Today we’d like to introduce you to Shelby Short.
Hi Shelby, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Like most people in the music industry, I started out going to shows when I was about 14-15 years old while living in the Atlanta area. I was really into music and playing guitar and after going to my first local show, I found a real connection with the sense of community and live environment that came with it. I helped out at a local music venue called The Skyline in Dallas, GA. It was a tiny, hole in the wall venue in the middle of nowhere. The venue inevitably was closing down and I decided to book a show to try to make money so the owner wouldn’t close the venue. The show did really well but being 15, I had no idea the extent of the logistics involved with trying to run a business, so the venue closed.
I quickly began volunteering at another venue a little further away called The Seven Venue in Douglasville, GA. It was a much larger venue with multiple stages and a much bigger impact on the community. I became one of the core members of their team very quickly and within a few months began booking shows at this venue. Being around so many touring bands, I ended up getting hired to tour with a band called The Chariot as soon as I graduated high school at the young age of 17. I was with The Chariot for about a year and a half until I began jumping between some other bands I had become friends with and worked for while on tour. Over the next few years, I ended up touring with Greeley Estates, Veara, The Color Morale, Chiodos, Sum 41, The Plot in You, Mod Sun, The Air I Breathe, Issues, Pvris, Bring Me The Horizon, All Time Low, Panic At The Disco, The Used, and some others. At the same time, I was booking shows around the Atlanta area and utilizing my contacts from touring to fill the calendar and be on all sides of the touring/live music industry. The Seven Venue eventually closed due to Georgia Department of Transportation buying the building out and the owner retired without reopening in a new location. At the time, I had 152 Productions brand beginning and I started booking shows throughout Atlanta and Macon. I continued until my touring schedule got so hectic I could not keep up with it anymore.
At around 25 years old, I decided I needed to figure out what was going to be next for me and over time landed that I was so invested in Theme Parks that I should take my expertise from stage design and production management into the design side of theme parks. So I quit touring and went to school and got a Bachelor’s in Mechatronics Engineering and now I am a Project Manager for a Control Systems Engineering firm that designs for major theme parks that exist in the Orlando area.
Upon getting settled into my newest position and moving to Orlando full time, I decided to relaunch 152 Productions in Orlando with a new brand and beginning to build a local community. I’ve been working with several rooms in the area along with some venues in Jacksonville, St. Augustine, and Tampa. So far, so good, and I’m enjoying meeting the people I have and beginning to see some moments being made with guests and artists alike.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Absolutely not. It’s never easy to make it in anything you do. You’re going to have people who immediately dislike you because you’re new or stepping on toes, etc. It’s a challenge building a brand and getting to know people in the area. The only thing you can do is continue to push through and try new things. Especially being an independent promoter, it’s difficult to build brand recognition as most people think when they visit a show it is the venue they’re seeing. If they like the show, they think it’s the venue, if they hate a show, it’s the venue. You’re going to have bands who book too many shows and don’t get people out, you’ll have bands who will not show up or be terrible at communicating, and you’re going to have bands who absolutely love what they do and will put all their heart and efforts into their live shows.
No matter what happens, just keep moving forward, learn from your mistakes and do your best to avoid them again.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
One Five Two Productions focuses on community and environment building. We focus on live music and event planning but with the mindset of “How can I make this a unique event that people will remember and talk about a year from now?” I try to add something special for every lineup and develop talent that I find that has great potential. I try to find the strengths in every artist and what they are trying to achieve and help direct them to continue to grow and get exposure to the right crowds/people.
At the same time, I am always thinking from a guest perspective. I always think, if I was the one attending this show, what would make me remember this and feel it was unique. Was the lineup solid? Did it sound good in the room? Was there something special about those interacting with guests? It’s a lot of overthinking and most of it is inevitably going to be missed by almost anyone at the show, but if you believe in what you do and focus on those aspects, some guests will know there’s something about our shows you can’t put your finger on.
I want the community to grow and prosper and I want to focus on building cornerstones to the Orlando scene by continuing to push the limits and creativity of those coming through our shows.
We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
Related to going to shows, I went and saw Van Halen when I was young and remember the spectacle of the production and loud music and lights and it really blew me away. I’ve always been a huge live music fan and since I was a kid, I always wanted to be part of the show and building that awe that comes with it.
Pricing:
- Typically shows are around $10/person.
Contact Info:
- Email: shelbyshortbooking@gmail.com
- Website: www.152productions.com
- Instagram: @152Productions
- Facebook: facebook.com/152productions
Image Credits
@WolfeEliotMedia @152Productions
