10/02/2020
"In order for us [the entertainment industry] to not only stay alive but to thrive, we must support each other in our endeavors" - Bridget Benton, CFAC Assistant Dean at BYU and Producer
I know many of us are holding our breaths as we watch so many beloved venues permanently close their doors and bands announce they will no longer be producing music. But don't worry - the tradition of music in Utah Valley isn't going away anytime soon.
I went to high school in a suburb of Detroit called Royal Oak. Royal Oak is a vibrant community of art festivals, fantastic local restaurants, and overall... Well... Community! This small and humble city has produced entertainment industry names such as Glen Fry from The Eagles, Kristen Bell, Sutton Foster, Jeffrey Sellers, Yana Perrault, and I'm sure many more to come. I think the success of this quaint midwestern town comes from the generations old tradition of arts in the experience that is Royal Oak.
For example, my high school choir program produced a concert that my Papa had performed in the 60s. When we would go fundraise for the program, local business owners not only would let us busk in front of their stores, but would encourage it and find other opportunities to share our talents. They often said they had been in the same program or their brother or niece or that their kid would be joining in a year or so. The tradition of music is so important in this community that, instead of cutting the art programs during the recession, we cut school bussing and found ways to get each other to school. Even though many of my former classmates are not putting careers in music, the skills taught in this industry help individual's to thrive.
I don't usually put calls-to-action in my posts but here are two for you: don't give up and build each other during this time. For some of you, that means releasing your music. For others, that could me allowing an artist to play for your patrons. It could even mean buying some merch from your favorite local band and sharing it on your IG story.
Comment below what you've done to share the tradition of music.