August 26, 2024 • 45 mins
What role can a local gallery play in empowering a community? This week, we celebrate the vibrant spirit of Zachary with DeAndre Lee from Greater Works Gallery and Brittany McLean-Ray, Miss Louisiana Plus America for 2023-24. DeAndre offers a glimpse into his vision for fostering local artistry alongside his wife, while Brittany shares her inspiring journey and the gallery's pivotal role in her success at the national pageant in Texas. We also explore local favorites like LeBlanc's burgers and nachos and highlight dynamic networking events in Baton Rouge and Zachary.
Listen in as Brittany opens up about her commitment to promoting confidence and self-worth among women and girls of all sizes, drawing from her own experiences at the national pageant. DeAndre provides practical advice for fathers on how to uplift their daughters, making this episode both inspiring and relatable. We also touch on the significance of public speaking and community involvement, including impactful visits to schools and speaking engagements that aim to inspire the next generation.
Finally, DeAndre shares his journey from childhood dreams to a professional career, emphasizing the importance of creative entrepreneurship in shaping reality and emotions. He introduces exciting new Zachary-themed merchandise and discusses his experiences supporting students through creative projects. This episode encourages you to embrace unity, connect with cherished memories, and foster positivity throughout the community. Join us for an engaging and insightful conversation that celebrates community, creativity, and collaboration in Zachary.
God, doubt, and proof walk into a podcast... it goes better than you’d expect!
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 2 (00:05):
I am DeAndre Lee.
Speaker 1 (00:07):
I am Brittany McClain-Wright.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
And this is Porch and .
Speaker 3 (00:09):
Parish the podcast.
What's up, zachary?
I just completed the officefantasy football draft.
My kids are all in school, sothat means fall is officially in
the air, but the temperaturehas not acclimated to it yet.
I just added some custom shadesto our office.
Thanks to Walt at Budget Blindsof Zachary, our inside temp is
72 degrees and shady.
(00:30):
Today we're thrilled to featuretwo extraordinary guests.
First up is DeAndre Lee fromGreater Works Gallery, which has
recently opened its doors inthe Williamson Eye Center in
Zachary.
If you're grabbing a slushie atSonic, you can give them a
visit.
What are your hours, deandre?
Speaker 2 (00:47):
All right, so we are Monday through Friday 8 am to
3.30 pm.
All right, that's office hours,though.
Speaker 3 (00:53):
Office hours and we're going to share his contact
information at the end of thepodcast.
Deandre, a former Zachary HighSchool teacher, and his wife,
miss Lee, who teaches English atNorthwestern Middle School,
have brought their vision forcommunity and creativity to life
.
Joining him today in the boothis Brittany McLean-Ray, miss
Louisiana plus America.
(01:16):
I was struggling with thattitle earlier.
And that's for years 23 and 24.
She is a shining example ofempowerment and grace and a
proud client of the gallery.
So there's the connection.
Today they'll share theirinsights on art, advocacy and
the local community.
Let's get into this enrichingconversation.
(01:36):
Welcome, deandre and Brittany.
We're glad to have you.
Speaker 1 (01:39):
Thank you for having us.
Yes, sir, appreciate you.
Speaker 3 (01:41):
You already know what we do.
We bring you the best ofZachary and the Baton Rouge
region through CandyConversations every Monday from
our headquarters right here onVirginia Street in beautiful
downtown Zachary.
This is Portion Parish, thepodcast.
Stay tuned.
We'll be right back with thelightning round.
Looking for a family outing offthe beaten path?
(02:02):
Trot over to Breck's Far ParkEquestrian Center for a unique
experience.
Far Park offers guided trailrides throughout the fall.
Starting on September 22nd, youand the family can enjoy the
fresh air, beautiful scenery andquality time with loved ones,
perfect for all ages.
Follow the link to sign up.
Spots are limited.
All right, we're back with thelightning round.
(02:26):
Everybody always laughs becauseit's like, uh, you're not
hearing the commercials getinserted right right insert
lightning crack, sound all right.
So here's a little game I madeup called what's greater,
because last week we had jessicabest of best in company and we
played what's the Best.
Now we're going to play what'sGreater, hey, I'm with it.
(02:48):
Yeah, if you have any bettercues than I've made up, please
feel free.
But Louie's Diner or Raul'sFire Hamburger, what's greater?
Speaker 2 (03:00):
I've had neither, so I'm a great winner.
Speaker 3 (03:03):
Well, what's greater than?
Speaker 1 (03:04):
both of those then Homemade, oh, we's greater than
both of those then Homemade, ohwe talking about burgers, man.
Speaker 2 (03:08):
Nah, we talking about burgers.
You gotta go LeBlanc's.
Speaker 3 (03:11):
In Zachary at least.
Right, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2 (03:13):
LeBlanc's Diner.
I mean you gotta get nachoswith cheese and peppers while
you're sitting waiting on yourburger.
Speaker 3 (03:18):
Yeah, man, so I'll agree with that their nachos are
awesome oh yeah, I haven't hadthe nachos.
I usually go to the platedsection because I'm I don't like
hot lunches for the hot lunch,because then you know it's right
there I can get back to work intime okay, I feel like now look
if you have.
Speaker 2 (03:36):
On the other side of town, though, you got to go to
the spicy nacho, because thespicy nacho has really good
nachos I have heard my um verygood maxos, my son Max just did
a snowball.
Speaker 1 (03:47):
What is it.
Speaker 3 (03:48):
He did like a review on the different snowball deals
around town and he also reviewedSpicy Nacho.
I've got to get over there, buthe loved that place.
Speaker 1 (03:57):
They're amazing.
Speaker 3 (03:58):
Yeah, yeah, I don't know what it is, but they got it
.
Speaker 1 (04:01):
It's love.
It's love.
Yeah, yeah, they got it.
Oh yeah, yeah, yeah, um britney, no you, you hail from the land
of john eric right.
Speaker 3 (04:11):
Yes, home of the patriots, new orleans, yes, yeah
.
So I mean, what was yourfavorite uh place to eat growing
up?
Speaker 1 (04:17):
jeans po'boys.
Okay, I know you're from thearea, but a good cornosaur.
Speaker 3 (04:24):
Every neighborhood has their own.
Speaker 1 (04:26):
A good cornosaur, po' boy will just melt your heart
yeah that's right.
Speaker 3 (04:31):
Well said, well said.
What kind of po' boy bread wasthat?
Do you remember?
Speaker 1 (04:34):
Of course French bread.
Yeah, Just like.
Speaker 3 (04:37):
The normal, the normal, whatever it is right.
Speaker 1 (04:41):
The New Orleans normal.
I know it Because it's not thesame everywhere.
Speaker 3 (04:44):
So you can get that.
You can get that at LeBlanc's.
It's not LeBlanc's anymore.
What is it?
Rouse's, leidenheimer, which ispretty close.
I mean, that's pretty greatstuff.
Anyway, what is the greaternetwork event you've been to
lately?
So networking events.
Speaker 2 (05:08):
So it's two that come to mind, one that I attended as
a as a person, another Iattended as a as a vendor, um,
when the chamber had their event, um, this summer at mommy's
restaurant yeah, that was.
That was a pretty cool event.
I got to meet um people that Ididn't even know who were in
business, like you know it wasreal dope.
And the Business Besties Brunchin Baton Rouge.
(05:35):
I did video for that event andit was real nice to see, like,
so many women in Baton Rouge inbusiness, corporate sector,
private sector, just all kind ofyou know and they killing it,
you know, they were crushing itsector, private sector, just all
kind of you know, and theykilling it, you know, they were
crushing it.
So that was a very dope eventto be a part of because they had
a wide array of professions,from you know people that make
crafts to all the way up to youknow people being CEOs and
(05:55):
doctors, lawyers, real estateagents and all kinds of stuff.
So it was real nice, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1 (06:00):
Right, so for me it's a couple that come to mind.
Most recently I attended the OMGGirls Conference which is in
Baton Rouge.
They help young ladies, littlegirls, just empower themselves,
help them with sexual health,try to get them self-esteem Just
(06:20):
an all-around wonderfulexperience with that.
Just an all-around wonderfulexperience with that.
Also, Junior Cosmetology ofBaton Rouge there is a
cosmetologist named Dana Hayesthat owns a cosmetology business
, but she helps young girls whowant to do hair yeah, she helps
them perfect their craft.
Cool, and I got to experienceseveral sessions with her and
(06:48):
the young ladies and the youngladies are phenomenal.
I think I met the youngest girl.
She may have been seven yearsold, yeah, and she was on stool
doing hair.
Amazing, and she did aphenomenal job.
I even let them do my hair.
I hosted their inaugural umfashion show, yeah, where they
did hair, and I let them do myhair, yeah, I'm sure you get
around to a lot of networkingevents.
(07:10):
Yes, but for me, the importantpart is supporting my platform,
which is helping young girls andwomen feel confident, so that I
got to experience not only thekids but also interact with the
parents as well.
Seeing that they're youngladies, they can do anything
that they put their mind to.
Speaker 3 (07:29):
Yeah, awesome, awesome, all right.
Shout out to your familiesbefore we get into this.
Speaker 1 (07:36):
So I'll say hi to my husband, lamar Ray, and Lamar's
prospect you can follow him aswell on YouTube and all the
social media platforms.
Prospect you can follow him aswell on youtube and all the
social media platforms.
Speaker 3 (07:49):
my mom, my brother, my favorite little sister and
all my nieces and nephewsperfect deandre, you're yes,
you're like following aprofessional all day here I'm
telling you, man, my wife but,uh yeah shout out to the best
wife for me man, frederica MarieCarter Lee.
Speaker 1 (08:09):
My little sister.
Speaker 2 (08:10):
Yes, yes, got it.
I didn't know that.
Yeah, she's awesome, she's goodpeople, she cool, she cool.
You have any pets?
Yeah, I got two.
What what you got?
We have a German Shepherd namedCoco coco and we have a bully
named puff.
Yeah, you see what I did?
Speaker 3 (08:30):
yeah, that was yeah, yes, uh, I don't know, dogs
don't elicit um like ideas ofcereal for me, but I don't know
why you did that.
Speaker 2 (08:41):
It was the colors okay, yeah, my back was against
the wall.
We had them.
I had to think of something.
Yeah, that's pretty good,that's good.
Speaker 3 (08:48):
Yeah, I mean, we have a more practical name for our
Basset Hound.
Her name is Puddles.
Speaker 2 (08:55):
Oh, okay, so Puddle Coco and Puff is where you draw
the line.
Huh, yeah, no, yeah, puddles,okay, puddles.
Speaker 3 (09:01):
I mean you just.
Anyway, all right, let's getinto some serious questions here
.
So, deandre, what inspired youto open Greater Works Gallery in
Zachary, and how has the localcommunity responded so far, now
that you've been open three days?
Speaker 2 (09:19):
All right so.
Speaker 3 (09:20):
What are your sales?
Speaker 2 (09:22):
Well, first thing, what inspired the location of it
is just the fact that we livehere, but this has been a long
time coming.
The business has gone throughso many different faces and
names over the years and in 2017, I graduated from Tech,
louisiana Tech, go Dawgs in 2016.
