Introducing Marketing Girlie Meetups
2025! Am I the Drama..
Welcome to GATEKEEPING: New Orleans
The Vision
Real talk, content creators and marketers need each other, but they’re speaking completely different languages in completely different rooms. Creators have the audiences, the authenticity, and the creative magic. Marketers have the budgets, the strategy, and the brand partnerships. But somehow, they’re connected by nothing more than cold DMs and awkward email threads.
Marketing Girl Events Out is the missing link. A monthly, in-person gathering where these two worlds collide, collaborate, and actually build real relationships that lead to real opportunities..this is face to face energy. Try before you buy. How often do you attend an event and meet a creator thinking, they look better on their pages? This would solve that problem. Also, industry trends need to be discussed.
Why This Works (And Why It’s Genius)
The Problem We’re Solving
For Content Creators:
They’re tired of pitching into the void
They want to understand what brands actually need
They need connections beyond their DMs
They’re hungry for real partnership opportunities, not just one-off posts
For Marketers:
They’re drowning in influencer outreach emails
They can’t tell who’s authentic vs. who just bought followers
They waste time vetting creators they’ll never actually work with
They need to see personality and chemistry before committing budget
For Both:
Online networking feels transactional and exhausting
There’s no efficient way to build genuine professional relationships
The gap between “content creator” and “marketing professional” feels wider than it should
The Solution
A curated, monthly event that’s part networking mixer, part educational workshop, part collaboration incubator. We’re creating the space where a beauty creator can shake hands with a cosmetics brand manager, where a food blogger can share tapas with a restaurant marketing director, where actual partnerships are born over cocktails instead of through a million follow-up emails.
The Monthly Themes for nights out.
Keep it fresh, keep people coming back:
The Curation Strategy
This isn’t open to everyone who RSVPs. The magic is in the mix.
For Content Creators
Minimum Requirements:
5K+ engaged followers (any platform)
Consistent content posting (proof of commitment)
Professional demeanor (we’re checking those DMs and comments)
Clear niche or specialty
For Marketers
Brand managers, social media directors, marketing coordinators
Agency folks managing influencer campaigns
PR professionals working with creators
E-commerce and DTC brand representatives
Ideal Venues
Boutique hotels with event spaces
Trendy restaurants with private rooms
Co-working spaces with after-hours availability
Art galleries or creative studios
Wine bars with semi-private areas
Content Creators: $35-45/ticket
Includes entry, cocktails, appetizers, workshop
Marketers: $55-65/ticket
Higher price point reflects ROI (they’re meeting talent)
Same inclusions
Early Bird: $10 off if purchased 2+ weeks in advance
Sponsorship Opportunities
Presenting Sponsor ($1,500-2,000/month):
Logo on all materials
5-minute speaking opportunity
Table/booth at event
Shoutout in pre/post event content
Bar Sponsor ($500-750):
Name on cocktail menu
Signage at bar area
Social media mentions
Gift Bag Sponsor ($300-500):
Product in attendee swag bags
Logo on bag
Table display
Ultimately, I am building Database
You’re building something valuable: a curated list of vetted creators and active marketers. This becomes:
A matchmaking service (future revenue stream)
A consulting database
A community you can activate for partnerships
Content and insight source
Ready to Join the Movement?
Whether you’re a content creator ready to level up your brand partnerships, a marketer looking to connect with authentic talent, or a potential sponsor who wants to be part of something game-changing, I’d love to hear from you.
Email me at lynnwesleycoleman@gmail.com to learn more about:
Attending upcoming events
Sponsorship opportunities
Bringing Marketing Girl Events Out to your city
Partnership and collaboration ideas
Let’s bridge the gap between content creators and marketers—one event at a time.
Welcome to The Blueprint
2025! Am I the Drama..
Welcome to GATEKEEPING: New Orleans
Knock knock! While y’all over there playing in chaos, I’m rebranding. On brand? Absolutely. You have to admit it. I put my all into this post, like a Jay z album drop...
I don’t know, I just woke up one day and stopped reacting. Am I Brooklyn or Just New Orleans? Currently listening to Hello Brooklyn. anywhoo..Started architecting instead of performing.. that’s dead like Nino.. Suddenly it all made sense, every room I’ve moved through in the city was preparing me for something bigger than any platform could contain. God was saying stop playing so small ..it’s time to show people why you made those big bucks.. It’s Strategy Planning & Implementation. The implementation has been fuzzy with my perimenopause but working on that…yall pray for me..
This is ..Not a lifestyle blog….Not an influencer newsletter…..Not trend commentary or hot takes….This is gatekeeping as infrastructure.
I curate restaurants, experiences, brands, and cultural moments worth your attention, and I tell you exactly why they matter before everyone else figures it out. What do I know? I am just a Nawlins girl!
If you’re here, you already know: reach is rented. Authority is built. And I’m building something designed to last, not to just get a quick like.
The Tea vs. The Drama
Here’s how this works:
Free subscribers get the drama:
The commentary. The cultural analysis. The hot takes on what’s happening in food, hospitality, and lifestyle spaces. You’ll know what I think and why certain things matter.
Paid subscribers get the tea:
The real intel. Full reviews using my proprietary frameworks. Early access to discoveries before they blow up. The actual recommendations. The insider knowledge. The frameworks you can use yourself.
Free gets you the conversation.
Paid gets you the coordinates.
Who This Is For
You if:
You’re tired of recommendation algorithms and want actual curation
You value systematic judgment over paid actor reviews
You want to know where to go before the reservation becomes impossible
You’re a creator or aspiring foodie who wants to elevate your own reviews….HELLO - BUILDING A BRAND here..
