I said before your blog is my favorite – it makes me laugh out loud every time, and I love the way you write. But in addition to having a distinct voice as a writer, I think your site does a great job of making you a bit like a brand. The site is more than just a blog with good writing – it almost has the feel of being its own channel. Is that something you’ve consciously built, and what advice can you give other people about making their own blogs stand out?
Thanks for that! I'm sure you've come across a million and one blogs, so it's an honor to pen your favorite. I'm also glad you think of RMC as a "channel." That's absolutely been the goal. I've been able to establish a voice, but I am a man of many interests. I write music, sports, politics... whatever. So it's important that people see RMC the way you do.
In the world of blogging anything goes. The best way to make a blog stand out is to maintain an original voice. That'll always be the draw. I know it sounds corny and cliche, but it's true. There are a million gossip blogs, but the successful ones are those that have calling cards. Perez Hilton is the world's most famous blogger and now a record exec for drawing genitalia and associated bodily fluids onto paparazzi footage.
Where else can we read your writing?
Keeping up with RMC gets you the full-on Mexico experience. You can find my basketball work on TheProudFranchise.com*, though. I've got a few more endeavors in the tube that we'll get to later, I'm assuming... but I syndicate everything I do on RMC somehow. It's like COSTCO for the hate.
What blogs do you read?
I try to read every blog on my blogroll as often as possible. I get a lot of emails from readers and other bloggers trying to network and I check them all out. I read sports blogs more than anything else. I frequent OhWord, FreeDarko, Deadspin and I'll admit that I turn to Bossip from time to time for Negro Pleasings. TheUrbanDaily has a lot of talented youngsters putting in good work for Interactive One. I check that site daily. I also read the personal blogs of all my my XXLMag.com teammates. DallasPenn, ByronCrawford, IllDoctrine and Funkyminds all get regular looks.
Other than that, I don't be fluckin' wit' cats. No, seriously. I'll read anything set before me at least once.
What are you working on now? Any upcoming projects you want to tell us about?
I'm getting started with the resurrection of the work that made me popular in the first place. TheUrbanDaily is adding a music video column tentatively named Idiot Box. I'll be boxing the idiots. The Talkin' Videos readers have been waiting a long time, and I'm glad to be covering that world again. I'll also be writing a column called Muffed Punt on GridironExperts, an NFL Statistics and Fantasy Gaming resource. I'll pretty much be taking an NFL story and giving it the Mexico Treatment every week.
Audio and video podcasts are the next step for Ron Mexico City. I'm currently brainstorming ideas for regular segments that my followers can enjoy on-the-go and when they're tired of reading (which happens to the best of us). There's likely to be an RMC YouTube channel within the next month or so hosting these.
I love to write and come up with entertaining, thought-provoking material. I'm working on a screenplay and a couple of treatments and pilots for television programs. The Ron Mexico brand is expanding and will continue to do so until everyone with access to online media and television either laughs along with or shakes their head in disgust at me.
What advice would you give to aspiring music journalists?
Music? Here I am trying to talk about this football--
Oh, I joke. While I wouldn't exactly refer to my work at RMC as music journalism (Ed. Note - Pah, sure it is.), I do have a background in the field. My best advice is persistence. At the same time, I'm going to say something wildly unpopular that I find to be true. Journalism school teaches structure, which is very important. Journalism school does not teach one how to write. The gift that is your voice isn't developed in J-school. It's developed with practice and experience, life's most valuable instructors.
Don't wait for someone to hand you a job. The economy is jacked up and these publications don't have any damn money! If they do hire you, it'll be a long time before you're promoted from Beverage Acquisition Associate to Junior Writer or something.
Because your perspective is as unique as your fingerprint, your contribution is special. Get yourself a damn blog and get to work! It can happen if you're talented, creative and forward thinking.
Of course, as with any field, you can forgo the talent portion if you rub the right people under the table.
You can keep up with Ron Mexico at Ron Mexico City, onXXL Mag.com, The Urban Daily, The Proud Franchise or via his Twitter, MySpace and Facebook pages.
(*Note as always that offsite links and blogs may contain images and language that some users may find offensive).
