Finding your summer style just got easier with International Creativity, a fashion and hair showcase brought to you by the charitable organization Endless Creativity. The theme comes to audience members from far and wide, with inspiration taken from different countries and continents. Endless Cre8ivity's executive manager, Heather Arledge, explains the theme represents cultural diversity from the stylist's perspective. With platform performances, and a runway fashion display, audience members will be taken to far off places from around the world.

The event showcases at the Clarion Hotel in Southern Fort Myers (12635 S. Cleveland Ave., Fort Myers, FL 33907, 239.936.4300) Friday evening, July 8th. The entire event is from 6:30pm to 10:30pm. I recently had the pleasure of speaking with Heather and Antonio Macanas both senior members of Endless Cre8ivity's staff to talk about what it is they do and learn a little more about the upcoming show.

Cj: So to begin, Who are the active members of your company and what are their roles?

Heather: I am the executive manager. I oversee most everything that's done. Antonio's our financial manager, making sure money is coming in and going out properly and according to plan and budget. Jennifer Myer is our creative director. She recruits the models and stylists. She's also in charge of casting calls and putting them into play with our events. Dan Chapman is our entertainment director and helps with finding sponsorship. We have Maria Lambada handling our PR. She's our pretty face. She keeps everybody interested in what's going on. And Matt Schmeising, he also works on finding us sponsorship and generally helps out where we need it.

Cj: Where and how did Endless Cre8ivity form?

Heather: I was talking to a friend of mine on the phone one night and we decided "Hey lets do this!" That's pretty much how it happened. I mean, it was something I wanted to do, but together we realized if we built a concrete team we could actually do this properly.

Antonio: I met these guys through another friend of theirs. When they brought the idea to the table, they originally asked me to volunteer my time toward a stage performance. I really got interested though, once they said they were going to be working with charitable foundations, students, and helping out local businesses. I wanted to be their partner. I had experience and felt I could contribute toward making this a good team and helping with securing a solid business structure.

Cj: What is the official objective behind Endless Cre8ivity? Is there a mantra?

Heather: Our objective is to build our member's success through our success. We want to assist new companies, students and stylists with building their name as we're building, and above all, help people in the community through our efforts and events. Typically, students and new companies don't know where to start when it comes to building their reputation. We want to provide a creative outlet where they can show off their work. "Actions speak louder than words." "Don't tell me, show me." We want to see what they've got. This is an opportunity for them to bring their talent to the table.

Antonio: There are three motivations behind Endless Cre8ivity. Event Planning, Marketing and Promotion, and Entertainment Showcase. The Entertainment Showcase platform creates a way for Endless Cre8ivity to raise funds for local charitable foundations by exposing our small business, individual stylist and student members in a creative arena. It's an excellent way for everyone involved to exercise their "Event Planning" skills while discovering new ways of "Marketing and Promotion". There will be plenty of opportunity to network with audience members, sponsors, and other participants. Everybody's winning, no one's loosing here.

Cj: I understand your latest event is called International Creativity. Where and when is it?

Heather: International Creativity will be held at the Clarion Hotel, on the corner of College Parkway and 41, in Fort Myers, on July 8th, 2011. Doors open at 6:30pm, but the show starts at 7pm.

Cj: Can you tell me a bit about the event theme?

Heather: The event showcases world cultures through the creative mind and eye of our stylists. Each segment displays cultural diversity focusing on different continents and countries, with each of the students and stylists giving their personal interpretation of that diversity.

Cj: How much are tickets and where can I get one?

Heather: Tickets are $15 in advance, $25 at the door. VIP tickets will also be sold (advance availability ONLY) for $25. They'll be available through our partners as well as our sponsors, and online at www.Facebook.com/EndlessCre8ivity, just click the paypal button. As of right now, we have Paradise Hobbies, Papa John's and Indulgence Spa sponsoring the event. (Additional sponsors to be announced.)

Antonio: We're expecting tickets to go on sale no later than May 13th, our deadline, if anything, it may be earlier. It depends on our circumstances. We are still recruiting additional sponsors, so...

Cj: How late will the event run?

