More Than Brunch: A Sit Down With Adrienne Reed
Once you find the call, you will make it, there is no breaking it. Find the call, tune in, do the work, be faithful and steadfast, surround yourself with a tribe who will hold you down, lift you up, call you out, and sharpen you. - Adrienne Reed
Women are easily stereotyped by one aspect of their professional lives. Adrienne Reed is an entrepreneur who will not allow that to happen to her. The dynamo is involved in a variety of projects, including her global event - Brunch 2 Bomb, and we knew we had to interview the woman behind the brand.
When did you start Brunch 2 Bomb and Why?
Brunch 2 Bomb is literally the result of me not wanting to pay for other people to celebrate me for my birthday. I love brunch and anywhere in the city
What is Hamba LLC and what is the connection to Brunch 2 Bomb?
Hamba LLC is my company, founded in 2016. Hamba LLC initially focused on brand and marketing strategy, which later split into a new lane with talent management, which lead me ultimately to what has become Brunch 2 Bomb.
What was the journey like for you in creating it?
The journey has been one of peaks and valleys, true highs and lows that we don't just experience financially but spiritually. The work we do to create Brunch 2 Bomb or any entity under Hamba LLC for that matter, are all the things I feel called to do. I believe a part of why I am on this earth is to create safe spaces for Blackness to flourish across platforms. Carrying that mantle presents tons of challenges, especially in locations where our culture does not have a centralized hub to shine like some of our sister metropolitan cities across the nation. The biggest of those challenges is constantly venues.
Being a Black woman negotiating with men in a traditionally sexist industry is tough. I'm often stopped before I can begin. Not to mention I'm no from this world, I have never promoted or really subscribed to the party scene so I don't have the age-old relationships a lot of the leaders of the industry in our city have. I'm a clear new kid on the block as opposed to a peer. All of this makes our journey more upward than not, a real testament to the success we have achieved thus far. But with more exposure and growth come more problems. We accomplished a 1300 person brunch, so when we downsize, the whys start buzzing, which impacts the brand. While the real why is venue driven. It's a very frustrating thing to process and honestly why ownership within our community is so critical.
What else is Hamba LLC have under its umbrella?
Super glad you asked! I often get pigeonholed into being the "Brunch 2 Bomb lady" lol. Hamba is Brunch 2 Bomb. Hamba is the talent manager for DJ Benjamin Walker (co-founder of Brunch 2 Bomb) and DJ Shai --both of who were just featured in numerous press outlets for the amazing Emmy party they curated the sounds for hosted by Netflix. Hamba is also the owner of Blue Drop Entertainment (BDE) who just turned one this past September. Blue Drop produced its first short film last year, Colors of Sankofa which featured at the Pan African Film Festival. BDE is currently producing Vibe Tribe Showcase (exclusively on Tribe Network on YouTube) and is developing Triggered, a series based on my experience with cancer (Write in Color Finalist, featured in Deadline), and TADAM, an animation following the superhero like everyday strengths of Black women being used to save other Black women! Super exciting stuff.
There are also some other projects under Hamba that are in development, including a book I co-authored, Meet the Tiny Humans with Treesje Powers; a podcast Reed Between the Gray with Brandon Gray, and much much more! All while working to create a national expansion for Brunch 2 Bomb. In short, we have a whole family of things under our umbrella. It's crazy right now!
What was your "make it or break it" moment?
I feel like I have one of these quarterly. Every time I do, God taps me on the shoulder and literally hits me with a tangible, "gang gang" and it’s back to 10 toes down. Back up plans aren't where it's at. Pause, listen for confirmation on alignment and once you get it, hold fast. Anytime you lose your way, find that voice again. Once you find the call, you will make it, there is no breaking it. Find the call, tune in, do the work, be faithful and steadfast, surround yourself with a tribe who will hold you down, lift you up, call you out, and sharpen you.
What is the mission of Hamba LLC?
Hamba exists to create safe spaces for Blackness to flourish across platforms.
What has creating Hamba LLC taught you about yourself and your business?
I'm way more prepared than I give myself credit for. I'm smarter and stronger than I think. God is the dopest. Faith is terrifying and rewarding. People will play you and that's ok, know who you are, and always be ok with the character you commit to. Money is cyclical, it will come back in due time, focus on quality all day, err'day.
What do you hope people take away from attending your event?
The joy they deserve. The fullness of the diaspora.
What is next for Hamba LLC?
Wow! It's always a next moment it seems. LOL. I would say getting the book out of editing, launching the podcast, acquiring a thoughtful financial partner/sponsor for Brunch 2 Bomb, hiring more people, selling some TV shows, and in the longer term-- a space, an amazing space that leaves me speechless when I envision it.
How do you slay?
I slay by walking in the fullness of who I am without apology. I slay by standing for my people in every facet of what I do. I slay by staying aligned and pursuant of whatever God has for me.
Thank you for the opportunity to share with the So She Slays family. Keep shining bright. If you feel inclined, follow the many things I do and have on the horizon. Instagram is my friend.
@theadriennereed @brunch2bomb @bluedropentertainment @reedbwteeenthegray
@theadventuresofdomoandmisch @triggeredtheseries @thegreenwoodblack @vibetribeshowcase @thetribenetwork @_outtpocket @meetthetinyhumans @2bombevents @bawdy2bomb @aqueenstable