We recently had the chance to connect with Florida’s Own, Barry S McLeod and have shared our conversation below.
Florida’s Own,, so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. What are you chasing, and what would happen if you stopped?
“Legacy”! First, my journey is not finished! And the point of where I am right now includes other talented people who collaborate with me with great expectations. I just wrapped my new movie, a comedy titled SheDaPlaya and the cast was great, and we all share the same great expectations. So, if I stop the vehicle stops, and while everyone would be disappointed …I would be on the side of devasted. So, in fulfilling my destiny, which is my legacy, I chase the results of my vision that can only come from dedication, diligence, focus, passion and creativity on a higher level. My website(s) barrysmcleod.com and Bbingn.com both solidify my journey as a creative thinker with multiple talents. I’ve diligently been proactive for several decades now and it’s actually kind’a cool to put my legacy into perspective based on the works I’ve done!
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’ve been affectionately deemed by many as Florida’s Own, Barry S. Mcleod, and I’m the CEO and Artistic Director of The Write Side of Me Productions since 2003 when I incorporated the company. I write and create original content for my company to produce. I’m always excited for the next project. Versatility is the strength of my efforts. I cannot be in a box and constricted so my art is for the world. I take pleasure in being creative in multiple genres of storytelling and composing original music for the stories I tell. I’m multi-talented so it’s not difficult for me to do the many roles I do. What I want is to make a positive difference in this big world. And I use my God-given talents to do so! This is why I am “the right kind of different”!!
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. Who taught you the most about work?
My stepfather was an MP in the Army. He maintained a firm and consistent work ethic, and he believed in doing your best or not doing it at all. From him, I learned to accept responsibility and challenge. He taught me that the reward was there when you earned it. And you must always give your best and do it right the first time. He explained to me when I was young that, in this world, we all have the right to choose to do whatever we want to do; but we do not have the right to choose the consequences. So, I keep my dad in my heart, mind and spirit always, while he continues to fuel my passion in getting the results from my efforts.
What have been the defining wounds of your life—and how have you healed them?
Maybe wounds and healing are things necessity for going forward! Meaning, there’ll always be something to heal from! But I’ve allowed myself to care more about others many times when I should have focused more on myself. Because of that, I have taken some very unpleasant blows. The good of it is that I fight when I need to. But I had to learn to not care about what others think about what means a lot to me. There’s a time in life to be totally selfish. Unfortunately, I’ve endured too much pain in order to get to that space. But I learned to look deeper within and be for certain about what makes me happy and complete. And be about that!!
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. Is the public version of you the real you?
Yes, but not exactly. The public gets to see the truest form of a creative artist who entertains and presents and caters to the community and shines the spotlight on the others around me; all to make for joy and happiness through my work. But there’s a part of me that the public doesn’t see. And that’s the guy who evades the spotlight because he is actually quite introverted. He doesn’t want anyone to see the deepest reality of himself. Shy by nature, you might call it. But a strong leader when the bell rings. The public tends to be loud, but I prefer quiet. It’s crazy because…all of this is “me” in my purest form!!
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
Well, hopefully the truth! The average person that knows me, or knows about the work I’ve actually done, if they were to take the time to seriously evaluate it, and compare it to any other talented person, they should ask themselves this question: Who else do I know that plays drums, bass guitar, keyboards, (played baritone and valve trombone in high school band), writes original music; produced an album of his own original music (and videos); edited and engineered them; included his music compositions in his 25+ original stage plays and several original films; wrote and produced and videoed and edited music videos for several artists; paints, draws anything, specializing in portraits; builds his own backdrops for his stage plays; makes props for his movie sets; edited the video for all of his content to date; handled and managed the office of his production company; that includes research, marketing and promoting, cast his actors, also acts; performed in local bands throughout his career, booked 95% of the gigs; works (to this day) as a hairstylist, owns his own hair salon (and manages that); owns a small company as a Medicaid Provider, working with special needs people; and does almost all of these things pretty much all at the same time with 3-5% help. Who else does that?? Find one!!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.Bbingn.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/barrysmcleod
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/barry-s-mcleod-b4949134/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BarrySMcLeod
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@barrymcleod69
Image Credits
SheDaPlaya Movie, Divorce N’ Us, Thug for President, Florida’s Own Band, The Florida Storm Comedy Tour, House of April 1st.
