festivalPass Stories

Attention, festival fanatics!! We are inching closer to experiencing the energy of live events again! This week, our host, Pat Tully sits down with another outstanding guest. A cinema favorite, actor, Holt McCallany. 

Who doesn’t love movies? These days, watching a film is a form of entertainment that isn’t the same. Eating popcorn and sitting in a theater to watch an anticipated blockbuster is a part of our culture. We love the actors and actresses that play in these movies and Holt has had the pleasure of working with some of the best actors and directors of this generation. Some of Holt’s best work, like his role as the mechanic in “Fight Club,” and his performance in “Mindhunter” as Bill Tench, were directed by the great David Fincher. 

This episode embodies what Festival Pass Stories is all about. One of the best stories that we’ve heard on this show is how Holt made his move to Hollywood at the age of 14. Passion, focus on one’s crafts, and passing knowledge to like-minded individuals is what Holt McCallany is all about. Taught by mentors like the great Jack Lemmon, Holt has learned that helping other artists is just as important as his own success. Holt has helped many people’s careers by giving back his time. 

We know that our audience appreciates the dedication of those who have come on festivalPass Stories podcast. Acting isn’t all about being a celebrity, it’s about hard work. Acting is based on a lot of practice and research. Holt gives us amazing stories of studying people he’s played, like boxing legend Teddy Atlas in the HBO Film, “Tyson”. Holt McCallany’s attention to detail is why he’s been working in the business for over 35 years, and he continues to thrive with more films coming out this year. 

Great actor, producer, and an all-around fun guy, Holt McCallany is extremely talented and well respected. Fans of cinema know that Holt is consistently in good films, and he always delivers a solid performance. This episode has a special place in the Festival Pass archive. 

“I love film festivals. And the reason is that the people you meet there are people that are really passionate about cinema. And I’ve been passionate about it from the time I was a child.” - Holt McCallany

Catch the interview on Festival Pass Stories! https://festivalpass.com/stories

Resources:

Holt McCallany’s Website-  http://holtmccallany.com

Holt McCallany’s IMDB- https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0564697/

Holt McCallany’s Twitter- https://twitter.com/HoltMcCallany

Holt McCallany’s Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/holtmccallany/

Connect with Festival Pass!

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/getfestivalpass/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/festival_pass/

Twitter - https://twitter.com/pass_festival

Website - https://festivalpass.com/

Welcome back to festivalPass Stories Podcast! This week, we had the pleasure to sit down with Andrew Parsons and Kelly Gray, the co-founders of Real Music Events. You do not want to miss this one. 

If you’ve been with us from the start, you know that we have a love for Texas. RealMusic Events is an event production company based in Austin, Texas that provides its audience with a one of a kind, live music experience, specializing in Electronic Dance Music (or EDM). As fans of festivals, they believe what separates their events from others, is that they cater to the people who are passionate about the music and the lifestyle. EDM has so many other sub-genres like House and Dubstep, that it could be challenging to satisfy everyone that comes to these shows. However, RealMusic Events does it with ease. 

It’s very interesting to hear how Kelly and Andrew structure their shows, especially their biggest annual event. Seismic Dance Event is a live music show that every EDM fan should know about. This year, Seismic 3.3 will be a three-day event in Austin, scheduled for May 21st - 23rd. The list of performers that will be present at this show is absolutely amazing. Some of the acts that will be there are The Martinez Brothers, Spektre, and Bob Moses to name a few. You can find more info about the event on RealMusic’s website and social media profiles. Tickets are selling out fast, so make sure to put down a deposit to hold your spot. 

Every live event will have to be done differently this year with the COVID-19 health and safety restrictions. Unfortunately, cancelations and rescheduling have been a theme during the pandemic, especially for the live events industry. But COVID-19 hasn’t stopped Kelly and Andrew from innovating new ways to make shows intimate, yet safe. Seismic 3.3 will have a few new wrinkles this year, like adding an extra day to the event and using pods at the various stages. They’ve also staggered the times and days of their acts to make it easier for patrons to see more of the talent in one day. 