You’re building community partnerships and need professional frameworks
You understand that quality compounds and hype doesn’t
You’re probably between 30 and 50. Probably professional. Definitely discerning….And you’re definitely tired of platforms that optimize for performance while you’re trying to optimize for taste.
What You’ll Get
For Everyone (Free):
The Drama
Cultural commentary on food, hospitality, and lifestyle. Soft Openings, Hot & New etc.. What’s happening, what it means, and why you should care. Think pieces that frame the conversation.
The Discourse
Hot takes on industry trends, restaurant culture, and what’s worth discussing in the spaces that matter.
For Paid Subscribers:
The Tea
Full access to reviews, recommendations, and early intel. The restaurants before the waitlist. The brands before the hype. The experiences worth your time and money.
Structured Review Frameworks
My proprietary evaluation templates that turn subjective taste into repeatable criteria. Use them for your own reviews, content creation, or professional partnerships.
Creator & Foodie Tools
Templates designed for aspiring food content creators who want to move beyond “this was good” and build actual authority in their reviews.
Why Here, Why Now
Instagram became a popularity contest, and I’m forty-seven. That’s not my game.
Honestly? I’m standing there like, “Why are y’all staring at me?” Lol.
I didn’t build taste and judgment over decades to compete with food bloggers doing the same flatlay from every angle. The platform optimizes for one thing. I optimize for another. AI is changing the rules. Ya heard me? Instagram rewards performance. AI recognizes patterns and structure. Onward and upward..Talk to me now! On Instagram, a viral food post dies in 48 hours. In an AI-trained world, a well-structured review archive becomes permanent institutional knowledge.
If you’re still building for the old paradigm while the world shifts to the new one, you’re optimizing for something that’s already over. Substack isn’t a platform shift. It’s a room change. I learned to navigate rooms, not platforms. And I’m making the same move professionally. Authority is built in rooms where people choose to show up, not in feeds where they scroll past.
Pattern Recognition Is the Advantage
Here’s what people who know me will tell you: I’m always first.
First to the restaurant before it becomes impossible to book
First to the brand before it goes mainstream
First to the experience before it becomes the discourse
This isn’t luck or trend-chasing. It’s pattern recognition.
And apparently, I’m doing something right, because the thirty-year-olds keep asking where I get my information. Listen, I’m flattered. Truly. Some of yall are Lynn Obsessed. That’s another day, another blog.. But girls, I’m forty-seven… I mean I am not 67 but I understand 6 7..At some point we need to talk about the fact that you’re borderline obsessed with getting intel from someone who remembers when Instagram didn’t exist. With age taste matures. Pattern recognition sharpens. You learn which patterns repeat, which trends matter, and which noise to ignore.
I won’t tell you what’s popular.
I tell you what’s next.
And more importantly, what’s worth your time before everyone else figures it out.
Gatekeeping Is The New Bar
The internet doesn’t have an information problem. It has a discernment problem..Everything is highly recommended. Nothing is filtered.In my work, gatekeeping isn’t about exclusion.
It’s about:
Curation that protects your time
Standards that elevate the conversation
Signal over noise
Editorial discipline
Gatekeeping isn’t a personality. It’s a design choice.
When taste is systematized, it becomes a filter, a moat, and a form of leverage.
That’s what this newsletter is.
That’s what the frameworks build.
That’s what the gatekeeping protects.
For Creators & Aspiring Foodies
If you’re building your own platform, content, or community partnerships, you need more than opinions.
You need frameworks.
Here’s the truth: most food content is noise.
Pretty plates. Generic captions. “This was amazing!” with no context.
That’s not authority. That’s just documentation.
If you want to build real influence in food and hospitality spaces, you need to move from reactions to reviews. From opinions to infrastructure.
That’s what The Blueprint gives you.
Paid subscribers get access to:
Review Templates - The actual structure I use to evaluate restaurants, experiences, and brands
Evaluation Criteria - Repeatable standards that turn subjective taste into professional assessment
Partnership Frameworks - How to position yourself for marketing collaborations and community events
Creator Tools - Resources to elevate your content from casual recommendations to authority-building reviews
This is for you if:
You’re tired of posting content that gets likes but builds no lasting authority
You want restaurants and brands to take you seriously as a partner
You’re ready to develop your own taste architecture instead of following trends
You understand that real foodies have systems, not just preferences
I’m not here to gatekeep for the sake of it.
I’m here to show you how to build the gate yourself.
While y’all over there playing, I’m teaching the blueprint.
This is infrastructure you can use to build your own authority in food, hospitality, and lifestyle spaces.
Free gets you the drama.
Paid gets you the tea.
Bottom line is the Blueprint is the place to be with my Gatekeeping.. you never know how fun this could be for us. Let’s get out of that adult playground called Instagram and get to more thought leadership on Substack..I am working on a Blue Print for Restaurant Reviews..coming soon!
Join my Substack Today
2025! Am I the Drama..
Welcome to GATEKEEPING: New Orleans
You deserve a space that's reserved for style and taste.
Click here to sign up now!!! Not tomorrow, today!
Join the movement for New Orleans most Here's the wild thing about gatekeeping—it means different things depending on what we're talking about. When I say I'm gatekeeping hotels, I mean I'm sharing those hidden gems where locals actually go. But when it comes to hot spots? Those are the places I want to stay exclusive, untouched by the masses.
