MEETING THE 1975 AT UNIVERSAL!!!!

Strap on in because we are back at Universal Studios again. The only difference was that this time we ran into The 1975…

Just like any other day, JT, Rowan and I decided to go to Universal Studios. As we drove the 45 minutes to the park, JT had mentioned that The 1975 were playing at the Hard Rock Café. We had all talked about how cool it could’ve been if we went to the park all day and then to the concert. We also made a couple of jokes about how funny it would be if we ran into the band on a ride, little did we know that that’s exactly what would happen.

We enter City Walk and decide to head directly over to Seuss Landing to catch the Grinchmas shows and activities. Being as I am an avid Dr. Seuss fan, I was already extremely excited about the day. After finishing our activities in Seuss landing, we decided to head over to Jurassic Park to cool off. Before we got onto the ride, I had told JT and Row that I was going to the bathroom. While I used the restroom, Rowan recorded a video for her Snapchat of the people on the ride, which ironically had The 1975 in the front row of the ride. At this particular moment we didn’t know that it was the band in the video.

We began walking over to the entrance when I looked over to see Matty Healy and George, from The 1975. At this point I am not sure if my brain is playing tricks on me. I grab Row and JT and signify that that is the band. At this point we are trying to figure out what to do because we would love to completely fangirl out, but that is totally unprofessional and weird for the talent. I mean think about it, you wouldn’t want someone screaming in your face. Plus, we all pride ourselves on conveying high levels of professionalism.

We decided to just jump right in and ask them if we could get a quick photograph. Initially, their manager had said that we could only get one group photo because the band did not have much time in the park. Being as we are students who are learning about the industry, we know that the talent isn’t always given much free time and we respect that they are even giving us this little amount of time. However, Matty and George recognized that we weren’t freaking out and genuinely wanted to have a conversation which resulted in they guys telling their manager it was okay if we get multiple photos with them. We all got a photo and even talked for a couple of minutes about their favorite rides so far.

The 1975 is one of my favorite bands and this accidental run in was absolutely amazing. It's crazy to think that some people spend hundreds of dollars just to get a glimpse of their favorite artist and my friends and I walked into them at a theme park for free. I will never understand why the universe puts me in these positions, but I am so grateful for each opportunity.

OH! By the way... We vlogged the entire day! Click here to watch the video 

New Music Monday: May

Each month I create a new playlist with new songs I have recently discovered. Sometimes they are brand new songs and sometimes they are songs I have just now found and could be years old. Regardless of when the song or album is released, it is always interesting to find new music. 

1. I'm The One ft. Justin Bieber, Quavo, Chance the Rapper, Lil Wayne (Listen Here)

2.  HUMBLE- Kendrick Lamar (Listen Here) 

3. Location- Khalid (Listen Here)

4. Empty- Olivia O'Brien (Listen Here)

5. Stay Together - Noah Cyrus (Listen Here)

6.  if i could i would feel nothing - Blackbear (Listen Here)

7. Now Or Never - Halsey (Listen Here)

8. The Cure - Lady Gaga (Listen Here) 

9. Slow Hands- Niall Horan (Listen Here) 

10. Do You Remember? - The Maine (Listen Here) 

If you have any bands/artists that you've been jamming out to, comment them down below so we can check them out. 

Meeting Jimmy Fallon!!! (#ReuniteRowanAndJimmy)

My best friends and I go to Universal Studios about 6 out of the 7 days in a week. For whatever reason we are completely obsessed with the rides and the environment even though we've been on every single ride approximately 72,342 times. More recently, Universal opened up their newest ride Jimmy Fallon's Race Through New York. This ride allows fans to see some of their favorite members on the show including Jimmy Fallon, The Roots, and Hashtag the Panda, while racing Jimmy through New York City. 