Heather: The showcase itself takes place for two hours, with a networking event following for an additional two. So about four hours total for everything.

Cj: Are there any event predictions or spotlights you'd like to mention?

Heather: We have a couple of local celebrities, if you will, we've been speaking to, but I don't want to mention names right now. I don't want to promise anything we can't deliver, but we are working on it.

Cj: Who will be benefitting from this event? What charitable organization will you be donating to? How does one contact this outfit?

Heather: The organization that will be featured in this event will be The Lisabet Anna Buesing Foundation. It is a foundation that helps single mothers battling Breast Cancer. You can visit their website at www.LisabetAnnaBuesingFoundation.com.

Cj: Is there a membership fee for joining Endless Cre8ivity?

Heather: No. All you have to do is fill out a registration form with us.

Cj: So, can anyone apply to participate in the upcoming event or are the participants invite only?

Heather: Anyone can apply as far as stylists or cosmetologists are concerned, but we do ask that they have at least 400 hours of cosmetology school. As far as the models? Anyone can apply. We hold castings and interviews. We just want to make sure they can commit and will be dedicated.

Cj: How do potential participants find out about casting calls?

Heather: We post information in advance on our Facebook page and on Craigslist more so as it gets closer to the date of the casting call.

Cj: What is your Facebook address?

Heather: www.Facebook.com/EndlessCre8ivity

Cj: How many people are expected to take part in International Creativity?

Heather: So far, we have 43 models. We haven't had our stylist casting call, but we're planning on including at least 8 student stylists.

Antonio: There will also be three sponsor/salon segments and one individual stylist segment.

Cj: Is there a fashion designer confirmed yet?

Antonio: We have Michael Diaz. He's a designer who has, up to now, been putting on runway fashion shows himself. He has a good collection of clothing. He's going to be featured during two segments of the event.

Cj: So, how else does Endless Cre8ivity promote itself and it's members?

Heather: Our plan is to get the website up and running. We also plan on creating a monthly newsletter. We don't know exactly when. Right now we are focused on getting more involved with the community.

Cj: What are your goals for the company?

Antonio: Our immediate goal is to build relationships with the people we meet. We are trying to accomplish bigger things for ourselves in conjunction with helping each other and helping the community. We want to see our members have the power to build their businesses and succeed.

Cj: Where will Endless Cre8ivity be advertising the International Creativity event?

Heather: Again, on www.Facebook.com/EndlessCre8ivity. Also there will be posters in our sponsor's windows. Anywhere where we are allowed to post we will. At some point down the road, we'd like to create a Youtube commercial to help people get familiar with our faces and help them know us a little bit better as a team.

Cj: Do you feel in the future joining membership groups such as Endless Cre8ivity will be something stylists do often as opposed to going it alone?

Heather: I do. I think a lot of the problem is people don't have that way to expose their creativity and get out there unless they know somebody. I think this is a great way stylists can say "Give me a shot". I think it definitely helps them. I'm sure anybody, if they know what to do, can do it alone, but this gets you one step closer more quickly.

Cj: Will there be photos available?

Heather: Yes. We are having photos taken and we plan on having a videographer at the event as well.

Cj: So, who will be photographing the event, and who will the videographer be? Will photos be available for purchase and where?

Heather: Photography is still unconfirmed, we are still in the process of meeting with photographers and videographers.

Cj: Do you feel Endless Cre8ivity is helping change the cosmetology industry?

Heather: I do. Like I said, it starts by getting students more involved. When you're in school its the monotonous, haircut after haircut after haircut. This broadens a student's horizons by taking them out from behind the chair and exposing them to other more exciting aspects of this business.

Antonio: In school you learn about the many different fields of cosmetology. Such as putting on a show or having your own product line. We're here to help the up and coming stylist understand these are reachable goals. This is what's out there for them. There are different professional selections in the cosmetology industry other than just behind the chair. We are helping to show them they can succeed. There is more.

Cj: Is there a message you'd like to share with potential members?

Antonio: When you put your heart into something, the desire, the motivation, when you put these into action you can accomplish anything. Even though its gonna take time, keep your eyes forward and keep moving. The people around you are there to help you succeed. Let them be your support system.