Pat, Kelly, and Andrew have a lot of fun in this episode, and that’s what you love to see from the founders of an Electronic Dance Music production company. EDM is all about passion, and RealMusic Events certainly captures the vibes.

“Everything we do, we do it how we would like to experience things.” - Kelly Gray, Real Music 

Catch the interview on Festival Pass Stories! https://festivalpass.com/stories

You can find Kelly and Andrew on: 

Real Music Event’s Website-  https://www.realmusic.events

Real Music Event’s Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/realmusicevents/ 

Seismic 3.3 Dance Event’s Website- https://seismicdanceevent.com 

Seismic 3.3 Dance Event’s Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/seismicdanceevent/ 

Connect with Festival Pass!

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/getfestivalpass/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/festival_pass/

Twitter - https://twitter.com/pass_festival

Website - https://festivalpass.com/

Hello Festival Pass family! We promised big things in the new year, and that’s exactly what we’re giving you in this week’s episode. Taking you behind the scenes is what we do here on the festivalPass Stories Podcast. Our man Pat Tully sits down with a legend in the business, Mr. Geoff Cottrill. 

Marketing is such an important division, especially for larger corporations. Geoff has accomplished so much in his career for some of the biggest brands, not only in the United States but on the planet. He’s held positions at the top of companies like Proctor & Gamble and was the Senior Vice President of Strategic Marketing at Coca Cola. He was also the Vice President at Starbucks Entertainment Hear Music, and you know how great the tunes are if you’ve ever been in a Starbucks cafe. This would already be an impressive, dreamlike resume for any marketer if we stopped there. However, Geoff is most known for serving as the Chief Marketing Officer of Converse. 

Working for the Nike subsidiary from 2007 to 2016, Geoff played a part in the genius shifts in branding that Converse has made over the years. What started as a sneaker company with a focus on the basketball community, is now one of the top shoe brands for skateboarders. Geoff talks about how Converse’s marketing plan at South by Southwest had the audience in mind and was done for those who love the festival. During this time, companies are quick to make an ad without really thinking about what the consumer wants. You can tell that Geoff is a real people person; a measurable that directly affects his success as one of the world’s best marketers. 

In an era like we’re going through today, we need professionals and executives who care about something other than the bottom line, and Geoff certainly falls into that category. Not only is he respected for work in marketing, but Geoff also plays a huge part in his community as a philanthropist. He was given a position as a vice-chair for MusiCares, a charitable organization that is linked to the Grammy Awards. Now, Geoff is working on the board for another non-profit in Atlanta, Georgia that is associated with helping restaurant workers. 

With the COVID-19 pandemic, elections, and social unrest, it’s hard to find someone who is as positive about the return of live events as Geoff is. Brandweek’s 2010 “Marketer of the Year” gives us all a bit of hope for the future in this exciting new episode of festivalPass Stories. 

“I think you’ve got to understand your consumers, and what’s important to them.” - Geoff Cottrill

Catch the interview on Festival Pass Stories! https://festivalpass.com/stories

You can find Geoff on:

Twitter- https://twitter.com/yogmoney 

Instagram-  https://www.instagram.com/geoffcottrill/

Geoff Cottrill’s Blog- https://yogmoney.wordpress.com

LinkedIn- https://www.linkedin.com/in/geoffreycottrill/

Connect with Festival Pass!

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/getfestivalpass/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/festival_pass/

Twitter - https://twitter.com/pass_festival

Website - https://festivalpass.com/

Happy New Year Festival Family! We finally made it to 2021, and we are kicking off the year right. We’re big movie buffs here at Festival Pass, so it’s always a delight to have someone on the inside who knows the biz. On this week's episode, we have the artistic director of one of the most exclusive film festivals in the country. It was our honor to start the year with professional film binge watcher, James Faust. 

James has been a part of the Dallas film scene for some time now. His love of movies has been the catalyst to not only his success, but all of the film festivals that he has been involved in in his career. A Red Raider through and through (despite his bio claiming he’s a Las Vegas Raiders fan), James acquired degrees in Theatre and Telecommunications at Texas Tech University. Later, he furthered his education in the arts by receiving a degree at Southern Methodist University (SMU) in Cinema Studies. His determination and affection for storytelling has led to his ascent as a film professional, and earned him recognition at the very best film festivals across the world. 