Just like any other day, we decided to let off some steam and scream our heads off on the handful of rides at Universal Studios Orlando. Personally our favorite park is Islands of Adventure, however we made the decision to go to the main park and ride the Hollywood Rip Ride Rock It as our first ride of the day.  After we got off the ride and laughed at the photos and videos taken on the ride, we all agreed that we had to use the restroom. Once done going to the bathroom, we all talked about what ride to go on next and noticed a gathering out front of the Jimmy Fallon ride. So, naturally we walked over to see what was going on. At first, we didn't see much so we walked in to show our friend, Emily, the inside of the gift shop. When we looked over at the cash register we saw Quest Love paying for some items. We kindly asked for a photo and spoke to him for a little while before looking over and seeing Higgins. After speaking to both gentlemen, we started deciding on our next ride while Emily went to get a drink. As we waited for her to finish her purchase, Jimmy Fallon walked down the steps of the ride into the gift shop. Rowan and I nearly shit our pants. The whole day we were making jokes about how we weren't going to leave the park until we met Jimmy and there he was, live and in person. 

Now, Rowan, JT and I have ran into a few celebrities while at Universal and because of our exposure to high profile professionals in the music and entertainment business at Full Sail,so  we have learned how to approach the people we admire without coming off as a crazy fan (even if we might be). Rowan approached Jimmy first and asked if he would mind getting a photo with her. Right off of the bat, he was extremely sweet and humble. He shook all of our hands and we talked for a minute or two before a group of people came into the store and surrounded him like hungry sharks. This was the moment we decided to leave and go on with the rest of the day. However, his kind words and actions really left a mark on my friends and I. Jimmy has always been someone we looked up to and after meeting him I have gained a whole new respect for him. 

Rowan has since made a full video on her YouTube about this event and covered Speechless by lady gaga. We are trying to fulfill her dream of being on his show. If you are interested in hearing the story/song you can listen here. We have also be using the hashtag #ReuniteRowanAndJimmy on all forms of social media.

(Rowan's Video)

7 Concert Hacks You Need to Know!!

1.) Sharpies!!! - Always carry a sharpie with you. I've been in several situations where I've seen one of my favorite celebs in public and did not have a permanent marker to have them sign anything. The great part about this hack is that sharpies can be extremely beneficial even if you're not at a concert and they are also small enough to have in a bag or pocket.

2.) Chargers!!! - Nothing is worse than hitting 20% at the beginning of a concert. Carrying around a charger or portable charger fixes that. Depending on your price range, they have portable chargers between $5 and $100. These come in different shapes, sizes and colors, some are even cases! So, there is no reason to ever have your phone die at a show again. 

3.) The Mini First Aid Kit!!! - Mini first aid kits are so simple and extremely useful at concerts or festivals. They are sold at most drug stores and contain things like sanitary wipes, band-aids, and Neosporin; However, you can also put in things like nail glue, eyelash glue, pain medicines or even a mini sewing kit. I've been in situations where I've gotten blisters from my shoes and had to use a band-aid to help stop the blister from growing, and I've even had a friend's acrylic nail fall off and we used nail glue to fix it temporarily. This is another item to keep on you every day in something as simple as a backpack or purse. 

4.) Arrive Early!!! - Chances are your favorite band/artist will be walking around the general area before the concert, so if you arrive a couple of hours early you have a chance of running into them at a nearby coffee shop or store. I'm not the type of person who loves to arrive first thing in the morning, or wait in line for hours (you'll see why at tip number 7) so I'll typically arrive 2-3 hours early and explore the area. Not only do you get to check out the area, but you can also sometimes take really cute pics in the city. You already look nice so why not optimize what you've got. Plus, bands are just like us... they want to explore too and check out some cool places in the area. 

5.) Ice/Water!!! - Buying drinks at concerts can be extremely expensive and who wants to spend $10 on a bottle of water? Most venues offer free ice or tap water, so don't be afraid to ask your venue. This keeps you hydrated so you can keep rocking, plus it saves you money so you can spend it on that merch you've been eying up. 

6.) Tickets!!! - Let's be real here, service charges can get crazy sometimes. Who wants to pay $20 extra dollars on top of their $50 ticket? When you order tickets online they charge for a "convenience fee", however its not very convenient when you're out extra cash. By buying tickets at the venue you can save in service charges. You might still have to pay a few extra dollars for taxes but it won't be anything like online. Specific venues sometimes even have their will-call window open for ticket sales day of.