(09:43):
And after working my first joblike it sucked, like it was
horrible Train wreck, and when Iquit that job, I finally went
official and put Greater Workson paper.
I rebranded, I put it on paper,got the LLC and I just wanted,
if I was to ever walk away froma job because I love working,
(10:04):
but you know, but I was like manif I ever walk away from
something or I get dismissed, mydestiny is in my hands.
There, you go, and so I playedthe long game of working a
full-time job while doing thisand then, after this spring,
with teaching, it was just like,yeah, man, it's time Everything
just really lined up for us tojust go full-time, perfect.
(10:28):
And um, as far as communityreception it's been, it's been
amazing.
Um, a lot of support fromchamber members, from my
students and their parents.
You know they've been very,very uh supportive and just um,
you know, sowing good seeds ongood ground and doing good
business in the past,everybody's been, and just um,
you know, sowing good seeds ongood ground and doing good
business in the past,everybody's been excited for us.
(10:49):
You know we've been seeing the?
Um, the evidence of our hardwork that we've put in over the
past seven years at greaterworks has been incorporated.
So, um, it's just been ablessing.
Everybody's been very uhsupportive and you know the
phone keep ringing.
Speaker 3 (11:04):
So that's, that's a good thing.
Yeah, um, yeah.
So I went to your ribboncutting and it was, uh, just
beyond my expectations for forwhat a ribbon.
Speaker 1 (11:17):
That was gonna be it was great.
Speaker 3 (11:20):
I mean, you had your family there um.
Y'all did an excellent job on.
You know just that we call itbuild out right right, right,
just whatever the aesthetic ofthe place, yeah how you
decorated right.
So the funny thing is once wegot the keys once.
Speaker 2 (11:35):
Once we um signed and we got the keys and you told us
bye, like we man, we gotstraight to it.
The um, the building wasactually ready.
It was like 85 complete by.
We signed on a thursday and bythat next thursday it was like
85 done.
Wow, we were waiting on fedexyeah when I tell you that I've
(11:55):
never been so pissed off with a,with a, with a corporation in
my life.
Oh my goodness, fedex droppedthe ball completely.
Speaker 3 (12:02):
I thought that was just a like something you say,
because I was like waiting onfedex.
That's a really nice, oh nothat's a good line.
Speaker 1 (12:10):
They were really waiting for fedex to deliver.
Speaker 2 (12:12):
They lost my music lyric they they lost my desk.
I spent like a hundredsomething dollars on the desk
and they just didn't deliver it.
Yeah, and when I'd call, they'dbe like oh yeah, we're tracking
that now for you.
I was like so where is thatthen?
Speaker 3 (12:24):
if you try usps it's not, not much telling you more
to get excited?
Speaker 2 (12:29):
I never wanted to throw hands with somebody so bad
in my life I was like man, thenext person who knock on my door
from fedex.
Speaker 3 (12:35):
We gonna, we gonna, yeah I used to be a furniture
maker back in the day and I Iwas making these humidors.
Um, it would just take me Idon't know like three solid days
to make this thing finish it,and it was beautiful.
The finish on it was pristineand I put it in the mail.
It doesn't really matter who Isent it to, right, I don't think
(12:56):
it was FedEx this time.
Something always go wrong.
It went really, really wrong.
Like the temperature was so hotin whatever truck and now,
thank goodness, everybody hasair conditioning right but uh,
it like melted my, it melted thepackage onto this finish and I
was really poor and just like ohwhat do I do?
(13:17):
And that's crazy yeah, so Ialways get the insurance.
Speaker 2 (13:19):
Now, but right, anyway, we digress from I mean
to mess up no future sponsorshipopportunities from fedex.
The opinions that are beingexpressed here are from are of
deandre lee alone, not greaterworks, gallery llc or porch and
parish.
Speaker 3 (13:34):
I just want to throw that out there well, well done,
all right thanks for thatdisclaimer yeah, man, we needed
it yeah I mean I don't, we don'tquite have fedex knocking at
our doors yet, but I mean, Imean we got some amazing
sponsors.
Speaker 2 (13:46):
If they knock on your door, make sure they got your
package.
That's it.
Speaker 3 (13:50):
Where's his desk?
All right, okay.
So, brittany, what drew you tobecome a client of Greater Works
Gallery?
Speaker 1 (13:59):
So Greater Works.
Long story short, he was thephotographer of one of the
fashion shows that Iparticipated in, and it took us
how many years to figure thatout?
Probably about two or threeyears.
Speaker 2 (14:15):
Yeah, because that fashion show was in like 2015 or
16.
Speaker 1 (14:22):
Right when he started his business and and his wife
we started working togetherbecame really close.
Um, I kind of adopted her intoour family and her family took
me in like a stray dog, yeah, sowe've been friends ever since
then.
but, um, what drew me to themwas their professionalism from
day one.
(14:42):
Even when I did not know Works,they did a phenomenal job at
the fashion show and it was myfirst fashion show ever
participating, so as aphotographer, he made me
comfortable.
He didn't make me feel nervous.
Although it was a lot of peoplein the place, he was the only
person in the room and he gotthe shots and everything was
(15:06):
amazing yeah, awesome, and sothat started a journey for you,
for you, that eventually led tothis.
Speaker 3 (15:13):
This is your greatest , uh, professional
accomplishment, right?
Speaker 1 (15:17):
yes, yeah, mrs louisiana, plus america yeah, so
to tell us about that so, acouple years after the fashion
show, my very great sponsor,greater Works Gallery, has
sponsored all of my photos forevery pageant that I've been in.
He has done headshots, he'sdone magazine photo shoots.
He has done a little bit ofeverything and he has done an
(15:41):
amazing job.
We won photogenic in the MissLouisiana Plus pageant.
Speaker 3 (15:48):
That felt real good.
You bet on the right person.
Man, that felt really, reallygood.
Speaker 2 (15:53):
Not because it's some dope photographers that are,
you know, because you havepeople from all different cities
competing and to be able to getmost photogenic.
It's like man, you know, likewe clicked on all cylinders with
this one.
My bad britney, go ahead yeah,but it was great.
Speaker 1 (16:08):
That's why you got a mic man you're fucking but he
did an amazing job and he alsosponsored me getting to the
national pageant last year intexas.
Although I didn't win thenational title, it was amazing
seeing almost 40 plus women fromall over the united states
competing in a pageant.
Yeah, we were all plus sizewomen, everybody was
(16:30):
professional, everybody had camefrom a different background,
different walk of life yeah andjust coming together and being a
group of sisters was amazing,and having a dope photographer
and dope pictures made it evenbetter.
Yeah, we got that title nextyear, though, of course.
Oh y'all going for it.
Speaker 2 (16:43):
We're going yeah, we got that title next year, though
, of course, oh, y'all going forit, we're going for it.
Speaker 3 (16:47):
We're coming home with the training.
Speaker 2 (16:49):
Last year was just a warmup.
We we taking everything nextyear.
All right, we taking it allnext year.
Speaker 3 (16:55):
That's right.
Um, yeah, we'll keep in touchwith this.
I want to Follow this journey.
It's amazing.
Tell us a little bit about yourplatform, brittany, and then I
want to hear more about yourplatform.
Speaker 2 (17:08):
Andre Gotcha.
Speaker 1 (17:09):
So my platform is helping women and girls feel
confident at any and every size,no matter whether you're size 2
or 32, you deserve to becelebrated.
You are more than enough andyou are worthy of everything
that you want in life.
I try to promote the youngladies and even the women that I
encounter.
I try to let them know thatyou're beautiful.
(17:30):
Number one you don't needvalidation from outside.
I feel like, as parents, asfriends, as family, we should
validate our kids, our mothers,our sisters.
We should validate everybodyourselves, but they shouldn't
look for the validation outside.
So I try to promote that withthe young ladies.
Hey, if you see your fellowsister looking sad, ask her
(17:52):
what's wrong If she's lookingbeautiful today.
Let her know that Somethingjust as simple as oh, I like
your outfit, I like your jewelryit makes somebody feel a total.
Speaker 3 (18:01):
It makes them feel totally different they can turn
their day around yeah, I meanokay for guys that you know like
nobody tell us nothing, youknow, nobody tells us anything
but um, for me and my daughter,how, how, what are some ways
that I can tell her, you know,to boost her up without sounding
(18:22):
stupid?
Speaker 1 (18:24):
So, dad, dad, as a parent, we're going to sound
silly anyway, but just do it.
If she has a new shirt, dress,pair of pants on or you see
something that's different inher, acknowledge it.
Yeah, I like what you did withyour hair today.
It's nice.
Yeah, like, come on maybe.
(18:50):
Hey, I like how you put youroutfit together.
Can you help me put together myoutfit?
I want to be a cool dad today.
Speaker 2 (18:57):
Help me out.
Sound like having two wives.
Speaker 3 (19:01):
No, that's good advice.
I need it.
You don't have a teenager yet,not yet.
Thank the Lord, it's coming,it's coming.
But the problem in our house isthat my five-year-old he sees
me get dressed up and go to workand uh, he, he always tries to
dress me and I don't like he'sreally good at it, but he always
(19:24):
wants me to wear a tie and Inever, I never have the heart to
tell him no.
So I'm like I'll put on the tieand you take it off and take it
off and he catches me oh,that's what I'm like, lying.
Speaker 2 (19:34):
That's nasty business , right?
Oh man, like a church um, youknow oh, you took a time they
don't wear, no, so anyway, okaymaybe put a tie on him see how
he feels about it.
Speaker 3 (19:48):
Yeah and if it's not about me.
He's bringing it back back tothem.
Yeah, okay.
Speaker 1 (19:53):
Tell him, hey, how about you put on the tie today?
If he said no, daddy, it's tootight.
Yeah, son, it's a little tootight, we don't need to wear it.
That's why I don't wear them wedon't need to wear it every day
, let's try something else, yeah.
Speaker 3 (20:06):
All right, let's take a break there.
All right, thinking about mydaughter threw me off my train
of thought.
Oh it's hard to be a parent.
It is britney, did you say youhave kids?
Speaker 1 (20:24):
yes, I have one bonus daughter.
She is three years old and sheis a spitballifier.
Yeah, she is, she is.
She will make faces.
She will look at you crazy, butshe's so lovable, even when she
acts a fool it's like come on,baby.
Speaker 3 (20:42):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (20:43):
Bebe loves you.
Come on, and where's she?
Speaker 3 (20:46):
going to school.
Speaker 1 (20:47):
She is actually living in Texas with her mom,
but she is in preschool out inTexas and she loves it.
Yeah, we talked to her lastnight and she was telling us
about her day and then how shewatched Bubble Guppies and how
she's a mermaid and just kidsare amazing.
They just are so lovable andinnocent.
Speaker 3 (21:10):
DeAndre's got a timer set for something.
It's all right.
Speaker 2 (21:13):
It was.
You told me put it on airplaymode, thing was floating.
Speaker 1 (21:16):
I don't know what happened?
Speaker 2 (21:18):
I don't know what happened.
Speaker 3 (21:19):
Mike, I'm telling you you're fine you're fine, all
right, uh, um, so now to yourplatform, deandre.
