Name: Corey "Tall Boy" Sanders
Current Job Position Title: On Air
Personality Majic 107.5/97.5; Promotions Coordinator for Radio One Atlanta (Hot
107.9 Praise 102.5 Majic 107.5/97.5); Creator of www.tallboy.us
Company Name: Radio One & Tall
Boy Enterprises
Special skills: Event Emcee, Content Creator/Videography Brand Mananagement
Describe your job story:
I was playing professional basketball in Urugray and I asked my agent could he help me get endorsement deals. (I wanted to be the "Dude your Getting a Dell" guy or the "All State
Fast forward 3 months later, I found myself working in a warehouse in the returns department. I was listening to the radio where Steve Harvey is saying go after your dreams, surround yourself around the people who you want to be. They didn't necessarily have to be a celebrity but someone in that field. I called every radio station in theAtlanta
A few weeks later I heard Steve Harvey say "Get in on the Ground Floor with God & Watch You Get More" I was already working/volunteering in the media department at church & I asked could I work as a board operator. After 5 weeks watching the board someone gets sick and my opportunity presented itself. After service a random guy comes up to our area & says, Sound was good. I told him I was trying to get in at the radio station but no one was hiring. He referred me to the Program Director. I called this guy every day Mon-Fri for 2 months (he wouldn't take my calls) I eventually heard he was out on location on the radio & I showed up he was so shocked I found him that he told me to call him Monday morning. Well he didn't take my call that Monday but I eventually got him.
I worked as an intern for 2 1/2 years before they said we have a position for you in promotions. I got hired and from there I started making a name for myself. I just told myself I wanted to be memorable and not because of my height (which is 7ft) What was I going to do to make people remember me as an experience at every event, concert, party, or community function.
After 2 years working I got the opportunity to become the Man on the Streets for Majic 107.5/97.5. I was here, I was there, I was everywhere. While I am doing all of this for the radio station. I was told I had to be known for something. I said OK, I would recap events through video. I would interview people and capture the moment and do recaps of the events I attended. That was the start of www.tallboy.us I would go to major concerts award shows or anything that I thought was significant or compelling to watch. I wanted to create "POSITIVE CONTENT" I then realized people wanted copies of the things I was doing so we created a CD duplication service for short orders.
Well my mentor Si-Man Baby was always in the clubs entertaining people & I said hey I could do this. At first, no one would give me the microphone because no one knew who I was. I sat back and watched all the things the emcees of these clubs I was attending were doing right & wrong and created my own routine. Who would have ever thought that I would be the official host for the Bud-Light Atlanta Falcons Tailgates 2 years later.
Well, fast forward a year later my supervisor in Promotions asks us every year to do a vision board and set performance goals. After reading mine she strongly suggested I sit down with both program directors of Radio One. After creating a presentation of who I was, what I wanted, and what my goals were they said they would try me out on air. A year later they said Here is your time slot don't screw up this station. I had no experience and I was on the radio in the #9 market in theUSA
I was playing professional basketball in Urugray and I asked my agent could he help me get endorsement deals. (I wanted to be the "Dude your Getting a Dell" guy or the "
Fast forward 3 months later, I found myself working in a warehouse in the returns department. I was listening to the radio where Steve Harvey is saying go after your dreams, surround yourself around the people who you want to be. They didn't necessarily have to be a celebrity but someone in that field. I called every radio station in the
A few weeks later I heard Steve Harvey say "Get in on the Ground Floor with God & Watch You Get More" I was already working/volunteering in the media department at church & I asked could I work as a board operator. After 5 weeks watching the board someone gets sick and my opportunity presented itself. After service a random guy comes up to our area & says, Sound was good. I told him I was trying to get in at the radio station but no one was hiring. He referred me to the Program Director. I called this guy every day Mon-Fri for 2 months (he wouldn't take my calls) I eventually heard he was out on location on the radio & I showed up he was so shocked I found him that he told me to call him Monday morning. Well he didn't take my call that Monday but I eventually got him.
I worked as an intern for 2 1/2 years before they said we have a position for you in promotions. I got hired and from there I started making a name for myself. I just told myself I wanted to be memorable and not because of my height (which is 7ft) What was I going to do to make people remember me as an experience at every event, concert, party, or community function.
After 2 years working I got the opportunity to become the Man on the Streets for Majic 107.5/97.5. I was here, I was there, I was everywhere. While I am doing all of this for the radio station. I was told I had to be known for something. I said OK, I would recap events through video. I would interview people and capture the moment and do recaps of the events I attended. That was the start of www.tallboy.us I would go to major concerts award shows or anything that I thought was significant or compelling to watch. I wanted to create "POSITIVE CONTENT" I then realized people wanted copies of the things I was doing so we created a CD duplication service for short orders.
Well my mentor Si-Man Baby was always in the clubs entertaining people & I said hey I could do this. At first, no one would give me the microphone because no one knew who I was. I sat back and watched all the things the emcees of these clubs I was attending were doing right & wrong and created my own routine. Who would have ever thought that I would be the official host for the Bud-Light Atlanta Falcons Tailgates 2 years later.
