Five Questions With Donovan Watkis

If there was ever a shining example of a jack of all trades, Donovan Watkis would be it. Brand marketer and music consultant, artiste manager, author, devoted father, actor and film-maker are just a few of the many hats Watkis wears on a daily basis.

Having worked assiduously with Tarrus Riley on his campaign strategy for the hit song Simple Blessings, Watkis cemented his place as one of the most sought-after professionals in the music industry. His reputation is outstanding, but with his calm, laid-back personality, not many are familiar with the multitalented Watkis. That is all about to change as he answers our Five Questions With … .

1. What made you want to get involved in music?

I wanted to impact how the music is perceived, recorded, and received locally and globally. Creating World Music Views and creating content for artistes to help them improve their narrative were just a few of the vehicles I used to do that.

2. What has been the most fulfilling part about your career in the entertainment industry?

I founded a media company, Think Media Limited, and through my company I get to create and work with some wonderful artistes and companies. We have done PR and marketing for Tarrus Riley and his hit songs Simple Blessings, Grave Yard are two of the tracks we have done promo work for. We do the advertising campaigns for Bank of Jamaica, some of which have since become global stories on MSNBC, Bloomberg, Yahoo Finance, and other international media. We have done media campaigns for Jamaica National also. Having my son, Marquis, work with me in advertisements have also brought moments of fulfilment.

3. What do you think is most misunderstood about the industry?

That you can be a silent partner and allow someone else to do your business, while focus on becoming a successful artiste. There is the entertainment and there is the business side of music. The entertainment business requires an overwhelming amount of confidence and constant curiosity, while the business part of entertainment business requires network and conversion, negotiations, speaking up for your value, your cause and standing for something. All artistes must think like entrepreneurs. Act like an artiste, but think like an entrepreneur.

4. What’s your favourite part about working with artistes?

I like working with fast-learning, talented artistes. Artistes who can adapt to the times and will implement a working strategy to improve their marketing direction. I also enjoy working with artistes who play an active part in ensuring the success of a project or campaign. Complaining artistes who blame everyone but themselves are uninteresting to me.

5. What do you love most about Jamaica?

I love the Jamaican magnetism. Everybody wants to be Jamaican. We have our problems, but everyone wants to come here for vacation and to enjoy our music and culture. People from all over the world copy the Jamaican vibe and commoditises it. It says something about our spirit and connection to humanity.