What?
So you tell me where greaterworks comes from?
Speaker 2 (21:31):
so, really to be honest with you, greater works
comes from the bible scripture,where that was pretty much the
last commandment jesus gave youknow before he made his final
disappearance.
Uh, disappearance, I hate thatI use that word, oh my goodness
before he made his ascensionbefore he made his ascension.
I already sound stupid.
(21:51):
It is what it is now, but um,you know that was the last
command we don't have to submitthis to the school board anymore
.
Speaker 3 (21:57):
Yeah, it's all good.
Yeah, we good, or your pastor?
Right?
Yeah, who's your pastor?
I need to talk to him.
Speaker 2 (22:03):
Oh man, uh, that's pastor eric williams.
What church shout out to yourchurch?
Speaker 3 (22:08):
beacon light it's in, uh, baton rouge beautiful the
fact that you care it says a lot.
His disappearance, all right.
Speaker 2 (22:15):
So back to your train of thought.
But yeah, that was the finalcommandment that he gave the
disciples and, you know, I thinkit's very bold of him to say
yes, in all of my divinity, Idid all these great things and
you're going to do way better,you know.
So, when I was thinking of aname because, mind you, I've
(22:37):
went through so many brand names, like while I was in college,
and then you know getting outthe headspace you live in Right
right.
So being able to come up withsomething that was not only
professional but also, in a way,was a, was a command.
Also, it's like every time,every time I put a camera in my
(22:58):
hand, my laptop or you know,whatever I'm doing, business
related, it's almost like I'mtelling myself and reminding
myself hey man, you're gonnakill this, you're gonna do great
, and so, um, my motto really isum.
So I'm 31, I was born in 93 and, growing up, art wasn't
something that you just did, youknow.
Um, when you, when peoplethought about art as a career,
(23:22):
let's just be real, either youwere like a super old white man
who painted or you were like,you know, some quirky young
person with glasses doing likeetsy style art, like it wasn't,
you know art wasn't what that is.
Speaker 3 (23:35):
There was no right ease to the creative scene
exactly there is digitally now,right, right.
Speaker 2 (23:39):
So, um, you know, all my life I've been drawing, like
from the time that I couldwrite, I was drawing.
And so, um, just being able tosee the evolution of, like, how
my mind always wanted to know,like when we were driving down
i-10, man, how did they makethat billboard?
Like, and in my mind, in mynine-year-old mind, I'm thinking
that somebody drew it in pencil.
Then they went back with colorpencil and marker and you know,
(24:01):
like the, the concept of graphicjust was, you know, so far
beyond me, like I didn't knowhow any of that worked.
So, um, my platform now and mygoal in being in business is to,
of course, make good work andgive my clients a good
experience and make sure thattheir vision come to life with
whatever they're getting done.
(24:22):
Yeah, but also to show to showkids white kids, black kids,
anybody that the arts are a goodcareer path you know that, um,
you really have a lot of controlover over the world being an
artist, because everything isbased on perception.
Um, any, anything that we puton, anything that we any
(24:44):
building we step into, anythingthat we pick up with our hands.
Everything started off on paperas a sketch, as an idea, and
then maybe it got drug into aprogram and made into like a 3d
model and then actuallyfabricated and produced.
Or you then maybe it got druginto a program and made into
like a 3d model and thenactually fabricated and produced
.
Or, you know, maybe it wassculpted or whatever, but, like,
everything started off with asketch.
So, as an artist, it's like wehave the power to really shape
(25:04):
reality and we also have thepower to, you know, shape
people's feelings.
I mean, that's all branding andadvertising is.
So my, my whole platform isbeing able to just show people
and inspire people that, um,even if you're not an artist,
you can.
You can make your product, youcan make your um, your product,
your passion, whatever you havegoing on, you can make it look
(25:27):
way more successful than it isif you take the time to just
like, get out of your mindset.
And you know, compete, putyourself in.
Put yourself in a position likeif it's somebody who's selling
shoes, even if Take the time tojust like, get out of your
mindset and you know, compete.
Put yourself in a position likeif it's somebody who's selling
shoes, even if you're all.
If you sew shoes at home and youonly coming up with, like where
Nike can, you know, put outhowever many pairs they want to?
If you only can make one pairat a time, you want to do it in
(25:50):
such a way where people feellike they're missing out if they
don't, if they're not the onesthat have this one pair.
Right, and that's what.
That's what adequatephotography and videography does
, when you're telling your storyand you're presenting things in
such a way where, where itseems luxurious people feel like
that, yeah people feel likethey're missing out.
So it don't matter how, it don'tmatter on what scale you're
(26:11):
producing anything or what hoursyou're doing of your service.
If you make people feel likeyou're adding value and it's
exclusive, then you, you won.
Speaker 3 (26:21):
And that's that's my goal to just inspire and to be
able to give back to yeah, yeah,speak um, speak to that young
creative right now who's inZachary um high and but it
doesn't have to be in ZacharyHigh, it can be any any high
school.
And they're feeling like youknow what, louisiana's great and
all.
(26:42):
I love my mom and them, and butI think I might have to get out
of here and go somewhere wherethere really is a scene you know
.
Speaker 2 (26:50):
I tell you what the scene is, where you make it.
The scene is where you make it.
The scene is where you make,and, granted, we still have free
will to choose.
I could have forced my wayanywhere, but just the fact that
(27:19):
I've been able to be in thiscommunity, where I went to high
school, and you know, just addso much value is important.
And, um, my message is don't,don't feel like you have to get
it all today.
Yeah, you know, art issomething that's ever-changing.
Everybody has their market,some people gonna like it, some
people not.
Don't feel like you'recompeting with the next artist.
I mean, right here in the heartof town, there's literally you
(27:43):
have sonic, mcdonald's andburger king, like all on the
same corner selling burgers.
You know, like all three ofthem are selling the same thing.
So it's like, let let peoplechoose.
Yes, one, one day they mighthave an appetite for you, one
day they might have an appetitefor somebody else.
But it's like, you know, that'sthe, that's the power of, uh,
capitalism, and that's where youhave to get creative and say,
(28:04):
okay, what am I going to offerdifferent?
What experience of you?
Know the technical things?
Yeah, and so many people arescared to compete that they, you
know that they slack up on thetechnical things instead of
thinking how can they enhancethe experience.
So yeah, man, young creatives,keep on doing your craft.
Make your stuff lookprofessional.
(28:24):
If you can't do it, get withsomebody who can.
But definitely don't feelpressured to have it all right
now.
Things have to evolve.
Because in school, when I was atLouisiana Tech at Louisiana
Tech, I was the only kid inthere without a MacBook.
I had an old HP computer thatran super slow.
That thing was a dinosaur.
And on all of my projects Imean I didn't even know how to
(28:46):
download fonts Everybody waslooking at me crazy for every
project because I'm using thedefault fonts that's installed
on the computer.
And one day, you know, during acritique, my professor asked
like man, like why don't you goand search for fonts?
And I was like I don't know how, and everybody chuckled and
it's just, and it's crazybecause it's like you know what,
what you think people shouldknow?
(29:07):
People sometimes just actuallydon't know, right, you know so,
so, um, so yeah, I took, I tookthose college years to be as
creative as I can, to learn asmany different mediums of art as
I can, because I never knewwhat I was going to use when I
like I said when I started out Iwas just drawing.
And when I got to college, I waslike, okay, I can't major in
drawing.
So that's what graphic designcame, yeah, and so I was like a
(29:29):
B and C student, everybody elsegetting A's on everything
because they knew how to design.
They did that in high school,whereas Zachary hadn't gotten to
that point yet.
So, you know, I took the timeto really experiment and I
didn't want the small little.
I didn't want the small mentalvictories of like, oh, I got an
A on this project, good job.
I wanted to actually be astudent of the craft and learn
(29:51):
like, okay, I got a C on this,why?
Because, okay, my typographywas off, I didn't align
everything, I didn't havemargins and bleeds around this,
I didn't, you know the technicalthings and, as fate would have
it, I'm probably out of my classof 20 something.
Speaker 1 (30:11):
I'm probably the only person that's still designing
and doing anything in art but Ialso think as students, or
encouragement for students,sometimes you have to start
where you're at yeah once youstart, that's the hardest part
you got something to build onexactly you can always become
better and definitely improveyour craft, even with greater
(30:34):
works.
Your photos from day one to nowyou can see the tremendous
improvement don't show nobodyyour pageant photos from from
from years ago.
Speaker 3 (30:45):
Keep those in the vote.
I was just gonna say the firstone's gonna be on file they were
.
Speaker 2 (30:50):
They were amazing at the time, oh man.
Speaker 1 (30:52):
But you just have to start where you're at and you're
going to continue to grow andcontinue to get better, yeah,
day by day now.
Speaker 3 (31:01):
I'm curious.
So I'm a student of publicspeaking, so I'm an only child,
very sheltered.
Just year it took me years andyears, and years to be able to
talk to anybody comfortably.
I don't know, right, um, ifanybody out there listening
feels the same way.
But I'm a toastmasters uh,competent communicator graduate,
all right, hey I dropped a bombeffect, right right yeah, right
(31:24):
there um, so my man iscompetent, but yeah uh, and it's
still just average.
No so, britney, how did youbecome a public speaker?
Because that doesn't comenaturally for everybody to a
friend talking to a familymember, like we're talking today
face to face.
Speaker 1 (31:42):
Good evening.
How are you doing today, ladies, gentlemen, judges, right,
we're just, they're just people.
(32:03):
They're not on this big platteror pedestal.
They're just people.
Speaker 3 (32:07):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (32:07):
You still talk to them like they're people, a
large group of people, but Ifeel like it's easy.
If you are comfortable talkingto your family, do the same
thing yeah just kind of blockout all the hundreds of people
behind them I get so technicalabout it.
Speaker 3 (32:23):
It's like all right, where, what person am I going to
look at right now?
I get like really in my in inmy own brain.
So how do you handle that?
You're looking at hundreds ofpeople.
Do you find one person that'sconnecting with you out there
and just make eye contact?
Speaker 1 (32:39):
Believe it or not.
With all the lights you can'tsee anybody you cannot see.
I thought you were going tojust say imagine them without
their pants on or something Idon't know.
Speaker 2 (32:50):
I feel like imagining 100 plus people without pants
is way harder than just being upthere, and speaking, it would
definitely be way moreuncomfortable, way more
distracting.
Speaker 1 (32:58):
I'm telling you but I try to find my person in the
crowd.
When I competed in the statepageant, there was a young boy
named Kyle who over the courseof pageant week he would come up
to me and he was my best friend.
(33:18):
Yeah, so he may have been sixyears old.
Okay, perfect On the night ofmy pageant I was nervous on
stage and Kyle was on.
He was in the audience and hewas just waving and good job.
Thumbs up and I'm like the babyis rooting for me, like that I I
(33:39):
found him and I connected withhim and he was the person who I
spoke to the entire time.
Speaker 3 (33:44):
That might be something that that we can all
take away from this.
I mean that that's a greatswing key at.
When I talk to my kids, Ibrighten up automatically, my
eyes are shinier, everything.
