Meet Adriene Brathwaite: Actor & Entrepreneur

We had the good fortune of connecting with Adriene Brathwaite and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Adriene, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I have always been an avid planner user. I would spend upwards of $50 on a planner, but I would never finish using it. I got irritated with wasting all of that money! The idea hit me to create my own planner. Something that I, as an actor would actually finish because it catered to my needs as an artist. Thus, the “Type (A)rtist Planner” was born!

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
My planners are for artists of all kind. That alone sets me apart from most planner companies in the market. I really strive to help artists reach their goals while not compromising their creativity by forcing them to subscribe to some rigid planner. I am so proud of the response I’ve gotten from my customers since I launched Type (A)rtist Planner! I’ve been told that this planner isn’t something they’ve seen before or how effective it’s been to keep them on track. Comments like those bring me so much joy because it solidifies my mission in creating a unique planner that helps avoid overwhelm. While things are on the up now, it hasn’t always been easy. My first year in business I dealt with faulty products, bad vendors, and the pandemic! These were things that kept me up at night trying to figure out how I could bounce back. There were moments I wanted to give up and often questioned what I was doing, but I knew that most businesses struggle in their first year and that these things would only be a temporary setback. Not only did those things teach me valuable lessons, but it provided invaluable knowledge I needed to implement into my business going forward. I pivoted and that adjustment has opened up other doors. If I never struggled my first year, I would have never found new business connections or thought of new ways to sell my products. Adversity often forces you to find alternative ways to make things happen. When people purchase a Type (A)rtist Planner, I want them to know that it was made with the desire of helping all Artists reach their goals. When they accomplish a goal, that is a win for me! I want them to be able to do all of this in a way that is uniquely designed for them!

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
There are certain things that you have to do when you are in LA and hiking is one of them. I love going to Fryman Canyon and hiking on that trail. It’s not as touristy and the views are a great reminder of how beautiful this city can be. Right down the street in Studio City, is one of my favorite food trucks, “Cravin Crab Cakes”. They have by far, some of the best seafood I have had in LA. The people who run it are from Maryland, so it feels like a little piece of home out here. Further down the street ( Can you tell I like to stay in Studio City?), there is this lounge called “Firefly”. It’s a great mix between chill and upscale and the music is always right! You can’t be in LA and not go to the beach! I love going to Zuma beach and watching the sunset. Sounds a bit cheesy, but it is so relaxing and allows you to just sit and think. Clearly, I love a view, and the Angeles National Forest gives me just that. There are so many little pockets you can pull your car into and just take in everything. They even have a ski resort all the way at the top! The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I want to dedicate my shoutout to my friends and family for their continued support in my business. More importantly, I want to send an appreciation to my mother, Shellanne. She has been there through the ups and the downs. My mother has supported me so much so, that when I first started my business, she told me to mail her a box of planners to sell. Within two weeks that box was gone and she wanted me to send her more! If that isn’t a reflection of someone who wants to see you succeed, I don’t know what is.

Website: www.typeartistplanner.com

Instagram: @typeartistplanner

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/typeartistplanner/