about me

Introduction
Jimshoes Entertainment is a company that encompasses a broad range of businesses, including Jimshoes Signature Wear, artist & music management, consultant, marketing & advertising, record & commercial production and music publishing. Jimshoes Entertainment is dedicated to identifying, developing, producing and marketing, musical artists that possess direction, ambition and talent to compete in today’s music industry. Our motto is to represent professional artists and provides unique and creative elements that are reflected in the artist’s music. We challenge all of our artists to raise the level of their talent by using more creativity in their music. Our individualized support program focuses on providing the necessary tools to allow the artist to be showcased in this competitive music industry. Our goal is to help artist’s overcome the music industry barriers, gain a greater global market share and increase the amount of advertisement through mainstream music outlets. Once an artist is signed to Jimshoes Entertainment, the company influences their image by tapping into the style and flare of urban music and culture. We then develop marketing campaigns that speak directly to those businesses targeted consumers by establishing promotions through TV & radio advertisements, web sites, banners, posters, postcards, t-shirts and digital media. This combination is ushering in a new musical genre of hip-hop, R&B and rock while injecting the music and style into the youth of American mainstream. This, in addition to building a roster of unique and marketable recording acts is the key components to our success.

From music to fashion, Jimshoes Entertainment is a company oversees the business interests of its founder and CEO James Hastings. James is an entrepreneur that is known for managing talent, creating a clothing line, mentor talent and consulting for grassroots marketing. James' core business is Jimshoes Entertainment, founded in 2003.

James also has three important people that he would like to recognize in making his job easier on various projects; Richard Davis, Phayzon Trice, Justin Smith and Rocio Arroyave.

How it Started
James had early training attending multiple seminars in Chicago, Los Angles, Indianapolis and Atlanta before starting off on his own company with Jimshoes Entertainment. James proved a sharp businessman even in his early years, coming up with ways to make a profit off of having house parties. His keen business sense and unrelenting drive led him to pursue and make the most of his friendship with Brian and Dennis Westbrook of The Jones’ Production Co. In 2003, James' alliance with The Jones’ landed him in a position of researching how to be successful in the music industry. So I decided I wanted to play with the majors. Just get into the game. I wasn’t really in the business because I wasn’t working for any big company. I started to seek out internships, seminars and attend different speaking and music engagement. I got lucky and met up with Mark Winkler a talent agent with United Talent Agency in Los Angeles, he gave me a shot by giving me the opportunity to sit down and talk to me about direction, advice and how the industry works. After a successful trip to Los Angles and meeting up with Mark Winkler, who offered the ambitious young man the knowledge and insight to be successful in the music business. Impressed with the self-starting young man's work ethic and his closeness to the urban youth culture, Winkler began giving the eager James more advice and direction to network and connects with other successes in the industry. At that point I was already managing rappers and producers. When I left after meeting with Mark in LA, I just went full throttle as far as getting my management company, Jimshoes Entertainment, up and running, which did pretty good. I realized the importance of building relationships. Coming back in the mid-west I was conscious about building strong relationships with everyone from the President down to the intern, the DJs, promotions people, marketing people. I’ve done a great job at that. Just getting out more and meeting people and keeping in touch with people, even if it’s just calling someone and say happy birthday. I’m an entrepreneur at heart. Just doing business in general is something that always intrigues and excites me. Just seeing what’s going on in the music business. I watched Puffy in his early days, Russell Simmons, things that they were doing. I also had peers that were close to me as I was just getting started in the business. I started out managing a local artist. From managing that local artist and being successful at networking and accomplishing other music contacts, it attracted other local talent. I started networking with other local business throughout Indianapolis, Champaign and the Quad cities area. Once I had established and branded the Jimshoes name for myself, I had created a lane of opportunity that attracted and got attention from other local artists that wanted me to do the same for them.

