JESSICA ROSE LEHRMAN EVERYBODY!

Check out photos of Purchase band, Mokaad, playing for my senior project! Shot by the magnificent photographer and former Purchase student, Jessica Lehrman! Thanks again!

Photo Credit: JESSICA LEHRMAN
http://www.jessicalehrman.com/

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And it all comes full circle…..

Watching my senior project come together before my eyes 5/3/12. Photo Credit: Roman Dean

As this semester winds down and I find myself looking at a week and a half of school left, I can’t help but reminisce over my four years spent here and my self growth. I would like to write this blog post on myself, not because I want to prove to you what I can do, but inspire you to “just keep truck’n, no matter how deep the mud is you’re stuck’n!”

I grew up in Miami, Florida, heavily involved in the performing arts scene. I began dancing at a studio when I was three, I began singing in choirs by elementary school, and picked up acting in high school. By the time I was 17 years old, I was in a local dance company (performing ballet, tap, jazz and modern), an inducted International Thespian competing in mime, musical theater, and directing straight theater. I was also an aspiring singer who had just released my first album with a Grammy award winning producer, and I acquired six proclamations under my belt declaring “Eliza Rose Day”,  in my honor for my work in the community (Miami-Dade County, City of Coral Gables, City of South Miami, Village of Pinecrest, Village of Palmetto Bay (2) ).

(from far left) 1. Performing a duet for my dance studio called “DNA” 2. Playing the lead role of Miss Adelaide in my high school’s production of Guys and Dolls 3 Accepting the award for best female vocalist in my high school as a sophomore.

Juggling such intense hobbies at such a young age weighed heavily on adults helping to make my professional decisions for me based on my lack of experience. I unfortunately learned that even adults I loved, respected and trusted didn’t know what was best for me and I was ready to leave Florida, far away from anyone who knew my past and could influence my future.

After a category five hurricane (the size of Katrina) struck South Florida in 1992, my family lost our house and my parents had to take my brother and my pre-paid college funds to buy a new home. I turned down my 75% scholarship to any public college or university in Florida to get far away and now without the padding of a pre-paid education. I decided to ask my millionaire grandfather to invest in his star grandchild to reach her dreams that were beyond Florida. After driving an hour commute for three meetings proving to my grandfather that his grand daughter was a valuable investment, he agreed to help with my college loans. The fourth drive to his house was to pick up my first check, so I could officially send my acceptance letter to the school I wanted to attend. Instead, I was faced with my grandfather stern and cold, looking into my eyes pouring river-run tears, as I listened to him tell me he had decided last minute that it was my parent’s problem they couldn’t afford my education, and not his.

I knew from that point on I could only count on myself. I pulled out the loans in my name and enrolled at Purchase before I even saw the campus. I had no idea what I wanted to study, only knew I could make opportunities happen for myself because I was far from home, and close to NYC.  I developed a core group of friends who became my new family over the past four years. I surrounded myself with people who inspired me with their talents and passions, also inspiring me to push for my own.

I am majoring in Arts Management with a focus on performing arts and minoring in Journalism. I don’t credit Purchase for the outstanding academic education I was expecting to gain. But I am eternally grateful for the breeding ground of networking this campus has stimulated. I hustled my four years here making the Dean’s List, becoming the youngest president of a club or organization on campus at 19, running Hillel. For three semesters I was the manager of a 60-piece choir, “Soul Voices”, led by respected Musician and Professor, Pete Malenverni. I was a Marketing and Events intern with the Village Voice, and finally this semester I earned my dream position as the only Booking Intern for Live Nation in the Time Square office.