Heather: If you're looking to do something more exciting, step out of the box for a minute, and come check us out. Give us a call.

Cj: What motivates you both to push Endless Cre8ivity so hard? What keeps you involved?

Heather: I love to help people. I love seeing people happy. I also want to be known for being more than mediocre. I personally want to step outside of the box and do something people are wowed by.

Antonio: I like the challenge. Overcoming challenges and accomplishing my goals has taught me self confidence. If you have confidence in yourself, you can help build confidence in others.

Cj: So, is this about personal growth?

Antonio: Yeah. If I'm out there growing, I can help other people grow too. I don't think of myself as a lone team member. You know? I want the people around me to be a part of this team too, this is not just about me.

Cj: One more time... What is the name of the company?

Heather/
Antonio: Endless Cre8tivity... With an 8.

Cj: Thank you guys so much.

　

Endless Cre8ivity
2838 NW 7th Street
Cape Coral, FL 33993
(239) 283-2722
Heather Arledge (Executive Manager)
HRenee_Endless@yahoo.com
www.Facebook.com/EndlessCre8ivity

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Students of Sunstate Academy Add Hair and Fashion Show to Their Resume'

Fort Myers, Florida, USA - September 16th, 2010 - Students and alumni from Sunstate Academy have created a fashion and hair showcase unlike any other as a means to present their talent specifically to the industry professionals they hope to join as graduates. Directed by the promotion team of Heather Arledge and Praveen Singh, several hairstylists, makeup artists, fashion designers, models and live performers will come together to showcase their talent and skills under pressure.

The theme of the evening is titled Rockstar Lifestyle. Taking the experience from design to execution, participants will be creating looks based on the Rock theme. Theme range will include Classic Rock, 70's 80's & 90's, British Invasion, Reggae, Modern Rock, and others like Bohemian, Jungle, Oriental, and Gothic. Stylists will work in teams of five. With an entrance model, an exit model, and three models that embody the focal point of their showcase.

Aside from expressing the theme through hair, fashion will be essential in completing the looks presented. Included are: Abnormal Ariginals (AbnormalAriginals.com), Common Gallery, Judith Barnes Clothing, Entice Swimwear, David Del Rio (Local designer, participant in Project Runway seasons 3 and 5), Faith Merritt from Rosetta Fashions, Natalee Vanreil, Anna Kay-Clarke (http://BlaqueDiamondFashions.com), Yasser Faraco (YasserFaraco.com), and Michelle Harry.

MC for the evening will be DJ Lowkey from Tampa (Level, Reserve Cigar Bar). The official photographer for the event is Antonio Martez, AntonioMartezPhotography.com, located out of West Palm Beach and Miami. Event prep and on-set photos will be available at the photographer's website prior to event. After August 20th, official event information can be found on-line at CallForCreativity.com. Also, the website will feature Participant information such as: a biography on each stylist, their chosen theme, execution plans, thoughts about showcasing their work, etc...

What Rock-n-Roll themed event would be complete without live performances? Dancer Tariq Malcom from West Palm Beach, will be performing a Michael Jackson tribute to open the VIP showcase. Plus, the music group Lowlight, out of Naples, will be playing an all original set list during the intermission portion of the program and will play once again as the opening act during the Public showcase.

Described as "Exactly what we were looking for" by event organizers, Festivities will be taking place at the beautiful Clarion Hotel (12635 South Cleveland Ave., Fort Myers, FL 33907, 239-936-4300) on Thursday, September 16th, 2010. There will be 2 showcases that evening. The VIP showcase is from 6pm to 8pm, geared toward industry professionals and special invitees. There will be a brief one hour intermission. Then the public showcase is from 9pm to 11pm. A donation of $15 from the general public and $7.50 for Sunstate Students will be collected upon entry. Guests will have access to the buffet, and a chance to win any of the raffles. (Free haircuts, makeup consultations, etc..).