“James Faust likes to rock and watch movies,” a fitting quote from his biography. James has been a speaker and served on many film festival juries. On average, James says that he watches about five films a day during the process of choosing movies for these events; his record is seven in one day! Analyzing films isn’t the only thing that James can do. He has also worked as a grip on classic television shows and movies like “Walker Texas Ranger” and “Armageddon”. James has been in attendance at Cannes, Toronto Film Festival, Sundance, and South by Southwest.

James is most known for his work and accomplishments at the Dallas International Film Festival (DIFF). James started as DIFF’s (then called AFI Dallas) Senior Programmer, back when the festival first began in 2006. What makes the Dallas International Film Festival so unique, is the diversity of the films, and the support that it continues to get from volunteers and sponsors. DIFF has screened over 2000 films, with representation from over 50 countries. The festival hands out over $1,000,000 in prizes, so if your work is accepted, you can win money, camera packages, and the heat that comes with screening your art on a colossal stage. 

Even during COVID, film festivals are events that can benefit from live streaming, and that’s exactly the direction that DIFF is taken. Unfortunately, film submissions are closed this year, but you can still enjoy the great movies by purchasing a ticket for June, and watch films on their virtual cinema.

“The first couple years, it was incredible how we were building a new film community like they’ve done in Austin.” - James Faust

Catch the interview on Festival Pass Stories! https://festivalpass.com/stories

You can find James on:

Twitter- https://twitter.com/jamesfaustDIFF

Dallas International Film Festival’s Website- https://dallasfilm.org/diff

Dallas International Film Festival’s Twitter- https://twitter.com/WeAreDallasFilm/

Dallas International Film Festival’s Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/WeAreDallasFilm/

Connect with Festival Pass!

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/getfestivalpass/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/festival_pass/

Twitter - https://twitter.com/pass_festival

Website - https://festivalpass.com/

Hello Festival Pass fans, and Happy Holidays! We are all excited for the new year and hopeful for a return to normalcy for live events in the near future. To close out festivalPass Stories 2020 season, we have someone that has been in the entertainment industry for almost 30 years now. This week Pat Tully sits down with the founder and president of Metro Tickets, Mr. Dave Christopherson. 

This episode is a special one because we got to interview a legend who started his company from the ground up and fueled it with his passion for festivals and live events. Dave has always been a concert buff and has been to some of the most iconic shows in the last few decades. He’s also been to some of the biggest sporting events on the collegiate and professional levels. For someone who loves live music so much, it’s easy to see how Dave got into the industry. But how he tells the story, it’s a career that found him. 

Dave is a Texas native, and he stumbled on a ticket broker, trying to go to a Ron Stewart concert. Then, fate got involved as the ticket broker asked Dave if he wanted to work there. He accepted the man’s offer, and the rest is history. Dave found something that wanted to do, and he had a great mentor to show him the way. Later on, he realized that he could go into business for himself, and in September 1992, Metro Tickets was born. Today, Metro Tickets is one of the premier ticket sellers in the country for music and sports. Dave has grown from a Texas kid who just sat in the stands, to the respected businessman you see on our show. 

Metro Tickets has shown exponential growth over time, but like many other sectors of the industry, the business has significantly slowed down in 2020. This is specifically true for music concerts. At one point, Dave states that live music was about 80% of Metro Tickets revenue, with sports taking the other 20%. In 2020, this revenue model has completely flip-flopped. There are signs of optimism, as COVID-19 vaccines are becoming more available to the public, and Dave believes that once live events are back, Metro Tickets will be back and better than ever. It’s important that we all keep fighting and practicing safety precautions, because the faster the pandemic ends, the faster festivals will be back in full effect.

Dave Christopherson has been in the company of so many talented people that we admire. With someone that’s so connected, it’s hard to have a time limit for this episode. Festival Pass Podcast is all about the stories and connections that we don’t see as fans, and Dave brings some of the best ones yet from active athletes and performers, and from some of those iconic names that we’ve lost. 

