The difference between HBCUs and PWI’s can be explained in one word: atmosphere. HBCU’s give you a feeling of hope when you first step on campus. Just think about it. Thousands of the most beautiful and handsome people that you probably ever seen coming together to accomplish one goal, walking across that stage for Spring or Fall Commencement. Uniting together despite our cultural differences.  All the while, supporting each other and showing pride in our black institutions!

However, there’s another side to HBCU’s that is rarely discussed on mainstream media. This side of HBCU life is only seen only on social media websites and apps such as Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat. The often glossed over sector of HBCU life is the party scene. House parties, club parties, kickbacks, Greek parties, you name it. We barely show any signs that this goes on. Sometimes for good reason. Parties can get ratchet and, with lack of security, deadly. However, why don’t we put a spotlight on these young entrepreneurs that have the forethought to turn the culture of parties into a legit business for themselves. An upwards of thousands of dollars are made weekly by these promoters and they’ve taken to social media to find new ways to promote. One of these innovators is Faulkner University student LaDarian Fields.

LaDarian has taken party promotion on the college scene to a new level, creating an app  that allows party promoters all over the nation to list their events based on date, proximity and location. The app that he created is called What’s The Move, a slang term that millennials use when they’re trying to find something to do with themselves for a period of time to prevent boredom. So you don’t have to go to Urban Dictionary, let me use it in a sentence:

“What the move is?”

Recently, I spoke with LaDarian about the creation of his app, his plans for the app and his insight on how campus life on college campuses can be improved. His app has become a viral sensation in the college community, garnering over 700 retweets on Twitter and users from across the south.

RB: Tell us your inspiration behind the What’s The Move App!

LaDarian Fields: My inspiration behind the app honestly came from a random idea I had at a very unexpected time. One day I was sitting at home, on the couch while I was supposed to be in class and the idea just crossed my mind. I decided to pursue making it a reality and I haven’t look back since.

RB: Where do you see the app going in the future?

LaDarian Fields: In the future, I plan on seeing my app mentioned with the top apps in the market. I’m constantly trying to improve and make it a necessity on the party scene. Also, I plan on creating partnerships with other apps such as Lyft or Uber so it can be possible provide transportation to users that need it.

RB: What is the daily grind of a party promoter like? Are there any struggles that you have to face putting on these events?

LaDarian Fields: The daily grind for me for me mainly deals with attracting more attention on social media and coming up with new marketing schemes. Mastering what you have at hand now will make building for the future easier. Creating events always comes with background work, and finding a great date is always key. Making sure your best DJ’s are available that day to work the event, seeing if we are going to do pre-sale tickets, how often will we promote, and even how early in advance will we promote. Will it be 1-2 weeks in advance or earlier? The small things like that play a bigger role at times that more people believe.

RB: What has your experience been with promoting parties?

LaDarian Fields: Before my app, I never promoted a party. However, after I launched the app I hosted my first party and it was not successful at all. I picked a horrible date and thought it would be easy, not knowing the work that goes into throwing great parties. The date I chose was the same that D.C. Young Fly had a comedy show at Alabama State university and my party flopped. Once my app became known and the opportunity presented itself again , I hosted a party but this time it was a house party. That house party is still talked about to this day, even though it ended early because my DJ had a family emergency. Collectively the house party led to people asking when was I going to have another party. This lead me to throwing a birthday party the following month at the same club that I previously wasn’t successful at but, this time, it was literally almost over capacity.

RB: What has your experience been with promo teams?

LaDarian Fields: I’m a part of a promo team. The promo team that I’m in is called (IRR) International Road Runners. I was chosen to be in it once JP, the founder of the promo team, learned I had an app. Now I’ve moved up to being an executive member of the team with the founders Jaylon Pickett, Larry Brown and Keveja. We have a solid team with some lit members that like to flip people “lol”. Now that I’m of higher authority we collectively demand hard work and genuine people or you are removed.

RB: I feel that party promoters can benefit their respective campus’s in many ways. You guys have the keys to engaging the students and even getting students to consistently pay money for the experience that you’re providing. What are some tips for campus leaders on college campus’s, especially HBCU’s, to make the yard lit?