Sponsors include: Sunstate Academy (Fort Myers), Sears (Cape Coral), Pony Express (Cape Coral), Kitchens For Less (Naples), Fort Myers Toyota (Colonial Blvd., Fort Myers), Profiles (Gulf Coast Town Cntr.), Call For Creativity (Fort Myers), Florida Business Forms (Fort Myers), Aarons Rental (Fort Myers), Bennet Auto Supply (Fort Myers) and Miracle Eyebrows (Fort Myers). Special thanks goes out to Hotel Indigo for meeting space and assistance, Sephora and Ulta for donating makeup, Makeover Mayhem (MakeoverMayhem.com) for taking part, and also to Salon Indulgence for sponsoring the event's airbrush machine and gift baskets. A portion of the proceedes will be going to The American Cancer Society & Operation Call Home (for the troops).

Interest and Inquiries may be directed to:
Praveen Singh
(239) 603-5443
gtgirl928@aol.com
Fort Myers, FL
USA

###

Current Location: Fort Myers
Current Mood: productive

Rockstar Lifestyle
(a fashion and hair showcase)
08-08-10

In this day and age of economic break down and the bleak plight of the newly graduated from all walks of life, enthusiasm will be key to getting one's foot in the door and career path off and running. The 2010 graduates of Sunstate Academy bring this hard working, high gear perseverance to a whole new level. What had started off as a twinkle in the eye of several students, lounging in a living room in the middle of the night, has become an animal all it's own.

The promotion team of Heather Arledge and Praveen Singh are helping turn this dream into a reality, not only for themselves, but for many of their fellow student body. Their efforts are taking the idea of a large scale hair and fashion show and are transforming it into something this town has never seen before.

Organization is key, and who better to explain the ins and outs, but the girls themselves. Unfortunately, Heather was unavailable for interview, but I managed to steal some time from Praveen, giving me a clearer picture of what all the talk is about. This girl has just what it takes to convince you to join her quest and do her bidding. Thus far both girls have proven they can move the mountains it will take to motivate and secure the talent needed.

Cj: To get started, can you tell me a little bit about your roll besides producers in this event?

Praveen: We are doing all the legwork to make it happen. Producing, coordinating, advertising...

Cj: Will you be doing hair yourselves?

Praveen: No, I'm not doing hair myself, but Heather Aldridge, who's amazing with makeup, that's her passion, is doing a make-up showcase for the event... Originally, I was going to do hair, but I got so caught up in how much fun this is and all the work... I decided, I just wanted to put this on...

Cj: So, what exactly am I going to see at this event?

Praveen: You are going to see different aspects of each hairstylist's capabilities. It's all the way through color, through style, through perms, through braiding... Basically, we have an awesome group of stylists and assistants. These are people that have a passion for the industry. They want to be a part of something like this. Fort Myers has never had a showcase of work like this before. They've had hair shows, but it's never been a personal showcase where there have been invited salons and professionals from the industry...

Cj: What age range would this show appeal to?

Praveen: It would appeal to anyone from your teenager to your mid-twenties, to as far up as your 50's and 60's.

Cj: In reference to the Rock-n-Roll theme, are you going to have any live rock at the event?

Praveen: Yes, we will be showcasing "Lowlight" from Naples. Also, I am looking to get the dancer, Tariq Malcom from West Palm Beach, to do a Michael Jackson tribute. I don't know where that came from, but...

Cj: So, additional entertainment is definitely on your mind?

Praveen: Besides the DJ, yes.

Cj: Who is this DJ? Where is he from?

Praveen: Dj Lowkey is from Tampa. He performs randomly at Level and the Reserve here in Fort Myers.

Cj: So, will we be seeing a lot of black and white, or a lot of color? Explain.

Praveen: You're going to see a lot of color. Alot of vibrant, vibrant color.

Cj: Makeup wise and clothing wise?

Praveen: Makeup wise and clothing wise. It's all runway makeup. Makeup artists will be bringing their own makeup, mostly Mac and Urban Decay. With the exception of the ladies doing the oriental theme and the jungle theme, they are using theatrical makeup. Luckily, we have Sephora and Ulta donating makeup as well, but we're not sure of what brands they intend to let us use yet.

Cj: So, how many teams of stylists will you be working with?

Praveen: We're working with ten themes, and out of those ten themes we have ten teams of stylists.