“You’re welcome to give us a call here at Metro Tickets. I’m here five, six days a week, and we’ve been in the same place for about 30 years.” - Dave Christopherson

Catch the interview on Festival Pass Stories!

 https://festivalpass.com/stories

You can find Dave on:

Twitter- https://twitter.com/davemasterc 

Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/davemasterc/

Email- [email protected] 

Metro Ticket’s Website- http://www.metrotickets.com 

Connect with Festival Pass!

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/getfestivalpass/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/festival_pass/

Twitter - https://twitter.com/pass_festival

Website - https://festivalpass.com/

Happy Friday Festival Pass friends! In this week’s episode, host Pat Tully interviews one of the absolute best in the entertainment business, Mimi Renee!

Mimi Renee is a woman of many talents. During her college years, she entered the political sphere working on various campaigns. Shortly after, Mimi began her career in the entertainment business, more specifically, the fashion industry. Now, she is known as one of the elite live event planners in the United States. Mimi is well respected for her hard work and creativity, and some of the top companies in entertainment want a chance to collaborate with her. 

Being active in sociopolitical issues is something that Mimi has always been passionate about. She brings that energy and influence to every festival or production that she is a part of. The pandemic has been rough on everyone, including the individuals that work tirelessly to give us those joyous memories at live events that we all miss so much. As the mother of a bi-racial daughter, Mimi is also very vocal about social injustice issues; she believes that festivals are a unique medium to bring people together from all walks of life, and that live events and equality should always go hand in hand. 

Since the global pandemic has forced us all to take a step back and look at the bigger picture, Mimi is working on a new project that is sure to take off, given her track record. She has recently made the transition from event producer based mainly in the Metro Atlanta area to the founder of a startup with roots in Colorado. Next Week Productions is her new company that, “builds digital and literal platforms to amplify your message.” This is certainly a service that we will keep an eye on in 2021; and you should too if you’re in need of event management, consultation, and/or digital design. 

Pat and Mimi have one of the most personal and deep conversations that we’ve ever had on Festival Pass Stories. For those out there that want to understand the level of resilience and drive it takes to be successful in this industry, listen to Mimi Renee. Mimi is the cream-of-the-crop when it comes to event coordination, and like Pat states, “she has the hardware to prove it.”

“Events and politics; you cannot extract the two. It’s a big part of what I do when I do come into an area or venue.” - Mimi Renee 

Catch the interview on Festival Pass Stories! https://festivalpass.com/stories

You Can Find Mimi On:

Next Week Productions’ Website- https://nextweekproductions.com

Next Week Productions’ Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/nextweekproductions/

Next Week Productions’ Email-[email protected] 

Mimi Renee’s Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/heymimirenee/ 

Connect with Festival Pass!

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/getfestivalpass/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/festival_pass/

Twitter - https://twitter.com/pass_festival

Website - https://festivalpass.com/

What’s up Festival Pass fans! This week, host Pat Tully sits down with comedian and podcast host, Tom Kelly. 

For those of you who do not know who Tom Kelly is, he’s one of the best warmup comedians in the business. His resume as a warm-up comic is impressive, to say the least. It includes network television shows like “ABC’s The View”, “The $100,000 Pyramid”, and “America’s Got Talent”. There aren’t many jobs across the country for comedians to work on Nationally televised programs. So, the fact that Tom has so many big names that he’s worked for, is beyond notable. What is even more remarkable about Tom’s career, is that he isn’t known in the live-event circles as just a comic, he brings much more to the table. 

Outside of being a comedian, Tom Kelly is an extremely talented host, actor, and producer. He’s worked on a variety of fundraisers and auctions like Self Help Africa, The Skin Cancer Foundation, and The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Additionally, our host Pat Tully, who is also an auctioneer, has set Tom up with a few auction gigs in the past. Tom is also available to book for virtual Zoom events, and even officiating weddings and has worked with iHeart Media as an executive producer and co-writer on a few shows. 

