Today we’d like to introduce you to Abram Bryan.
Hi Abram, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
With all entrepreneurs, it began simply with finding out what I enjoyed and would love doing everyday whether it was watching and critiquing films, reviewing food spots, or even finding simple joy in reading a variety of genres. Throughout my college years, I studied Entertainment Business with a minor in Cinematic Arts and Entrepreneurship to better equip myself to “enter the real world” as my professors at the time called it. However, the best laid plans can fail as I graduated during the start of Covid-19 (woohoo class of 2020). During those years, I would make small projects with friends and family just honing my craft as I searched for ways to pivot, but that all changed when I decided to fully commit to my family’s company – Heir Media. Since joining Heir Media, my life has been a wild ride that repeatedly placed me outside my comfort zone growing me beyond what I initially thought possible: I was no longer just a camera operator or an editor, but I became the networking guy, the community engagement specialist, and more in addition to my primary roles as a camera operator and editor. Since 2023, I have either been a part of, served in leadership, or worked with my local BNI (Business Network International) and AMA (American Marketing Association) chapters, churches, and several non-profits expanding my sphere of influence. This well-rounded training (though I didn’t see it at the time) had helped me come in line with what Heir Media stands for: building a brand’s legacy by positively impacting the local businesses and communities that we are a part of.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The biggest challenge for me was building out a completely new network of clients and referral partners when moving to not only a new town, but a new state. Originally being from MD, this challenge seemed insurmountable since not only did I have to build the company in Wilmington, NC, but I also had to make new friends in a new city.
A key phrase that we use in BNI, “Giver’s Gain” was instrumental in changing my mindset. It was not an obstacle, but an opportunity to be a resource to others and show them my character and in time, I was able to “find my tribe.”
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
At Heir Media, we like to market ourselves as our clients’ creative partners. We do all forms media production ranging from social media content and commercials to audiobooks and films. With everyone having a camera on their phone, everyone can make a video, but we love to specialize in asking our client’s the hard questions of “why are you making content?” Are you doing it to satisfy the algorithm? Are you making tailored content to raise brand awareness with potential clients or are you making unique content to re-engage past clients?
We do not make content without a purpose. Each project goes through several iterative processes to ensure that the final deliverable is the vision of the client and it properly expresses the sentiments of their brand.
One such client that we were proud to be able to work with was our local United Way of the Cape Fear Area. We crafted a video for their fundraiser which received rave reviews by those in attendance as we highlighted the tangible impacts of what our local United Way chapter was doing in the community.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
For artists out there that believe any usage of AI is unacceptable as an artist, I would challenge them to change their perspective. All artists (regardless of their medium like film, oil painting, etc.) are entrepreneurs especially new artists. There are many aspects of business that we may not focus on since we are constantly focused on improving our craft, but building an audience for your art and charging fair prices for your talents requires a level of business knowledge that they may not be enjoyable but it is a necessity.
I would argue that this is one of those times that using AI as an artist can be a good thing. Artists should use AI as a tool, not to create their art pieces, but to research business and market trends that may impact them like the price of oil paints rising or trends that could be leveraged to get their art in front of potential clients or partners. We don’t know what we don’t know, but the first step to learning is to ask questions. What should I charge for my art pieces? What is the current cost of a key material for my installations? As artists and entrepreneurs, we have to be willing to learn everyday and even fact-check the AI tools (ChatGPT, Google, Gemini, etc.) that we use as a starting point for education.
Your art has value that cannot be replicated by AI and the way you build your audience (clients, employers, etc.) will never be fully automated by AI. So use AI to automate your posts, gain insight into how to better reach your audience, and other tasks that may be out of your wheelhouse, so you can focus on creating your unique art and connecting with people 1-to-1 (giving a personal response to Instagram comments, personally tailoring an email to a client, etc).
If you use AI in this way, then you can begin building your business and brand faster, allowing you to learn and iterate faster than if you tried to handle everything yourself.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://heirmedia.net/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heirmedia_/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/heirmediacorp
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/theabrambryan/
- Twitter: https://x.com/HeirMedia
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@heirmedia
- Other: https://www.instagram.com/theabrambryan/
Image Credits
Huge shoutout to Chris Brehmer Photography for my Profile Photo.
