#59 - Brian Jordan Jr.: People See Me As Revolutionary

“I think collaboration is the birthplace for brilliance.” - Brian
Jordan Jr.  Isn’t it amazing how in our industry you can move
to one place just to get relocated in a new town? Brian Jordan Jr.,
had that exact experience. He moved from Atlanta to LA… only to go
back to Atlanta.  “Atlanta is a place where the cost of living
is significantly cheaper than LA or New York,” says Jordan Jr., “I
think when you are at the beginning of your career and trying to
figure out things: where you belong and how to market yourself and
where you fit and learning the people and learning the casting
offices – especially in this time of virtual everything – I think
that Atlanta is the place to be… because it’s still growing which
means you won’t spend all your money – but it is growing rapidly,
which means that there is opportunity.”  We also discuss the
importance and the stigma of quitting. Brian and Michael have both
had experience having to quit an experience. What does that do to
someone? How does one control the narrative? Let’s face it – people
talk, but if your self worth and self care is at stake – why force
it to make it work… no matter what people say.  “People see me
as revolutionary because I am the one who is going to stand up and
say things,” continues Jordan Jr. “I am the one who is like, “No!”
Like I am that guy. I think that in the beginning of my career – it
looked, in the short form, that it would affect me.” You know
what’s a recipe for disaster? Trying to get everyone to be pleased
with what you do. That being said, self care is probably the most
important thing one can do for themselves in this industry. 
In this episode – we talk about control, collaboration, ego, and
the deficit of Black stories… which is a huge impetus to Jordan Jr.
writing his own projects.  “We’re seeing more shows with Black
subject matter, but the care that is taken isn’t at the place where
it needs to be,” continues Jordan Jr. “We see them but they’re
closing in six weeks. Or it’s a limited engagement to start because
they know that people aren’t going to see it. My goal is for people
to really understand that the same marketing that you use for
Broadway, with the audiences that have been welcomed to Broadway
forever – white audiences – you cannot use. When it comes to
cultivating the Black audience to a place where it has felt elitist
to us and there was nothing to see for so long – you can’t just
say, “Oh we have a Black show, and we know it’s the pandemic, but
come and see it because Black Lives Matter just happened and we
want to make money. That’ll never happen – it’s not going to work.
And so what needs to happen on Broadway is the right people who
understand the insides of the Black community to come and bring the
shows there. I believe I have been blessed and privileged with an
opportunity to be on both sides. If you really want the people to
come to the shows, you have to give them the show that they feel
represented and they feel welcomed to see. My leadership, my
control, my creation literally comes from necessity.” Take a listen
to this incredible episode and learn more about the projects Brian
Jordan Jr. has created such as the film Georgia Sky and the musical
Riley. Brian Jordan Jr. is a classically trained actor, singer, and
dancer who studied at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts and The Debbie
Allen Dance Academy, he has performed in Broadway national tours,
Off-Broadway, and in many of the country’s most prestigious
regional theaters before turning to television and film. He
recently released a new, upbeat, motivational R&B track that
encourages listeners to believe in themselves. Learn more about
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