Recently, like millions of Americans, Tom tested positive for COVID-19. But he fought through and is now free of the virus, but it wasn’t easy for him, and it still left some lingering effects. He stated that he wouldn’t wish the coronavirus on his worst enemy, and hopes to do more live events once the pandemic is over. Still, Tom has used the time to his advantage, and was able to improve his brand, while also working on a few passion projects, including the Tom Kelly Show, available on Youtube. 

Rarely do you hear someone that is so funny, genuine, and full of wisdom, like the one and only, Tom Kelly. We just love how he naturally connects to an audience, making it easy to see why he’s able to make a living doing so. Not only does he give Festival Pass listeners valuable information about working in the industry, but he also shares some hilarious stories, and wonderful life lessons too. This interview is definitely a treat to watch. 

“I love anything with a light and a microphone…I think a festival’s a great spot to see entertainment.” - Tom Kelly 

Catch the interview on Festival Pass Stories! https://festivalpass.com/stories

You can find Tom on:

Tom Kelly Show’s Twitter-  https://twitter.com/tomkellyshow

Tom Kelly Show’s Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/tomkellyshow/

Tom Kelly Show’s Website- https://tomkellyshow.com

Tom Kelly Show’s YouTube- https://www.youtube.com/user/TomKellyShow

Connect with Festival Pass!

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/getfestivalpass/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/festival_pass/

Twitter - https://twitter.com/pass_festival

Website - https://festivalpass.com/

This week host Pat Tully has a great conversation with an old friend of his. He is the founder of “The Craicfest” and the Brooklyn Oysterfest, Terence Mulligan. 

Back in 1998, Terence started Craicfest as a non-profit organization after being inspired by his countryman, and the wave of New Irish Cinema. There was sort of a renaissance of the arts going on with Irish creatives, and not only did Terence want to be a part of it, he also wanted to spearhead the movement, and bring these pieces of work to a larger audience. Going into its 23rd year, it’s safe to say that Terence and his team have fulfilled his dream of creating more diversity and awareness in the film circuit. 

This year has been an obstacle that we all have done our best to make the most of, and Terence and his event was not an exception. Unfortunately, Terence was diagnosed with COVID-19 earlier this year. But he stayed positive and fought his way back to recovery. Now, he and his team are showing that same determination when it comes to Craicfest. We are used to hearing live events getting canceled one after another this year, however, Craicfest will continue virtually. They also have a couple of films that we are pretty excited to watch; and to any Irish filmmakers out there, The Craic is still accepting submissions for documentaries, shorts, and features. 

Craicfest isn’t the only festival that Terence has a hand in. This year was also the 6th annual Rockaway Oyster Fest that took place in late September. Not only is this event known for great food, but also live music, and good beer too. The Oyster Fest also takes place in Chicago and Brooklyn New York as well. 

Everyone has the potential to throw a great festival, and Terence gives a lot of encouragement for whoever may be listening to do just that. It’s always special when Pat gets together with one of his buddies in the industry, and this episode is definitely filled with laughs and wonderful stories. It’s cool to see how much pride Terence has in where he’s from, the business he’s in, and what it does for the community. 

“This is how you sell Irish arts in New York. You have to rely on people who are more established, and who have influence.” - Terence Mulligan 

To learn more about #craicfest and their 50 films for $50 bucks promo, head to their website!

Catch the interview on Festival Pass Stories! https://festivalpass.com/stories

You can find Terence on: 

Craicfest’s Twitter- https://twitter.com/CraicFest

Craicfest’s Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/craicfest/

Craicfest’s Website-  https://thecraicfest.com

Rockaway Oyster Fest’s Facebook-  https://www.facebook.com/rockawayoysterfest/

Connect with Festival Pass!

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/getfestivalpass/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/festival_pass/

Twitter - https://twitter.com/pass_festival

Website - https://festivalpass.com/

Hello to all of the festival fanatics out there! This week, our host Pat Tully interviewed CEO and founder of Up All Night Music Group, Josh Rothstein. 

Josh is a young star in the business who got his start in the music industry as a promoter. He has held positions in Downtown Records and Atlantic Records, and his career path continued to blossom onward. Josh has experience on the road after touring with country music star Luke Bryan, and platinum recording artist MAX. During his years at Hamilton College, Josh learned that he had a knack for putting together live events; some of the names that he got on campus were Lupe Fiasco and Charli XCX. Now, as a young alum, Josh counties to give back to his alma mater in the form of live and virtual events. 

