Welcome to the MTBlog.
Hey everyone. Since you're reading this, you're likely a supporter of Multiband in some way, shape, or form; so I'd like to start by saying: thanks for that! We wanted to find a way to communicate with our partners and collaborators to keep y'all in the loop on the happenings over here at MTB. Hence, this blog... dope!
Buckle in! There’s lots going down in Multiband Land.
Over the past year we’ve been sound designing at venues across the country, mixing shows in national tours, have taken a deep dive into our newest discipline of lighting design, AND we’ve brought in our second cohort of apprentices! This time around we’ve got four with a lighting focus and four with a focus on sound. All this and much more is going down in the land of Multiband.
We’re so hype to be involved in all of these creative endeavors. But if you know us, you know this is just the beginning! Have you seen the bonkers stats recently released by the folks over at the Suzi Bass Awards?? Check out this one that especially caught our eye:
Numbers don’t lie!
It’s clear that our Atlanta community is still behind in terms of creatives and designers of color, not to mention other glaring imbalances. As Multiband, it is a part of our mission to foster this pipeline so that an increasing number of creatives of color are given the opportunity and support to fuel their artistic passions.
*Cue the airhorn* WE OUTCHEAAA!
Not only are we stepping into this mission with a fierce force, we’re doing the dang thing WELL! Nominations for said Suzi Awards have come out and we’ve got quite a few members who have been recognized for their super awesome talents. Please join me in giving a huge shoutout to the team:
Outstanding Sound Design for a Musical
Chris Lane & Jeremiah Davison - Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella @ Aurora Theatre
Jeremiah Davison - Song and Dance @ Aurora Theatre
Outstanding Lighting Design for a Musical
Toni Sterling - Marie and Rosetta @ Kenny Leon’s True Colors Theatre
Outstanding Sound Design for a Play
Mikaela Fraser - Red Speedo @ Actor's Express
Chris Lane - Bright Half Life @ Theatrical Outfit
LET’S GOOOO!!! And to think this is just the tip of the iceberg. Coming up we are headed into sound designing for Opera, entering even bigger national tours, creating more protections for our artists, establishing a non-profit for the countless amount of education that we champion, and the list goes on.
“Dang! How are these cool cat creatives doing all this rad stuff on their own??”
The answer is: we simply are not! We couldn’t do what we do without the contributions of our loving supporters.
We’ve received a grant last year from the Pete Shinn Memorial Fund that has been a great life-giver to the birth of our educational programming, but we are currently training folks out of our own pockets. Though the value of our mission is *priceless*, we need more resources to keep our charge in motion. How can you help? Please continue to be intentional about where your own resources are going - whether it is your funds, time, or deliberate support. We’ve recognized the problem, now help us be a part of the solution.
It takes a village… hey, village!
Let’s collectively continue to dream bigger on ways to increase the flow of this pipeline for creatives of color. In the meantime, please reach out to our team. Help us source opportunities for our new members. Fill out a theatre project form for sound or lights, or let us supply equipment for your next live event. Join us as we strive to bring new faces into new places, one opportunity at a time.
Thank you for taking the time out of your day to connect with Multiband via the MTBlog. Until next time; sending lots of love and warm vibrations!