Then Atypical Society, a consultant and management team, may want you
Two characteristics are required in order to be a client of Wilmington’s up-and-coming Atypical Society Management Firm: you must be eccentric and authentic.
Delaware natives Jasmine Hamlin and Akin Bethea started the talent management and creative consultant organization last year in Wilmington. And as the name suggests, the duo aren’t looking for anyone who is “typical.”
“We want to bring in the people who are looked at and deemed ‘weird,’” says Bethea. “With positive energy, passion and talent.”
They aim to manage artists of all genres—poets, musicians, vocalists, visual artists, and more. A current client is Justin Sebastian Graves, a young area musician “with a unique aura,” according to Bethea. Atypical will first define his image, then focus on understanding his audience, coaching him, and finally, booking performances.
“We want to get exposure for talent that otherwise most likely won’t get exposure,” says Hamlin.
Assisting businesses with creative ideas, particularly those on 9th Street, is also part of the company’s vision.
“We really want to help businesses here. Businesses start that don’t last because they lack creativity. That’s where we want to come in,” says Hamlin.
A current client is Tynisha Lomax at Levitea tea bar on 9th Street. In the spring she explained to Hamlin and Bethea that she wanted the arts and social interaction to be a key aspect of the tea shop.
Soon after the discussion, two new events, Atypical Paint Night and Levitea Lounge, were implemented thanks to the team, and attracted diverse crowds to the shop.
Paint Nights are now every Friday. They feature a paint instructor, materials and wine for participants. The Levitea Lounge is an improv open mic night every other Thursday from 8-11 p.m.
Both Hamlin and Bethea have dabbled in the arts—painting for Hamlin, cartoons and sculpting for Bethea. On the business end, though, both are breaking new ground. While Hamlin studied fashion marketing at the Art Institute of Philadelphia, neither partner has studied business. But that hasn’t affected their confidence.
“We just know we naturally have it,” Hamlin claims. “We’re teaching ourselves and guiding ourselves. We recognize opportunities and know what to do with them when they arise.”
The two friends began working together in 2012, after Hamlin had returned from living in Atlanta and Miami for a few years, where she wrote for Juicy, the first celebrity and lifestyle magazine for black women. She interviewed celebrities and networked at top red carpet and social events. She says that by living in the cities and interacting with go-getters like herself, she began to see herself as a creative entrepreneur and she observed and learned all she could.
“Coming home, I didn’t want to stop,” Hamlin says.
They are working out of Levitea for now until they can find an office that will double as a venue for arts.
In addition to Levitea and Graves, the duo has collaborated with city organizations like the Wilmington Renaissance Corporation, the Delaware Center for Contemporary Arts, Flyogi, the Chris White Gallery, Creative Vision Factory, and more, helping to develop creative concepts.
Ultimately, Bethea and Hamlin want to help bring the area’s art community together through collaboration and creativity, with a strong focus on working alongside Wilmington’s Creative District.
“The change [for the city] is definitely coming,” says Hamlin. “You can see it, feel it; the time is now. Everyone is realizing that the more people work together, the better it’ll be.”
Atypical Society is looking for venue space and to hire event assistants ages 18 and older.
For more information on this or for client inquiries, email atypicalsocietyfirm@gmail.com.
