Percy Brown of Manhattan on Life, Lessons & Legacy

Percy Brown shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.

Hi Percy, thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day to share your story, experiences and insights with our readers. Let’s jump right in with an interesting one: Have any recent moments made you laugh or feel proud?
There’s been a couple things recently that made me feel proud and grateful for all the hard work I’ve been doing for the last 10 years! One recently was being stopped by 2 people in the same week and them telling me they recognized me from one of my most viral episodes on YouTube channel Jubilee Media that I did 2 years ago! However, the coolest moment was when one of my favorite athletes of all time and biggest inspiration, the MMA GOAT and UFC 2 Division Champion Jon Jones responded to my comment I left on one of his posts on Instagram. I screenshot it and will be saving it for bragging rights!

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Percy Brown, also known as The Most Charismatic Man! I’m a Entertainer, Professional Actor specializing in theatre, TV/film, commercials, and voiceover work, and the host of ThePrinceofFreshAir Podcast. Raised in Manhattan and The Bronx, I honed my craft at the Urban Assembly School for the Performing Arts, majoring in Theatre with a minor in Dance. I’ve worked with Epic Theatre performing Shakespeare around NYC and have received awards to study at NYU and the New York Film Academy. After graduating from St. Bonaventure University in 2018 with a BA in Theatre (where I won numerous acting awards and The Most Ideal Bonaventure Man Award!), I continued to work in theatre while also gaining industry experience doing background work for TV shows in NYC. Since then, I’ve booked over 35 projects, including the feature film “Third Week” and a commercial for Google. You can also find me as a regular on the Jubilee Media YouTube channel. ThePrinceofFreshAir Podcast, launched in 2020, is now a show where I interview successful individuals in Sports and Entertainment, available on all major streaming platforms, including YouTube. Fun Fact: I have been doing Card Magic for 10 years!

Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
Growing up in foster care with my 3 younger brothers, many people wrote me off and treated me as an outcast. I wasn’t your typical stereotype; I was an introvert, I loved playing and competing in chess, reading books, writing stories and poetry. It wasn’t until 7th grade when my English teacher Mr. Baxter took notice of my creativity and encouraged me to keep writing. I ended up writing my own 50 page superhero book that he helped me develop and that moment changed my outlook on things. With the writing to my interest in performing, he helped me focus and encouraged me to keep going with it, eventually helping me choose a high school to continue in that direction. I don’t think I would be where I am if it wasn’t for him taking an interest and seeing my potential.

If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
One thing I would say is dont be afraid to be different and to be who you want to be, not what others expect you to. Sometimes being that unique person who stands out means more than blending in and being lost in the shuffle. When you are pursuing a career or interest in entertainment, many people will judge and criticize you for who you are and what you do. But at the end of the day, do what makes you happy because the only person who can make you happy is yourself!

Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
In one of the highly sought after professions in the world, I think the biggest lie that is told in this industry is that someone can turn you into a star. overnight As a classically trained actor who have done years of studying, training & performing for free before getting paid for my work, the industry is a lot different than it was 10 years ago when I was a teenager learning the business. Many companies and agencies promise if you pay for their services they can make you the next big Hollywood star in a short time. The reality is no one can do that for you and it is far from the truth. It takes years, if not decades, for actors to get a life changing opportunity if their lucky. Nothing is stable or guaranteed in this business no matter how talented you are. Its truly a industry where pure talent isn’t enough; networking, building relationships with agents, managers and the people behind the camera are needed and even then nothing is promised.

Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. What will you regret not doing? 
One thing I want to do with my career that I will hate not doing is creating a soup kitchen for the less fortunate. I got to work at my college’s soup kitchen, The Warming House, and it taught me so much about humility, respect, being compassionate and helping others when I can. I got to work with people who many wouldn’t dare to talk to or be around, but I found myself bonding with them because we created an atmosphere where people can eat without judgement and have a conversation. I would love to use my platform to create a space and partner with charities and brands that can help people who are in need to have a fresh, prepared meal and have a sense of community that they can go to.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://percybrown1.wixsite.com/percybrown
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mr.nodaysoffpercy
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThePrinceofFreshAir/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@theprinceoffreshair1164
• Other: Percy “ThePrinceofFreshAir” Brown LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/theprinceoffreshair

Image Credits
Shani Hadijan Photography