Times are changing, and that's really how you find your tribe. The people you should be working with reveal themselves when things shift,….when the landscape changes and everyone has to choose where they go. Do people stay on Instagram endlessly scrolling photos of drinks with fire, or do they seek out more intellectual content? Look at our current administration…. they understood their audience, spoke directly to them, and built something powerful because of it.
This is exactly the kind of intentional curation I'm building here. I'm not trying to appeal to everyone, I'm drawing in an audience that genuinely appreciates the finer things. People who invest in experiences that reflect real style and taste, not just what's trending.
What you will get on my Substack:
New restaurants before they blow up
Bars where the crowd feels right this month
Pop-ups, soft openings, secret menus
Where the energy is moving , and where it’s already over (do not go list)
When to go, what to order, where to sit - When people post New Orleans restaurants, I can name the restaurant/hotel from my experience
Events before everyone else hears about them
Personal hacks and quiet tips from me
What you won’t get:
Overexposed restaurants
Influencer hot spots
Sponsored posts
Anything that needs a PR pitch to be interesting
okay spots
Every post will be short, opinionated, and current.
If it’s here, it means three things:
It’s good
It’s early
You should go soon
Most city guides tell you where to go after it’s already over.
GATEKEEPING tells you where to go right now.
You know when to arrive, and when to leave
You appreciate good lighting, good service, and good conversation
You don’t need everything explained
You appreciate good service and hospitality in New Orleans
You love an experience not just a night out
Make GATEKEEPING the most trusted insider guide to New Orleans, the place people check before they make plans. Instagram is oversaturated right now. You can’t tell authentic from fake. Meta is not the same anymore since the latest administration. Summa yall, need to back off that gram and join this because IG can be toxic.
$7/month
First paid post drops this week.
If you don’t live here, read carefully.
If you do live here — welcome home.
Shall I proceed,
Yes indeed.
Lynn Wesley Coleman
Welcome to Gatekeeping: New Orleans
2025! Am I the Drama..
Welcome to GATEKEEPING: New Orleans
Happy New Year!
If you’re reading this, you already know how this works. I started Gatekeeping because sometimes I want to go first and I do get those invites. I have been wanting to work with this particular videographer for a long time. I reached out to him. Let’s see where it goes… This is not about a clique, it’s about attention to details to get the best. Gatekeeping New Orleans is not about being in the right clique, it’s about knowing where to show up. I plan on working with some promoters for private Gatekeeping New Orleans events. I will also be partnering with Marketing reps to make this happen.
I’ve been moving through this city a long time. Watching rooms change. Paying attention to when things feel HOT, and when they don’t anymore.
The best places in New Orleans don’t stay good forever. Not because the food changes, but because the room does. What was lit in October can be played out by December.
New Orleans doesn’t have a shortage of good places. We have an overexposure problem. Content Creators do a great job of oversaturating certain places more than others and some get little exposure. I have been paying attention to that on their pages. The minute something gets stamped a “must-visit,” the room changes. Locals stop coming. The magic quietly exits.
This newsletter is my way of documenting New Orleans before it gets explained to death. Some confessions and tips. Strategies to make your night better in New Orleans. I hope folks from outside the city and even the country subscribe so when they come to New Orleans, they will know exactly where to be. For just $7 per month, you can’t beat that, especially from Lynn Wesley Coleman. I have so many tips that content creators don’t know about this city.
Gatekeeping: New Orleans does not represent:
Places designed for tourists who “love the vibe” - I want tourists to subscribe and stay in touch with this
Restaurants that peaked on opening night
Bars that turn into LinkedIn networking events after dark
No 10/10 reviews and stars here, this is next level
Not reviews.
Not ads.
Not “best of” lists.
Gatekeeping: New Orleans represents:
Food News + Hot Takes
Hot Topics
Rooms where the crowd is intentional
Food that hasn’t been filtered through PR
Nights that feel like something could actually happen
Hottest hotels in the city
What you’ll get here:
New restaurants before they blow up
Bars where the crowd feels right this month
Pop-ups, soft openings, secret menus
Where the energy is moving , and where it’s already over (do not go list)
When to go, what to order, where to sit - When people post New Orleans restaurants, I can name the restaurant/hotel from my experience
Events before everyone else hears about them
Personal hacks and quiet tips from me
What you won’t get:
Overexposed restaurants
Influencer hot spots
Sponsored posts
Anything that needs a PR pitch to be interesting
okay spots
Every post will be short, opinionated, and current.
If it’s here, it means three things:
It’s good
It’s early
You should go soon
Most city guides tell you where to go after it’s already over.
GATEKEEPING tells you where to go right now.
This newsletter is for people who care about:
Energy over just hype
Rooms that feel right for a grown crowd
Restaurants still in their soft-opening era
Bars where the crowd knows why they’re there
Places you hear about through people, not algorithms
With AI, you will not be able to tell authentic from fake - I know the difference and I just completed an AI course and I tested the features
This is grown and sexy.
That means:
You know how to dress for the room
You know when to arrive, and when to leave
You appreciate good lighting, good service, and good conversation
You don’t need everything explained
You appreciate good service and hospitality in New Orleans
You love an experience not just a night out
My audience moves differently.
Y’all may not comment on every post. You might not even like it. But you go. And I know you go because you stop me and say things like,
“Oh, I went to Kenji — it was fab.”
Gatekeeping: New Orleans is grown-folks business.
People who eat out, spend money, and value experience. They love culture. They love intention. And when they show up, rooms change.
That’s why restaurants should invite me to soft openings.
This audience moves first — and they move on purpose.
