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"
guy). He told me I wasn't in the NBA so it would never happen. At the end of
the season I told him I wasn't returning to play ball professionally and I
would be pursuing this dream.
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 Atlanta area asking could I be a board
operator. With no experience & already graduating from college no
opportunities were available.
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 USA.
Who would have ever thought a kid who grew up in the Carver Homes Projects
would have accomplished this goal.
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 Michigan City Indiana. I said I
wanted to go to his school and play ball there and I am going to play ball
overseas. Fast forward my sophomore year in high school, I moved with my father
and he lived in Lansing Michigan and had just moved in the school
district that Earvin Majic Johnson attended.
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
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 in Atlanta listening to Ryan Cameron at night,
Mike & Carol in the morning My mom made me listen to Si-Man & Young
Blood which at the time I hated that kind of music they were playing but now I
breathe it. I saw how they became staples in the community and I would like to
be able to do the same thing.
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.
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 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.
I am more refreshed than ever! I realize that in addition to creating inspiration, I have to consume it. As I eat more raw veggies and eat more vegetables overall, my moods have truly been affected--in a positive way.
