Music Will Set You Free
Hi Y’all,
I love music. I mean, I really love music. You may not know this about me, I’m not a television girl, so music is what I fill my life with. I have been to countless music festivals and I can usually be found with earbuds in when I’m working and when I’m running errands or exercising. I am almost always listening to some form of music.
I used to like Coachella, but it got too big. My current favorite festival is Lightning in a Bottle, but they have postponed their next festival to 2022. Same with Burning Man, while not technically a music festival, you will find more music at Burning Many than the top 10 music festivals combined. Festivals fill my summer with joy.
This year, I’m considering attending Bonnaroo for the first time. With several music festivals moving until next year, I figured I would pick a few events I haven’t been to yet. I’m also considering the New Orleans Jazz Festival in October mainly because I have a lot of friends that will be attending. I’d rather go to Buku or Voodoo Fest both are also held in New Orleans in October. Maybe, it’s time for an extended stay in New Orleans.
My favorite music is Electronic Dance Music (EDM), but I also like Rock & Roll, especially bands that dress in all black and play hard and loud. Don’t let that fool you though, I even listen to country music, I know shocking. Luckily, a lot of my favorite DJs have been live streaming during Covid, which has made it a lot cheaper to hear them than having to pay for the full festival experience.
It’s more than just music I’ve missed. It’s the people. Everyone jumping up and down, singing along, hands up in the air, dancing their booties off. Music, on its own, is great, but it’s even better when it is shared. Music is better when it is “experienced.”
Music at Lifestyle Events
When I went to my first lifestyle event, (a club in Los Angeles), I thought the music sucked. It was like I was stuck in a bad Prom. They even played the song from Grease. I mean, I know a lot of people love that movie, but at a lifestyle party? Come on.
As the years went on, the music got better. Lifestyle events in general pay more now for their DJs and entertainment than they did just a few years ago. I remember one year, when I first started working for Bob & Tess, we were taking over a club in Las Vegas for a party during one of our hotel takeover conventions and I headed over to the club to check on everything. We had hired a DJ to play our party, but when I arrived, I was met by Donald Glaude, one of my favorite, early-on DJs. He said he normally played on Fridays (“Thank Glaude it’s Friday”) at the club we rented and he asked if he could spin for a little while. He heard it was going to be a sexy crowd. Let’s just say that made my night. I got to shake my booty to a legend and it was all a magical coincidence.
Since that night, I’ve worked with several known name DJs like Scotty Boy as well as a growing pool of young and talented DJs that are taking the lifestyle industry by storm. One of those guys is DJ Illest Rich, one of my personal favorite “lifestyle circuit DJs”. Guys like Rich have played almost every major lifestyle event by making a name for themselves by spinning sexy music that is perfect for our crowd. His music is great, but I love him because he is so easy to work with, something that matters to the production guru in me.
Rockin Ronnie, another great DJ that has DJ’ed on cruises, at all of the lifestyle resorts and the biggest conventions and clubs in the US, started out in Studio 54, the infamous club in NYC. He told me once that DJ’ing at Studio 54 and at lifestyle events is almost the same. Get funky, sexy, and play stuff your crowd knows and you’ll do just fine.
To be honest, I am a rocker chick and all, but working and attending lifestyle parties has opened me up to artists that I never would have heard otherwise. Jen Porter is one of those artists that I never would have known, had she not performed on one of our Naughty Cruises (and every Naughty Event and cruise since). She is very popular as our Naughty Piano Player, but she is so much fun to watch. I got sucked in on the second night of that cruise. I was off that night and walked by the piano lounge and popped my head in for a minute to check on her and say hi. About 3 hours later and with way too many beers, I walked away a true fan of this woman. Not only is she an amazing singer, but she is funny (OK, hilarious) and she has the best toasts ever (and so many of them).
The best part of music in the Lifestyle is I know each and every one of these amazing artists and musicians. They are my friends like the real ones you call up and chat with at random to catch up on life. Yes, I go to some amazing festivals and see some top lineups but I can tell you I don’t have a close relationship with those artists. That’s a unique connection you get at a Lifestyle party.
I’m just glad that live music is back in most places, festivals are finally happening, and that we have Illest Rich, Rocking Ronnie, and Jen Porter all at this year’s Naughty N’awlins.
I may not wait until August, the Hollywood Bowl (my favorite music venue) just announced their upcoming lineup and I might just have to go see a show soon…
See you on the dance floor.
Much Love,
Minx🖤💋
Minx’s Monthly Mind Expansion:
May’s Thought:
I’ve had hours flash by like minutes while dancing around the house doing chores to this man’s beats. So follow him and get your booty shaking on, just like me.