As the only booking intern, I was given the privileged opportunity to book a show of local bands at the Gramercy Theater in NYC. Live Nation offered to help by overwriting the event, publishing it in the Village Voice as well as through e-mail blasts that reached over 70,000 people. I couldn’t even grasp the full potential of this opportunity, but I knew this was something I could dominate. I reached passed what Live Nation offered and zoomed in to what I had to work with; my awesomely inspiring and talented friends. I booked all three bands, Mokaad, EMEFE and Higher Vibe,  not just because they are my friends, but because I believe in them and their deserving opportunity to reach the masses with their music. I developed a production team aside from what the Gramercy Theater hired, and recruited Purchase students: three photographers, two videographers, and one webmaster/video editer to develop a band website, as well as edit recordings of the show.

Photo Credit: Roman Dean

A view at the stage, Mokaad at Gramercy Theater May 3. Photo Credit, Roman Dean.

The crowd. Photo Credit: Roman Dean

This was my first experience driving my professional vision into a product that involved hundreds of people. Between production, crew and musicians, I hired approximately 30 people, and just over 200 people attended the first show I have ever booked.  Unfortunately, Live Nation does not have any positions open at the moment, and I must end this internship. However,  I have strengthened and established my  professional relationships with many Purchase students; a new generational force ready to take over New York City!

You see ladies and gentleman, it isn’t about what sounds right, what makes the most sense at the time, or trusting others opinions on where to take your life. It is about what FEELS right to YOU. There is only one YOU in this world. Don’t let someone else dominate what road you want to travel, let them pave their own path. Follow your voice, manifest everything you want for yourself, send that energy out into the universe, and the rest will fall in place.

 

Listen to the incredible bands I booked for my first show!

Mokaad: http://www.mokaad.com

EMEFE: http://www.emefemusic.com/

Higher Vibe: http://www.highervibemusic.com

Keep an eye out for the video of the Gramercy show coming out soon!

 

Who was that in the quad on 4/20?

4/20 show in the Old Quad

What was that music in the Old Quad on 4/20? Roughly 100 students gathered around the homemade platform/stage and mini grill full of hot dogs to watch live music from around 2:00-5:00 in the afternoon. Opening the show was acoustic folk singer and Purchase alum, Melissa Ahern. http://www.sheandthesun.com/

Melissa Ahern playing 4/20 show in the Old Quad

Following Melissa’s melow set was Madd Satta, a band that is mostly  rooted in soul, R&B and Hip Hop music. http://www.facebook.com/madsatta

Madd Satta at 4/20 Old Quad show

Who is that creeper in the window you ask? This isn’t just an Old resident watching from his room.

Chris Ottaviano

Meet Chris Ottaviano, a senior Arts Manager here at Purchase. Chris isn’t creeping, he actually put this whole shin-dig together. As you can see, he fed all the wires from his bedroom right outside to the stage he built the night before with a friend. It wasn’t just another senior project, or a popularity ego boost for some PSGA board member, Chris is just a student who had a vision and made it happen.

“I did the show for fun, but I also wanted to get the word out about RIPE.” Ripe is a new company he and friend Skylar Blum started earlier this year. “Right now it’s just a website, but we hope to have a full clothing line and magazine by the Fall.” Chris got special RIPE shirts printed for the occasion and successfully sold around 10 of them to students who attended the show.

exclusive RIPE shirts worn by students at the show

Chris spoke with Major Events Coordinator, Elise Granada in advance for approval to put on his show. However, when booking spaces on campus, the OLD Quad was not a selection. “I’ve seen people put on shows in the Old Quad before, so I figured it would be fine. Alicia said as long as the show wasn’t too loud, disturbing faculty members who lived in the old, that it would be alright.”

Chris invested money from his pocket to build the stage and print the t-shirts. However, he saved a large expense by renting the speakers and sound equipment through CTS and his past job at Alto Music for no charge.

“The show was awesome, there were about 100 people by the time Mad Satta played.” There was no prior advertising for the event, “I texted everyone that day, it was all word-of-mouth. Initially we didn’t want too many people there in the beginning,  it wasn’t 100% that it wouldn’t get shut down. I wanted to limit the amount of people who knew about it long term” explained Chris. “It was really the great acts that brought everyone out. As far as RIPE, we got exactly what we wanted out of the show, people are now wearing RIPE shirts around campus, and students are starting to recognize the label.”

