and more. Misty was working at the University of Phoenix, and she did not have any plans for quitting there anytime soon. But she had a co-worker that did not like working there, and she was looking for another job, her name was Mansi. Misty told her about our operation, and that I needed a business manager. Mansi thought it might be an interesting job, as well as a challenge for her — which she liked, So Misty, Mansi, and myself met at a local Mexican restaurant to discuss the business. Mansi is very pretty and full of energy. Her parents were from India, and they spoke extraordinarily little English. But Mansi was teaching them a little more all the time. Mansi knew that the product was something that could be short-lived and could also give her a chance to make a lot of money. Mansi was also overly aggressive — in a good way — and taking a leadership role came naturally to her. I was really very glad when Mansi accepted the job because I knew that she was just the type of person we needed to keep up the energy level in our business — which would, of course, ensure our future success. As I anticipated, Mansi fit right in and taking charge and the role of leadership. Very quickly she was doing pretty much everything from bookkeeping, payroll, ordering, manufacturing, packing, and shipping. She could and did do it all. It appears she was on top of everything after a few weeks and she did and did not need me. She even had her dad and mom working there too! But just as Mansi was great at all she was doing she was just great at making NEW sales — which is, as any business-person knows, crucial to any business. She also worked hard to get back some old customers that I had lost to Greg and Doug. She had the gift of gab and if you met her, you would know why she could sell you anything; she is hard to turn down. Maybe that is why she sent her picture to her customers.
Things were really going along very smoothly, and I didn’t have to do a lot in regard to the Phoenix operation. Though I did fly out there every two or three weeks — and, as always, I enjoyed the trips. For a single girl in her mid-twenties, she was doing very well making six figures and she deserved it.
Chapter Eight
If you do not take a chance you have no chance to succeed
If you fail try again
Back in Indy we are starting to build a top-notch recording studio. But I was trying to figure out what to do with the rest of the warehouse there in INDY. I was also trying to come up with an idea for a name for the studio. Shelby called me one day, and when I answered, she said “Hi Daddy!” — and that’s when it hit me “Daddy” That's the name! We will name the studio “Daddy Real Entertainment” and everybody I ran it passed thought it was a cool name. I must admit, I was proud of it! With the extra space in the warehouse, we decided to build one of the largest ‘green screens’ in the area, and we did. So now, we had a recording studio and a great video and photography studio.
“Daddy Real Entertainment” was starting to become pretty well known in Indy and surrounding areas. The artists were excited about Daddy Real. We wanted their recording business and we were starting to get it too! In my mind, I was always thinking why not bring this venture full-circle, and create a record label and promotions company that would book bands and put on concerts? That is exactly what we did. I was pouring thousands of dollars into it. We were accomplishing it all. I was now employing a lot of people and helping families. I signed several artists to the new label and recorded some songs and even albums by them. We had Gene Deer, a great “Blues” guitarist and singer. We recorded two CD’s of him, and these are still selling today on Amazon. He is great artist, but I feel like I let him down did not help him make it big. Hero Jr. is a great POP band and we recorded a couple of songs with them, and I believe that they had the potential to go somewhere, and maybe they have.
“Walker County” was a two-sister duo that had a great band with them. Their dad was the lead guitarist and their uncle was on bass. They are great singers and have opened for some pretty big country artists. This group could make it big, and I hope they do. They were only 15 and 17 years old. I had them open up for “38 Special”
“The Elect” This was one of my favorite bands. They played lot of oldies, and current mainstream rock & roll, with a segment of “The Door’s” and my favorite - “Purple Rain” by Prince. Most of these we have created CD’s for, and they can still be purchased at Amazon. Around 2013, “The Faith!” band was brought back together to create an album. I grew up with two of its members, Dave Barnes (the drummer) and Dave Bennet (the lead guitarist). Carl Storie was the lead singer. Faith was good enough that they had a hit on the top ten in the late seventies called “Put On Your Dancing Shoes”. We did an album with them. I promoted a few other artists as well, and genuinely enjoyed this business. But to no surprise, the promotion aspect of the business was by far the most profitable. I believe it was the most fun as well and I got to meet a lot of celebrities, which was always exhilarating. My first big concert was “38 Special”, with one of the VanSant's. I rented an outdoor stage and had the concert in New Castle, at Montgomery’s Steakhouse, in their back lot. it was a lot of fun, and I had Walker County open for them.
I put on a concert at Murah Theater (now Old National Center) with the headliner of Johnny Rivers of “Secret Agent Man” fame, as well as “Poor Side of Town” and many more hits. I scheduled “Faith” and “The Elect” to open for Johnny. It was a great show, and A LOT of fun! Wynonna Judd called me and said she was coming to the show because her husband was playing the drums that night for Johnny. She asked me if she could park her bus there. Uh, yeah! Of course. She is such a gracious, lovely lady. Peggy and I met and talked to her after the show. “Daddy Real Entertainment" was starting to get a lot of publicity.
As if we didn’t have enough going on already, I bought two limousines, one white one, and one black one. Both were stretch Limos and in great shape. I hired two drivers, Rick, and Todd. Rick worked with me off and on in the building business, and Todd was an employee in the “Spice” business. Both were good guys, and they looked and acted the part, with their black chauffeur’s outfits and caps. We used them to pick up and take the artist to the venue and the two guys rented them out for weddings, parties etc. It was not profitable but fun.
In the spring of 2011, I put together a little outdoor free concert to showcase two Daddy Real bands and to help draw attention to them and Daddy Real. A friend of mine knew Sarah Fisher who races in the Indianapolis 500 several times and now was a car owner. She came to the concert and set up a table promoting her and her driver. Sarah is a nice and soft-spoken woman and incredibly talented. She had a table set up with some brochures and pictures of her and her driver. That year it was Ed Carpenter a new and upcoming Indy driver. Well, after meeting her I said I would like to set down and talk to her about a sponsorship. She said that she is willing to do that, and she said that she would have her marketing person call me. In a few days I got a call and he introduced himself as drew Sarah’s marketing manager. I met Drew and Sarah at their office and warehouse out at gasoline alley on the west side of Indianapolis soon after. Drew was nice as well and they had a very nice place and was very clean, not what you would think of a place where they work on cars, this place was very clean.
We made a deal and for ten thousand dollars I would have Daddy Real logo on each mirror on the car that will be in the race and all their promo cars, which they take many places for promoting and marketing. I would also be on their website and promotion material as a sponsor. Peggy and I went to their Appreciation party at their warehouse and they had a band and