Cj: Are you setting a strict criteria for these teams or are you basically saying here's our overall theme, go with it and find your own creative niche? Are there set standards?

Praveen: We've given the stylists rough ideas of what we're looking for, as far as music and fashion, icons they can and cannot use, etc... Our next meeting I'm having them bring in their sketches and their thoughts, and that's when we will eliminate or add ideas.

Cj: Will you have a catwalk?

Praveen: I really don't want to say that we have a catwalk because with both shows that we're doing, they're going to differ from each other. The one for the salons (VIP), we're gonna have a walk lined out for the girls, but it's not going to be on a stage. They're going to be walking amongst the crowd. That way the styles can be seen... We're gonna have the couches set out for people to sit on. We're not doing tables per-se. It's going to be very focal. You can look up and see the model. You can look up and see the intricacy of her style, or of her makeup, or even her clothing. During this showing, they're walking to certain songs per model. With the show for the general public, we are eliminating the couches. We are eliminating the catwalk idea. We're going to have a mild walkway lined off, but they're going to come out from the back and they're going to interact with the crowd. We're not going to have a music selection for that. Whatever the DJ's playing is what they're going to walk to.

Cj: And what is the song selection for the evening?

Praveen: It's very random. It's mostly Rock-n-Roll, except for the powerhouse categories, being Oriental, Jungle, Bohemian, The British Invasion, and Vampire.

Cj: Can you name a couple songs we might hear?

Praveen: Barracuda by Fergie and Harujuku Girls by Gwen Stephanie.

Cj: What are we going to be seeing at the event? Big hair, tall, or cropped more conservative styles, or more outrageous styles like mohawks? Where are you letting the teams take it?

Praveen: Normally, when you think of Rock star you think of your mohawks and yes, you think of the outrageous. We are doing Rock type stuff, but...There's gonna be a variation of styles.

Cj: Back to fashion, how would you describe the fashion you've secured for this showcase?

Praveen: Eccentric. Meaning it's not supposed to be your typical hair and fashion showcase. It's supposed to be out of the box. We're taking fashion from the Rock-n-Roll eras and from the random powerhouse sections and we're adding a bit of modern to it.

Cj: So, how many hairstylists are involved?

Praveen: I have 11 lead stylists and 5 assistant stylists thus far.

Cj: How many models do each of the stylists prep for the event?

Praveen: They all have 4-5 models each, and they all have a different theme to go off of.

Cj: Can you tell me a little about the hairstylists you have secured?

Praveen: There's...

Joana Penido - Color
Lindsey Ford - Cut, Color
Michelle Herring - Braiding and Natural Styling.
She's making her own wig collection and aspires to be a designer.
Axely Sepulveda - Color and Up-dos, Weddings
Bethany Butler - Cut, Color
Christina Butler - Color
Samantha Dupree - Color
Amy Acevedo - Color and Up-dos, Weddings
Maria Alava - Color and Extensions
Tina Burchetta - Color
Sarah Todd - Color
Frenishya Johnson - Nails, associate with Profiles and Creative Edge
Heather Arledge - Makeup

They are all very creative.

Cj: What about fashion? Who have you lined up? What can we expect from the collections?

Praveen: It's gonna be a very diverse collection of fashion. The hairstylists are basically coming up with their own sketches, in conjunction with the themes we have given them. We are putting some of this together ourselves. We are swap shop shopping. There are also a few designers from this coast and the east coast taking part. Such as:

Abnormal Ariginals (AbnormalAriginals.com)
Common Gallery
Judith Barnes Clothing
Entice Swimwear
David Del Rio (Local designer, participant in Project Runway seasons 3 and 5)
Faith Merritt from Rosetta Fashions
Natalee Vanreil
Anna Kay-Clarke (http://BlaqueDiamondFashions.com)
Yasser Faraco (YasserFaraco.com)
Michelle Harry

We have a wide variety as far as the booking and theme. We have straight Bob Marley, dreadlocks, stuff like that, very free. We have a jungle theme. There's British Invasion, also Rock-n-Roll from the 70's 80's and 90's, and Modern Rock. The stylists aren't creating 2-3 of their models. Basically they have a team of five. They have an entrance model and an exit model which are going to be the focal point of their showcase.

