Today we’d like to introduce you to Sharíck LaMay Gums.
Hi Sharíck, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstories.
I moved to LA from the East Bay Area almost 15 years ago to pursue a career in entertainment in either music or dance.
From then I went from a struggling college student to a struggling postgraduate of Communications working odd-end retail jobs that I hated with very little guidance or direction. A variety of factors lead me to end my journey as an aspiring dancer/musical artist, mostly fear and imposter syndrome (the term wasn’t popular back then). I thought I wanted to be an entertainment publicist because it felt safe but I soon realized that was not a passion of mine either.
I was not meant to be in the background of someone else’s star, I was meant to have a stronger presence and as a creative being in control of the stories I wanted to tell.
After a few years of interning at odd-end entertainment companies, I rediscovered my passion for public speaking and being in front of the camera. I decided I would be a host and work towards one day having my own show. I aligned myself with individuals who saw my vision and helped place me on red carpets and in front of the camera.
When I began to feel stifled and too dependent on others or rather finances I only gained from my dead-end job, I decided I would produce and film my own content.
As the stars aligned I began being asked to production assist with different video content productions. That lead me to realize if I could be a producer, I could literally produce whatever content I desired including content I could host and create the narrative I wanted. The rest of the stars aligned and I couldn’t be happier today. I’ve produced and production-managed music videos for artists such as Soldier Boy, Teyana Taylor, French Montana, Charlie Wilson, Smokie Robinson, Johnny Gil, Ralph Tresvant (Co-directed), Meaku, and more. I’ve produced my own documentary pilots with hopes of festival runs and promising prospects of being backed by major streaming platforms.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
My journey has and continues to have many ups and downs. From feeling stuck at a passionless job, to overcoming the realities of my disease, a disease that comes with very little acknowledgment, much stigma, and a lot of unnecessary shame. I have been battling Endometriosis undiagnosed from the start of puberty until 2020. I’ve suffered pain, discomfort, depression, and an unconsciousness of what it all meant to the progress of my career. I kept my disease hidden because of its stigma and lack of information not realizing that the disease was the cause of many of my burdens I often was frustrated about, my “laziness”, depression, lack of interest in being social and constant exhaustion. It causes me to have issues with my weight thus imposing negative feelings within myself about my looks that had built insecurities towards my desire to be on camera.
I never felt expressing myself and exposing my disease would be impactful for me but rather it would become a scapegoat for whatever failures came my way and I hate excuses and loathe pitty. In 2020 I learned that I had no choice but to embrace all of who I am and that I am an Endo Warrior. I began a journey of healing, had multiple surgeries to reduce the impact of the disease, and decided to be intentional about being the best version of myself.
Upon doing so I learned that no matter how far off my goals seemed, accomplishing what I had given my circumstances was a feat to be noted and celebrated. This year I gave birth to a baby girl prematurely who is now an angel in heaven. I decided to be vocal about my journey as a mother, child loss, womb health, and healing, and to be an advocate for all women who face similar trials in their lives albeit personal and intimate, my survival story gives me more strength.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a host and video content producer. I work in-house as a branded content producer for Paramount in which I am the committee chair for the company’s Black employee resource group as well as Chair of my department’s diversity and inclusion hiring task force.
As an independent creative producer and host under the umbrella of my company LaMay Day Media, I create socially impactful content ranging from political, socio-economical, and spiritual. I chose to express narratives that are impactful, solution-based, and address accountability for the inflicted. I also focus on all and everything creative.
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
I don’t believe there is anything about me that may shock people. Perhaps prior to my overcoming my recent trials and tragedies, I was more illusive and less transparent but I am now very vocal about my struggles and what fuels me. There are too many misguided and inauthentic narratives in the public today and I do not wish to be a driver of more of them.
Pricing:
- Branded Video Production $5,000 minimum
- Music Video Production $8,000 minimum
- Voice Over for video content is negotiable
- Video Hosting negotiable
- Event Hosting negotiable
Contact Info:
- Website: www.sharicklamay.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/sharicklamay
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/sharicklamaygums
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/c/LaMayDay
- Yelp: https://yelp.to/D5AeLobipub
- Other: www.lamayday.com
