Today we’d like to introduce you to Randy C Bonds.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I’ve always been a storyteller, and storytelling began for me through writing sketches and music. Then I transitioned into telling the stories of others as a teen journalist for True Star Teen Magazine in Chicago. While working for the magazine, I got to interview some of my favorite entertainers such as Usher, Columbus Short, Taraji P. Henson, Malik Yoba, and even got to do a press conference with Senator Barack Obama as he was running for president.
After doing a cover story on Columbus Short in 2009, I received a call from him asking me how to make his name a household name, and instantaneously, I made the switch from journalist to publicist. Then from there, I began representing several other entertainers that I had once interviewed as a journalist such as Malik Yoba, actor Cory Hardrict, American Idol alums Syesha Mercado & Vonzell Solomon, and Beyonce’s lead dancer, Ashley Everett.
Now, I run my own company that has had the pleasure of “Exposing The Underexposed”, having had clients featured on major media outlets ranging from “The View” to “Entertainment Tonight”, “Vogue” & “Teen Vogue”, “Elle Magazine”, “Essence”, “Nylon”, “Billboard”, and tons of other platforms. I’ve worked with some of my favorite entertainers from American Idol Alums to contestants from The Voice, Gospel artists such as Todd Dulaney, Tasha Page Lockhart & Tasha Cobbs, and countless others, many of whom I grew up looking up to. Therefore, this journey has truly been a dream come true, and it would not have been possible without people in the PR world who reached down and poured into me such as Abesi Manyando, Simone Smalls, Aliya Crawford, Kerstyn Dioulo, and Shannon Barr, just to name a few.
My desire is humanizing my clients through the sharing of their stories, highlighting both the ups and downs that led them to where they presently are. I believe their transparency is key to impacting, inspiring, and transforming the lives of all who get a chance to hear how their story unfolded. Changing lives through authentic storytelling is my ultimate goal.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
The road has not been smooth, by far. But what road is?
While I’m extremely grateful for the journey, there were many days that I questioned if it was worth it? Was I good enough? Could others see value in me even though I had yet to discover my own value and worth? Could I pay the bills with this gift? Will I be able to sustain myself with this?
I began doing PR in 2009 when I was merely 19 years old. So I was very green and just honored to work with some of my favorite celebrities. Therefore, I didn’t know my worth or value, so how could they? So paying my dues consisted of me doing a lot of work for free, and lacking at my real jobs due to me over-achieving in what developed into a real passion (PR), but not making enough money to pay rent as low as $600 in Chicago. I’ll never forget missing an entire semester of school because I didn’t have the funds to enroll, and almost missing senior year for that same reason. All of this was happening while I was working with major clients. But again, I can’t fault them for not seeing my value because I had yet to fully realize what I brought to the table. I was just grateful to have a seat at the table, even if that meant I couldn’t afford my own plate, and that I’d simply have to eat from their leftovers if they cared to share those leftovers.
However, I’m so grateful, because I’ve grown from a boy to a man in this industry, and I’ve since learned my value, learned my worth, learned the power of no, and I’ve taken my life and my career into my own hands now. I no longer put myself on the back burner. I am committed to my success just as much as I’m committed to the success of my clients, and that’s sometimes rare for those of us who work in the background, as we are often left in the background and easily looked over and forgotten about. However, I had to decide that if I wasn’t full of joy, rest, and peace, then I couldn’t be at my best to properly serve my clients anyway. So I had to begin to take care of self, even if no one else would.
Therefore, it didn’t start off as a smooth road, but I’ve now carved out a smooth path that works for me. I don’t push, pull, or pry. Everyone isn’t for me, and I’m not for everyone. Therefore, I choose to work with people who I mesh well with naturally. If we’re not a natural fit, I rather allow them the opportunity to find the publicist that is the best fit for them so that they can get the results that they desire and deserve. That makes a better work environment for all parties involved, and it allows me to stay in love with what I do.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about R.C. Bonds PR – what should we know?
My company is an independent Public Relations firm by the name of R.C. Bonds PR. I help bring exposure to those who are underexposed. The way I see it, where there’s a spark, there then comes a fire. As a publicist, I’m the one that fans the flames and make sure everyone is aware of this spark and fire, and know who started the fire, why they started the fire, and what’s so unique and special about this specific fire.
I specialize in lifestyle PR, helping people share their most vulnerable and honest moments in hopes of connecting to their followers on a deeper level, and prayerfully inspiring them to persist through the toughest, darkest moments of life. I believe that’s what draw many people to my company. I tend to stray away from the traditional route and aim to introduce a fresh perspective that is uniquely tailored to each individual client. And I’m so grateful that my clients have entrusted me with their stories.
One of my proudest moments has to be having Grammy Award-winning Gospel artist, Tasha Cobbs, open up about her victory over depression with Essence Magazine, and Todd Dulaney sharing his victory in his marriage and how he and his wife birth two premature babies that they were told wouldn’t survive. Those stories were real, honest stories that really touched and transformed lives. And that’s exactly why I do what I do. It’s ministry for me, and if I can spread the love and power of God through the stories of my clients, then my work was not in vain.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
There have been so many people who have poured into who I am, from my clients who have trusted me with their careers to the media who continue to book my clients.
Let’s start off with a few clients who have always acted like my publicist, constantly expressing how much they see in me and how much I mean to them, Malik Yoba, Mark Hood, and Todd Dulaney. They are always bragging about me, and it feels so good to know that I am appreciated by those that I work so hard for. In the background, it’s so easy to be overlooked, undervalued, underserved, and unappreciated. But these brothers continue to uplift me and let me know just how special I am to them.
Then you have those in the media such as Summer Jackson, Melissa Perez, and Nika Clark, who were always featuring my clients on WCIU You & Me This Morning, They were amazing producers, alongside their incredible hosts, Jeanne Sparrow & Melissa Forman, who always loved and appreciated the clients that I would bring on their show. There have been several times when I wanted to walk away from PR, and Summer would always encourage me to keep going, telling me that I have something special in me and that I shouldn’t be so quick to walk away from it.
Lastly, I can’t forget Tyra Martin, producer of the WGN Morning News in Chicago. Tyra keeps me on my toes. Though she’s the first to call me and pray for me if I’m lying on someone’s hospital bed, she’s also going to keep it real with me and make me bring my A-game every time with every pitch. I’ll never forget her sharing these words with me; “While you’re providing a service to your client, you have to also provide a product to the media so that we can properly serve our audience.” That completely changed how I did PR, because I gained an understanding of the fact that I had to make my clients relatable to the demographics of the media outlets I was targeting for them. It’s advice that I have kept with me throughout the entirety of my career, which is why I work so hard at being a storyteller that finds and shares real, authentic, genuine stories that impact, inspire and transform lives.
Then, of course, I have to thank my mom who finally stopped pressing me to work at McDonald’s (for the sake of simply having a job), and began to see my gift, nurture my gift, and encourage my gift. She’s been my rock and biggest supporter from day 1, and without her belief in me, I would have given up a long time ago. So I have to acknowledge her for not clipping my wings, but encouraging me to soar, even through the toughest storms that I’ve encountered throughout this journey.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.RCBondsPR.com
- Phone: 7084156409
- Email: Randy@RCBondsPR.com
- Instagram: www.Instagram.com/RandyCBonds
- Facebook: www.Facebook.com/RCBondsPR
- Twitter: www.Twitter.com/RandyCBonds
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