There's like love in what I'msaying yes you know, not the
older ones, just not theteenagers.
I'm just kidding.
Speaker 1 (34:02):
Sometimes they get that, but uh, that's excellent
yeah, just looking in theaudience seeing somebody proud
of you, seeing their eyes lightup, yeah, it makes you do a
better job.
It makes you push for your bestyeah now, do you take that?
Speaker 3 (34:17):
out with you into the community, like when you're
just shopping at the grocerystore in zachary, or I mean
you're, you're in baton rouge,proper, right she shop here too.
Speaker 2 (34:25):
Yeah, you shop at whatever else is here.
I think so.
I think it need to be notedthat britney severely
understated the level ofrelationship that her and my
wife have.
All right they when I tell youI I seriously think that if me
and my wife divorce today, herand britney will get married,
because man they just roommates.
I'm telling you like uh, she'sactually um our middle son's
(34:49):
middle son.
Like we got three sons, ourmiddle child's uh, god, mom, so
and she's the auntie to allthree of them so yeah, like
that's how.
Speaker 3 (34:58):
That's how close they are so we'll see around town,
huh oh you're gonna see me, justnot with the crown every day
not every day do you, you bringthat around often, I don't bring
it around.
Speaker 1 (35:08):
Often I feel a little uncomfortable with all the
publicity wearing the crown.
Speaker 3 (35:15):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (35:15):
Because when you go out in public oh, tell me about
your title or you see kids.
Hey, can we take a picture?
I love seeing the little kidslight up, but it's like I'm shy.
What is this?
Speaker 3 (35:30):
Right, right.
Do you ever get out into theschools?
Speaker 1 (35:33):
Yes, I do.
Most recently I got out to PortAllen Middle School and High
School and I had a couple eventswith the Butterfly Society,
with the girls there.
One day we had an evening whereI was a speaker to the middle
school girls.
The next event that I went to,we had a just get together chill
(35:54):
night where we ate food,watched movies, kind of talked,
had a little round table girltalk and I enjoyed doing
something simple like that, justtalking to the girls, letting
them know hey, you can get towhere I am.
The only person that you're incompetition with is yourself.
You're not in competition withthe person sitting next to you
(36:14):
You're not in competition withis yourself.
You're not in competition withthe person sitting next to you.
You're not in competition withyour sister, your friend, your
classmate.
You have to be the best versionof yourself.
You're only in competition withyourself well said, deandre.
Speaker 3 (36:26):
You have anything to add?
Speaker 2 (36:29):
um cut that oh yeah, we're gonna have to, no yeah
we're gonna cut that mic, it'sall right
Speaker 3 (36:41):
we, we buzzed them.
Speaker 2 (36:42):
Yeah, hey, we're you gotta ask me a specific question
all right andre, look, let'stake it out with this.
Speaker 3 (36:51):
Can you um describe any upcoming projects or events
at greater works gallery thatthe community can get involved
with or, um you know, get?
Just tell us what you're goingto be up to in the next month
all right is one thing that Ican't say anything about,
because I'm well.
Speaker 2 (37:06):
Two things that I can't say nothing about just yet
.
Yeah, but um, we are in theprocess.
Speaker 3 (37:12):
I can't share this we got the contract, not yet now.
Speaker 2 (37:16):
You know what, though , after reading after reading
Phil Knight's book underdog, Ithink I think I could take him,
I think I think I, I think meand Phil will probably be, uh
you know, eating lunch at thetop of a skyscraper, both
laughing and how we how we madean empire, you know, selling
shirts um so, on that vein, um,we, we are actually finally
(37:39):
gonna start launching our um ourclothing nice, so um tell us a
little bit about what you havedone too yeah, oh, okay.
So some of the collaborationswith yes yes, so during my time
as a teacher, my whole thing was, you know, being supportive of
the kids.
If you go out into theirelement and, you know, support
them, yeah, it makes for a way,better class environment, like
(38:01):
attending a basketball game,right, right, and it wasn't just
limited to basketball games.
I went to plays, I went totennis matches, I went to swim
meets theater theater, yeah, notnot only the big sports like
every.
If I had a student in my classwho said hey, mr lee, I got a
basket weaving competition onthursday at eight girl, hey, I'm
in there and I'm takingpictures for you, yeah, so, um.
(38:23):
So, out of that, you know, we Iwas able to uh be fortunate
enough to do some collabprojects, like when, when the uh
bronco bells won nationals, Idid, I did their uh national,
their official nationalchampionship t-shirts disney you
in Disney World for that?
Speaker 3 (38:37):
Oh no.
Speaker 2 (38:38):
Oh no, no.
I had to stay here and get thismoney.
I couldn't go to Disney, but Idid their official championship
shirts after they won and theshirts that they wore to warm up
.
I made those.
I did some good designs for thebasketball team as well.
All last season, last schoolyear, I did the football team's
(39:00):
hype videos.
That was a very successfulendeavor because we were getting
like 20,000, 30,000 views aweek on those videos.
Speaker 1 (39:08):
It was crazy yeah.
Speaker 2 (39:09):
And then I did media day for the basketball teams,
the girls and boys yeah, thegirls and boys.
Yeah and um, those picturesthat because I made like this
board with a bunch of graphicson it that were, uh, in in the
school's colors, but with allkind of like different sayings
and quotes on it, and it waslike real good, so basically
like what you would see whenyou're going to get recruited by
a college something like thatso I did one of those and we
(39:30):
shot the pictures and that wasvery successful.
Same thing for the baseball teamas well, but cross country the
least attention of cross country, they take off and you don't
see them for three hours you getlike five pictures at the
starting line and then that's awrap.
You, you get out there at 80.
You ain't gonna see nobody till4 30 it's guaranteed.
Speaker 3 (39:52):
Run around in the woods and catch them at just the
right spot.
Speaker 2 (39:54):
I'll be on a golf cart trying to catch everybody,
but it's, but it's been awesometo just uh, support the students
and get you know, like, helpthem to be able to have
something to be hype about.
Speaker 3 (40:04):
Yeah, so um you taking on any nil projects or
anything like?
Speaker 2 (40:08):
that, so that.
So.
So, with this first line thatwe're dropping, it's gonna be,
uh, zachary themed stuff.
It's, it's gonna be all zacharyshirts like and not just like
related to the school of sports,but like the community at large
.
So these shirts are going to befor purchase at the gallery,
but also we'll ship them, and mygoal is to be able to Via UPS.
Speaker 1 (40:29):
Oh, definitely, because we're not doing.
Nah, fedex ain't getting theseshirts.
Speaker 2 (40:33):
Never again for us.
So we want to.
The same way, zachary has beenkind of like a front runner with
, um, you know, having its ownschool district and you know
just the whole community aspectand the you know Zachary's been
a model.
So, um, I want to, I want toecho that sentiment with these
shirts and with this merchandiseand just have the community,
(40:53):
you know, have something thatthey can feel connected by.
So it's gonna be, it's gonna,it's gonna be dope, it's not
just, no, you know, writingzachary out in a nice font and
putting it on no vinyl.
Like this is actually carefullythought out, sketched, you know
, like very detail oriented.
Like this is actually curatedand designed.
Speaker 3 (41:10):
That's perfect you know, um, I do have to say this
it's very rare to find a graphicdesigner that can draw lights
out.
You know what I mean.
A lot of people are just goodat graphics.
So when you have that, I'vefound.
You know, I have my person.
You know that I kind of foundout there and she's done some
(41:32):
interesting illustrations for usin the past and all that.
But it expands your creativecapacity so much Like it does
even take a brick old,dilapidated building.
You could draw something, putthat on a vinyl and then
somebody will install that vinylon that brick and you can have
it doesn't have to be handpainted on there If you have
(41:52):
somebody like you in the corner.
Speaker 2 (41:54):
So right, right I mean the possibility is endless,
and I don't think it's acoincidence that God gave me the
ability to draw first, and thenI learned how to screen print,
then I learned how to graphicdesign, then I learned how to do
the photos, and I know how todo videos Like it's, like
everything bred out of drawingand it's you learn you learn the
(42:21):
basic.
Speaker 3 (42:21):
You can just expand saying exactly yeah, you
approach it the same way as you,as I would approach a drawing,
and and it and it all is allrelative, you know.
Well, I think that's a goodplace to leave it for today.
Uh, you know, we're, we're done,just waiting on fedex now so
that's it for this week'sepisode of pmp catches on all
local newsstands or on the worldwide web at porchandparishcom.
Make sure you spell the andImmense thanks to all our
sponsors who make this contentfree to you.
(42:42):
So please go out and supportthem when you see them.
What's your contact informationfor those who may want to know?
Speaker 1 (42:51):
So I can be reached by cell at 504-481-2014.
I can also be found on allsocial media platforms at
Brittany McLean Ray or MrsLouisiana Plus America.
I'm there.
You can find me, all my contactinformation and upcoming I'll
(43:12):
be having a YouTube channelstarted.
My husband is forcing me to doit, so I'm looking forward to
being an influencer Nice can'twait.
Speaker 3 (43:20):
Alright, what's up, deandre?
Speaker 2 (43:22):
So y'all can find me at GreaterWorksGallery On
YouTube, facebook, instagram,tiktok.
Greaterworksgallerycom Is thewebsite where you can view our
work and view our price list.
Greaterworksgallery at Yahoo,the website where you can view
our work and view our price list.
Greaterworksgallery at Yahoocomis the email address.
We try to keep everything veryconsistent.
225-306-8877 is the phonenumber and proud to say that our
(43:48):
location is 5233 Main Street inZachary, louisiana, in Suite B.
Speaker 3 (43:54):
Nice man.
You know what?
You're actually my lastcommercial lease deal that I
ever did oh, you know thatthat's great, I'm not in the
sales and leasing world anymorewait, so when?
Speaker 2 (44:03):
if I renew, what is this you?
Speaker 3 (44:07):
can still send checks to generic commercial realty
gotcha all right gotcha juststaying alive.
Just can't be in the gameanymore.
Sales and leasing, but it was anhonor it was an honor to have
have you all here at the Porchand Parish headquarters, which
is aka our house, yes, so seeyou all next time.
(46:48):
Now, as you breathe, naturally,visualize yourself moving
through the vibrant heart ofZachary, feel the connection to
the ground beneath you andimagine it linking you to every
corner of our lively communityand, with each breath, focus on
(47:10):
the spirit of Zachary.
What is that you say?
It's our shared spaces, localheroes and the warmth of our
neighborhoods.
Let the rhythm of the musicremind you of the dynamic energy
that binds us all together and,as the track flows, think about
(47:32):
the exciting events happeningin Zachary the excitement of the
football games, the balloonfest, the Chamber of Commerce
get-togethers, the PTO, theenergy of the cross-country
meets and the band's joyfulpractice in front of the high
school.
Feel the pulse of ourcommunity's vibrant life and the
(47:56):
joy it brings.
Now, allow the beat of the musicto guide you to a peaceful
place within.
Focus on your breath.
Let the rhythm help any tensionmelt away.
(48:19):
Embrace a sense of calm andbalance as you relax, as you
reflect on something you cherishabout Zachary.