7.) Barricade Every Time!!! - Everyone wants to be front row for their favorite concert. But, GA concerts can sometimes make this a challenge. Here's what you do... when you enter the venue head towards stage right or stage left. People tend to shy away from these areas because of "obstructed view", which results in less people in those areas. Once you get to the side, work your way towards the center and you'll get barricade every time. 

Did I forget any? Share this if you are going to try or already have tried some of these hacks. Don't forget to tweet me and comment if you have any hacks for me to try! 

Artist To Watch: Blackbear

Blackbear is a hip hop recording artist, singer, songwriter and producer. He is known for writing songs for and working with artists such as Justin Bieber, G-Easy, Machine Gun Kelly, Mod Sun, Childish Gambino and Pharrell Williams just to name a few. He is an award winning musician originally from Daytona Beach, Florida. However, at the age of 20 he moved to Los Angeles, California and reinvented himself as a rapper and singer. In an interview at Full Sail University, he talked about how he gives back to the city that gives to him, which was not his hometown in Daytona Beach being the reason he left. He had mentioned that he never quite fit in with the people and although he doesn't regret growing up there, it is not his home.

In the same interview, he had made a statement about his music saying "I always want to have what's next ready before I even release what I have. You always have to be ready." Which seems to be working in his favor being as he has had quite a bit of success writing and producing music. Recently, Blackbear made an appearance with Mike Posner at the Grammy awards promoting their new album titled Mansionz, which is scheduled to be released March 24, 2017. This is a collaboration with Mike Posner; He has recently been signed to Island Records. They have dropped a few tracks from the album including "rich white girls" and "stfu". He has also released three new songs from his upcoming album Digital Druglord. The songs already released are "make daddy proud", "if i could i would feel nothing" and "do re mi".  Digital Druglord is scheduled to be released April 20, 2017.  Additionally, he has released his dates for the Digital Druglord Tour (part one) on his social media and website. You can see all the dates for the tour here.

It is evident that Blackbear is taking over the music industry for various reasons. In my own opinion I CAN'T wait to hear this new music and see him on his next tour. I was lucky enough to be guest listed to his Orlando, FL date on the last tour, and I can honestly say that Blackbear is not only a talented recording artist, singer and producer but also an outstanding performer. If he is coming to a city near you, I highly suggest you go to one of his shows. 

Digital Druglord Tour: http://beartrap.la/tour/

Blackbear on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2cFrymmkijnjDg9SS92EPM

Digital Druglord Pre-Order: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/digital-druglord/id1216872048

Blackbear on SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/iamblackbear

Twitter: https://twitter.com/iamblackbear

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamblackbear/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/blackbeardiaries

The Rule Of Thirds

Okay, yes. The rule of thirds is a term used in photography but I am using it in a different aspect. I have learned a couple of things about life and the music industry through the years, that I am now calling "the rule of thirds". Let me break it down.  

Rule one: The Ethic 

Regardless of what field you decide to jump into, you will need to find what works best for you. I have found that I work best with lots of things happening at once and by surrounding myself with things that inspire me. For example, I tend to come up with the best ideas at concerts or in city settings. By seeing people run around with a purpose makes me feel as though I need to be working harder on whatever I am doing. 

Optimism is something that I have had to acquire these past few years because of my ethic. I am always working on what is next and I sometimes misplace my motivation. I have been turned down on various occasions and it is OKAY!! It has only made me want to work harder next time. Failure does not always mean that you are a failure. It means that you did not work hard enough and there is room for improvement in some aspect, so you should learn from it. Sometimes it is challenging to find a balance with the two of these things, but they will shape you and allow you to be a better person. 

Rule two: The Ego

Please don't ever get lost in your ego. It is great when things start going as you wished, but that does not mean that you sit on a golden thrown with peasants feeding you grapes. No one wants things to go wrong and it feels absolutely incredible to have things work out. It is important to remember that with every great thing that happens in your life/career you will have to deal with something you don't particularly want to deal with. That is where you need to remember to stay optimistic and KEEP MOVING FORWARD. Also, people who are overly confident are sometimes seen as cocky and others do not want to associate with them because of that. So, don't catch an ego. 