Well, fast forward a year later my supervisor in Promotions asks us every year to do a vision board and set performance goals. After reading mine she strongly suggested I sit down with both program directors of Radio One. After creating a presentation of who I was, what I wanted, and what my goals were they said they would try me out on air. A year later they said Here is your time slot don't screw up this station. I had no experience and I was on the radio in the #9 market in the
What did you want to be when you were a child/ teenager?
I wanted to work for the Secret Service but because of my height, everyone pushed basketball in front of me. It was cool, I thought I would play in the NBA. I remember the day Majic Johnson made the announcement he was diagnosed with HIV. I was in seventh grade at Barker Jr High in
Are doing your dream job?
Yes, I am and I wake up loving what I
do. The only misconception is people think you make a lot of money &
YOU DON'T. There are people that work in the service industry that make more
money than me and it frustrating at times but hey I rather love what I do and
struggle than be financially comfortable dreading going to work.
What do you like MOST about what you do? What do you like the LEAST?
The two best things I love
about my job is that I get to entertain people. People are so stressed out over
small things and when they see me at an event, party, or function my job is to
get you to bounce to the right, bounce to the left and SMILE and if I did a
great job you will SCREAM. Secondly, I get to talk to people who people
dream of just being in there presence. I am like I cant believe you are so goo
goo, they are regular people.
What do I like the least is people who work in this industry who think they are all of that or won't pass the knowledge down to a young person getting into the business. They feel threatened that a young personality is going to take there spot. What's meant for you is meant for you. The politics is also another thing. You have to wait your turn for the opportunity. If I am hungry and a go-getter don't hold me back. Some folks wait on opportunity, Some folks go get opportunity
What do I like the least is people who work in this industry who think they are all of that or won't pass the knowledge down to a young person getting into the business. They feel threatened that a young personality is going to take there spot. What's meant for you is meant for you. The politics is also another thing. You have to wait your turn for the opportunity. If I am hungry and a go-getter don't hold me back. Some folks wait on opportunity, Some folks go get opportunity
Where do you see yourself in the next 5
years?
LOL, I have to see where I
am going to be tomorrow. Seriously, I would like to be a household name
in my city of Atlanta
I grew up inAtlanta
I grew up in
Are you happy with where you are in
life?
Yes & No I am happy with
where I am in life, Overall I am happy because I look at where I came from. A
kid moving around a lot, A new school every year to graduating from college on
a basketball scholarship to playing professional basketball abroad as well here
in the states to now doing the next phase of my life. So
for that I am living life and enjoying it.
I say no because financially we all have goals and dreams and I am not there yet and I think that has held me up into creating a personal life with a significant other or family. We are taught as men to be bread winners and I want to know I can provide for my family and right now although I hold my own I am not there to tell someone I am taking seriously don't worry about it "I GOT IT". I have a dream, a plan, and an end goal but because I have not arrived I am hesitant to go to the next level with my personal life.
I say no because financially we all have goals and dreams and I am not there yet and I think that has held me up into creating a personal life with a significant other or family. We are taught as men to be bread winners and I want to know I can provide for my family and right now although I hold my own I am not there to tell someone I am taking seriously don't worry about it "I GOT IT". I have a dream, a plan, and an end goal but because I have not arrived I am hesitant to go to the next level with my personal life.
What more do you want to do with your life?
I want to be able to travel more internationally, attend more conferences & events that are of my interest. Lastly, I have a great relationship with God but to have an even better one.
What drives/motivates you?
What drives me, believe it or not; people who don't believe in me or think I can't do something. I love the look on someone’s face when I accomplished the goal that I set out for myself due to someone else's disbelief. It's not to rub it in there face but to say NEVER under estimate anyone. If that person sees it assist or encourage them to "Make It Happen" or don't say anything at all.
What drives me, believe it or not; people who don't believe in me or think I can't do something. I love the look on someone’s face when I accomplished the goal that I set out for myself due to someone else's disbelief. It's not to rub it in there face but to say NEVER under estimate anyone. If that person sees it assist or encourage them to "Make It Happen" or don't say anything at all.
What else do you do?
Although I have no desire to play basketball ever again I pass my knowledge do to kids who are pursuing that career field. I do career days which I encourage everyone who reads this story to call a school, any school and ask to speak at a career day. Seriously, Don't think your life story isn't important. You may potentially be the difference to make a child go into whatever it is you do. I seriously thought my life didn't matter at a career day I attended with my mentor Si-Man. After he spoke, the kids were like who are you? I was the intern at the radio station with no job, no money and felt like how am I going to get this bill paid by Friday.
When I finished speaking all the kids in the room asked for my autograph. Who would have ever thought I of all people would have connected with those kids. So please if you take anything away from my story...Promise you will speak to a school, youth detention, or even a recreation center. You never know they may be your boss one day. REAL TALK
What is your advice to those who are seeking employment and have no hope?
Be persistent, consistent, make yourself memorable. Opportunities happen if YOU just show up. Volunteer with organizations it could be big or small. I learned sometimes me just helping at an event I will be talking or working with the management of a company who came out to support the same cause I came out to support. They get to see me and the person who I am. Oh Yeah, The most important of them all...Be careful what you post on social media. When I say REAL TALK. I Google people, I go to Facebook, & Instagram and I see what you post. It lets me know whether or not I want to associate myself with you. So, if I do it trust believe others do it as well.
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