It might be a person, a place,a cherished memory, a country,
(48:39):
road, a cup of coffee with yourfavorite person, or your dog or
your cat.
Imagine sharing this feeling ofappreciation with others,
spreading positivity and warmththroughout our city.
Positivity and warmththroughout our city.
(49:00):
Envision this shared positivitygrowing into a giant wave of
unity that connects everyone inZachary to other cities all
around us.
We're one community.
We all will feel embraced andvalued, thriving together with
harmony and strength.
Take one final deep breath,feeling invigorated and linked
(49:23):
to Zachary and to Baton Rouge.
When you're ready, gently openyour eyes, carrying the sense of
unity and peace with you intothe world, and maybe you'll be
whistling this tune for the restof the day.
We love you.
I am DeAndre Lee.
Speaker 1 (00:07):
I am Brittany McClain-Wright.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
And this is Porch and .
Speaker 3 (00:09):
Parish the podcast.
What's up, zachary?
I just completed the officefantasy football draft.
My kids are all in school, sothat means fall is officially in
the air, but the temperaturehas not acclimated to it yet.
I just added some custom shadesto our office.
Thanks to Walt at Budget Blindsof Zachary, our inside temp is
72 degrees and shady.
(00:30):
Today we're thrilled to featuretwo extraordinary guests.
First up is DeAndre Lee fromGreater Works Gallery, which has
recently opened its doors inthe Williamson Eye Center in
Zachary.
If you're grabbing a slushie atSonic, you can give them a
visit.
What are your hours, deandre?
Speaker 2 (00:47):
All right, so we are Monday through Friday 8 am to
3.30 pm.
All right, that's office hours,though.
Speaker 3 (00:53):
Office hours and we're going to share his contact
information at the end of thepodcast.
Deandre, a former Zachary HighSchool teacher, and his wife,
miss Lee, who teaches English atNorthwestern Middle School,
have brought their vision forcommunity and creativity to life
.
Joining him today in the boothis Brittany McLean-Ray, miss
Louisiana plus America.
(01:16):
I was struggling with thattitle earlier.
And that's for years 23 and 24.
She is a shining example ofempowerment and grace and a
proud client of the gallery.
So there's the connection.
Today they'll share theirinsights on art, advocacy and
the local community.
Let's get into this enrichingconversation.
(01:36):
Welcome, deandre and Brittany.
We're glad to have you.
Speaker 1 (01:39):
Thank you for having us.
Yes, sir, appreciate you.
Speaker 3 (01:41):
You already know what we do.
We bring you the best ofZachary and the Baton Rouge
region through CandyConversations every Monday from
our headquarters right here onVirginia Street in beautiful
downtown Zachary.
This is Portion Parish, thepodcast.
Stay tuned.
We'll be right back with thelightning round.
Looking for a family outing offthe beaten path?
(02:02):
Trot over to Breck's Far ParkEquestrian Center for a unique
experience.
Far Park offers guided trailrides throughout the fall.
Starting on September 22nd, youand the family can enjoy the
fresh air, beautiful scenery andquality time with loved ones,
perfect for all ages.
Follow the link to sign up.
Spots are limited.
All right, we're back with thelightning round.
(02:26):
Everybody always laughs becauseit's like, uh, you're not
hearing the commercials getinserted right right insert
lightning crack, sound all right.
So here's a little game I madeup called what's greater,
because last week we had jessicabest of best in company and we
played what's the Best.
Now we're going to play what'sGreater, hey, I'm with it.
(02:48):
Yeah, if you have any bettercues than I've made up, please
feel free.
But Louie's Diner or Raul'sFire Hamburger, what's greater?
Speaker 2 (03:00):
I've had neither, so I'm a great winner.
Speaker 3 (03:03):
Well, what's greater than?
Speaker 1 (03:04):
both of those then Homemade, oh, we's greater than
both of those then Homemade, ohwe talking about burgers, man.
Speaker 2 (03:08):
Nah, we talking about burgers.
You gotta go LeBlanc's.
Speaker 3 (03:11):
In Zachary at least.
Right, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2 (03:13):
LeBlanc's Diner.
I mean you gotta get nachoswith cheese and peppers while
you're sitting waiting on yourburger.
Speaker 3 (03:18):
Yeah, man, so I'll agree with that their nachos are
awesome oh yeah, I haven't hadthe nachos.
I usually go to the platedsection because I'm I don't like
hot lunches for the hot lunch,because then you know it's right
there I can get back to work intime okay, I feel like now look
if you have.
Speaker 2 (03:36):
On the other side of town, though, you got to go to
the spicy nacho, because thespicy nacho has really good
nachos I have heard my um verygood maxos, my son Max just did
a snowball.
Speaker 1 (03:47):
What is it.
Speaker 3 (03:48):
He did like a review on the different snowball deals
around town and he also reviewedSpicy Nacho.
I've got to get over there, buthe loved that place.
Speaker 1 (03:57):
They're amazing.
Speaker 3 (03:58):
Yeah, yeah, I don't know what it is, but they got it
.
Speaker 1 (04:01):
It's love.
It's love.
Yeah, yeah, they got it.
Oh yeah, yeah, yeah, um britney, no you, you hail from the land
of john eric right.
Speaker 3 (04:11):
Yes, home of the patriots, new orleans, yes, yeah
.
So I mean, what was yourfavorite uh place to eat growing
up?
Speaker 1 (04:17):
jeans po'boys.
Okay, I know you're from thearea, but a good cornosaur.
Speaker 3 (04:24):
Every neighborhood has their own.
Speaker 1 (04:26):
A good cornosaur, po' boy will just melt your heart
yeah that's right.
Speaker 3 (04:31):
Well said, well said.
What kind of po' boy bread wasthat?
Do you remember?
Speaker 1 (04:34):
Of course French bread.
Yeah, Just like.
Speaker 3 (04:37):
The normal, the normal, whatever it is right.
Speaker 1 (04:41):
The New Orleans normal.
I know it Because it's not thesame everywhere.
Speaker 3 (04:44):
So you can get that.
You can get that at LeBlanc's.
It's not LeBlanc's anymore.
What is it?
Rouse's, leidenheimer, which ispretty close.
I mean, that's pretty greatstuff.
Anyway, what is the greaternetwork event you've been to
lately?
So networking events.
Speaker 2 (05:08):
So it's two that come to mind, one that I attended as
a as a person, another Iattended as a as a vendor, um,
when the chamber had their event, um, this summer at mommy's
restaurant yeah, that was.
That was a pretty cool event.
I got to meet um people that Ididn't even know who were in
business, like you know it wasreal dope.
And the Business Besties Brunchin Baton Rouge.
(05:35):
I did video for that event andit was real nice to see, like,
so many women in Baton Rouge inbusiness, corporate sector,
private sector, just all kind ofyou know and they killing it,
you know, they were crushing itsector, private sector, just all
kind of you know, and theykilling it, you know, they were
crushing it.
So that was a very dope eventto be a part of because they had
a wide array of professions,from you know people that make
crafts to all the way up to youknow people being CEOs and
(05:55):
doctors, lawyers, real estateagents and all kinds of stuff.
So it was real nice, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1 (06:00):
Right, so for me it's a couple that come to mind.
Most recently I attended the OMGGirls Conference which is in
Baton Rouge.
They help young ladies, littlegirls, just empower themselves,
help them with sexual health,try to get them self-esteem Just
(06:20):
an all-around wonderfulexperience with that.
Just an all-around wonderfulexperience with that.
Also, Junior Cosmetology ofBaton Rouge there is a
cosmetologist named Dana Hayesthat owns a cosmetology business
, but she helps young girls whowant to do hair yeah, she helps
them perfect their craft.
Cool, and I got to experienceseveral sessions with her and
(06:48):
the young ladies and the youngladies are phenomenal.
I think I met the youngest girl.
She may have been seven yearsold, yeah, and she was on stool
doing hair.
Amazing, and she did aphenomenal job.
I even let them do my hair.
I hosted their inaugural umfashion show, yeah, where they
did hair, and I let them do myhair, yeah, I'm sure you get
around to a lot of networkingevents.
(07:10):
Yes, but for me, the importantpart is supporting my platform,
which is helping young girls andwomen feel confident, so that I
got to experience not only thekids but also interact with the
parents as well.
Seeing that they're youngladies, they can do anything
that they put their mind to.
Speaker 3 (07:29):
Yeah, awesome, awesome, all right.
Shout out to your familiesbefore we get into this.
Speaker 1 (07:36):
So I'll say hi to my husband, lamar Ray, and Lamar's
prospect you can follow him aswell on YouTube and all the
social media platforms.
Prospect you can follow him aswell on youtube and all the
social media platforms.
Speaker 3 (07:49):
my mom, my brother, my favorite little sister and
all my nieces and nephewsperfect deandre, you're yes,
you're like following aprofessional all day here I'm
telling you, man, my wife but,uh yeah shout out to the best
wife for me man, frederica MarieCarter Lee.
Speaker 1 (08:09):
My little sister.
Speaker 2 (08:10):
Yes, yes, got it.
I didn't know that.
Yeah, she's awesome, she's goodpeople, she cool, she cool.
You have any pets?
Yeah, I got two.
What what you got?
We have a German Shepherd namedCoco coco and we have a bully
named puff.
Yeah, you see what I did?
Speaker 3 (08:30):
yeah, that was yeah, yes, uh, I don't know, dogs
don't elicit um like ideas ofcereal for me, but I don't know
why you did that.
Speaker 2 (08:41):
It was the colors okay, yeah, my back was against
the wall.
We had them.
I had to think of something.
Yeah, that's pretty good,that's good.
Speaker 3 (08:48):
Yeah, I mean, we have a more practical name for our
Basset Hound.
Her name is Puddles.
Speaker 2 (08:55):
Oh, okay, so Puddle Coco and Puff is where you draw
the line.
Huh, yeah, no, yeah, puddles,okay, puddles.
Speaker 3 (09:01):
I mean you just.
Anyway, all right, let's getinto some serious questions here
.
So, deandre, what inspired youto open Greater Works Gallery in
Zachary, and how has the localcommunity responded so far, now
that you've been open three days?
Speaker 2 (09:19):
All right so.
Speaker 3 (09:20):
What are your sales?
Speaker 2 (09:22):
Well, first thing, what inspired the location of it
is just the fact that we livehere, but this has been a long
time coming.
The business has gone throughso many different faces and
names over the years and in 2017, I graduated from Tech,
louisiana Tech, go Dawgs in 2016.
(09:43):
And after working my first joblike it sucked, like it was
horrible Train wreck, and when Iquit that job, I finally went
official and put Greater Workson paper.
I rebranded, I put it on paper,got the LLC and I just wanted,
if I was to ever walk away froma job because I love working,
(10:04):
but you know, but I was like manif I ever walk away from
something or I get dismissed, mydestiny is in my hands.
There, you go, and so I playedthe long game of working a
full-time job while doing thisand then, after this spring,
with teaching, it was just like,yeah, man, it's time Everything
just really lined up for us tojust go full-time, perfect.
(10:28):
And um, as far as communityreception it's been, it's been
amazing.
Um, a lot of support fromchamber members, from my
students and their parents.