Music
James currently manages the music careers of The Jones’ Production Co., Twick G, Full Nelson, and Anthony Brumfield. The Jones’ is a music production group currently knocking down industry walls. They are recognized by artists in various genres including Pop, R&B and Hip-Hop. Twick-G is a Hip Hop artist from Champaign, IL. He debut his first album “What a difference a day brings” back in March of 2007. He has been a guest panelist for the Beyond Beats & Rhymes screening at U of I Spurlock auditorium and has graced many stages for multiple performances throughout his career. Full Nelson is a southern metal band from Central Kentucky area that has a powerful mixture of soulful, guitar driver, southern roots Rock ‘n” Roll. Full Nelson has been seen in quite a few powerhouses around the region. With their current album “The Rise of Southern Metal” they’re playing at most every venue within a 500 mile radius in central Kentucky. Anthony Brumfield is an 18 year old R&B singer from Urbana, IL who is a senior at Urbana High School. He won the CUper Star Talent Competition this past August at the Virginia Theater. With the singing and dancing ability that Anthony possesses, he is destined to hit the scene hard and do big things in 2008.

Apparel
James also markets branded clothing through Jimshoes Signature Wear. This company produces and distributes fashion to several stores in the Champaign, Urbana & Decatur, IL area. It’s an innovative company that is looking forward to securing more contracts with buyers both statewide and local. Jimshoes Signature Wear will be another part of the story of James Hastings remarkable rise in the business world.

Marketing & Advertising
James’ strategic approach is to continue to build a business where the creativity of all people associated with Jimshoes Entertainment will result in greater profitability. With James desire to campaign to consumers and businesses through consultation, TV & radio commercials, web sites and hand to hand promotions, Jimshoes Entertainment is ultimately increasing and building awareness to the consumer which expands Jimshoes familiarity to the businesses and their brands. James also understands that having a strong connection to the urban businesses in the communities will bridge the marketing gap between the artist and their products. One of James’ overall goals is to lead the company to be branded in marketing communication, music entertainment, product design and merchandising.

Philanthropy
James and Jimshoes Entertainment’s rising success in the community has helped him follow through on his vow to give back to the community that supported him. Knowing the positive impact the consistent and careful guidance of his family, church, teachers and mentors had on his own life, James understands the value of volunteering and mentoring the youth. James joined the Champaign-Urbana Area Project in May/2007 and help assisted them with their CUper Star program as a mentor, volunteer, judge & role model. The CUper Star is a program that encourages social, career, and leadership development and enables our youth to have a voice and influence in their community. The purpose of the program is to provide a venue for teens to get involved in an out of school, community involved project that would be both youth inspired and youth desired. CUperStar is a non-traditional event that will cross all socioeconomic, geographic, and color barriers. Youth will achieve program objectives through numerous activities including auditions, interviews, career and leadership workshops, rehearsals, planning sessions, community service, and public appearances. James is also apart of the Champaign County Urban League Mentoring program, where he has a great opportunity to mentor and to give some youth’s the guidance and direction that they may have been lacking. James sees this opportunity as a way to be an example to show the youth that you can be a successful entrepreneur with the right guidance, determination and great work ethnic skills. James also volunteer’s his time every summer to assist with the Indiana Black Expo Music Lounge. He volunteer’s his services to help assist with the Music Lounge at the Indiana Black Expo. The Music Lounge is a new venue for the culture arts pavilion and is designed to recapture the young adult audience whose numbers had been declining in recent years. The Music Lounge objectives were to coordinate a venue and to reach a diverse group of performers seeking opportunities to gain exposure and hone their skills.

The Success
Ever since launching Jimshoes Entertainment, James has gradually continued to integrate himself more and more each day to join and be more involved in the community. He’s had the opportunity to become a part of organizations such as the: Urbana Business Association, Champaign-Urbana Area Project, Champaign County Urban League Mentoring program, 360 Circuit Group and the Indiana Black Expo Volunteer program. He also partakes in community events such as The Sweet Corn festival, Champaign- Urbana Day’s Festival, Don Meyer Boys & Girls Club, WILL TV- Beyond Beats & Rhymes, Champaign County Park District, and many more. James also had the distinct opportunity to be apart of a speaking engagement about Jimshoes Entertainment daily operations and his many different experiences that he has partaken in to a Music Business class at Illinois State University.

As James Hastings career continues on the road of tireless and indomitable creativity, he will continue to build, inspire, create and share the success of Jimshoes Entertainment.






www.Jimshoes.com, www.myspace.com/jimshoesentertainment,www.youtube.com/jimshoes66