BLNK CNVS was founded in the early part of 2017 through the team behind the largely successful Life In Color. Noticing a gap of both small scale and large scale dance shows in the Miami area, a test run was planned out during Miami Music Week 2017 which brought in acts like Marshmello, Jauz, Zeds Dead, Maceo Plex, given the success of the events, a name was decided on and the events became consistent, Ghastly in May 2017 being the first show to be thrown successfully without the seasonal influx of dance fans.
Paul and I chatted about the craft of putting on a show, dealing with the unpredictability of throwing events, how to do shows DIY when just starting out, and more. Check out the full interview below:
Regarding events, what does BLNK CNVS bring to Florida (or beyond) and what would you say the organization does that brings a different or unique element to the table?
I think for us there are a couple of core principles that we really try and follow. First off we are fans of dance music and want to provide our fans with the best experience we can from start to finish. This means caring about your fans and providing them the best you can whether its a customer service experience, the music they hear at the show, and everything in between. I spend a lot of time messaging back to fans on social media, if you have a problem at a show and hit us up your going to get a message from me 99% of the time and we will do everything we can to make sure you walk away thinking hey those guys really care. I want to leave that imprint on people. The second thing for us is to represent not only whats popular but also help bring new artist to the market and introduce people to them. Bringing acts like Mr.Carmack and Gryffin to Miami for the very first time, for example. We want to continue to do this and bring more acts to Miami for the first time and introduce people to acts they may not have heard of yet. Its a balance of bringing the hot stuff and curating a cool show with new stuff.
What is your role within BLNK CNVS and what “life-lessons” has the position taught you thus far?
So my official title with BLNK CNVS is marketing director but we have a small team so we kinda all wear multiple hats. I get involved in a number of things from running our ticketing systems to operations on site at shows in addition to my marketing customer service responsibilities.
I don’t even know where to start with the life lessons hahaha, working in this kinda business teaches you a lot of life lessons and can put you on top of the mountain one day and humble you to your knees the next. I think some of the daily lessons are really patience and understanding that even when you plan for “everything” things can still go wrong. No reason to get mad, you cant get mad over what you cant control, just breathe and move forward. I think that’s a parallel for life, things happen that are out of our control and you gotta pick your self up and move forward. No reason to get overly upset or mad, that’s life and getting flustered doesn’t solve a thing in the end.
On an entrepreneur note, for the youngin’ who can see the demand of a music style rising in his town: what useful early-on advice would be good for that person to help kick off a first-show successfully?
I think the 2 biggest things are start small with something you can control with few variables and try and exposure self to as little risk as possible. People try and go to big too fast and end up losing everything that have worked for because one show tanks. This can be a high risk win big, lose big industry if you gamble like that. I think that plays into my second piece of advice of budgeting properly and making sure you know all of your expenses upfront. Stay within that budget and follow your plan. I have seen unforeseen expenses and people going over budget in areas of a show that make a show go upside down real fast.
Personally, what was the moment that you went from a fan to envisioning yourself working as a participant in the music business?
HAHA funny you ask this, I never really was like OMG i want to work in the music business. It was more something that happen to me randomly and I fell in love with it in the process. I started listening to dance music in like 2010 but only had attended one real show at that point other than random local DJs at clubs and bars or at college parties. So I wouldn’t say I was a well seasoned dance music fan. In Fall 2011 DAYGLOW came to my university and that was my first taste of really working in the music business, I built a team of promoters with some of my closes college buddies and things took off from there. We sold out the show of 3500 tickets well in advance with no headliner and I was like “Oh, maybe I’m kinda good at this stuff. I started working with the DAYGLOW/ Life in Color guys on more projects in the midwest from that point on. I think the point that I knew I wanted to do this full time was like Fall 2012. I was in grad school and working at city hall doing government stuff and I would just come to work each day and be like “Wow, is this is really what I have to look forward to for the next 40+ years? I hate this, its terrible.” I refused to do something I hated like that. I called up one of the event directors from LIC and was like, “Yo, will you hire me full time to do promo stuff for you?” He offered me $1000 a month to do promo stuff for LIC and another company. I said yes and dropped outta grad school. I didn’t know where it would lead but I knew what I was doing at that point wasn’t something I wanted to keep doing the rest of my life.
In terms of acts and sounds, what will BLNK CNVS be focusing on heading into 2019?
For 2019 we are looking to keep curating the same kinda stuff we have been, that balance of new hot acts and the big names we all know and respect. Without leaking names, I have a real long list of stuff I think is hot and that the Miami dance music fans need to hear. I spend a lot of time listening to music and finding those acts that are blowing up all and doing really cool stuff.
I’m VERY excited for 2019 and beyond with BLNK CNVS, we have built something really cool here and I think this is only the beginning for us. We are only a year and 4 months old and we have been able to do a lot in that time. I’m excited to see where we are on year 3, 5 and beyond!
Connect with BLNK CNVS:
https://www.facebook.com/BLNKCNVSPresents
https://www.twitter.com/BLNKCNVSPres
https://www.instagram.com/BLNKCNVSPresents
Connect with Paul Reed:
https://www.twitter.com/pauljreed125
https://www.instagram.com/Pauljreed125
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