You know they've been very,very uh supportive and just um,
you know, sowing good seeds ongood ground and doing good
business in the past,everybody's been, and just um,
you know, sowing good seeds ongood ground and doing good
business in the past,everybody's been excited for us.
(10:49):
You know we've been seeing the?
Um, the evidence of our hardwork that we've put in over the
past seven years at greaterworks has been incorporated.
So, um, it's just been ablessing.
Everybody's been very uhsupportive and you know the
phone keep ringing.
Speaker 3 (11:04):
So that's, that's a good thing.
Yeah, um, yeah.
So I went to your ribboncutting and it was, uh, just
beyond my expectations for forwhat a ribbon.
Speaker 1 (11:17):
That was gonna be it was great.
Speaker 3 (11:20):
I mean, you had your family there um.
Y'all did an excellent job on.
You know just that we call itbuild out right right, right,
just whatever the aesthetic ofthe place, yeah how you
decorated right.
So the funny thing is once wegot the keys once.
Speaker 2 (11:35):
Once we um signed and we got the keys and you told us
bye, like we man, we gotstraight to it.
The um, the building wasactually ready.
It was like 85 complete by.
We signed on a thursday and bythat next thursday it was like
85 done.
Wow, we were waiting on fedexyeah when I tell you that I've
(11:55):
never been so pissed off with a,with a, with a corporation in
my life.
Oh my goodness, fedex droppedthe ball completely.
Speaker 3 (12:02):
I thought that was just a like something you say,
because I was like waiting onfedex.
That's a really nice, oh nothat's a good line.
Speaker 1 (12:10):
They were really waiting for fedex to deliver.
Speaker 2 (12:12):
They lost my music lyric they they lost my desk.
I spent like a hundredsomething dollars on the desk
and they just didn't deliver it.
Yeah, and when I'd call, they'dbe like oh yeah, we're tracking
that now for you.
I was like so where is thatthen?
Speaker 3 (12:24):
if you try usps it's not, not much telling you more
to get excited?
Speaker 2 (12:29):
I never wanted to throw hands with somebody so bad
in my life I was like man, thenext person who knock on my door
from fedex.
Speaker 3 (12:35):
We gonna, we gonna, yeah I used to be a furniture
maker back in the day and I Iwas making these humidors.
Um, it would just take me Idon't know like three solid days
to make this thing finish it,and it was beautiful.
The finish on it was pristineand I put it in the mail.
It doesn't really matter who Isent it to, right, I don't think
(12:56):
it was FedEx this time.
Something always go wrong.
It went really, really wrong.
Like the temperature was so hotin whatever truck and now,
thank goodness, everybody hasair conditioning right but uh,
it like melted my, it melted thepackage onto this finish and I
was really poor and just like ohwhat do I do?
(13:17):
And that's crazy yeah, so Ialways get the insurance.
Speaker 2 (13:19):
Now, but right, anyway, we digress from I mean
to mess up no future sponsorshipopportunities from fedex.
The opinions that are beingexpressed here are from are of
deandre lee alone, not greaterworks, gallery llc or porch and
parish.
Speaker 3 (13:34):
I just want to throw that out there well, well done,
all right thanks for thatdisclaimer yeah, man, we needed
it yeah I mean I don't, we don'tquite have fedex knocking at
our doors yet, but I mean, Imean we got some amazing
sponsors.
Speaker 2 (13:46):
If they knock on your door, make sure they got your
package.
That's it.
Speaker 3 (13:50):
Where's his desk?
All right, okay.
So, brittany, what drew you tobecome a client of Greater Works
Gallery?
Speaker 1 (13:59):
So Greater Works.
Long story short, he was thephotographer of one of the
fashion shows that Iparticipated in, and it took us
how many years to figure thatout?
Probably about two or threeyears.
Speaker 2 (14:15):
Yeah, because that fashion show was in like 2015 or
16.
Speaker 1 (14:22):
Right when he started his business and and his wife
we started working togetherbecame really close.
Um, I kind of adopted her intoour family and her family took
me in like a stray dog, yeah, sowe've been friends ever since
then.
but, um, what drew me to themwas their professionalism from
day one.
(14:42):
Even when I did not know Works,they did a phenomenal job at
the fashion show and it was myfirst fashion show ever
participating, so as aphotographer, he made me
comfortable.
He didn't make me feel nervous.
Although it was a lot of peoplein the place, he was the only
person in the room and he gotthe shots and everything was
(15:06):
amazing yeah, awesome, and sothat started a journey for you,
for you, that eventually led tothis.
Speaker 3 (15:13):
This is your greatest , uh, professional
accomplishment, right?
Speaker 1 (15:17):
yes, yeah, mrs louisiana, plus america yeah, so
to tell us about that so, acouple years after the fashion
show, my very great sponsor,greater Works Gallery, has
sponsored all of my photos forevery pageant that I've been in.
He has done headshots, he'sdone magazine photo shoots.
He has done a little bit ofeverything and he has done an
(15:41):
amazing job.
We won photogenic in the MissLouisiana Plus pageant.
Speaker 3 (15:48):
That felt real good.
You bet on the right person.
Man, that felt really, reallygood.
Speaker 2 (15:53):
Not because it's some dope photographers that are,
you know, because you havepeople from all different cities
competing and to be able to getmost photogenic.
It's like man, you know, likewe clicked on all cylinders with
this one.
My bad britney, go ahead yeah,but it was great.
Speaker 1 (16:08):
That's why you got a mic man you're fucking but he
did an amazing job and he alsosponsored me getting to the
national pageant last year intexas.
Although I didn't win thenational title, it was amazing
seeing almost 40 plus women fromall over the united states
competing in a pageant.
Yeah, we were all plus sizewomen, everybody was
(16:30):
professional, everybody had camefrom a different background,
different walk of life yeah andjust coming together and being a
group of sisters was amazing,and having a dope photographer
and dope pictures made it evenbetter.
Yeah, we got that title nextyear, though, of course.
Oh y'all going for it.
Speaker 2 (16:43):
We're going yeah, we got that title next year, though
, of course, oh, y'all going forit, we're going for it.
Speaker 3 (16:47):
We're coming home with the training.
Speaker 2 (16:49):
Last year was just a warmup.
We we taking everything nextyear.
All right, we taking it allnext year.
Speaker 3 (16:55):
That's right.
Um, yeah, we'll keep in touchwith this.
I want to Follow this journey.
It's amazing.
Tell us a little bit about yourplatform, brittany, and then I
want to hear more about yourplatform.
Speaker 2 (17:08):
Andre Gotcha.
Speaker 1 (17:09):
So my platform is helping women and girls feel
confident at any and every size,no matter whether you're size 2
or 32, you deserve to becelebrated.
You are more than enough andyou are worthy of everything
that you want in life.
I try to promote the youngladies and even the women that I
encounter.
I try to let them know thatyou're beautiful.
(17:30):
Number one you don't needvalidation from outside.
I feel like, as parents, asfriends, as family, we should
validate our kids, our mothers,our sisters.
We should validate everybodyourselves, but they shouldn't
look for the validation outside.
So I try to promote that withthe young ladies.
Hey, if you see your fellowsister looking sad, ask her
(17:52):
what's wrong If she's lookingbeautiful today.
Let her know that Somethingjust as simple as oh, I like
your outfit, I like your jewelryit makes somebody feel a total.
Speaker 3 (18:01):
It makes them feel totally different they can turn
their day around yeah, I meanokay for guys that you know like
nobody tell us nothing, youknow, nobody tells us anything
but um, for me and my daughter,how, how, what are some ways
that I can tell her, you know,to boost her up without sounding
(18:22):
stupid?
Speaker 1 (18:24):
So, dad, dad, as a parent, we're going to sound
silly anyway, but just do it.
If she has a new shirt, dress,pair of pants on or you see
something that's different inher, acknowledge it.
Yeah, I like what you did withyour hair today.
It's nice.
Yeah, like, come on maybe.
(18:50):
Hey, I like how you put youroutfit together.
Can you help me put together myoutfit?
I want to be a cool dad today.
Speaker 2 (18:57):
Help me out.
Sound like having two wives.
Speaker 3 (19:01):
No, that's good advice.
I need it.
You don't have a teenager yet,not yet.
Thank the Lord, it's coming,it's coming.
But the problem in our house isthat my five-year-old he sees
me get dressed up and go to workand uh, he, he always tries to
dress me and I don't like he'sreally good at it, but he always
(19:24):
wants me to wear a tie and Inever, I never have the heart to
tell him no.
So I'm like I'll put on the tieand you take it off and take it
off and he catches me oh,that's what I'm like, lying.
Speaker 2 (19:34):
That's nasty business , right?
Oh man, like a church um, youknow oh, you took a time they
don't wear, no, so anyway, okaymaybe put a tie on him see how
he feels about it.
Speaker 3 (19:48):
Yeah and if it's not about me.
He's bringing it back back tothem.
Yeah, okay.
Speaker 1 (19:53):
Tell him, hey, how about you put on the tie today?
If he said no, daddy, it's tootight.
Yeah, son, it's a little tootight, we don't need to wear it.
That's why I don't wear them wedon't need to wear it every day
, let's try something else, yeah.
Speaker 3 (20:06):
All right, let's take a break there.
All right, thinking about mydaughter threw me off my train
of thought.
Oh it's hard to be a parent.
It is britney, did you say youhave kids?
Speaker 1 (20:24):
yes, I have one bonus daughter.
She is three years old and sheis a spitballifier.
Yeah, she is, she is.
She will make faces.
She will look at you crazy, butshe's so lovable, even when she
acts a fool it's like come on,baby.
Speaker 3 (20:42):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (20:43):
Bebe loves you.
Come on, and where's she?
Speaker 3 (20:46):
going to school.
Speaker 1 (20:47):
She is actually living in Texas with her mom,
but she is in preschool out inTexas and she loves it.
Yeah, we talked to her lastnight and she was telling us
about her day and then how shewatched Bubble Guppies and how
she's a mermaid and just kidsare amazing.
They just are so lovable andinnocent.
Speaker 3 (21:10):
DeAndre's got a timer set for something.
It's all right.
Speaker 2 (21:13):
It was.
You told me put it on airplaymode, thing was floating.
Speaker 1 (21:16):
I don't know what happened?
Speaker 2 (21:18):
I don't know what happened.
Speaker 3 (21:19):
Mike, I'm telling you you're fine you're fine, all
right, uh, um, so now to yourplatform, deandre.
What?
So you tell me where greaterworks comes from?
Speaker 2 (21:31):
so, really to be honest with you, greater works
comes from the bible scripture,where that was pretty much the
last commandment jesus gave youknow before he made his final
disappearance.
Uh, disappearance, I hate thatI use that word, oh my goodness
before he made his ascensionbefore he made his ascension.
I already sound stupid.
(21:51):
It is what it is now, but um,you know that was the last
command we don't have to submitthis to the school board anymore
.
Speaker 3 (21:57):
Yeah, it's all good.
Yeah, we good, or your pastor?
Right?
Yeah, who's your pastor?
I need to talk to him.
Speaker 2 (22:03):
Oh man, uh, that's pastor eric williams.