Check out RIPE here! http://www.rollripe.com

Social Media Marketing Maven, Marc Giannavola

photo credit: Marc G.

Marc Giannavola is a Senior Arts Management major here at purchase. What I find so interesting about Marc is that he has incorporated  his hobby and passion of photography into his work, which has opened many doors for him professionally.

Marc is the Marketing mastermind behind the arts management program at Purchase. He got his start on campus by becoming heavily involved with programs on campus within the past year. He began working under Rachel Pazden (past Southbay Cabaret Coordinator) as the Marketing Director of the event. Southbay has had a successful run and it was a great opportunity for Marc to gain exposure on campus.

This past summer, he was a marketing intern with the Lar Lubovitch dance company (a position he found on Purchase JobScore), and built their social media site and following from the ground up.

During his spare time in between these projects, Marc would shoot dance performances under the Conservatory of Dance. He has shot two MFA shows, several BFA shows and created head shots for many of the dancers in the programs to use in their resumes and for auditions.

By Fall 2011, Marc was giving the title as the photographer and digital coordinator for Purchase’s Communications Department. He was responsible for taking photos to post on the school’s website, maintaining the photo archive, and any other marketing materials. He also began working for a dance company in the city called Morphasis, as a New Media Intern.

That same semester, Marc let go of his position in the Communications Department when the Conservatory of Dance hired him to do more photography for them. One of his photos will be displayed on the cover of their spring show this semester, and other photos of his will be printed on the conservatory’s marketing ads for next season.

As if that weren’t enough on his plate, he was also given the title as Director of Marketing for the Arts Management Club on campus, and is interning with Morphasis again this semester.

The biggest question as a senior four weeks from graduation is “Now What?”.

Marc has been applying for jobs as a New Media Coordinator for mostly large television companies such as Viacom and Warner Bros. He has also been considering opening his own marketing and branding company for non-profit organizations after learning about how endangered the arts are, while writing his senior thesis.

Check out some of his sites here!

www.mgiannavola.com

www.flickr.com/mgiannavola

www.twitter.com/mgiannavola

Marc I wish you all the best!

Chazz Giovanni

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For those of you who weren’t at the STOOD this past Saturday night, you missed a pretty epic show!

Chazz Giovanni, a junior Acting major who is also building a presence in the music  scene, held an evening of performances in the STOOD to promote his new album entitled, My L.I.M.P.: the story of Prince Chazz Pinocchio Giovanni Howard Noir Cannon Bruce Collodi: Final Act

“I was working on my album and needed a way to get everybody in one room, so i booked some of my favorite groups.”

Although the audience saw the show as a smooth run, I learned that Chazz was doing a great job behind the scenes smoothing out some deep creases. “Anything that could have gone wrong went wrong. people that were supposed to show up didn’t, people called out last minute, it was all a disarray, but when all is said and done, the show was a lot of fun. Everybody had a great set.”

The line up included Purchase students from all different backgrounds. “A lot of the bands I booked were from different conservatories acting students, dance students, i think the aspect of being involved with these students just through school helped bring it all together.” Some of the bands performing included Rainbow Children ft Gabe from Mokaad, Quincy Vidal and Still Weavens.

“Before I started the Acting program, I think my music was good. But without the acting program I never would have had an understanding of how to develop themes for albums.My album is all about this guy’s journey through purgatory, there’s a film that’s going along with it.”

Check out Chazz’z music here!

http://soundcloud.com/chazzgiovanni/sets

Marcus Stewart- If this face isn’t familiar, it will be real soon.

Photo Credit: Filipp Kotsishevskiy

Marcus is Theatre and Performance major  here at Purchase, and a vibrant friend of mine whom I have never experienced a dull moment around!

He grew up in Saint Mary, Jamaica, until 2003, when he shifted gears and landed in Rockland County. It wasn’t until Marcus attended Clarkstown South High School that he began acting.”I was never in a main stage production until I came to Purchase and took a Media Arts class. My teacher, Char Large, got me into my first play.”

