Erman Baradi, who is from Virginia and currently in Los Angeles, pursuing his passions. This article from Huff Post spotlights him and recognizes him as a top Hollywood networker. He is so much more than that, though. He’s an author, actor, screenwriter, and producer.
Erman shares with me the joys of being a writer and the challenges. He says that the best part about writing is hearing from his fans. He also points out that creatives are never satisfied and always desire to create something next. I can totally relate to that. Read more to learn about his networking and his biggest supporter in his career and life.
Introducing Erman…
What do you love about your life right now?
I’ve been the most creative I’ve ever been in a long time. I just put out my first poetry book to be out in stores physically. Bad Times & Goodbyes is out in Barnes & Noble in Studio City and available online. Also, I’m involved in more film productions, from producing to casting to performing as well. Right now, they’re productions smaller in scope that allow me to flex this muscle, and hopefully turn into me being involved in bigger projects. I don’t think creative people are ever really satisfied, and that drives us. We always want to create something next. I’m even dabbling in writing songs thanks to my interest in screenwriting. I love storytelling in general. For the last year, I was a nomad hopping between cities to host my events. Hotel rooms, the open road, meeting strangers – all great for content.
From being an interviewer of talent for online magazine Vents to top Hollywood networker and an author of Bad Times and Goodbyes, did you ever visualize any of this success before it happened?
Funny enough, I did. Don’t we all have main character syndrome? Since I was young, I knew I’d be in the spotlight to some degree. I want to write a book. Check. I want to be involved in movies. Check. I want to interview celebs. Check. I end up doing what I tell myself I’d do. The next step is to make them bigger. I host industry events. Give me my Sundance. I work on smaller budget films. Give me a blockbuster. I write for a thousand people. Let’s make that a million. In short, I always knew I’d be doing what I’m doing. Now it’s a matter of blowing them up.
As a top Hollywood Networker, you’re like the bridge connecting aspiring talent (actor, writer, musician) to the pros (music execs, producers, casting directors) at events that you host. Would that be the best way to describe it?
Laid back, low stress environments. It’s nerve racking enough to have conversations with agents or casting directors or music execs. So let’s make them fun. There’s an innate fear in talking to industry gatekeepers, so we bring out the social part of them. They’re just like anyone else wanting to grab a cocktail with friends after a long day of work. We do them in different forms: speed networking, Q&A’s, parties, Zoom hangouts, and even coffee meets.
One reason I’m interviewing talent and creatives is because of you. I almost stopped completely until I came across you on Instagram. You connected me to Vents Magazine, which led me to write for them as well as another one in Atlanta. You were networking years ago. I keep up with you on Instagram, and I’ve seen your Ermantourage events which are your networking events are international from Miami, Canada and London. You could be called a top networker in the world at this stage. What inspired you to be a top networker in Hollywood and beyond?
We live in a loneliness epidemic. I think that’s what they call it. We’re connecting people in a way that goes beyond entertainment or profession or collaboration. Know that expression “aim for the moon, you’ll hit a star?” Not everyone will land a manager or agent, but you’ll get a support system or someone to grab a beer with every Friday. But far beyond entertainment, we have a hand in bringing people internationally with each other. We’ve touched Sydney, Paris, Cape Town, Barcelona, and now we’re headed to Rome, Seoul, Zurich, Rio, and many more cities. There’s a beauty in seeing people impacting each other’s lives. My goal is to have resources in every major city so I can film a project there, or spend time there with my family and write. One thing I’d love to do is visit the cliffs of Ireland and just sit there and write. Or I’d love to take a train through Switzerland and get inspired.
Has anybody at those events encouraged you to keep going and pursuing your dreams in Hollywood?
With the events themselves, I tell myself all the time it’s time to stop them and “get a real job.” Then each time I get the testimonials about two people meeting. Then it keeps me going. Even if other people “make it” before I do, it’s worth it if it happened through me.
You’ve written a few books. Was there a particular book or writer that motivated you to become an author yourself?
I fly a lot. I can’t point out a specific person but, generally speaking, at airports I like to take a minute to check out the book sections. We see the usual suspects, but when I see a new name I don’t recognize, I feel good for that writer. Their book hitting the shelves must have been a life-changing moment for them, so I’m genuinely happy for them even I’ll never meet them.