Cj: Is there an MC for the event?

Praveen: Our DJ has offered to MC.

Cj: Do you have any sponsors for the event?

Praveen: We have Sunstate Academy in Fort Myers, but as far as corporate sponsorship we have:

Sears, Cape Coral
Pony Express, Cape Coral
Kitchens For Less, Naples
Fort Myers Toyota, Colonial Blvd.
Profiles, Gulf Coast Town Center
Call For Creativity, Fort Myers
Florida Business Forms, Fort Myers
Salon Indulgence, Fort Myers (sponsoring our airbrush machine and a few gift baskets)
Aarons Rental, Fort Myers
Bennett Auto Supply, Fort Myers
Miracle Eyebrows, Fort Myers
Makeover Mayhem, MakeoverMayhem.com

Cj: Any special thanks you would like to acknowledge at the moment?

Praveen: Yes, Hotel Indigo for allowing us to use the venue for a few meetings and our team photoshoot which took place August 1st. They have a polite and very professional staff and team.

Cj: Are you supporting any charity organizations?

Praveen: Oh yes! We are working with the American Cancer Society, the Fort Myers Chapter, along with Ms. Darla Betzer. Proceeds for the ACS will assist in the Breast Cancer Chapter. We are also supporting the troops with Operation Call Home, where we will send the troops calling cards to be able to call their families.

Cj: So, who's doing your graphic design?

Praveen: At the moment Heather and I have designed our own invitations and fliers... We intend to personally hand deliver invitations to the salons and the business industry, not just send it to them in the mail. Make it more personalized... Come on in, watch our show, see how enthusiastic we are about this.

Cj: Who's photographing the event for you? Will we be able to see any of these pictures on-line? And where will we be able to see them at?

Praveen: Yes, there is a photographer... Antonio Martez Photography (AntonioMartezPhotography.com) out of West Palm Beach and Miami. Event prep and on set photos will be available at the photographer's website prior to event. We're also doing a live feed and we're looking into possibly having the news there. We have submitted information to Fox 4 and others. So, maybe you'll catch a glimpse of it on TV. All of the photos from the event will be on disc for the girls, for their portfolio. We'll also have discs for salons that might want to see work upon request. If they wanted to view a certain theme, or a particular stylist's work, definitely...

Cj: Is there an official event website?

Praveen: Yes, CallForCreativity.com.

Cj: Tell me more about the venue you have chosen for the event.

Praveen: Yes, I'm very excited with the Clarion Hotel. It's very open. The support from the management and the atmosphere is awesome. It was exactly what we were looking for.

The Clarion Hotel is located at:
12635 South Cleveland Ave.
Fort Myers, FL 33907
239-936-4300

Cj: How did you come up with the idea behind the theme of the show?

Praveen: We decided to take the Rockstar theme, because there is so much you can do with it. We're focusing on decades of Rock; basically, providing the theme and letting the teams interject a few diverse twists to make it a little more fashionable and different.

Cj: What is the date for the event?

Praveen: September 16th. It's a Thursday night. There will be 2 shows that night. 6-8 is the VIP for the salons and the makeup industry and special invitees. Then from 8-9 we are going to take a break, then from 9-11 is the public viewing.

Cj: How much is the entry fee for the evening?

Praveen: At the door, we will be accepting donations of $15 from the general public and $7.50 for Sunstate Students. That offers guests the buffet, and covers them for a chance to win any of the raffles. We are raffling off, per hairstylist, 10 haircuts or hairstyles and during the VIP showing, we're raffling off one makeup consultation.

Cj: How has the experience of organizing an event like this changed you so far?

Praveen: It has taught me to be more patient. Very, very patient. It has taught me to think outside the box and to be more creative.

Cj: Where do you see this going after the event?

Praveen: I see it hopefully, leading to potential job placements. If the event takes off, we might continue to do this for another few years.

Cj: Any closing thoughts for aspiring hairstylists, makeup artists, or people looking to get into the fashion industry?