What’s coming later:
Paid drops with exact timing windows
City-specific releases
Private events
Limited “send-to-a-friend” posts
Pop-up guides (weekend only)
My goal with this brand is simple:
Make GATEKEEPING the most trusted insider guide to New Orleans, the place people check before they make plans. Instagram is oversaturated right now. You can’t tell authentic from fake. Meta is not the same anymore since the latest administration. Summa yall, need to back off that gram and join this because IG can be toxic.
$7/month
First paid post drops this week.
If you don’t live here, read carefully.
If you do live here — welcome home.
Shall I proceed,
Yes indeed.
Lynn Wesley Coleman
A Love Letter to Essence Music Festival from a New Orleans Girl
2025! Am I the Drama..
1995 called, she wants her vision back….These are my confessions.
An Open Letter to Essence Music Festival
Dear Essence Marie Festival,
I'm writing this while watching Don Lemon's coverage of New Orleans, he has me in a chokehold, celebrating everything New Orleans has to offer. The way he leans into every syllable of "Baby" like he's drinking a BOW WOW on instagram at Neyows restaurant.. It was hilarious watching our city light up and be the star of the show. He's getting tourists ready to book a flight to Nawlins. Don was the first person I heard mention NBA Youngboy. Never heard of him before, Don. The man's doing a whole TED Talk on the spirit of resilience and survival after Corporate America.. I'm taking notes. Don should be KING of a parade. Essence, let me be clear: this is a love letter. The real kind. The Mary J. Blige kind of love. The kind you write when something you cherish is struggling, and you know in your heart it can be better. I had to spin the block on this conversation before the new year. I see these expensive tickets are being sold without artists again. Now, New Orleans is one of the vibiest cities, but we need more.
As a New Orleanian who's been attending Essence Music Festival since I was twenty one, I've watched this event become part of our city's rhythm. Every July, like clockwork, Essence came home. We'd hit Canal Place and the local malls, carefully curating our festival looks, buzzing with anticipation. The people watching and fashion bomb daily looks are the star of the show. What happened to all of the white on Sundays? Let’s bring that back ….Come to New Orleans dressed to impress, like a well dressed po boy, but for every season. I won't lie, I've been meaning to write this for a while now. So here it is: I am using my inside voice with some honest thoughts and tips from someone who's been there from the beginning, because I believe Essence can reclaim its magic. For the record, my entire blog is my inside voice. Last year was a hot mess, girl. I have been venting on Threads and I have also been reading about the common concerns and discourse about Essence. Most of the Threads around Essence come across as Content Creators inquiring about press trips and locally creators wanted to know how to get involved. Many local creators have their own ‘Essence’ themed events. Why can’t we collaborate more? Essence is for the aunties and the creators that yall send in are not aunties…in my opinion. Zone in on the older generation a little. That would be Gen X now. Honestly, Essence is better without those press trips. I do want those girlies and guys to visit and I have so many recs. New Orleans is a laid back town. That’s why Frankie Beverly and Maze did so well here. We don’t need the velvet ropes here. I wish brands like Kensington Grey Agency would be a little more inclusive with New Orleans girls. There are very few creators here with over one hundred thousand followers. That is their client base, but I feel like they can do more to give back to the culture of creativity. We Love Us! Be transparent and communicative about where you will be and what you are looking for. Use New Orleans to set the stage. We will support that. Engage with the local creators here. You would be surprised what a little hello will get you..I get kicked out that hotel lobby at Virgin every year for them. They are always really soft and nice about it. I was one of the first creators to have a staycation at that hotel and they kick me out every year for creators. Why don’t we have a Kensington type firm in New Orleans? I get so upset that we have to constantly pull from outside when all of the Magic is right in the city. Why do we have to pull Creators from outside the city? Do we need a therapy session? Let’s recruit internally, in our market, then ask externals for help. New Orleans has tons of great Creators for Essence to partner with. It’s up to them to engage with the people in the city. I started reposting many of the Creators works that often get overlooked.
Why Essence Marie, because Marie is the most popular middle name in New Orleans. Chile, for Creole New Orleanians pre-1910s, women commonly used Marie as their first name followed by the second common name. After the 1910s, when English became the norm in schools, the trend reversed: Marie became a middle name with English-speaking names used as first names. Chile, Marie wasn't just common, it was THE traditional naming pattern for Catholic Creole women in New Orleans. The practice shifted from Marie as a first name (like Marie-Louise, Marie-Anne) to Marie as a middle name after 1910. My middle name is Marie. Marie is a beautiful nod to the city's Creole heritage. We want Essence Marie back! My middle name is Marie. Marie is the kind of girl that does not beg for attention, like New Orleans. She demands presence. The kind that teaches grace and has an authentic history. Back to my story..
Before the Music Stopped
Before the music stopped, we were so magical. Black Girl Magic. Dope Girl Magic like Tank without the Bangas.. All the things. I am talking nostalgia and power of a Southern Black Owned Festival in New Orleans. 1995 was the year we built US. You were a community investment. Guess what, 1995 called, she wants her vision back. We want Marie back. We want to return to the roots of Essence. Did that movie Girls Trip create a more unrealistic version of New Orleans? I am not sure. Sasha Franklin was a gossip columnist and that was not real. Remember, New Orleans is not a real place! Come to New Orleans, I will have an itinerary that is just as star studded as a brand deal. If you need a brand deal to have fun in this town, you are not doing New Orleans right. I do want to see a BETTER flow of communication between the Marketing agency and other content creators. I no longer want to be part of the event in that way but there are hundreds of women in New Orleans who want in. Why do you all come to our city and ignore us? That’s what it reads to many creators in the city.