Marcus took part in a monologue competition that took place in Kingston, New York, and won first place! “That was where I got into acting. That was where my acting started taking shape.”

In his first main stage production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, that a friend of his, Michelle, saw his performance and casted him in her senior project, Crave. 

Michelle is now a part of a professional company, Elixer Productions, and introduced Marcus to them recently. As of last Sunday, Marcus as been invited to be a part of their company.

He is fulfilling the dream of almost every senior, an amazing job in their field, and I couldn’t be more proud of him!

Marcus Stewart and I

Haylee and Skylar

Haylee and Skylar are two incredibly talented friends of mine. Haylee is a Painting and Drawing major and Skylar is a Photography major both in the Visual Arts Conservatory here are Purchase. Together, they inspire each other with their art.

“I’m excited to creative this narrative between our work. Our form and color are so related without us even doing it on purpose, it just comes out that way,” said Skylar.

They will be displaying their work at their Senior Showcase, “Milk & Honey“,  taking place on Sunday, Marth 18th at the STOOD from 4:00p.m.-6:00p.m. “I’m excited to finally celebrate the work that we’ve done this year and the place we’ve gotten to and how much we have grown. We’ve grown a lot as artists, we’ve adapted to things and learned to take risks and be confident in ourselves, and all we’ve learned in school,” said Haylee.

Be sure to check it out!

Haylee Nichols 20×34 Acrylic on Canvas

Haylee Nichols 40×48 Acrylic on Canvas

Haylee Nichols 35×38 Acrylic on Canvas

Skylar Blum 24×30 Archival Pigment Print

Skylar Blum 24×30 Archival Pigment Print

Skylar Blum 24×30 Archival Pigment Print

Haylee Nichols 40×48 Acrylic on Canvas

Skylar Blum 24×30 Archival Pigment Print

Skylar Blum 24×30 Archival Pigment Print

Haylee Nichols 50×58 Acrylic on Canvas

Davy doing Yoga

Davy Levitan aka “Gravy Bellyjam,” is the guitar player for Mokaad, a funk band that started here at Purchase. I wanted to throw this video I made up to inspire you all to take some time out of your day and stretch those limbs, your body will thank you!

*I’m sorry for spelling your name wrong in the video!

LILLY TORRES GRACES US WITH HER PArts

Lilly Torres: Senior Arts Manager

Lilly Torres is a senior Arts Management major here at Purchase with a passion for music. In the past, she has interned with the hip hop radio station Hot 97, and is currently interning with the record label Def Jam, in their radio productions department.

Lilly is now  developing her senior project, which is quite valuable to all students at Purchase. She has created an app for smart phones called “PArts” or “Purchase Arts”. This is a new platform to help notify students of what’s hot on campus. Make sure you check out PArts’ Tumblr to preview commercials and screenshots of the app! http://sunyparts.tumblr.com/

Screenshot of PArts!

PArts WILL MAKE ITS DEBUT IN ROUGHLY TWO WEEKS!

If you have any suggestions for the app, click this link and let Lilly know! http://sunyparts.tumblr.com/post/13611529772/if-you-could-add-something-to-this-app-what-would-it

The King of Booty Poppin Music- Gabriel Garzon Montano

I met Gabe my freshman year in the quad. He has always been an awesome person to be around as he is extremely charasmatic, upbeat, and passionate about music.  No matter the circumstance, there is always music wherever Gabe is. He is the man of funk, the man of personality, and most importantly, the man of soul.

Gabe will be graduating next fall from the Music Production program. He will continue pushing to the top booking gigs in the city, recording with his band, and making opportunities happen.

Check out this Mokaad performance from last year in the STOOD!

To check out some amazing photos from their performance this weekend in the STOOD, check out my girl Jess Lehrman’s Tumblr!

http://photothuglife.tumblr.com/post/18267459459/mokaad-getting-funky-and-making-girls-clothes-melt