about me

My name is Janifer and I’d like to welcome you to my website.

I have worked in the entertainment industry (Sony Music, Universal Music Group, VEVO, BET Networks, etc.) behind and in front of the camera for over twenty years.  I’ve worked as an assistant archivist, in digital business development, web development and support, assistant stage manager, show photographer, background actress, show hostess, and many more.  

My primary focus was as a soul singer.  My collaborations included me as front woman for a professional R&B cover band (with George McCray bassist, Alvin Patterson), rock band (released a song for the charity album “Voyces for UNHCR”, for the United Nation High Commissioner for Refugees), two award winning contemporary acapella groups, an award winning hip hop group, and an off, off, off- Broadway show (directed by Tony award winning director Diane Paulus with her husband Randy Weiner), and an original rock project (with guitarist Jason Sprinzen).   I was also featured, on the Lovari title track “Haters”, as well as his charity single “Free to Love”. 

I competed in the VH1 music competition: Born to Diva, where I became the only Asian that made the 2nd day callbacks, in the round of 130 from 3,000 vocalists, made it through three rounds of the first season of X-Factor (pre-televised), (a Simon Cowell production), and became the women’s New York State Karaoke Champion in 2011, landing me a spot on the ABC show Karaoke Battle USA, hosted by Joey Fatone (N’Sync).

Besides my musical pursuits, my alter ego existed in the gaming industry.  In the mid-90’s, I was a collectible card game (CCG) player, and later, professional promoter and sanctioned tournament judge for Magic: The Gathering.  I also worked for several other companies promoting their CCGs before the bottom fell out on the industry.  I was a tournament judge and MC for the first major Dance Dance Revolution (DDR) competition in the North East Coast (and co-ran a DDR crew), and later, became a licensed professional Blackjack, Roulette, and Texas Holdem’ dealer, for organizations like Caesars, World Poker Tour, Michael J. Fox Foundation, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, and the New York Mets organization.  My work in casino games spans over twelve years.

In 2015, I partnered with New York Times Audio Editor Pedro Rafael Rosado to launch “The Mass Invasion” Podcast, focusing on geek and pop culture.

In mid 2016, I moved to Central Florida, where the next chapter of my life began.  I’m currently working on rebranding my YouTube channel (youtube.com/janifer).  Subscribe to be one of the first to catch the vids when they launch.

I’m also working on becoming a full stack developer.  I’m using the Feynman Method and the 20th hour technique to help me get through my coursework.  I’m presently using my blog here to help me with this, ergo the current level of programming posts.  It’s all for a good cause.

Feel free to follow me here and on twitter and instagram @janifer.
I look forward to hearing from you.

-Janifer Cheng

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