It's ironic that Essence Fest was founded by Black men, but it has been celebrated more by Black women. Edward Lewis, a visionary from the South Bronx, created this for us. He and George Wein conceived this festival as a one-time celebration of Essence Magazine's 25th anniversary during New Orleans' slow July 4th weekend. What started as a single celebration became a 30-year love affair between a festival and a city. You brought us acts like Luther Vandross, Maze, Diana Ross, Anita Baker, Chaka, Juvie, Master P, PJ Morton, Destiny’s Child, Patti Labelle, Teena Marie, and Aaliyah. I attended the concert with my best friends and twin sisters the year of Katrina (2005) and coincidentally it was Destiny’s Child. Our favorite performances, ever. It was definitely a symbolic experience with Rhonda, Dawn and Shawn. Do you know what it means to miss New Orleans? Do you know how divine it is to see Nas in a hotel lobby in New Orleans? It's magical because New Orleans is not a real place. Don't tell anyone…but Essence, you were "the party with a purpose", music that made us dance paired with empowerment that made us think. Black Excellence at our fingertips. Back to my story….
Something shifted with Essence, in recent years. When Essence was sold to Time Inc. in 2005, it became the first African-American magazine owned by a white man. Dat’s right! After 34 years of Black ownership, we lost something intangible but essential. Content that aligned with Black feminist thought decreased. Susan L. Taylor's "In the Spirit" column; the soul of the magazine that addressed spirituality, domestic violence, and self-esteem, lost its prominence. In 2011, they hired a white male managing editor whose conservative views contradicted everything Essence stood for. The authentic voice that made Essence special became diluted. And though the festival continued, we could feel the difference. The vision wasn't quite ours anymore. New Orleanians want to be part of the story. We want to be the main character.
Essence, for three decades, you've been our homecoming, a celebration that centered Black women and poured over $316 million into the heartbeat of our city. You hired more than 2,000 local workers. You filled our hotels with laughter, our restaurants with conversation, and our streets with pure, unfiltered joy.
We want Essence Marie back, with the Whova app.
We're tired of the red tape strangling our local businesses, the bureaucratic knots that make something beautiful feel impossible. The magic of Essence in New Orleans isn't just about the festival, it's about the fit. It's about how this city and this celebration move together like they were always meant to.
Here, you don't just talk about spinning the block, you actually do it. People walk from the Convention Center to the Quarter, down to Canal, weaving through the soul of this city with Essence all dressed up. Everything's within reach. The music spills out of one venue and follows you to the next. The culture isn't confined to a single space, like the convention center, it flows through the whole city. People love that culture of New Orleans. We are truly a hospitable place. That's what makes it work. That's what makes it ours.
I know you heard this before but I want to reiterate, we're not just asking for Essence to come back to our city like the previous years. We're asking for our homecoming to return, because New Orleans without Essence Marie feels like something's missing, like we're waiting for family to walk through the door.
What Happened in 2025
This year was a hot mess. Not rats on Bourbon mess, at least those rats know where they're going. This was more like I've-been-wearing-the-same-shirt-for-three-days-and-just-realized-it's-inside-out mess.. In my New Orleans accent, let’s spin the block. Let’s circle back. CLOCK IT! Get the chat back poppin. What’s going on? We were sent some vague promises after the last Essence Fest. And we need to talk about it. I have been feeling this way for beau coup years. After reading the history, I see why….You have to get back to the heart & soul of Essence Music Festival, the foundation. All I can think of is Steve Harvey suits being the talk of the town and Black Excellence events lighting up the streets. If you don’t agree with my writing, like they used to say in New Orleans -’ Talk what you know’. Meaning speak from lived experience, not hearsay. I am speaking from first hand stories and info from credible sources. Hey, out of towners, we don’t need any Monday morning quarterbacking. Talk what you know!
My twin sister and I got tickets at the last minute. I wish Essence could comp media with passes and we can in turn help boost the concerts. That would work wonders for the creatives in this town. Use the creatives to promote the events ahead of time. There were so many empty seats. We could have lit that dome up and been invited to the party. Win/Win!
The Superdome's terrace level, where 60% of Essence seats are located, sat mostly empty all three nights. Shows ran so late that Lauryn Hill didn't take the stage until 2:30 a.m., performing to a nearly empty venue. Stephanie Mills wrote an open letter describing "chaotic and stressful" backstage conditions, poor scheduling, and serious sound system problems.
I read …. the lineup lacked a stadium-sized superstar, and performer names were released too late; April and May announcements for a July festival when people travel from across the country. The convention center had hours-long lines, vendors ran out of product too quickly, and the entire production felt strained. I took my kids to the Convention center and honestly the line was smooth. I will say that process worked for me. I am not sure about others experiences. I really enjoy the vibe in the Convention Center, it just needs to be refined with the Marketplace logistics.. Hopefully the brands can be up front about their merchandise to avoid any friction in the lines.
But beyond logistics, something deeper fractured. Attendees voiced concerns that the festival's traditional Black American focus; rooted in descendants of slavery and Southern Black culture, felt sidelined in favor of broader Pan-African inclusion. Turns out, New Orleans is a real place. We have history and legacy that we built here. What was meant to honor the full diaspora left some feeling like the original family was being asked to share their own homecoming without acknowledgment. While the goal was inclusion, it made some residents feel overlooked, like the very community the festival was created for wasn’t being properly recognized. In simple terms, some Black people in New Orleans felt pushed to the side at an event that was supposed to be for their specific culture. Been in this city for Forty - Seven years. So much has changed and we always FINISH STRONG. Hit the Sean Payton!!!
