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When someone has been in business for 25 years, the meaningful nuggets just flow…
But the two best pieces of advice from Fabian Matthews, owner of Spotlight Productions? No spoilers here. You will have to catch them at the end of this story!
Fabian Matthews is the owner and creative director of Spotlight Productions, a full-service, award-winning commercial video and podcast production house that has been serving Memphis and the Mid-South for more than 25 years. But that wasn’t always the plan.
“I was going to be a cook,” said Matthews. “I cooked at a steakhouse.”
He was a business major at Arkansas State University in Jonesboro, Arkansas, and took a pause to join the Army to offset school costs. When he returned, his trajectory and career aspirations changed drastically.
“I came back and immediately got into radio and TV,” said Matthews. “I knew from day one, this was the right fit.”
An adjunct professor, Mike Bowman, who also worked at a local Jonesboro news station KAIT, loved Matthews’ creativity and hustle and encouraged him to pursue the field. It bears mentioning that Matthews’ mother was a visual artist, so even though he didn’t realize it, creativity was in his blood.
“Six months later, he called and hired me on the spot. He asked me what I wanted to do. I told him ‘Whatever you don’t want to do!’ and it was on from there.”
Matthews started by producing sports coaching shows, then commercials in his three years at KAIT. After graduating, he got a call from WMC-TV5 in Memphis to help train employees on a specific editing machine. It’s there he met former business partners and friends, Craten Armmer and Isaac “Ike” Singleton.
“I worked the first half of the day for promotions and the rest of the day for production,” said Matthews.
“I’m proud of what I’ve done here, opening the door for other Black businesses to come. We do rentals, I even have a company that comes from Nashville to shoot here.”
Fabian Matthews, owner of Spotlight Productions
A few years in, Matthews, Singleton and Armmer had the “eureka” moment to join together to create some opportunities for themselves outside of their day jobs. Six months later, in May of 2000, Spotlight Productions was born.
“I was single with no kids and was able to make a big leap, while the other guys stayed,” said Matthews.
The business started with Singleton working on funding, Armmer bringing in clients and Matthews serving their current clients.
“Craten knew a lot of people, my wife, Cassandra, was working at the Orpheum, and over time, we just started picking up more accounts,” said Matthews.
One of his longest and best clients is the National Civil Rights Museum, for whom he produces the Freedom Award videos every year. A breakout moment was also when friend and client, Howard Robertson, introduced him to Lee Warren, then leader at the Center City Commission (now Downtown Memphis Commission) who started the “Definitely Downtown” video series.
“We moved to 10 South Main, and I met my future banker, that’s when the game changed,” said Matthews.
Matthews began to work on projects, varying in size and impact, from Memphis Fire Department recruitment videos to Nike brand videos, to documentaries about Ida B. Wells and National Civil Rights Museum Freedom Award winners. As his business grew, so did his passion for his art, and with those, his business acumen.
Matthews shared that the “business side” of business is where a lot of entrepreneurs fail, knowing their craft but lacking the business knowledge and tools to run and maintain a successful business.
“There are times when I’ve lost business because someone found out I was Black, so you have to figure out how to have money coming in on a consistent basis. Just because you have two good months doesn’t mean the next two months will be the same. I’m thinking six months out,” said Matthews.
He said one of his smartest business moves was hiring an accountant.
“One of my first clients, Danny Jenkins of Waterkolours Fine Art Gallery, told me to pay my taxes! I found an accountant the next day,” said Matthews.
As Spotlight Productions took on bigger clients and projects, a new space was needed to accommodate the growth and vision. Matthews designed and moved into the current 4,000 square foot studio, located at 649 S. Second Street in Uptown, in 2006. It not only houses a 20-by-9 foot LED wall, but boasts a Black and African art collection, a rooftop deck and kitchenette, two bathrooms and more.
“I’m proud of what I’ve done here, opening the door for other Black businesses to come. We do rentals, I even have a company that comes from Nashville to shoot here,” Matthews said.
But the best advice he would give any entrepreneur hopeful?
Know your banker and have someone in your corner who’s really in your corner.
“That banker will fight for you behind closed doors, and entrepreneurs need people on our side. My wife kept me grounded, motivated and from throwing in the towel.”
Learn more about Spotlight Productions at www.spotlightproductions.net or call 901-328-6847.
Top 5 Entrepreneur Business Tips from Fabian Matthews:
- Be nimble. A small project for someone else might be the perfect project for you.
- Watch how you spend your money; keep overhead low.
- Manage expectations – your own and your clients’. You must get repeat business from everyone.
- Don’t get caught up in the latest equipment. There will always be something new. Use what works for you.
- Relationships are important. Learn from those around you and have people around you who you can really trust and depend on.
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