Harmony Stewart

Promoter - Carny - Linchpin

A Few Accomplishments:• Writer: I began writing for magazines while finishing my English Degree, and my

work has appeared in a number of publications, including the Commercial Appeal, Memphis Flyer, and Downtowner Magazine. For two years, I was the Memphis Nightlife writer for About.com, A New York Times Company.

• Photographer: I have an educational background in photography and have always provided the photographs for my journalism assignments as well as for artistic endeavors.

• Promoter: As a web writer for About.com, writing about events, venues, bands, etc., I am experienced in SEO. Working with venues, artists, and businesses, I promoted my nightlife recommendations on the web. In addition, as the Events Coordinator for the South Main Association, I likewise, planned and promoted events via social media and internet marketing.

• Film : I have dabbled in digital shorts and won Third Place with my first attempt in a 2008 ArtsMemphis contest. I won Most Creative Interpretation in the Oct. 2009 Live From Memphis Li’l Film Fest 11, and one of my films appeared in the 14th

Annual Indie Memphis Film Festival (2010).

• Events: I am responsible for starting some unusual community events, such as the Downtown Olympics and a Ninja Parade, as well as coordinating events for Downtown Memphis’ South Main Historic Arts District. I have also worked as the Operations Assistant for Memphis In May International Festival 2009 - 2012.

With my unique set of skills:

• In festival/event operations • As a creative, strategic, resourceful coordinator• As a web writer, photographer, and social media

marketer• As a networking team player who makes things

happen • And as a mad multi-tasker who thrives in a fast-

paced environment

I am a…

Linchpinlinch·pin noun \ˈlinch-ˌpin\: one that serves to hold together parts or elements that exist or function as a unit

Linchpin is a book by Seth Godin on how to make oneself indispensable in the workplace. The above image is from the book cover.

After some of the Memphis In May Festival staff read the book in 2010, the Operations crew adopted the cover image as our own personal logo because, well, it’s a fist holding a lightning bolt for crying out loud.

Similarly, we had an equally bad-ass (although unfortunate) Operations logo for the unholy year that was 2011. The logo was based on a dead blackbird hanging upside down in a tree near our on-site office trailer. It hung there, like the bad omen it was, through wind, storms, rain, and ultimately, the flooding of the Mississippi River.

Memphis In May International FestivalAssistant to Director of Operations – 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012

MIM EXPERIENCEIn addition to managing the on-site Operations office, hiring and managing seasonal Ops and Production employees, I solve a vast array of problems as they arise throughout the Beale Street Music Festival, World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest, and Sunset Symphony.

• Make executive decisions regarding security, transportation, venue, and more

• Responsible for accounts payable and thousands of dollars of petty cash.

• Point person for Communications, catering, stage management, electricians, and Operations liaison for all departments

• Simultaneously address administrative duties and other issues, such as quickly procuring supplies and services for site prep, repairs, artist requests, and emergency management

As mentioned, 2011 was a special year for Memphis In May. There were threats of tornadoes, a historic flood, and two changes of venue – from Tom

Lee Park, to the Liberty Bowl, and back again .

Commercial Appeal time lapse video of Music Fest during Mississippi River crest.

Experienced in emergency management, including site evacuation, injuries, and other safety and security issues.

ARTIST RELATIONSI have three years of experience dealing with artists and celebrities, including high talent, such as:

Ben Harper, Snoop Dogg, Ke$ha, Cee-Lo Green, Al Kapone, Cake, MGMT, Flaming Lips, John Mellencamp, Mumford & Sons, George Clinton, Jerry Lee Lewis, Macy Gray, JJ Grey and Mofro, Ziggy Marley, Ludacris, Gregg Allman, The Avett Brothers, Everclear, Stone Temple Pilots, Cage the Elephant, Lucero, Blind Mississippi Morris, Sublime, Wilco, Florence + The Machine and more.

Photos by Harmony Stewart

MORE ON WRITING & PROMOTING:

As a freelance writer, my work has appeared in several publications including Memphis Downtowner Magazine, The Memphis Flyer, and The Commercial Appeal. I graduated with an English degree in Creative Writing from The University of Memphis.

Since 2004, I have been a photographer and freelance writer, and since 2009, a Contributing Writer on Memphis Nightlife for About.com, A New York Times Company.

As a writer on nightlife and as the Events Coordinator for the South Main Historic Arts District, I have worked with venues, businesses, and sponsors and implemented web writing, SEO, social media, and guerilla marketing techniques to successfully promote numerous events, bands, and venues.

Some Samples of Promotional Writing for the Web:

• Best Memphis Music Venues• Tribute to Punk Musician Jay Reatard• International Blues Challenge • Beale Street Music Venues• South Main Memphis Nightlife• Memphis In May International Festival

Promotional PhotographyAll photos by Harmony Stewart

Photography by Harmony Stewart

Robert Earl Keen at Minglewood Hall, Memphis.Sheryl Crow at Mud Island Amphitheatre.

Photography by Harmony Stewart

Elvis Impersonator Contest, Orpheum Theater, Memphis

Snoop Dogg at Minglewood Hall, Memphis

As the VP and Events/PR Coordinator for the SMA, I was responsible for the overall management of monthly Trolley Tours, meetings, and various events.

Designed in Google SketchUp 8. The SMA is a non-profit Memphis Historic Arts District organization.

South Main Association VP and Events CoordinatorJune 2010 – October 2011

Managed volunteers, designed and implemented the construction of SMA’s holiday parade float (Dec. 2010), which included the mobile

performance of a rock band

Street Festival Production

Trolley Tours are street festivals that occur monthly in Downtown Memphis’ South Main Historic Arts District.

As the Events Coordinator for the neighborhood association, my responsibilities included:

• Conceptualizing and finding entertainment

• Set-up and tear-down of beer and wine sales, membership and cooking contest tents

• Cross-promoting with Downtown businesses and the use of sales techniques

• Coordinating volunteers

Photo property of South Main Association

ADDITIONAL RELEVANT EXPERIENCE

Downtown Olympics Organizer/founder of Downtown Olympics, multi-competition October 2008, 2009 community event.

Fundraising, including selling sponsorships Managed a committee to obtain permits, prepare venues

and events and to design/create t-shirts, banners, and awards

Promoted and coordinated with 15 businesses and 40+ participants to present a successful event

Sponsor bar experienced record sales

DTO 2009 Promo Video by Harmony Stewart

River Arts Fest 2010 Assisted, as a volunteer, with set-up of festival preview party Max’s Sports Bar Conceptualize and coordinate various holiday and sports-related February 2009 – 2010 events, such as Bracket Buster, St. Patrick’s Day, and Mardi Gras

promotional parties. Bar generally experiences at least 30% increase over

regular Saturday night sales NBA – Memphis Grizzlies Acted as liaison, by request, to assemble committee and assist in October – November 2010 planning of Downtown Night promotion Live From Memphis Assisted this artist promoting organization with fundraising for October 2009 quarterly Li’l Film Fest Memphis on the Rocks Assisted host organization City Taste in volunteer coordination. June 2010

REFERENCES

Merek Swaim, VP of Operations – Memphis In May901.525.4611

Billy Klein, Site Coordinator – Memphis In May251.284.1233

Carol Lott, Past President – SMA901.461.4869

Leslie Gower, Downtown Memphis Commissiongower@downtownmemphis.com