New Orleans has always been a melting pot. African restaurants, Caribbean markets, diaspora businesses; they've become part of our city's landscape, and many of us have cultivated relationships within these communities. I love visiting Compere Lapin, Queen Trini, Dakar Nola, Addis Nola and some other diaspora restaurants in the area. I see both sides. Their culture is part of our story as well. This wasn't about xenophobia or resistance to inclusion. For us, it's not about keeping others out. It's about sacred ground feeling uncertain beneath our feet. Coincidentally, a group of local Black Africans came together hosted Taste of Africa after the festival. Like right after. What a coincident. I was intentional about participating. I even hosted it. LOL jk.. No seriously..I had a mission in mind to prove that we were a melting pot here. Of course Content Creators followed me, but it wasn’t meant for y’all. This was meant for me to write about. You see, there’s a WHY for everything I do now.
After Katrina, the world didn’t think New Orleans would return. We didn’t think we would return. Throughout that process, we were living in fear, not knowing if our city would ever return. Don’t forget, we are the city that care forgot.
The book 1619 Project was based on the slave trade in New Orleans. Did the people complaining realize we are all descents from Africa?
The Super Lounge Controversy
There’s a woman in the city that has a IG page and she starts it with ‘ I wasn’t gonna go there’. Well, I wasn’t going to go there but….Due to ongoing Superdome renovations, many original Superlounge spaces were unavailable. Instead of scaling back, the festival reintroduced Superlounge as a premium lounge experience—described as an "intentional evolution." We are broke. The economy is broke and I don’t know if you heard the city is in a deficit. How involved are you in the day to day here?
The Problem:
Superlounge access was limited to those with VVIP tickets (those cost $800-$1,500+ per weekend)
What used to be intimate, included performance spaces became an expensive add-on
People were upset about luxury pricing for what used to be a complimentary experience, especially in this economy
Essence's Response: They admitted on Facebook: "Was it confusing? Yes. Did we get it right? No. And the frustration. Fair." They promised clearer, earlier communication next year.
What Super Lounges Used to Be:
Small, intimate stages throughout the Superdome where rising stars and legends performed close-up sets - I want to see D Nice in the Super Lounge - I want to see you bring more local artists to the Super Lounge as well
Included with regular concert tickets - we are in a recession
Fan-favorite feature known for unmatched energy and personal connection to artists
Lucky Daye had a special Super Lounge performance in 2025 (a hometown celebration for the Grammy-winning New Orleans native)
Suffice it to say: Super Lounges went from beloved complimentary intimate spaces to VVIP, only luxury lounges due to renovations, and people were NOT feeling it. The complaints were in dozens. It was so embarrassing.
What New Orleans Needs to Survive This Festival
Let's be honest: New Orleans doesn't just host Essence Festival, we give you our whole city for the weekend. Our streets, our culture, our infrastructure, our people. And when hundreds of thousands descend on us in one weekend, we need you to help us hold it together. If Essence does not get this right this year, I won’t return next year. My family will go to Chicago or Martha’s Vineyard to see family.
Infrastructure that can handle the weight:
Realistic timelines that don't run until 3 a.m., incurring massive overtime costs and exhausting our workers
Sound and technical systems that work—not just for the headliners, but for every artist on every stage
Convention center flow that respects people's time, with adequate staffing and supply planning
Clear communication between production teams and local services
Economic partnership that's genuine:
Prioritize Black-owned vendors and local businesses—not just in talking points, but in actual contracts
Support local artists with meaningful stage time, not just filler slots
New Orleans restaurants and vendors should be guaranteed entry
Make New Orleans a priority - Where the ‘Who Dat’ marketplace?
Ensure your production partners reflect the community you celebrate (yes, we know Solomon Group produces this, and yes, that matters)
Return investment to the neighborhoods that absorb the impact
Be transparent about corporate sponsorships and ask for help - Notice I did not mention Target in this until now
Cultural clarity about who you are:
Honor your founding purpose: celebrating Black American women, Southern Black culture, and descendants of slavery
Expand thoughtfully without erasing your foundation
If you're evolving toward Pan-Africanism, bring us along in that conversation—don't shift without us
Remember that "for us, by us" meant something specific in 1995, and it should still mean something today
Operational excellence:
Release full lineups early, by February, not May - It’s almost February
Book at least one undeniable superstar who creates that "wow factor" - DESTINY’S CHILD would be a HIT or a rising star like Olivia Dean
Bring back livestreaming for those who can't afford to travel
Treat artists with respect: proper schedules, functioning equipment, professional conditions
Get the WHOVA app so we can stay connected during the fest. Tales of the Cocktail and the Black Feminist Fest did well with it
Work with Creators in the area to help market the event
I love the Weloveus emails with the black owned business - BUT…I WASN’T GOING TO GO THERE but can you add New Orleans brands - WE LOVE US TOO!!!
Be responsive to the DMs on Essence Festivals page
Because We Still Believe
Richelieu Dennis stood up and took accountability: "It's our fault, because we engaged them, and it's our job to make sure that everything is delivered properly." That matters. You heard us. You responded. You're working on it.
And we're still here because we still believe. We need that Queen energy back. This city is so resilient. We survive & thrive!
We believe in the Essence Festival that changed our lives.
We believe in the festival that proves Black culture is economic power. That shows our joy is resistance. That turns July 4th into Independence Day for real, even though we should be celebrating Juneteenth.