Rule three: Don't Over Think It.

It can sometimes become too easy to compare your work to someone else's. Finding flaws in your work might seem like it is your new job, but stop being so hard on yourself. I have found myself at a concert or event thinking "man, these really suck. I will never be able to take photos like ____ or ____." After reviewing the photos later that night, I would always find a ton that I really liked and some that have become some of best work. It's not that I don't know what I am doing or I hate my work. The mind can make you believe things that aren't true. By comparing my work to someone else's I am not proving anything. I am simply implying that my work is not good because it does not look like someone else's work that I admire, which is what can happen when I forget my purpose and misplace my optimism. So just chill. It's literally not that deep. If the photos or whatever you're working on don't look exactly like you had planned, find something you do like and figure out how to highlight this feature. 

The rule of thirds is simply my outlook on my life and my work. That does not mean that if you do not do things exactly this way you will fail. I am still learning how to fine-tune my craft and I learn new things every single day. Let's just try to support each other's dreams and goals by lifting each other up, instead of trying to push others down. 

Who am I?

 Hey everyone, I am Brianna Reid. I am a currently a student at Full Sail University studying Music Business. I pride myself in remaining optimistic and humble in high tension or stressful situations. With that being said, I have always loved the beauty in simplicity. I truthfully believe that life is not complicated unless you make it complicated. I try to show that in all forms of my work. As a photographer, I do not believe in editing a photo to make it "look better" because a great photo should not need to look better. As far as working in the music industry, I believe that failure is just a stepping stone to achieving success. Passion is something that needs to drive someone and if there is enough passion, they will eventually achieve success. 

Ever since I was a child, I would hear my family and older cousins complain about how much they hated working. I decided from a young age that I did not want to hate my job. Honestly, college was never something I wanted to attend. I wanted to do something in the entertainment industry because I loved seeing people happy. I tried acting and singing... but it wasn't something I really knew I wanted to do with my life. I started playing around with cameras in elementary school and I found it a fun hobby. I would always record birthday parties and take pictures on my aunts nikon. One day I took a photo of her tooth brush in her bathroom and all of a sudden my family was telling me about how great of a photographer I was. To me it was a picture of a tooth brush but to my family it was some incredible piece of art. That photo has been in my aunts bathroom now for 10 plus years. 

Once I moved schools and began middle school I found a love for concerts. I started to attend probably about 2 or 3 concerts a week and had my dad drive me up to our local radio station for meet and greets. I really loved attending these live events because there is no better feeling than when the lights go out in the venue and the audience releases this incredible wave of excitement that you can feel pulsate throughout your entire body. It's truly spectacular. I began to take photos on my phone at these shows and they received a lot a great feed back. I soon upgraded to a digital camera by Canon. It was not a fantastic camera, but it was better than a iPhone 5 and it allowed me to get used to different settings. I upgraded again a few years later to a Canon Rebel T5 which has been the camera I've used the most. I am looking into upgrading again very soon, but for now I am happy with it. 

I began Bri Reid Photography in 2015 after I had come to the conclusion that I actually had some talent in photography. I have shot various private events, sporting events and concerts in the past few years. I absolutely love photography but if I am going to do this I would like to be known as a concert photographer. Additionally, I love concerts still and traveling is something I feel like everyone should do. I am working on becoming an artist manager as well as a photographer. I want to make an impact on this industry and spread the message of being honest, humble and simplistic.

Aside from all of the serious stuff, I am a huge fan of Dr. Seuss and coconuts are probably my favorite things in the entire world. I can play piano, guitar, violin, harmonica, ukulele, the bells, drums and I sing a little but I would not say that I am the next american idol. I have what some people call an "old soul". I love the 50's time era and I feel like although that was a time period of great sadness, some of the best music and musicians came out of it. Who am I? Brianna Reid.

Photo: Kaitlyn Strenger