Praveen: Do not be afraid to try anything. Be as experimental as you can. Nothing is never
nothing, it's always something. Don't let an idea that you have or a thought that you have just slip through your mind because somebody else will take that idea from you without even knowing that you once thought it up. Basically it's like, think of it into existence, speak of it into existence. Don't be afraid to think outside of the box. Nothing is normal. We don't even know the definition of normal. So, don't let anybody tell you, well it's not normal. Always ask them. Well, what is normal?

Cj: Does normal pertain? This is a very creative field. And from what I've seen, the more outrageous the better. Do you agree?

Praveen: I do agree with a limitation. You have to be creatively extravagant. It has to be eye catching. It has to be something positively spoken about after the event. You don't want someone saying "Oh my God, I went to that hair show, and yuck." You want them to say "Oh my God, I can't wait to call Bethany Butler, or I can't wait to call Alex Valasquez and ask him where did he get that cloak and are those fangs real." And... You want it to be positive speech.

Cj: Are there any short cuts, anything you've learned about the experience of planning an event like this that you want to share?

Praveen: Always plan, and make sure you have a backup plan. I wouldn't say there are any short cuts, if you want something to be amazing you really can't take short cuts. You have to put effort into it and make it work and not cheat the system. Because if you cheat the system, you cheat yourself. So, no short cuts.

Cj: And how do we get in touch with you?

Praveen: Through my email at gtgirl928@aol.com

Current Location: Fort Myers, FL
Current Mood: creative

Pulling up to the front parking of Cruiser’s Lounge (1517 SE 47th Ter., Cape Coral, FL), I was open to pretty much anything. At first glance, the joint appeared to be just another dead road side pub, but once you go inside the atmosphere evokes a warm feeling. I really liked the layout. Separate areas supply just the type of social situation you may be looking for. Immerse yourself in pool, find a table to relax and talk, or watch live music in the main room.

Tonight I had been invited by Jeremy Robertson (guitar player: Hothouse) to witness tonight’s production, organized by himself and partner Ryan. As usual, I’m always up for checking out bands I’m unfamiliar with. Each time is a new experience and everybody always has their own way of expressing themselves. I love to see musicians perform. Bad or good, each performance is one of a kind.

Fortunately, I wasn’t forced to sit in a corner by myself. Two of the boys from The New Architects (Rich Salinas & Danny Ross) were supporting the cause. We made camp stage left. I found a stool and let the camera take in what it could.

I could go on and on about Lets Go Exploring ripping up their set like madmen, with a wall of sound that would throw your grandma to the floor. Or, how the Liquid Limbs came in all the way from Gainesville to give us a newer bolder brand of what the heck a power-pop-punk-duo should sound like. The bands were all good. I enjoyed the entire evening and was happy to be there to observe such mayhem. But, I don’t think the bands are the only story here.

There are folks that seem to never lose hope in their local scene. They put together production after production, hitting pavement to get the word out, cross their fingers and hope for the best. Some do it for the glory. Some do it for the music. Some do it for the friends and thrills. Some do it ‘cuz they think no one else will. Some do it, let’s face it, for the nookie. Whatever their motivation, it’s a pain in rear to put together shows, especially ones with multiple bands or bands from out of town. It is very difficult to get folks off their bum and out from behind their television. "Oh, but my favourite show is on that night… Really?" These promoting fools are all what continues to drive the growing music scene from Collier to Lee county. Three cheers to the young music promoters! May your sneakers have thick soles and good arch support.

Out of curiosity, or maybe the need to find out what makes these folks tick, I ceased the opportunity to interview the evening’s host. Below are a few questions I ran by Jeremy. Clear and to the point, this guy knows what he wants and makes it happen. Keep an eye open for original bands and new music productions by this Energizer bunny, hard working musical soul.
　
How often are you promoting shows?
Once a month at the moment, with a constant desire to do more.

What genres do your shows include?
Right now they are generally geared toward the punk/indie scene and its offshoots; although like I said before we are open to pretty much anything.

How long have you been organizing music productions?
For as long as I've been playing in bands I've been doing this on some level. As we are right now it’s just this year but it really is just a growth out of everything that Ryan and I have done in the past.

