Raven Simone Concert at Darien Lake
May 26th, 2009Last week Raven Simone came to town for a concert at Darien Lake. I had the pleasure of interviewing this impressive, young lady and I was invited to take my seven year old daughter, her friend and her friend's mom to the show. Moms, if you don't know Raven from The Cheetah Girls or her hit show, That's So Raven, you may remember her from The Cosby Show years ago! (Yes, that adorable, little spunky girl).
The show was fantastic (even though the weather was horrible! Raven was so good with the audience, smiling, waving and talking to all the young screaming fans (mine included). As a mom, it meant a lot to me because she really put a smile on my little girl’s face! She even scheduled to bring about 10 girls on stage at the end of the show to let them share their talent and make their dreams come true. (My daughter got on stage but was too scared to share her talent!) Oh well, just being so close to Raven was a dream come true for her. I really enjoyed speaking with Raven during our interview. She seemed like such a kind, down to earth person that any parent would be proud of.
Here’s what Raven had to say:
Me: How did you get into the business and what age?
Raven: I was 16 months old when I started modeling. I did a few commercials and then started The Cosby Show when I was 3. My first album, Here’s to New Dreams, came out when I was 5 years old.
Me: I have a seven year old daughter. Do you consider yourself a mentor to young girls? How so?
Raven: I try to portray the best in myself so that girls will try to find the best in themselves. I live my life saying: “Is this something that my grandchildren can watch someday and feel proud of”?
Me: Who is your favorite artist?
Raven: Janet Jackson. I think she is an amazing performer. She really puts her own into every performance.
Me: What do you do on your days off?
Raven: Rest. Meetings. Practice. I am always keeping busy.
Me: What do you like best about performing?
Raven: I love dancing. I love expressing myself. I really love seeing the expressions on the fans faces.
Me: What is the hardest part about performing?
Raven: Waking up at 5am to get on a plane!
Me: What message would you like to give young kids today?
Raven: It is very important to be comfortable with yourself. Love yourself! Stay strong in your beliefs because everyone is different. There are so many things you can grow up to do, so make sure it is something that you will have fun doing.
Me: Do your parents play a role in your career?
Raven: My mom is my business manager. She was in charge of all the money until I turned 18.
Me: How have your parents kept you grounded through your success?
Raven: I always attended public school and had to keep my grades up. They treated me normal, not like a celebrity. They never let me run the show at home.
Me: What advice do you have for parents that are getting their children involved in acting, performing etc?
Raven: Make sure your child WANTS to do it. Always let them have the option of getting out. And make sure they are having fun throughout the entire process. |
