Meet Erin Brown | Emcee / Fun Facilitator / Confidence Coach

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

Hi Erin, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?

The thought process was fairly simple: my Red Carpet “gimmick” – as the late great Garry Marshall referred to it during one of his many visits to my red carpet – was a unique experience that brought joy to interviewees spotlit on the carpet and spectators alike. People requested that I bring my Red Carpet or as I saw it, my well-intended joke, to their events to be a sort of entertaining welcome committee.

Upon answering the call to roll out my offbeat Red Carpet experience at diverse events including weddings, conferences, and product launches, I saw that there was a market for my unique service. I exited the full-time “showbiz hustle” of performing, writing and auditioning and committed my energy to helping people infuse more fun into their special occasions and create long-lasting memorable moments.

Welcoming people onto the Hot Red Carpet to shine has been a rewarding journey. Every person has an inner star quality, and I’ve discovered that more times than not I’m able to draw that sparkle out of them.

In 2020, I parlayed my business into a remote service where I emcee virtual gatherings including a personalized team bonding game show called Survey Sayz. Along with my team, I show up as a fun facilitator, serving up a similar kind of Red Carpet treatment in a virtual setting. Attendees say it is a fantastic way to bond, let loose, celebrate, and create memories.

As I developed this new way of conducting business, I noticed some participants at video meetings were not comfortable being on camera, and realized there was another market aligned with my skill set and brand. So, I created an online Red Carpet Confidence workshop which empowers people to hesitate less and be more relaxed as they share their brilliance more confidently on camera. This has led to speaking engagements, one-on-one coaching, and soon an upcoming online course.

Going with the flow, understanding how my gifts can serve others and meeting great clients is the key to growing my business, staying fulfilled, and always finding the “play” in the work.

What should our readers know about your business?
My business is largely based on my personality so it has been an evolution over many years. Originally, I came to Los Angeles from New York City to continue building a comedy and acting career. Show business is one of those areas in which it can take an extremely long time to “make it”. Grit and tenacity are essential survival tools as well as a loving support system. One thing that sets me apart from others is that I B.Y.O.R.C.. (Bring Your Own Red Carpet). Did I ever expect one silly comedy video poking fun at the red carpet to eventually become a business? No.

I did the bit on instinct. I truly believe what’s meant for you is yours, so this simple literal idea of rolling out a tiny red carpet came to me for a reason. The red carpet tradition started way before I was ever born but I was the first fool to drop a red bath mat on Hollywood Boulevard. Following the inner voice is never a bad thing especially for a performer / creator. That same voice also tells me when it’s time to explore other options or avenues with my ideas and talent. It is up to me to choose to listen to and act upon that voice.

One thing that excites me is that I constantly get new ideas and I’m able to distinguish which ones to execute. It is a refined practice. When an idea continues to circulate it is usually worth exploring. When I began getting asked to show up at private events ‘B.Y.O.R.Cing’, a seed was planted. Maybe this could roll out in a way that I had not previously considered. My willingness to expand my vision and shift from doing the Hollywood hustle led to Hot Red Carpet, a company that ignites joy in people, which is what I came here to do. It also inspires people to feed their desire to play and has expanded into helping small business owners tap into their own “Red Carpet” persona using improv comedy tools to make their live appearances feel more fun and effortless, enabling them to powerfully connect with their audience. Listening to my inner voice helped me see that there is a lot more under the red rug, albeit small. I love a good party and my brand is all about creating fun and empowering experiences.

Running your own show is not always easy. However, the path I’ve taken has always appealed to me more than conventional ones. But just to be sure of this I worked in numerous offices in Manhattan in my twenties and many other ‘day jobs’. There were even times when I wished I wanted that corporate lifestyle, but my inner voice keeps assuring me that there is something else for me to deliver.

It sure has taken a long time. At this point I would say I’m the tortoise in the ‘race’ and now almost halfway through the ‘race’ I can say I am truly satisfied with the choices I’ve made even if they have not always garnered the results I sought. I’ve learned that the sooner I let go of what is out of my control the more energy I can put towards my mission and trust that the right outcome will occur.

My journey has taught me countless lessons and continues to every single day. If I am not learning I am not growing and I am on this planet to experience all that life has to offer and inspire others to do the same. Come join me on my magic Hot Red Carpet ride!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
LA is one of those rare places where there is so much natural beauty mixed in with a city vibe. When I have friends visiting, especially first-timers, a hike is a must. So we will hit Runyon Canyon (weekdays only …  finding weekend parking can take longer than the hike itself), Temescal Canyon, or one of many trails in Palos Verdes. Each is a little different but all have amazing views. We are in Southern Cali so hitting the beach is another must. There are a plethora to visit, but my favorite is El Matador in Malibu. It’s very unique and a stunning spot for photos. Strolling anywhere in the South Bay (Manhattan Beach, Hermosa or Redondo) is fun for shopping, grabbing a juice or coffee and people watching. Each town in the South Bay “bubble” as it’s often called since it’s hard to leave, has its own little downtown village area. A cool way to experience the coast is biking from the Pacific Palisades to Redondo Beach. You can stop along the way and it’s a fantastic way to catch many beach cities, all with their own personality. LA has many great restaurants throughout the city. Some of my faves are Mozza in Hollywood, Via Veneto in Santa Monica, or Bettolino Kitchen in Redondo Beach for high end Italian. I’m originally a Jersey girl so I know good Italian food. If my guest is a seafood aficionado like me we go to Fishing with Dynamite if you don’t mind a tiny space and probably waiting for a table. The Lobster restaurant on the Santa Monica pier rarely disappoints for fish as well. Brunch on Abbot Kinney in Venice is also fun as is The Riviera in Redondo Beach. Hollywood has good music venues. Hard to go wrong with Hotel Cafe – it’s small and affordable and you never know who might show up on stage. Summer Fridays I love going to outdoor Jazz concerts at LACMA – great tunes and vibes and free admission.  The Hollywood Bowl is amazing no matter who’s performing just like the nearby Greek Theater. There is no way to do it all in one short visit, so definitely pick the activities and places beforehand and map it out to make the most of your time. No matter what, catch at least one sunset from any beach – that never gets old.

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?
There are SO many! First off, my amazing parents, who forever have my back – I am beyond blessed. Along with my stellar Mom and Dad, the rest of my incredibly loving family, who are always cheering for me.
Friends near and far who inspire me to do what I do and encourage me to be who I am. Teachers, mentors and fellow creative collaborators throughout my life who have influenced where I am today.
Specifically in 2020 Shoutout to my friend and colleague who I refer to as my “brother from another mother”, Mr. Ray Brown a.k.a. DJ Black Rabbit, who has been an integral part of my success with my online team bonding experience Survey Sayz.

Website: www.hotredcarpet.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hotredcarpet/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erin-brown-hotredcarpet/

Twitter: www.twitter.com/HotRedCarpet

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

Youtube: www.youtube.com/HotRedCarpet

Image Credits
Photography Credit : http://joegreto.com/photography Joe Greto