What church shout out to yourchurch?
Speaker 3 (22:08):
beacon light it's in, uh, baton rouge beautiful the
fact that you care it says a lot.
His disappearance, all right.
Speaker 2 (22:15):
So back to your train of thought.
But yeah, that was the finalcommandment that he gave the
disciples and, you know, I thinkit's very bold of him to say
yes, in all of my divinity, Idid all these great things and
you're going to do way better,you know.
So, when I was thinking of aname because, mind you, I've
(22:37):
went through so many brand names, like while I was in college,
and then you know getting outthe headspace you live in Right
right.
So being able to come up withsomething that was not only
professional but also, in a way,was a, was a command.
Also, it's like every time,every time I put a camera in my
(22:58):
hand, my laptop or you know,whatever I'm doing, business
related, it's almost like I'mtelling myself and reminding
myself hey man, you're gonnakill this, you're gonna do great
, and so, um, my motto really isum.
So I'm 31, I was born in 93 and, growing up, art wasn't
something that you just did, youknow.
Um, when you, when peoplethought about art as a career,
(23:22):
let's just be real, either youwere like a super old white man
who painted or you were like,you know, some quirky young
person with glasses doing likeetsy style art, like it wasn't,
you know art wasn't what that is.
Speaker 3 (23:35):
There was no right ease to the creative scene
exactly there is digitally now,right, right.
Speaker 2 (23:39):
So, um, you know, all my life I've been drawing, like
from the time that I couldwrite, I was drawing.
And so, um, just being able tosee the evolution of, like, how
my mind always wanted to know,like when we were driving down
i-10, man, how did they makethat billboard?
Like, and in my mind, in mynine-year-old mind, I'm thinking
that somebody drew it in pencil.
Then they went back with colorpencil and marker and you know,
(24:01):
like the, the concept of graphicjust was, you know, so far
beyond me, like I didn't knowhow any of that worked.
So, um, my platform now and mygoal in being in business is to,
of course, make good work andgive my clients a good
experience and make sure thattheir vision come to life with
whatever they're getting done.
(24:22):
Yeah, but also to show to showkids white kids, black kids,
anybody that the arts are a goodcareer path you know that, um,
you really have a lot of controlover over the world being an
artist, because everything isbased on perception.
Um, any, anything that we puton, anything that we any
(24:44):
building we step into, anythingthat we pick up with our hands.
Everything started off on paperas a sketch, as an idea, and
then maybe it got drug into aprogram and made into like a 3d
model and then actuallyfabricated and produced.
Or you then maybe it got druginto a program and made into
like a 3d model and thenactually fabricated and produced
.
Or, you know, maybe it wassculpted or whatever, but, like,
everything started off with asketch.
So, as an artist, it's like wehave the power to really shape
(25:04):
reality and we also have thepower to, you know, shape
people's feelings.
I mean, that's all branding andadvertising is.
So my, my whole platform isbeing able to just show people
and inspire people that, um,even if you're not an artist,
you can.
You can make your product, youcan make your um, your product,
your passion, whatever you havegoing on, you can make it look
(25:27):
way more successful than it isif you take the time to just
like, get out of your mindset.
And you know, compete, putyourself in.
Put yourself in a position likeif it's somebody who's selling
shoes, even if Take the time tojust like, get out of your
mindset and you know, compete.
Put yourself in a position likeif it's somebody who's selling
shoes, even if you're all.
If you sew shoes at home and youonly coming up with, like where
Nike can, you know, put outhowever many pairs they want to?
If you only can make one pairat a time, you want to do it in
(25:50):
such a way where people feellike they're missing out if they
don't, if they're not the onesthat have this one pair.
Right, and that's what.
That's what adequatephotography and videography does
, when you're telling your storyand you're presenting things in
such a way where, where itseems luxurious people feel like
that, yeah people feel likethey're missing out.
So it don't matter how, it don'tmatter on what scale you're
(26:11):
producing anything or what hoursyou're doing of your service.
If you make people feel likeyou're adding value and it's
exclusive, then you, you won.
Speaker 3 (26:21):
And that's that's my goal to just inspire and to be
able to give back to yeah, yeah,speak um, speak to that young
creative right now who's inZachary um high and but it
doesn't have to be in ZacharyHigh, it can be any any high
school.
And they're feeling like youknow what, louisiana's great and
all.
(26:42):
I love my mom and them, and butI think I might have to get out
of here and go somewhere wherethere really is a scene you know
.
Speaker 2 (26:50):
I tell you what the scene is, where you make it.
The scene is where you make it.
The scene is where you make,and, granted, we still have free
will to choose.
I could have forced my wayanywhere, but just the fact that
(27:19):
I've been able to be in thiscommunity, where I went to high
school, and you know, just addso much value is important.
And, um, my message is don't,don't feel like you have to get
it all today.
Yeah, you know, art issomething that's ever-changing.
Everybody has their market,some people gonna like it, some
people not.
Don't feel like you'recompeting with the next artist.
I mean, right here in the heartof town, there's literally you
(27:43):
have sonic, mcdonald's andburger king, like all on the
same corner selling burgers.
You know, like all three ofthem are selling the same thing.
So it's like, let let peoplechoose.
Yes, one, one day they mighthave an appetite for you, one
day they might have an appetitefor somebody else.
But it's like, you know, that'sthe, that's the power of, uh,
capitalism, and that's where youhave to get creative and say,
(28:04):
okay, what am I going to offerdifferent?
What experience of you?
Know the technical things?
Yeah, and so many people arescared to compete that they, you
know that they slack up on thetechnical things instead of
thinking how can they enhancethe experience.
So yeah, man, young creatives,keep on doing your craft.
Make your stuff lookprofessional.
(28:24):
If you can't do it, get withsomebody who can.
But definitely don't feelpressured to have it all right
now.
Things have to evolve.
Because in school, when I was atLouisiana Tech at Louisiana
Tech, I was the only kid inthere without a MacBook.
I had an old HP computer thatran super slow.
That thing was a dinosaur.
And on all of my projects Imean I didn't even know how to
(28:46):
download fonts Everybody waslooking at me crazy for every
project because I'm using thedefault fonts that's installed
on the computer.
And one day, you know, during acritique, my professor asked
like man, like why don't you goand search for fonts?
And I was like I don't know how, and everybody chuckled and
it's just, and it's crazybecause it's like you know what,
what you think people shouldknow?
(29:07):
People sometimes just actuallydon't know, right, you know so,
so, um, so yeah, I took, I tookthose college years to be as
creative as I can, to learn asmany different mediums of art as
I can, because I never knewwhat I was going to use when I
like I said when I started out Iwas just drawing.
And when I got to college, I waslike, okay, I can't major in
drawing.
So that's what graphic designcame, yeah, and so I was like a
(29:29):
B and C student, everybody elsegetting A's on everything
because they knew how to design.
They did that in high school,whereas Zachary hadn't gotten to
that point yet.
So, you know, I took the timeto really experiment and I
didn't want the small little.
I didn't want the small mentalvictories of like, oh, I got an
A on this project, good job.
I wanted to actually be astudent of the craft and learn
(29:51):
like, okay, I got a C on this,why?
Because, okay, my typographywas off, I didn't align
everything, I didn't havemargins and bleeds around this,
I didn't, you know the technicalthings and, as fate would have
it, I'm probably out of my classof 20 something.
Speaker 1 (30:11):
I'm probably the only person that's still designing
and doing anything in art but Ialso think as students, or
encouragement for students,sometimes you have to start
where you're at yeah once youstart, that's the hardest part
you got something to build onexactly you can always become
better and definitely improveyour craft, even with greater
(30:34):
works.
Your photos from day one to nowyou can see the tremendous
improvement don't show nobodyyour pageant photos from from
from years ago.
Speaker 3 (30:45):
Keep those in the vote.
I was just gonna say the firstone's gonna be on file they were
.
Speaker 2 (30:50):
They were amazing at the time, oh man.
Speaker 1 (30:52):
But you just have to start where you're at and you're
going to continue to grow andcontinue to get better, yeah,
day by day now.
Speaker 3 (31:01):
I'm curious.
So I'm a student of publicspeaking, so I'm an only child,
very sheltered.
Just year it took me years andyears, and years to be able to
talk to anybody comfortably.
I don't know, right, um, ifanybody out there listening
feels the same way.
But I'm a toastmasters uh,competent communicator graduate,
all right, hey I dropped a bombeffect, right right yeah, right
(31:24):
there um, so my man iscompetent, but yeah uh, and it's
still just average.
No so, britney, how did youbecome a public speaker?
Because that doesn't comenaturally for everybody to a
friend talking to a familymember, like we're talking today
face to face.
Speaker 1 (31:42):
Good evening.
How are you doing today, ladies, gentlemen, judges, right,
we're just, they're just people.
(32:03):
They're not on this big platteror pedestal.
They're just people.
Speaker 3 (32:07):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (32:07):
You still talk to them like they're people, a
large group of people, but Ifeel like it's easy.
If you are comfortable talkingto your family, do the same
thing yeah just kind of blockout all the hundreds of people
behind them I get so technicalabout it.
Speaker 3 (32:23):
It's like all right, where, what person am I going to
look at right now?
I get like really in my in inmy own brain.
So how do you handle that?
You're looking at hundreds ofpeople.
Do you find one person that'sconnecting with you out there
and just make eye contact?
Speaker 1 (32:39):
Believe it or not.
With all the lights you can'tsee anybody you cannot see.
I thought you were going tojust say imagine them without
their pants on or something Idon't know.
Speaker 2 (32:50):
I feel like imagining 100 plus people without pants
is way harder than just being upthere, and speaking, it would
definitely be way moreuncomfortable, way more
distracting.
Speaker 1 (32:58):
I'm telling you but I try to find my person in the
crowd.
When I competed in the statepageant, there was a young boy
named Kyle who over the courseof pageant week he would come up
to me and he was my best friend.
(33:18):
Yeah, so he may have been sixyears old.
Okay, perfect On the night ofmy pageant I was nervous on
stage and Kyle was on.
He was in the audience and hewas just waving and good job.
Thumbs up and I'm like the babyis rooting for me, like that I I
(33:39):
found him and I connected withhim and he was the person who I
spoke to the entire time.
Speaker 3 (33:44):
That might be something that that we can all
take away from this.
I mean that that's a greatswing key at.
When I talk to my kids, Ibrighten up automatically, my
eyes are shinier, everything.
There's like love in what I'msaying yes you know, not the
older ones, just not theteenagers.
I'm just kidding.
Speaker 1 (34:02):
Sometimes they get that, but uh, that's excellent
yeah, just looking in theaudience seeing somebody proud
of you, seeing their eyes lightup, yeah, it makes you do a
better job.
It makes you push for your bestyeah now, do you take that?
Speaker 3 (34:17):
out with you into the community, like when you're
just shopping at the grocerystore in zachary, or I mean
you're, you're in baton rouge,proper, right she shop here too.
Speaker 2 (34:25):
Yeah, you shop at whatever else is here.
I think so.
I think it need to be notedthat britney severely
understated the level ofrelationship that her and my
wife have.
