*Mathew Knowles is currently peddling a day-long boot camp called, “The Entertainment Industry: How Do I Get In?” which appears to have some folks thinking he’s trying to profit off of his daughter’s fame.
“Let me tell you what it’s not — that I’m trying to cash out on Beyoncé,” Knowles, 63, told Page Six. “Nothing to do with that.”
The seven-hour seminar bills itself on giving key advice to aspiring singers, dancers, composers, writers, producers and even managers and attorneys. But according to Page Six, critics are writing Knowles’ latest venture off as a sign of desperation after he cut business ties with Bey in 2011. The seminar also includes a short video of Beyoncé talking about failure.
“[It’s the] same course, same price, that I gave in Barbados,” said the Music World Entertainment creator. “I’ve given similarities of the seminar in Paris. So it’s not something that’s new.”
According to Page Six, Knowles is taking his seminar to Macon, Ga., next month and Rochester, NY, at the top of 2016. He’s also booking events in New York City, Washington, DC, Baltimore and Norfolk, Va., in the near future.
“As an educator, most people don’t know, I taught for 10 years at the collegiate level. For eight years I’ve taught here in Houston at Texas Southern University,” he explained. “As an educator, this is what I do for a living. This seminar is just an extension of that.”
Despite no longer managing Bey, Knowles added that his relationship with his daughter remains positive.
“I spent the day with Blue Ivy and Beyoncé a couple of months ago,” he said. “And actually hope to see them next week or the week after and spend another day doing Play-Doh with Blue Ivy.”
So far, he’s sold 300 of the available 500 tickets, according to Page Six. Prices range from $99 for students to $299 for the VIP experience, which includes lunch with Knowles and a photo. All participants will get a certificate of completion and a reference book with a glossary of industry definitions and helpful contacts.
“I’m not just Beyoncé’s father,” said the record-label executive, who has managed a number of high-profile artists including Nas. “People want to brand me as that. I’m the brains behind the success.”
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