Backyard Shows: My DIY Production & Promotion Experience

During my junior year at USC, I took a class called Live Music Production and Promotion. The class was all about learning by doing, so our final project was to put on a concert. With no budget, little to no experience, and limited guidance from our professors, this was quite the challenge. But my group managed to pull together the largest show of the class at an iconic venue: The Troubadour.

But that's a story for another post. What's most significant about this experience is that it sparked my passion for independent show promotion. I wanted to repeat what we had done at The Troubadour, putting all the pieces together and creating an experience that brought people joy. So a couple months later, I produced another concert on my own.

Called "F*ck Finals Freaky Friday," the show took place in a backyard with a porch for a stage. It was not seamless by any means - in fact, campus security showed up with a noise complaint before the opener even took the stage - but the show went on. And for my first DIY show, it was remarkably successful. With three acts, a couple hundred attendees, and no more noise complaints, it boosted my confidence in my ability to execute under pressure.

A couple co-produced shows later, I put on my second independent event: "Kiss Me @ The Pearl," a Valentine's Day themed concert. Having learned from my mistakes, I was able to avoid hiccups and improve the event's overall quality. This go-around around came with its own unique challenges, of course - I was short of a drum kit just hours before doors opened - but the show went on once again. And just like the first, it was not only objectively successful, but also immensely fulfilling for me.

Whether or not my career takes me further into concert production and promotion, these experiences have been pivotal in my growth as a professional. The risk-taking and problem-solving skills I developed, along with my understanding of how all the pieces come together in the days leading up to an event, are assets I will use no matter where I end up.