How did the idea for BikerGurlz come about?
In 2001 I extended my existing web design company to now include models,
the next door type. The company name was Savage Entertainment and it was run
by myself and a friend of mine. As time went on we later separated and it
was then just me doing all the running around trying to attract different
ladies to shoot. In mid 2003 I decided to shoot on just the bike theme and I
would name my girls "BikerGurlz". I then became a member of an Atlanta based
motorcycle club called Redline 24-7.
What is your position within the BikerGurlz project?
I am the Owner and Chief Executive Officer of BikerGurlz.com. I am also
the web designer, and resident photographer.
How has BikerGurlz grown or changed since its inception?
The growth has been phenomenal, more than what I could dream of. I never
advertised other than using the ladies to promote for me. Since then we have
been able to grow to over 92,000 hits still with just word of mouth
advertising. The dedication of the ladies now are much better than when I
first started. One reason for the growth is the initial structure of the
project. I knew I could not shoot every model that emailed me so I allowed
them to start sending their photos to me along with the names of the
photographer and agencies they worked with. Every photo on our website has
been sent directly to me along with an application stating it is ok to use
their photos. We continue to grow as more affluent projects come our way and
the requests for our models now come from practically everywhere.
How large is the team that currently assists you with running this project?
The official BG team comprises of Myself, Kim Ellis who maintains the
president seatof BG, Ghost who maintains the promotions department of BG,
Joe Nuno of Nuno Productions, engages his recruiting activities for
Bikergurlz and is a very strong affiliate of the overall project, Sharif
Talib who is the photographer for the Washington DC area, then you have the
ladies of which the core team of models are: Lia J, Tiffany Diamond, Jowelyn
Raga, Melissa Cortez, Anjel Stokes, and new to the scene Miss Desire. There
are a host of others that contribute to our success that need to be
mentioned as well such as Club Frequency, Club Dyme, Empress Productions,
and Atlanta Fever Magazine.
During an average work week, how many hours do you spend working on the BikerGurlz project?
Running Bikergurlz is a full time job. I spend most of my days on the
internet communicating with possible sponsors, other organizations that we
can work with, email blasts, and staying in touch with the ladies. Then
there is the night life where we frequent many of the clubs practically all
week. Between Kim, Ghost, Joe Nuno, and myself we are always on the street.
Joe Nuno, incidentally, is based in L.A. so he stays busy with the
Bikergurlz in that area with video shoots and magazine shoots.
What's the most challenging part of maintaining or operating your website?
Just keeping it updated! On average I get anywhere between 10 - 20
aspiring model applications a day. Some of which never make the cut for many
different reasons. I am also the web designer of the BG site and resident
photographer. My relationship with the models have become a special one as I
need for them to know that I have their back in whatever they do so I go out
of my way to gain their trust. With all that activity it is often that I am
up until 3am editing and updating.
What are your goals at the current time for BikerGurlz?
We are positioning ourselves to be more than just a group with a bunch of
pretty women. We have become night club promoters as we host every Monday
Night at Club Frequency in Buckhead as well as sponsors for events. There is
even talks of opening our own club and is actually in the investigative
stages now. When Bikergurlz is fully matured I see this organization being a
school of talented young men and women who join because they will receive
health coaching, life coaching, career coaching and development, and most of
all have fun while doing so.
What are some other projects you're working on, or anticipate working on in the future?
We are working on a calendar project and have begun shooting for it. Just
taking our time to get the right ladies and the right shots. As mentioned,
we would like to have our own night club.
What part of operating BikerGurlz gives you the most enjoyment?
That's a no brainer....the ladies! I could never dream about being around
so many beautiful ladies in my life and it's now my reality. They are all
very special individuals who have goals and aspirations of their own and we
as a group look to nurture their dreams so that one day it too will become
their reality.
Do you work a regular 9 to 5 job or is BikerGurlz your primary project?
I am in and out of the work force doing the 9-5. I have senior level
management experience in IT Project Management and Disaster Recovery so I
tend to contract out when needed. It also helps to support my dream as well
as my family.
What's your opinion of the industry regarding ethnic models today?
It's no doubt that the ethnic model has come a long way in this industry.
In my opinion is has allot to do with our urban culture and the "Vibes" and
"Source" and other similar magazines of the world. The myth of being a model
required long legs and to be 6 ft tall, those days are over. Models have
been for sometime gaining more exposure in music video and just in the past
5 years or so in magazines that typically would not have an ethnic model in
it. Models like the Ki Toys, Melissa Fords, and Tomika Skanes have open the
doors for many aspiring models to now do print work and music video work to
propel to other areas in the industry.
If you could start this project all over again, from scratch, what would you do differently?
Wow! I don't know that I would change a thing. It had to start as it did
in order for it to be where it is now. With that said I wouldn't change a
thing.
What are the positive and negatives you've experienced when working with models?
Positives: seeing a young timid girl come into my studio, change into
wardrobe and become this ravishing gorgeous woman who plays with the camera
in ways that make me need water at times. I love it when a model knows her
direction and is focused on where she is going. This rubs off on other
models as well.
Negatives: Catching attitudes because I'm not spending as much time with
this one as oppose to that one. But It's mostly my fault because I treat
each one of them very special. Believe me when I tell you it's not always
this subtle or nice when we speak. It has to be that way because they have
to understand you will be there for them and not aide in taking advantage of
them. So the only negative would be knowing how to deal with the different
attitudes and personalities.
What does BikerGurlz offer it's visitors that they won't necessarily or can't find on similiar websites?
We like to believe that our ladies are the most beautiful in looks and
attitude. Not only can you see them in the free gallery but now open is the
members area where you can see the full photo shoot. What makes us different
is our cohesiveness as a group and the fact that we are not too high above
where you can't find us dropping it like it's hot in a club atmosphere. Our
ladies are real!
Are there any current issues being dealt with today that cause you the most concern?
The industry itself and how many conduct business is always a concern
with me. I or one of my staff will escort a model to wherever she needs to
go just so it is known that she comes with representation. I think many
young models fall victim to the game and the pressure of doing something for
something and ending up with nothing! There are many dark corners in this
business and it is no different from the rest. The key is to know what you
want out of it and how you plan on getting it without losing self respect!
Tell us some of things you couldn't live without?
My family and a nice glass of Cognac next to the fireplace every now and
then...lol. Other things could be mentioned but I need to keep it Rated
PG...lol.
What advice would you give to people looking into creating or starting a project similiar to BikerGurlz?
Everyone has the potential to be great and I or you are no different.
Understand what you are doing first and foremost because there will be
others that take you off your track and if you're not careful you may follow
someone who is leading you to failure quickly. Understand that you will
encounter haters and know how you will deal with them when they step up. Try
to remain humble and indifferent when good things happen. The most important
thing to remember though is to be honest with those you work with because
they are the ones who will, in the long run, have your back!
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