LaDarian Fields: My first tip would be to purchase a membership on the app so that your school can keep up with all events that are going on with your school. Campus leaders have to be willing to invest in the student body and keep their events original, unique, innovative and fun.  Getting the yard lit at HBCU’s are easy because people come to the events ready to get down already. Right now on the What’s The Move app FAMU has the livest HBCU section, along with Alabama State. We also have so really lit PWI’s such as the University of Alabama, the #2 party school in the nation. So, in keeping the yard lit for those schools, creativity plays a big part. The success of these events lies in the creativity different events that you have such as food eating contests, water balloon fights, talent shows, etc.

RB: Piggybacking off the last question, many student organizations on campus have issues getting students to pay for on-campus events. We try to do events for money as fundraisers but often times get little support. However, we see that party promoters and D9 Greeks (especially when they dabble in party promotion such as with the Kappas & Que’s conjoined Pretty Nasty party) have no issues at all. How are you able to get students to pay for events and what advice would you give student leaders on monetizing their events on their campus’s?

LaDarian Fields: Getting students to pay for an event comes with having a good resume and a guarantee that it will be worth their money. If all of your previous events are highly talked about and they look lit on video then your chances are greater to having the crowd that you desire. A tip that I could give student leaders are to do things outside of the box. Throw events with crazy titles that’ll build intrigue from the students. Also, offer things that students can’t normally get access to.

RB: What is it like to deal with musical artists and special guest that you have come through your parties?

LaDarian Fields: Musical artists and special guests are always interesting. I say that for a few reasons. First, it’s the vibe they give off. Will they live up to the image they try to portray? Often times they don’t like being told that some things aren’t allowed because of the rules that the club has. Some don’t understand that their whole team can’t get in free. Others don’t understand that everyone can’t just skip the line. However, if the artist is performing, of course somethings listed change. Most artists or special guests like to be sectioned off from the party to look important while some others like to interact with the crowd. It’s a different experience.

RB: How is it dealing with venues and getting building owners to allow you to do your thing?

LaDarian Fields: Every venue always comes with different outcomes. Some aren’t as cool with pre-sale tickets as are others because they want a percentage of that profit. Some venues won’t allow food which, at times, is a good marketing scheme to attract people. We all love to eat! However, there are some owners are flexible while others are stiff and it’s blatant that they are in just for the money. All in all, 98% of the time as long as the money is right and guaranteed then they are happy even if the event is successful or not.

RB: On social media for my college campus there are competing party promotion teams that are throwing different parties on the first Thursday that we come back from the year. Many students hate the competition! They believe that there should be one party where the whole school goes and has a great experience. However, I like the competition! It’s reminiscent of how businesses operate in the real world! Where do you stand, especially with the What’s The Move app? Do you support competition between parties or do you believe the whole college should support and go to one party?

LaDarian Fields: Honestly, from the outside looking in, everyone believes it should be one big party. But, the one big disagreement that stops that from happening is every promoter involved won’t get a fair cut from the party if one big one is thrown. Some promoters tend to be falsifiers when money is involved and everybody wants the spotlight for the party. Then again it is possible because a promoter at Alabama State (Bobby Smiff) is throwing one big party that I have listed on my app. From a business standpoint I’m 50/50 on competition between parties. I just hope that all the promoters decide what’s best for them collectively and that they put the parties on the “What’s The Move” app.

RB: What’s next for you? What are your future plans/career goals?

LaDarian Fields: On my plate next is to finish a promotion video for my app that I have coming up, so that I can finish my website and to get an interview on our local radio station. Expanding to the West Coast is also one of my goals that I hope to reach soon. Connecting all states, promoters, DJ’s , event planners and college campuses is also a big goal, and is opening the most hi-tech club in the south that could grow popular enough to become a tourist site one day.

RB: Where can we find the app?

LaDarian Fields: f your looking for the best party app that is offered for your device you can find us on the Google Play store and the Apple store by searching “What’s The Move” or “WTM”. We also have a twitter account @WTMapp and @allcityfields that will keep you in the loop on events at the latest schools that have recently been added. For those reading, hopefully your school can be next on the app.