What do you say to the organization that has given you every meaningful start in your chosen industry, 10 years later?
I came to ArtsQuest in the summer of 2014. I was 27 years old, trying to find my way after fizzling out as an internal communications specialist for a Fortune 500 company in New York. I had started a music-centric podcast in the prior year that was trying to find its legs. I was underemployed (and pretty broke), but felt the brimming potential of purpose from this platform that was in its infancy. I just needed a chance, and I was granted one back in my college town of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. I had the opportunity to work the same festival that, at that point, had become an annual appointment for me – and I had the chance to see it through fresh eyes, as I sought inspiration for the road ahead. I had the opportunity, in my small way, to be part of the magic this time of year, in the city my soul had come to call home.
I think of the road since then. I think of the ups and downs, and how good it felt to be back home, even as the ensuing months and years would bring about great loss, and no shortage of professional and personal transitions. “Sure things” would fade from view, while the unexpected would present new opportunities (and the challenges that come with them).
That never rang truer than in the fall of 2015. Mom had just passed and, after my beloved Cubs were bounced from the playoffs by the Mets in emphatic fashion, I found myself once again in need of an outlet. The Quinn Spinn, having been on hiatus for several months, needed the support of a stronger platform, and I had recently begun to dig into the local music scene in my new (old) city. I decided that I, at the very least, could do something to support local artists who were releasing music and playing shows.
Within a couple of months, the blog – then known as Lehigh Valley Underground – was born. A couple months after that, a piece I had written about the popular, yet highly-contested Lehigh Valley Music Awards (LVMAs) gave us our first moment of quasi-virality. The region’s musical power players had quickly become aware of this plucky little blog I had started, enough so that we were asked to lend media partnership support to the LVMAs’ showcase at that year’s Musikfest.
All the while, I found my job at ArtsQuest becoming so much more than a job. It became a family, complete with a variety of personalities and relationship dynamics. It became a place to sound out my ideas, and find listening ears and new perspectives.
One such moment that sticks out to me occurred one weekday night in late spring (or early summer) of 2016. I had just begun my shift – and was minding my own business – when I overheard a conversation during my shift about this “Lehigh Valley Underground” thing that had just started. My ears perked up, as a *very* high ranking official within the organization was involved.
I was conflicted. This was my pride and joy, and people were talking about it! On the other hand, I was raised to *never* bring up my outside interests in a workplace setting.
Regardless, I decided that if I was ever going to flip the script, the time was now…
“Do you know who runs that?” I asked.
“Who?”
“Me.”
I received some amazing, encouraging feedback on LVU. Although it was brief, our interaction ended with that same official gesturing to our surroundings within the ArtsQuest Center, saying the following…
“Remember, this all happened because somebody had an idea…”
Over time, I would find more new opportunities within those walls – to collaborate on fresh ideas, and to connect with new people and organizations. Some of the first meaningful media coverage opportunities I and LVU had were because of ArtsQuest and Musikfest. Soon, we would find ourselves crossing paths, collaborating on events and festivals. No matter what, I’ve always felt like my voice mattered as a member of our community.
Then, in 2018, I felt a pull toward something different. Nashville came calling. My team – my family – encouraged me to pursue that calling. They let me know that if I ever wanted to come back – for Musikfest, for good, or for anything in between – that the door would always be open.
That’s why I come back. That’s why I’ll put life and business on pause for a few weeks every summer to take part in this unique, magical experience that can’t be found anywhere else on Earth but Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Although Nashville certainly claims ownership to several chapters in this story, those chapters would have never been written if it weren’t for these 10 incredible, timeless days in August that bring me back home.
This year is perhaps the most special yet. First of all, today (August 1, 2024) marks 10 years to the day that I clocked in for my first Musikfest shift, which I spent directing traffic at the intersection of 2nd St. and Founders Way. Tonight, I have the honor and privilege of joining my team once again – including many of the people who were here that day – to kick off the nation’s largest free, non-gated music festival with Greta Van Fleet at the Wind Creek Steel Stage. Then, on Friday evening and continuing through August 11, you’ll catch me on the North Side, leading our Event Staff operations on that side of the festival for the fourth year in a row.
(To those of you who know what time it is, I can’t wait to see you over there. It’s one of the highlights of my year, every year.)
In addition, the organization that has given me so many opportunities keeps on giving. I am honored to be a presenter at the first-ever Musikfest Industry & Education Conference. I’ll be in attendance both days – August 1 and 2 – with my seminar, Perfect Your Pitch: Building Authentic Connections as an Independent Artist, taking place this Friday, August 2 at 1:30 p.m. inside the Red Cinema at the ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks. I’ll be presenting on behalf of that plucky little blog that has since become so much more. If you’re nearby, I hope to see you there.
To my ArtsQuest Family, thank you for giving me this stage – your stage – to begin this exciting next chapter in the story of Underground Music Collective (and, at its core, Lehigh Valley Underground). I hope that everything I’ve learned in the past decade-plus of building this platform – so much of it alongside many of you – can inspire the creative minds in the room to dream just a little bigger, and strive for more than they previously thought possible.
After all… *gestures around*
…this opportunity happened because somebody had an idea. 😉
