte. Ms. Joan
Steward, Director, Office of Equal
Opportunity and Civil Rights, DM. *
Dept, of Health and Human Ser
vices, Washington, D C., will de
liver the opening remarks on Fri
day morning at 9 a.m.
The Conference agenda will
include seminars, meetings and <fis
cusstens addressing local, state and
national topics that impact 8ff‘tte
operations of a small business.
AABWE’s National President, Bren
da Alford (Brasman Health and
Business Researchers, Wash.,
D.C.), will hast a reception for
attendees apd guests on Friday,
September 21. The Southeastern
Regional Conference is supported,
in part, by a contribution from the
Philip Morris Corp.
The American Association Of
Black Women Entrepreneur*, Inc.
(AABWE) wee established on July
24, 1962 as a national membership
_ trade association for black women
business owncrgTTte Association's
major geek include assisting
women business owners interested
in establishing business owner
organizations in their respective
cities. The Association also provides
business information and technical
assistance to black women business,
owners nationwide that will assist to
increase their procurement oppor
tunities. AABWE has chapters in
Washington, D.C., Baltimore, MD
and the greater Tidewater area of
Virginia.
spokesperson for the Mecklenburg
County Elections Office said regis
tration takes place Monday-Friday
at the Elections Office, 710 E. Fourth
St; all branches of the public
library; all branches of Mechanics &
Farmers Bank; and all driver
license bureaus.
Monday, October 8, is the last date
to register for the November 6
election, even though voter registra
tion is continuous. Only a few
qualifications must be met to par
ticipate la the election. They are: be
Tflryeart of age; a United States
citizen; a resident of the state and
county 30 days prior to the elec
tion. The 30-day rule also applies to
people who haven’t moved from
tbefr city or county, but have re
located to another precinct.
Other instances which call for new
registration are changes of name,
failure to vote in four consecutive
years, and change of Party affilia
tion. *•*
Several political candidates who
rMMBKSiii
have visited the Charlotte area, are
encouraging people to select the
candidate which they think is best
even if it means cross-voting.
Republican candidates, particularly,
Jim Martin and Alex McMillan, for
governor and 9th District Congress,
respectively, are enforcing that
message in the black communi
ties.
Traditionally, the majority of
blacks are registered Democrat, but
because cross-voting is constitution
ally legal, some Republican can
didates aren’t neglecting to address
blacks.
McMillan emphasized to readers
of The Charlotte Post, recently,
that his budget plan will “bold down
inflation, and increase jobs and
income.”
Martin, also in an interview,
commented about how he plans to
govern chemical waste dumps and
unemployment, two issues whiehr^r
have a greet effect on the black
community.
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