What is the goal? What are you trying to achieve?
To help boost local and regional original music. A lot of people complain that there's not much going on in southwest Florida, but like most things in life it's really about what you make of it. The underground or dare I say "punk" scene has always been about making something out of nothing and that’s what we are trying to do. It's definitely not a new idea but it’s much better than sitting around and waiting for something to happen. We make next to nothing off of these shows, just enough to cover some meagre expenses and it's always worth the effort. We are also currently looking for a place where we can book a wider range of shows. We need a little higher capacity and 18 and up would be nice instead of 21. For now though it's working out.

What do you look for in bands?
Passion, professionalism and realism; I'm not interested in bands that play music just to get girls. I'm also not interested in attitudes, especially from local bands that think they are rock stars. Other than that I'm open to pretty much anything. I have certain things that I like to listen to but I also recognize that people have different taste than me so it doesn't really matter if the band will go on my IPod or not as long as they are good. It's also essential that bands promote themselves. If we all work together everything is much easier, besides it really is about community to me more than anything else.

Are you a musician? What is your background in that?
I've been playing music for my whole life and have been in bands for almost as long. My current project is called hothouse and can be found at www.myspace.com/hothouseband as well as on Facebook.


Any gear you'd like to mention you bring to a gig?
I could but we'd be here all day and it would be really boring.

Where do you promote?
The on-line outlets tend to be the most productive although I do have a soft spot for tangible flyers. Ryan and I tend to carry flyers with us most of the time and will distribute them as we feel it's appropriate. We are currently looking for a contact at FGCU and Edison to help reach those areas. Not being students we get thrown out of there.


Are there any websites where can I find info on things that you are up to, and what contact information can I give out?
Right now, it's all very word of mouth. Most of the bands promote through their personal Facebook or MySpace pages. I do the same. For booking I can be contacted at hothousemusic@gmail.com

Tags: "with music promotion fury"
Current Location: Your back pocket
Current Mood: horny
Current Music: Yes

( You are about to view content that may not be appropriate for minors. )

Tags: strange arrangement at zombiecon '09:
Current Location: Fort Myers
Current Mood: crazy
Current Music: Oh, yeh!

The Stick Martin Show 101609 at The Spot, Downtown Ft. Myers:

As always, we were on the hunt for new entertainment. Greg (my photographer for the evening) and I made our way through the streets, past Downtown Pizza, through the courtyard and back to Main Street. On the corner directly across from Indigo Room we found The Spot. My tall photo friend had a tip on this place and was curious to check it out. So we did.

To be fair, I have not played at this location myself, nor do I consider myself an authority on the subject of equipment, but I found the sound there to be pretty good. In fact, better than good. The band that night was The Stick Martin Show, hailing from Gainesville, FL. They gave me a free CD which we played all the way back to Estero. They sport a Hip Hop feel much of the time, a little funk, a little rock. If I had to compare, I'd say the first group that came to mind when the opening song "Oh, To Be An Aging Hipster" played from their CD, Thrilla, released in 2008, was the Gorillas. Call me crazy. Another thing that came to mind was the fact they sound so much bigger than just three guys on stage. The band really fills in the lulls with enough movement to never bring you down. A few other favorites from the CD... White Trash Honolulu, How Beautiful You Are To Me & Marvin Gaye. The band was awesome about us getting up on their case with cameras all spontaneous like, which was cool too. I think Strange Arrangement and this group would sound great playing out together. Would be cool to see. They have a similar vibe. Real Jamming Funk Hip-Hop Rockin' Good Times.

My recommendation is to check out The Stick Martin Show next chance you get. Good stage presence and an interesting groove. They will not disappoint. Next, check out their web page at www.TheStickMartinShow.com. The graphics have a retro feel, there's info on the band, photos, more sound bites, etc.

Let me know what you think of this band or any other you find interesting. Thanks.

phoenixcj8888@yahoo.ca

Tags: downtown fort myers, fl, the stick martin show 101609
Current Location: Fort Myers, FL
Current Mood: creative
Current Music: Hip-Hop, Funk, Rock