‘Struggle.’ It’s a word that one often hears if they are surrounded by people from music, arts, and the entertainment industry. The word has its tooth and claw sunk deep into the lives of people who hope to win their bread by entertaining others. It effuses a sense of vulnerability, hurts with shards of broken dreams, and opens up a bottomless pit that triggers uncertainty. Yet, to those who know how to persevere, this struggle appears as Mnemosyne. It enlightens them by revealing the mysteries of life. It inspires them to hone their craft to perfection.
But why do only a few earn accolades in their lifetime? Why do others perish? Haven’t they struggled enough? What are the parameters to decide who will reach the top? The answer revolves around the lack of direction or a guiding hand that enables one to attain success when they are drowning in the swamp.
A hand like that is always in high demand among performers. But a hunt for that never seems to rest. “It is hard to find people in the music, arts and entertainment industry that genuinely want to help their clients improve their skills, guide them in the right direction, and see to it that their success flourishes,” feels Kristina Rogic, the CEO of Lock and Key Entertainment, a company that has proved its mettle in guiding artists towards a successful career.
To Lock or Not to Lock
As the name suggests, Lock and Key Entertainment believes in providing safety during the journey. Lock and Key Entertainment believes an artist should get enough space to work on his art and craft without much obstacles. But it hardly happens as their voyage is often marred with ups and downs and perilous traps. Fighting monsters like these in an Odyssean trip to find the meaning of the self is not easy. Some stop even before they start. Some collapse midway, while pursuing their dreams.
However, Kristina’s view of life is not so grim. It is brightening because she formed her opinions by digging deep into dark caverns of life and then returning to light with experiences. She knows these struggles like the back of her hand. Moreover, her optimistic mind taught her how to turn these into opportunities.
When she decided to share it with others so that they start viewing life as she has, she marked the inception of the company. “Life is a gift. Following your dreams should be easier than it is. So, if I can help, I’ll do what it takes.” These words of Kristina reflects how deeply she feels for those out there, hustling and striving. It is her will to walk the extra mile on behalf of these talents that sets her apart from the rest.
The process of helping others is like a maze and unravelling the path is fun. To start with, Kristina hired a dedicated team trained them to spot talents hidden behind veils of inexperience and negligence. The team then moves on to fine-tuning those talents to create a brand, something unique; something that will quickly arrest the eyes of the viewers or audience. Honing this takes time, but the team knows not how to relent before it reaches perfection.
Sometimes clients look for resources that can give them an edge over others. But it is also time-consuming, which might delay the end result or stall it permanently. That is why Lock and Key Entertainment keeps an eye on those needs and tries to get it done for their clients to save hassles. It wishes to emerge as a one-stop solution.
Locks Unlocked So Far
For the company, the plans, from the beginning, were well-chalked out, and the hurdles were analyzed. As a result, the journey, so far, has been nothing but great. Ups and downs are always part and parcel of growth, and a bump like the COVID-19 was no different. Only the scale was massive. Yet, Lock and Key Entertainment was quick to analyze its drawbacks. When the pandemic struck, Kristina and her crew deployed countermeasures to ward off the impact that has earned a haunting reputation by flattening many industries and exposing their rusty structures.
These past years have also been enlightening in several ways. Especially, things the company got to learn about weeding out burdens. Sometimes clients create tangles by showing disregard for the efforts undertaken. Now, Lock &Key Entertainment only lock on those people who have an insatiable hunger to do something great with their talents. Together, they strive and succeed without yielding.
From her initial days, Kristina maintains a clear road ahead and knows that she needs the support of her team. They need to work as tirelessly as she has been in running the company. But, for that, they should stay motivated and inspired. That is why Kristina ensured that her door always remains open, and her employees can just walk in and pose their views without the fear of getting judged.
Faces of the Future
Lock and Key Entertainment’s roster covers multiple talents. But each of them packs a punch with their distinct style, and the company plays a pivotal role in setting that up. Kristina feels that “The first meeting with the client is always about understanding the goals and passions. This forms the core.” Each has his own vision, and the company tries to give that a definite shape by implementing new things for them to learn.
A peep into the roster would give an idea about how precisely these talents are getting nurtured.
For instance, Kesworth Copeland from Jamaica had years of training in singing, playing instruments like guitar and piano, and he composes his own lyrics. In his early years, he got exposed to influential music, one that inspired his style. With Lock and Key Entertainment, he is honing it and is getting ready for a global audience.
After stints as an extra in movies like “X-Men: Apocalypse” and “The Art of More” with Dennis Quaid, Jeffrey Surin realized how much he likes to be a part of the entertainment industry. It is then he decided to join Lock and Key Entertainment. Since then, he has never shied away from working hard, and that has borne fruits for him. Now he is ready to take the next step to build his career.
For Isabella Carpini, the company chose a different route to explore opportunities. She is an avid dancer and relentless in her practice to perfect all her steps. She is also a model. The company decided that her talent has to be showcased to give her more exposure. That is why, together, they launched a social media feed, one which has allowed her to get a widespread following.
Zack Benbouchta began fighting at the age of four and is now a professional boxer who qualified for the Olympic Tryouts and will soon begin his Masters degree in Sports Nutrition! Zack’s passion is to help everyone he meets achieve peak performance in their health, nutrition and exercise, and that includes all Lock & Key members.
Versatility and a positive vibe in music are traits that build the base for DJ Rookus. In fact, Lock and Key Entertainment, after a meeting with him, realized this guy could cast a spell on his audience. Since then, the company teamed up with DJ Rookus and provided him with a platform in L & K Radio, where he will soon host his first radio-streamed show entitled “Vintage Volt.”
Steering the Company
As the CEO, the onus is upon Kristina to guide artists and performers towards a better career. She knew it well from day one and has dedicated her life to building a reputation for the company. It is evident from her persistent and unwavering efforts.
To achieve what she has dreamed for her company, she works round-the-year. In fact, it may surprise some that most of her works are for the betterment of others. It can be an employee, or it can be a client. In her company, one gets the impression of spending time with his or her own family. It is because of her kind heart that she empathizes with each and everyone around. She knows how to pull someone closer with love and care and that, sometimes, lift morale. Yes, she indeed loves to form a personal rapport with people around her. And then, when it comes to helping the person, she pulls out all the stops.
She has spent sleepless nights and mornings over cups of coffees to find solutions for struggling careers, and when they yield results, she feels charged to do more. Her words mirror her dedication, “There’s been countless days of meetings, off and on-site productions, preparations for every project and member of this team, sleepless nights, and yet I wouldn’t trade it for anything in this world.”
The road ahead is packed with opportunities. To start with, the company is now planning to come out of Canada and form its second base in Miami. It is also having talks to launch its own TV channel, one that would help them showcase a wide-pool of talents.
Since its inception, the company has worked tirelessly to lessen the struggle that talents have to undergo to prove their worth. But it also helped the company in its rise. It is the collaboration with young talents that has inspired the company to brim with ideas. Over the years, the company has grown multifold, and Kristina looks forward to spearhead it towards further growth and success.