What have been the challenges and the joys of being an author?
As I said earlier, creative people are never satisfied. We either want to work on the next thing or we over-analyze what we wish we could change from the last thing we did. Humorously, I will say my book doesn’t have a table of contents. The first page has the poem titles in order of appearance, but no actual pages listed. I did that on purpose so you’re forced to read other entries than the one with the title you want to read. But then, what if that confuses people and they give up on finding the page they’re looking for. Anyway, the best part about writing has been the responses from fans. The last time I was in Virginia, I met up with a reader for coffee who asked me to sign a book for her daughter because she felt her daughter would love the book. She showed me her favorite pieces in the book, and they were highlighted. It’s amazing to see when people take the time to actually dive into your work.
Tell me about your latest book, Bad Times and Goodbyes.
Loss, hope, dreams, love…they’re talked about in mostly everything we write. For me, I aspired to write something in which there was a lot of me in it, but readers could relate universally. Much of it painted the picture of chasing a dream in Los Angeles, but I infused it with imagery and emotion that everyone could understand. I also enjoy creating characters within the pieces who may not have names, but they’re fleshed out, nonetheless. So they can be not my own experiences but the experiences of the characters in my head. When I thought about a title, I wanted a phrase that sounds straightforward but actually isn’t what you think. “Bad times” and “goodbyes” have negative connotations, but goodbyes aren’t necessarily gloomy. We’re talking about goodbyes to traumas, horrible situations, and mindsets, and moving forward in hope. Without spoiling anything, I was particular about the bookends. The first piece is a sort of autobiographical. It speaks about being a creative and having some momentum, then the world shuts down, then no one buys what you put out. The last poem centers on a character who’s taken on a car ride reflecting on landmarks (his accomplishments and memories) as he nears the end…maybe. Hence, bad times and goodbyes.
If you could have a gigantic billboard anywhere with anything on it, what message would you want to convey to millions? What would it say and why?
It’d be a picture of myself just saying “I’m Erman, and I have a billboard.” Can you imagine spending all that money and it just says that? Yet, there’s a deeper meaning. I’m telling myself “you’re Erman, and you’re on a billboard.”
We all experience failure, and sometimes, after failure, success comes. Do you have a favorite failure?
We all have things we’ve worked on that were not our best. We look back and think, “I could’ve done it this way.” Without going into details, I’m no different. I can say that a long time ago I worked on a short film with a big time television writer, and the end project didn’t turn out how we’d hoped. I could analyze all day what could’ve been different, but it’s always good to look forward but you can’t have yesterday again.
Describe yourself in one word.
Legendary.
Now, here’s one of my favorite parts of the interview. Share with me three fun facts about you. Maybe something no one knows or wants others to know.
I beat five contestants of “Squid Game: The Challenge” in Rock Paper Scissors.
In the war between boxers and briefs, I chose boxer briefs.
I have trypophobia. Ew, gross.
Who has been your biggest supporter in your life and career?
Super easy. We can’t all be where we are without our families, right? You can have tens of thousands of followers, yet no genuine supporter. But you can always rely on family to support you.
I love sharing quotes with my readers. Is there a particular quote or saying that has encouraged you in tough times?
I actually wrote this in my yearbook for senior year of high school. “It’s not the fear of death but the unlived life.”
Any shows you are binge watching now?
I haven’t had the time recently. The last thing I remember watching in one go has to be rewatching The Office. It’s what my siblings and I watch when visiting my brother and our niece.
In the last two years, what new belief, behavior or habit has most improved your life?
Nowadays, when I wake up, I don’t work right away. I listen to a podcast or listen to music before I get my day going. Then, before I go to bed, I try to do the same. That way, my day isn’t just work, work, work.
I love sharing quotes with my readers. Is there a particular quote or saying that has encouraged you in tough times?
I actually wrote this in my yearbook for senior year of high school. “It’s not the fear of death but the unlived life.”
Thank you for reading my chat with Erman! He’s definitely an inspiring guy who I have to admit made an impact on my life as a networker and friend. He is one of my earliest creatives I’ve interviewed through the years.
Follow Erman on social media and see what he’s got going on.