JR Gray recently appeared on The Day with Trae, hosted by Trae Holiday, to discuss his journey as an entrepreneur and the upcoming Motor City Entertainment show in May. He shared his tips on how someone interested might get their start in the entertainment industry.

“I got started when I was a young, young kid in high school,” Gray said. “I used to create T-shirts with designs and the heat press, and it kind of propelled me into my entrepreneurial journey.”

Gray worked as a cook in a club, sparking his interest in night performances. He said he “gave it a shot,” and that ‘shot’ propelled his career. He began hosting events in West Michigan, which eventually expanded throughout the country.

“It led me to a great line of individuals,” Gray said. “It led me to the team over at Motor City Entertainment, and what we've been doing. So just a long line of hustle and bustle the right way. A couple of bumps in the road, from low-end to high-end, successful shows. All of this has led to where we are now, where we can go big in Seattle, Washington, on May 3rd.”

Gray broke down how one might get started in the industry into three different topics. The first is embracing criticism and networking, explaining the importance of being open to feedback and connecting with others in the industry to build relationships and opportunities.

“To get into the business we’re in, called promotional and entertainment, you have to be open to criticism and allow yourself to network,” Gray said. “This is not something that happens overnight. It's been a 15-year journey for me, and I'm still not where I want to be in this entrepreneurial marketing journey.”

His second suggestion is to put yourself out there with your skill set. Recognize the need to be proficient in multiple areas such as graphic design, public relations, motivational speaking, and music to navigate the various demands of the promotional and entertainment industry.

“You have to be a jack of many trades,” Gray said. “I'm a graphic designer, PR expert, motivational speaker, musician — I'm always looking to hone everything I can when it comes to this.”

Securing capital and making strategic investments are also important, according to Gray. He stresses the challenges of obtaining funding and emphasizes the importance of either finding investors who believe in your vision or diligently saving money.

“Finding capital is another challenge you have to overcome,” Gray said. “You have to connect with the right people who trust your vision. Or you have to save money wisely for these endeavors to come to fruition. And then, once you do that, make the right investments with the right artists that you want to engage with. Just make sure that your actions align with your words.”

He emphasizes the importance of ensuring that your name represents your word and who you are in the business.

“We've got a lot of chaos going on right now in the entertainment industry,” Gray said. “Many people are not holding themselves to a standard of excellence. And that's what we strive for at Motor City Entertainment, where we're pushing that, especially with the upcoming show.”

Gray chose Seattle for the energy; he said it was a no-brainer. The vibrant atmosphere, combined with the city's beauty and the enthusiasm of its people, made it an obvious choice for promoting the show.

“I grew up in a city called Muskegon, Michigan, surrounded by music,” Gray said. “Every time I had a chance to hear music, whether it was gospel, R&B, or hip hop, I was always interested in getting that life experience at a church, concert, or band wherever. It always seemed to me that live performances were better than the actual albums.”

The atmosphere created by the artists' performances and the interactions with friends adds to the excitement. Whether you're with friends, loved ones, or even alone, Gray said he wants you to walk away from the experience feeling like you've witnessed something special. His goal is to provide a great production that captivates the audience with lights, sounds, and the overall atmosphere, leaving you with smiles and memories.

“We like to give back to the audience because you guys work hard Monday through Monday,” Gray said. “Here you are with one weekend or one day, one-night babysitter, we want you to feel like the money you spent was worth it every time.”

The Motor City Entertainment show is happening on May 3 at the Tacoma Dome. To get tickets, go to ticketmaster.com or visit jrgraydesigns.com. 

To learn more about how to enter the industry, tune in to Trae every weekday at 11 am on all Converge Media platforms and The Day With Trae YouTube Channel.