All right they when I tell youI I seriously think that if me
and my wife divorce today, herand britney will get married,
because man they just roommates.
I'm telling you like uh, she'sactually um our middle son's
(34:49):
middle son.
Like we got three sons, ourmiddle child's uh, god, mom, so
and she's the auntie to allthree of them so yeah, like
that's how.
Speaker 3 (34:58):
That's how close they are so we'll see around town,
huh oh you're gonna see me, justnot with the crown every day
not every day do you, you bringthat around often, I don't bring
it around.
Speaker 1 (35:08):
Often I feel a little uncomfortable with all the
publicity wearing the crown.
Speaker 3 (35:15):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (35:15):
Because when you go out in public oh, tell me about
your title or you see kids.
Hey, can we take a picture?
I love seeing the little kidslight up, but it's like I'm shy.
What is this?
Speaker 3 (35:30):
Right, right.
Do you ever get out into theschools?
Speaker 1 (35:33):
Yes, I do.
Most recently I got out to PortAllen Middle School and High
School and I had a couple eventswith the Butterfly Society,
with the girls there.
One day we had an evening whereI was a speaker to the middle
school girls.
The next event that I went to,we had a just get together chill
(35:54):
night where we ate food,watched movies, kind of talked,
had a little round table girltalk and I enjoyed doing
something simple like that, justtalking to the girls, letting
them know hey, you can get towhere I am.
The only person that you're incompetition with is yourself.
You're not in competition withthe person sitting next to you
(36:14):
You're not in competition withis yourself.
You're not in competition withthe person sitting next to you.
You're not in competition withyour sister, your friend, your
classmate.
You have to be the best versionof yourself.
You're only in competition withyourself well said, deandre.
Speaker 3 (36:26):
You have anything to add?
Speaker 2 (36:29):
um cut that oh yeah, we're gonna have to, no yeah
we're gonna cut that mic, it'sall right
Speaker 3 (36:41):
we, we buzzed them.
Speaker 2 (36:42):
Yeah, hey, we're you gotta ask me a specific question
all right andre, look, let'stake it out with this.
Speaker 3 (36:51):
Can you um describe any upcoming projects or events
at greater works gallery thatthe community can get involved
with or, um you know, get?
Just tell us what you're goingto be up to in the next month
all right is one thing that Ican't say anything about,
because I'm well.
Speaker 2 (37:06):
Two things that I can't say nothing about just yet
.
Yeah, but um, we are in theprocess.
Speaker 3 (37:12):
I can't share this we got the contract, not yet now.
Speaker 2 (37:16):
You know what, though , after reading after reading
Phil Knight's book underdog, Ithink I think I could take him,
I think I think I, I think meand Phil will probably be, uh
you know, eating lunch at thetop of a skyscraper, both
laughing and how we how we madean empire, you know, selling
shirts um so, on that vein, um,we, we are actually finally
(37:39):
gonna start launching our um ourclothing nice, so um tell us a
little bit about what you havedone too yeah, oh, okay.
So some of the collaborationswith yes yes, so during my time
as a teacher, my whole thing was, you know, being supportive of
the kids.
If you go out into theirelement and, you know, support
them, yeah, it makes for a way,better class environment, like
(38:01):
attending a basketball game,right, right, and it wasn't just
limited to basketball games.
I went to plays, I went totennis matches, I went to swim
meets theater theater, yeah, notnot only the big sports like
every.
If I had a student in my classwho said hey, mr lee, I got a
basket weaving competition onthursday at eight girl, hey, I'm
in there and I'm takingpictures for you, yeah, so, um.
(38:23):
So, out of that, you know, we Iwas able to uh be fortunate
enough to do some collabprojects, like when, when the uh
bronco bells won nationals, Idid, I did their uh national,
their official nationalchampionship t-shirts disney you
in Disney World for that?
Speaker 3 (38:37):
Oh no.
Speaker 2 (38:38):
Oh no, no.
I had to stay here and get thismoney.
I couldn't go to Disney, but Idid their official championship
shirts after they won and theshirts that they wore to warm up
.
I made those.
I did some good designs for thebasketball team as well.
All last season, last schoolyear, I did the football team's
(39:00):
hype videos.
That was a very successfulendeavor because we were getting
like 20,000, 30,000 views aweek on those videos.
Speaker 1 (39:08):
It was crazy yeah.
Speaker 2 (39:09):
And then I did media day for the basketball teams,
the girls and boys yeah, thegirls and boys.
Yeah and um, those picturesthat because I made like this
board with a bunch of graphicson it that were, uh, in in the
school's colors, but with allkind of like different sayings
and quotes on it, and it waslike real good, so basically
like what you would see whenyou're going to get recruited by
a college something like thatso I did one of those and we
(39:30):
shot the pictures and that wasvery successful.
Same thing for the baseball teamas well, but cross country the
least attention of cross country, they take off and you don't
see them for three hours you getlike five pictures at the
starting line and then that's awrap.
You, you get out there at 80.
You ain't gonna see nobody till4 30 it's guaranteed.
Speaker 3 (39:52):
Run around in the woods and catch them at just the
right spot.
Speaker 2 (39:54):
I'll be on a golf cart trying to catch everybody,
but it's, but it's been awesometo just uh, support the students
and get you know, like, helpthem to be able to have
something to be hype about.
Speaker 3 (40:04):
Yeah, so um you taking on any nil projects or
anything like?
Speaker 2 (40:08):
that, so that.
So.
So, with this first line thatwe're dropping, it's gonna be,
uh, zachary themed stuff.
It's, it's gonna be all zacharyshirts like and not just like
related to the school of sports,but like the community at large
.
So these shirts are going to befor purchase at the gallery,
but also we'll ship them, and mygoal is to be able to Via UPS.
Speaker 1 (40:29):
Oh, definitely, because we're not doing.
Nah, fedex ain't getting theseshirts.
Speaker 2 (40:33):
Never again for us.
So we want to.
The same way, zachary has beenkind of like a front runner with
, um, you know, having its ownschool district and you know
just the whole community aspectand the you know Zachary's been
a model.
So, um, I want to, I want toecho that sentiment with these
shirts and with this merchandiseand just have the community,
(40:53):
you know, have something thatthey can feel connected by.
So it's gonna be, it's gonna,it's gonna be dope, it's not
just, no, you know, writingzachary out in a nice font and
putting it on no vinyl.
Like this is actually carefullythought out, sketched, you know
, like very detail oriented.
Like this is actually curatedand designed.
Speaker 3 (41:10):
That's perfect you know, um, I do have to say this
it's very rare to find a graphicdesigner that can draw lights
out.
You know what I mean.
A lot of people are just goodat graphics.
So when you have that, I'vefound.
You know, I have my person.
You know that I kind of foundout there and she's done some
(41:32):
interesting illustrations for usin the past and all that.
But it expands your creativecapacity so much Like it does
even take a brick old,dilapidated building.
You could draw something, putthat on a vinyl and then
somebody will install that vinylon that brick and you can have
it doesn't have to be handpainted on there If you have
(41:52):
somebody like you in the corner.
Speaker 2 (41:54):
So right, right I mean the possibility is endless,
and I don't think it's acoincidence that God gave me the
ability to draw first, and thenI learned how to screen print,
then I learned how to graphicdesign, then I learned how to do
the photos, and I know how todo videos Like it's, like
everything bred out of drawingand it's you learn you learn the
(42:21):
basic.
Speaker 3 (42:21):
You can just expand saying exactly yeah, you
approach it the same way as you,as I would approach a drawing,
and and it and it all is allrelative, you know.
Well, I think that's a goodplace to leave it for today.
Uh, you know, we're, we're done,just waiting on fedex now so
that's it for this week'sepisode of pmp catches on all
local newsstands or on the worldwide web at porchandparishcom.
Make sure you spell the andImmense thanks to all our
sponsors who make this contentfree to you.
(42:42):
So please go out and supportthem when you see them.
What's your contact informationfor those who may want to know?
Speaker 1 (42:51):
So I can be reached by cell at 504-481-2014.
I can also be found on allsocial media platforms at
Brittany McLean Ray or MrsLouisiana Plus America.
I'm there.
You can find me, all my contactinformation and upcoming I'll
(43:12):
be having a YouTube channelstarted.
My husband is forcing me to doit, so I'm looking forward to
being an influencer Nice can'twait.
Speaker 3 (43:20):
Alright, what's up, deandre?
Speaker 2 (43:22):
So y'all can find me at GreaterWorksGallery On
YouTube, facebook, instagram,tiktok.
Greaterworksgallerycom Is thewebsite where you can view our
work and view our price list.
Greaterworksgallery at Yahoo,the website where you can view
our work and view our price list.
Greaterworksgallery at Yahoocomis the email address.
We try to keep everything veryconsistent.
225-306-8877 is the phonenumber and proud to say that our
(43:48):
location is 5233 Main Street inZachary, louisiana, in Suite B.
Speaker 3 (43:54):
Nice man.
You know what?
You're actually my lastcommercial lease deal that I
ever did oh, you know thatthat's great, I'm not in the
sales and leasing world anymorewait, so when?
Speaker 2 (44:03):
if I renew, what is this you?
Speaker 3 (44:07):
can still send checks to generic commercial realty
gotcha all right gotcha juststaying alive.
Just can't be in the gameanymore.
Sales and leasing, but it was anhonor it was an honor to have
have you all here at the Porchand Parish headquarters, which
is aka our house, yes, so seeyou all next time.
(46:48):
Now, as you breathe, naturally,visualize yourself moving
through the vibrant heart ofZachary, feel the connection to
the ground beneath you andimagine it linking you to every
corner of our lively communityand, with each breath, focus on
(47:10):
the spirit of Zachary.
What is that you say?
It's our shared spaces, localheroes and the warmth of our
neighborhoods.
Let the rhythm of the musicremind you of the dynamic energy
that binds us all together and,as the track flows, think about
(47:32):
the exciting events happeningin Zachary the excitement of the
football games, the balloonfest, the Chamber of Commerce
get-togethers, the PTO, theenergy of the cross-country
meets and the band's joyfulpractice in front of the high
school.
Feel the pulse of ourcommunity's vibrant life and the
(47:56):
joy it brings.
Now, allow the beat of the musicto guide you to a peaceful
place within.
Focus on your breath.
Let the rhythm help any tensionmelt away.
(48:19):
Embrace a sense of calm andbalance as you relax, as you
reflect on something you cherishabout Zachary.
It might be a person, a place,a cherished memory, a country,
(48:39):
road, a cup of coffee with yourfavorite person, or your dog or
your cat.
Imagine sharing this feeling ofappreciation with others,
spreading positivity and warmththroughout our city.
Positivity and warmththroughout our city.
(49:00):
Envision this shared positivitygrowing into a giant wave of
unity that connects everyone inZachary to other cities all
around us.
We're one community.
We all will feel embraced andvalued, thriving together with
harmony and strength.
Take one final deep breath,feeling invigorated and linked
(49:23):
to Zachary and to Baton Rouge.
When you're ready, gently openyour eyes, carrying the sense of
unity and peace with you intothe world, and maybe you'll be
whistling this tune for the restof the day.
We love you.
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