We believe you can be better. Not because we want to tear you down, but because we know what you're capable of when you get it right. Partner with locals in New Orleans.
Moving Forward
I recently attended The Boy is Mine Tour in the dome with The Black Promoters Collective in New Orleans. It wasn’t the same type of tour like festivals but then there’s the recency effect. The tour was small but it ran smoothly and reminded me of that old Essence feeling. I added the video as my blog announcement, intentionally. Miss Kelly did her thing. Talk about MOTIVATION! I need a Solider..where dey at, was amazing!!! Felt the spirit of Destiny’s Child like Essence 2005. We want that ole thang back, E. New Orleans will continue to open our arms to you. I know you heard this before but we'll staff your events, fill your hotels, cook your meals, play your music, and welcome your visitors with the hospitality only we can give. Where Black NOLA Eats founded a group because of the discourse with majority restaurants. Did Essence realize that? They have not been engaging with them at all. What happened to us?
But we need you to remember: this is a partnership. We're not just a backdrop for your brand. We're the soil you planted in, the roots that have held you for 30 years. 30/30..Treat us, and our city, like we matter.
Bring back the Black Girl Magic. Honor your history while building your future. Center the people who built this festival with you. Invest in excellence, not just scale. And remember that sometimes the most powerful growth happens when you tend your roots before reaching for new branches.
LET ME KNOW IN THE COMMENTS if you have anything to add
We love you, Essence Festival. That's why we're writing this.
Now come back home for real.
With hope, history, and hunger for what's next,
Lynn Wesley Coleman
Wife, Mother, Sister, Friend, New Orleanian!
2025! Am I the Drama. I see the Headlines.
2025! Am I the Drama..
What 2025 revealed to me: Chaos, Peri, Energy, and Survival….These are my confessions.
Chapter 1: Anxiety & Mean Girl Energy
WOKE up this morning with the urge to write again. On the real, truth telling in 2025 is like social suicide. I’d been up most of the night, stuck in my thoughts about life and the decisions that shape it. By 7 a.m., I was already at work, documenting everything. I’m a full-time HR Manager in a union environment, the person responsible for making sure policies are understood and followed. Unfortunately, that role doesn’t always stay at work; it carries over into my life, too.
For those struggling with my bad girl energy, I am a fire sign. Sagittarius woman. I was raised by a Sagittarius woman and my youngest daughter is a Sagittarius and I am pretty true to my sign. Many Sag women can’t get along with each other. That is our sign’s greatest downfall. I am not a group project type chic. I conquer more independently. Can you believe I am have an identical twin? I am older. Ha Ha. Adventurous, Honest, Independent & Free Spirited, Philosophical & Reflective and Optimistic. I can be dramatic and spontaneous which adds tension or surprise to many narratives. Am I the drama? I love spontaneity!
Sometimes I feel like a ninety-year-old woman with the face of someone in her forties, or even younger. Lately, my EQ has been suffering. Women are typically perceived as bs with high Q’s. I process stuff really quickly in my head. I was really good at it one time. My brain did a switch. It’s like a reroute from another country on a plane. I was on the trajectory of starting something huge but peri set in. I was the woman bringing everyone together in the creator space but when things got bad for me, I bowed out. People preyed on my downfall. I hate feeling like that. Because I’m perceived as younger and tend to act that way, people often treat me as if I have less experience than I do. I have a very stressful lifestyle and need to release some energy and have fun. Being a HR Manager also has a weight attached to it especially while I show myself in a vulnerable situation.
Back to my story, I brewed a cup of coffee, sat still for a moment, and began writing. These days, I start my mornings with estrogen because the hot flashes have returned during a certain phase of my menstrual cycle. During this time, my body temperature rises slightly, and the mood changes, bloating, insomnia, and fatigue come back, too.
Honestly, if I were you, I’d set an alarm with today’s date that says: Do not disturb Lynn Wesley Coleman. Laugh Out Loud. She’s having a Macy’s semi-annual peri-parade—except it happens every month.
2025 tested me in ways I could have never imagined.
I started the year in the ER at New Orleans East Hospital. I thought I was about to die—well, not really—but my body was shutting down because I hadn’t been taking care of myself. Anxiety had taken the lead, and I wasn’t listening to what my body needed.
During the year, I walked away from my job at the airport. The stress became too much, and my anxiety reached a breaking point. Managing five airports and traveling was too much for me and for my family. I needed to walk away. I called my husband crying, unsure of what came next. He told me to take a break and assured me he would handle everything. I got in the car and drove home, still overwhelmed.
On that same drive, I received a call from an Uptown high school offering me an interview. Later, I wondered if I should have taken that opportunity—especially since my husband and kids eventually transferred Uptown. But I truly believe in God’s timing. I also received a call from another school that was rebuilding.
Then came the call that shifted everything.
It was the airlines—working with catering services for flights. I honestly thought it was too good to be true. How could I bounce back that quickly? At my previous role, I checked in with TSA daily and managed over 1,000 employees. I assumed this move would mean a massive pay cut after leaving a six-figure salary. But you know what? It worked out.
Today, I manage fewer than 100 employees, have a huge office space, and (most importantly) more time to create balance in my life.
My husband is the man seriously. I want to publicly thank my husband for being a truly incredible husband and father. Supporting me isn’t for the faint at heart—because let’s be honest, I am a reality show all by myself. I am like Diana Ross at times. I am learning every day not to take my flaws too seriously and give myself grace. Show up as the woman I want to show up in my life. And that, my friends, is a testimony that God is real.