These tools would later come in handy to advance Josh’s career in festivals. Fast forward to November 2019, Josh Rothstein created Up All Night Music Group, “a one-stop-shop for bringing your live and virtual events to life.” Josh started this new endeavor with a few of his friends, and his girlfriend; people that Josh commends for the early success of Up All Night Music Group. So far, they have worked with a few big names in the music industry including Shaed, Penelope, and Chelsea Cutler. They have also partnered with some iconic venues like The Bowery Electric. 

As of right now, the music industry has taken a major hit in live shows, a sector of the business that accounts for the bulk of revenue for artists all over the world. While it’s unfortunate that COVID-19 has stalled large gatherings as a whole, Josh and his team have pivoted towards hosting virtual events, and they look forward to the return of live music as we all do. 

This is yet another captivating episode from Pat Tully, and one of the top up-and-comers in the biz today. As an expert in entertainment, Josh seems to be very optimistic about festivals in the future, and it should give us all a bit of hope. 

“There’s a couple of artists who I’ve been lucky to get to know very well, who I believe in. And now, through Up All Night, we have a vehicle to do it.” - Josh Rothstein 

Catch the interview on Festival Pass Stories!

https://festivalpass.com/stories

You can find Josh on: 

Twitter-  https://twitter.com/joshmrothstein

Facebook-  https://www.instagram.com/jmr110/

Up All Night Music Group’s Website-  https://www.upallnightmusicgroup.com

Up All Night Music Group’s Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/upallnight_musicgroup/

Connect with Festival Pass!

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/getfestivalpass/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/festival_pass/

Twitter - https://twitter.com/pass_festival

Website - https://festivalpass.com/

Welcome back friends! This week we have a very special guest for our listeners and viewers that love thriller and horror films. Our host Pat Tully has an insightful virtual sit-down with the creator of Sareth Fest, the multi-talented, Sareth Ney.

If you’re new to Festival Pass, this show is all about sharing stories of industry professionals that have a hand in the tough grind that is putting on a live event for a large crowd. Everyone is passionate about something, and that’s usually how festivals get off of the ground. For those who have aspirations of creating a festival of their very own this episode will inspire you to do so. 

As a product of Cambodian immigrants who fled their country to create a better life in the U.S. His father was at war in his native country when he decided to make a change, and exhibited sacrifice and courage; ideals that Sareth credits his life and accomplishments to. Sareth has shown astonishing dedication to his craft, and a relentlessness in pursuing his dreams and because of this, he has become very successful in his industry.

When his parents came to America, they started over in Colorado, a place known for fostering some of the most creative talent across the board; they’re also known for throwing an awesome festival too. Here is where Sareth began to work under the tutelage of genius novelist and film director, Clive Barker, the creator that’s responsible for titles like “Hellraiser” and “Candyman”.  While working under Barker, Sareth set in motion what would later become, Sareth Fest and his very own production company, A Quarter and a Dream Pictures.

Sareth Fest has now been around for 10 years, and has gone virtual since the pandemic. Not many festivals gives their audience a little bit of everything as far as music, comedy, and film, but Sareth and his team pulls it off perfectly. Sareth Ney exudes adoration for the film and live events industry. He also has a genuine personality and positive outlook, traits that you love to see in times like these. However, it wasn’t always easy for him, making this one of the most touching episodes on the show to date.

“So I walk in and out of the blue, Clive Barker walks up the stairs and I’m like, ‘this is not happening.’” - Sareth Ney

Catch the interview on Festival Pass Stories! https://festivalpass.com/stories

You can find Sareth on: 

Twitter- https://twitter.com/sarethfest

Facebook-  https://www.facebook.com/sarethfest/

Instagram-  https://www.instagram.com/sarethfest/

A Quarter and a Dream Pictures-  http://www.aqdpi.com

Connect with Festival Pass!

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/getfestivalpass/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/festival_pass/

Twitter - https://twitter.com/pass_festival

Website - https://festivalpass.com/