‘Dumb friends mess you up’

Smith attended the 2017 Republic Bank Decibel Entertainment Festival last Friday at Queen’s Hall, St Ann’s and spoke to hundreds of students during the student conference segment of the annual festival.

“One bad day with one dumb friend can mess up a big chunk of your life,” he said.

He also gave advice to the aspiring actors, musicians, designers and entertainers. He told them that Chinese philosopher, Confucius, once said that if you look at the five people that you spend the most time with that’s who you are.

“At this age it is really critical who you choose to spend your time with. Surround yourself with the people who will water the seeds of your dreams.” He said everything they did affects someone.

“You have to realize that as much as it’s your life, you are connected to every person in your family, in your neighbourhood, in your country and the world. I want to help improve other people’s lives, so everything I choose to do in my life, I stop and I ask myself how this action will improve lives. If it doesn’t, I don’t do it.” International cricket superstar and bmobile ambassador Brian Lara also addressed the students and echoed Smith’s sentiment that surrounding themselves with the right set of friends and mentors from early in life was important. Lara told them he had built and maintained a good network since his youth. He added that even now, many years later, these were the friends and mentors he still often turned to for advice, support and good camaraderie.

Lara also discussed the importance of a good education as this helps with establishing a career, and in the case of athletes after the professional sports days are over.

Earlier in the conference, the students had the opportunity to listen and pose questions to three different panels: the first panel of local magician, Kess the Illusionist, Valmiki Maharaj, Tribe mas band costume designer, local author Verena Boodoosingh, and Canadian comedian Jean Paul on the topic of how to overcome the objections of parents about a career in entertainment.

The second panel included American DJ/producer/songwriter, Clinton Sparks, Jarrod Faria, Kes the Band road manager, and Step Up movie dancers/ choreographers Chris Scott and Brandon Shaw on the topic of how to get recognised in the entertainment industry.

The final panel was actor Jeremy Jordan of the TV show Supergirl and actress Willow Shields from The Hunger Games movies on how to pursue an acting career.

The Decibel Entertainment Festival, which is an annual film, music, fashion and dance festival that aims to foster growth in the entertainment industry, continued yesterday and ends today.