Rising Stars: Meet Allan Wilson of Downtown Detroit

Today we’d like to introduce you to Allan Wilson

Hi Allan, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
In 2009, I started a promotional group called Team A Entertainment while attending Wayne State University. At that time I wanted to throw parties for my classmates at the university because it seemed like a cool thing to do and I loved music. I pitched the idea of Team A to my best friend Larenz and a few of my friends, they loved the idea. So, my friends helped me recruit other people on campus to join the team.

Our first event was opportunity was given to me by my mom. She was an English teacher at Oak Park High School and was over the poetry club. She told me that she wanted to do a showcase for her students that were in her poetry club. Although it wasn’t a party and it wasn’t for college students, I still took it as an opportunity to get the name of Team A out there. Especially, knowing that a lot of students from oak park went to Wayne state after they graduated at that time. So, I created an event called the OPHS Poetry Slam which I infused music, a DJ, poetry and live musical performances together to create the show. I was even able to get local Detroit hip hop artist’s Tone Tone to headline our first show as a musical performer. The event was such a success. Me and my team were able to sale out the event, raise a lot of money for the poetry, give back to the students of oak park and also showcase the talent from my mom’s poetry club. That’s when I know that I really want to host events.

In 2010, we had the opportunity to throw our first college party that was presented to my best friend Larenz. The venue was a complete hole in the way, about 30 minutes away from campus and only had a capacity of 100 to 120 people. So, I didn’t know how we were going to be able to sell it to people that went to WSU. I just knew that we had another opportunity to get our name out there. We bought 5000 flyers that had me and Larenz faces on it and flooded every dorm, cafeteria, library and even our student center. We even was able to recruit of couple of more people to the team by just promoting the party. Fast forward our first party was over capacity and the rest is history. We then became the top college promoting teams on campus and one of the top 18+ event promotions group in detroit. We had the opportunity to do events at almost every night club in downtown detroit at the time.

In 2011, I took interest in being the MC at our parties and wanted to be on the Radio. So, I did just that and went by the name AWill89. I started hosting to MC’ing my own events and was on the radio station on campus (WAYN Radio). I then got my first big opportunity to host an event at the Majestic Theater. It was Wayne state’s college icebreaker, which is a huge college party at the beginning of the year. Over 1500 people were in attendance from schools all over Michigan. I then became the “Voice of Wayne” after that event and hosted every party and majority of all the events on campus.

In 2012, I decided to also enroll to specs Howard school of media arts. While also attending Wayne state. There I learned the radio business and how to be a broadcaster. After I graduated I then received an internship to iHeart Media Detroit and was hired in as a promotional assistant. That gave me the opportunity to promote all the big concerts for WJLB and also was able to be on air with my mentor bigg dawg blast.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It was definitely not an easy road. There was a point of time where my promotional team in college got to big and me and my partner didn’t know how to pay everyone because our company wasn’t getting paid enough from our events. So, members of team A started to leave. Also, every event we did wasn’t a success. We had a lot of “flops”.

As far as the radio station, I was unfortunately let go from WJLB and was battling depression for awhile. I never thought that I would lose my dream job. But, it was a lesson to me. What ever God gives you, he can easily take it away.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am an event curator in Metro Detroit. I also am an event host and own my own event marketing and promotion company called 2389 Market Group. 2389 Market Group is Detroit’s premier day & nightlife curators. We curate exclusive events in some of Detroit’s top venues.

I am most proud of being able to take something that I like to do and turning it to a business and was able to do it full time

Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
Don’t be afraid to introduce yourself to people. Especially, the people that are at the top in your industry. Be mindful that they are people too and make sure to always keep your professionalism.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/2389marketgroup
• Facebook: awillvibe