Now listen… y’all gotta stop testing me during my time of the month. Please mark your calendars.
I’m feeling much better these days, but every single day is still a journey—learning balance, protecting my energy, and choosing sustainability. Pray for me, not prey on me. Girlies in your thirties, you must take care of your bodies and avoid drugs and alcohol. The more you neglect your body, peri sets in.
Later this year, I experienced a miscarriage on my husband’s birthday. My children saw it, and that broke me—I never wanted them to witness that. I wasn’t even fully aware of what was happening because I thought my cycles were just skipping. I wasn’t paying close enough attention to my body. Just because I don’t talk about my struggles every day doesn’t mean I don’t have them. Girls who appear to have it all still struggle.
In my Miami/New Orleans boy DJ Khaled voice, 2025 YOU were a mess. You are the realest headline. You were a test, a fire hot sausage po boy from Genes, a perfect storm of anxiety, politics, perimenopause, social chaos, and inherited survival strategies. And yes, somehow, I was expected to navigate you gracefully.
Let’s be honest. I’ve always been a bad girl. Not in the headline-making way, but in the way that notices energy, tests the room, and refuses to settle for people or systems that don’t match integrity and awareness. When I got back with my husband while dating, I had a business for Single Urban Professionals. I did such a good job, I didn’t need the business because I met him. I have also helped an app developer with building recs for New Orleans in 2010. The app didn’t work out but that’s how I know so much about the city and restaurants. I also managed a region of Restaurants at Waffle House. I get so upset at some with poor hospitality. We have to get it together.
I watched as girls bonded over my absence, over my sadness, over the space I left open. Energy is not just personal—it’s social, relational, ancestral. Oftentimes, I think about enslaved people living during this time and the impact it has on us mentally today. Every time I withdrew, the room shifted. Every time I spoke, someone noticed. Leadership, influence, survival—it all requires reading energy, testing it, and understanding that reactions are a reflection of the room, not a reflection of me.
I was in rage for years. I wrote a perimenopausal apology that accidentally went out to 4,000 people. I didn’t intend to send to my Xavier class of 2000 but they were in my contacts so it went to them. I engaged creators on Threads to highlight Black-owned businesses, to inspire action, to test leadership. I talked up the restaurants to get people to flow to them more. I was testing dem Katrina waters to see who would respond and take charge. I do stuff like that. Bad girl stuff. And YES some tried to compete. People competing with me showed me exactly who could follow, who could lead, and who was ready for influence.
Politics didn’t help. I have been reading 1619 Project all year because it is such a good book. During certain times of perimenopause, I felt like an enslaved person. That’s what drew me to the book so much. Not sure when it will get better. This book reveals why we have so much conflict in the city today. Trump, Louisiana voters, NOLA.com and the chaos of corporate and social systems triggered old wounds, childhood triggers, and generational trauma. Watching Black women navigate these systems, while the world ignored inequity and unfairness, made me reflect on inherited survival strategies. After the last Mayoral election, I realized that proximity to whiteness, historical or better yet longstanding social hierarchies, and the chaos embedded in New Orleans history show up in our daily lives, our nervous systems, our friendships, our leadership, our social media interactions. And then there was the satire video, the so-called rise of the “mean girl.” She was trending, sure. Don’t trip. No shade. But with everything we know about New Orleans history, I didn’t find it funny. I wasn’t the mean girl in this situation. Context matters here.
And then the punchline revealed itself: she’s just as broke—because the City is in debt. That part? That was the real satire.
By the end of 2025, I could see the lessons clearly:
Energy is social: it flows, it reacts, it tests, it teaches. Social Media can be a toxic space.
Boundaries matter: giving too much when your system is fried is self-neglect. I have to pause for the cause and give myself grace. I do have mood swings and shifts during certain times and I need to think strategically about when I show up and always go with timing. I will work on being truthful about my problems going forward. I manage to truth tell so much but about how I really feel. I am just discovering the HOW.
Leadership is tested in chaos: those who compete prove you’re leading. Life is a test. People will test your gantsta. Remember to think independently and not like everyone else. If someone has something bad to say about me or someone, ask for examples. Don’t just settle for fake news.
Authenticity is power: How can I authentically and unapologetically tell my story to touch the most women. That is my goal this go round. Mean girl moments, everything bad girl energy, unapologetic honesty—all of it draws in the right people. I did make some mistakes that could have cost friendships. I do apologize. Am I the drama? When is the reality show hitting Bravo, Lynn. You ask! Ha.. I will always be the hottest housewife is such a funny line and I am aging and will run with that. Entertain me, I am fragile.
I hope y’all enjoy this blog. I want to discuss uncomfortable topics. If I started my first blog like this, imagine the HOT TOPICS like ESSENCE.
I’m going to tap in 2026 softer with myself and firmer with my boundaries. I am honoring my mind, body & spirit. I am fragile, not angry. I’m listening to my body, honoring my seasons, and allowing life to unfold without forcing it. Being a New Orleans girl is tough, check on us mentally and physically or something to the effect we have to work twice as hard because of the history of the city. I pray for the people running this city. We have to do it smarter this time and mean it. Let’s authentically build a bridge to work together and not against each other, for real. I will see who will be the leader and reach out. Leave a comment below. I want to know who is reading my blog. If you do not want to share your name, leave an alias. Hi, I am Lynn Wesley Coleman and you just read THE GLOW UP. Salute to all strong women!
Let’s give each other more Grace in 2026! Let Grace be the headliner of 2026. These are the defining moments and things that separate the girls from the women! All the things..