Meet The Team: Athena Frost – Promotions and Marketing Supervisor – The Red Room @ Cafe 939
Nicole Bono: Tell us a bit about yourself Athena…
Athena Frost: Well, I’m in my 8th and final semester at Berklee and am majoring in Music Business and minoring in Visual Culture and New Media studies. Originally I’m from Portland, Oregon so I try to stay true to stereotypes by being a bit of a coffee snob and hiking/camping as often as possible. I have worked at the Red Room @ Cafe 939 for two-and-a-half years, and am currently a Promo/Marketing Supervisor. I like to think that eventually I might start my own small venue in Portland, though that would be much further down the road.
NB: What aspect do you like most about the Red Room?
AF: While I was interested in various aspects of music business before working at the Red Room, it was my experiences in my first year working for the venue that made me certain I wanted a career in the music industry. Because the Red Room is a smaller venue it has given me the opportunity to help smaller artists gain a name for themselves. When we see artists who have played the room “blow up,” such as Karmin and the Civil Wars, it is great to think that we were a small part of that. Our promo/marketing does everything we can to help artists succeed, especially now with the state the industry is in.
NB: What skill do you find most essential to the work you do at the Red Room?
AF: While professionalism and reliability are both crucial to the work we do, I would say creativity is the most necessary. Finding creative solutions, or ways to step beyond the norm are what marketing is all about. That and perspective. Understanding the needs of the fans and the artists is also really important in the work we do, and is essential to the success of a venue.
NB: What was the last concert you attended?
AF: The last Red Room show that I attended was a BITR series event. These shows are always especially fun because I get to watch fellow Berklee students share the stage with faculty members and established Berklee Alum. This past week the BITR series featured Byron Noemdoe, Ethan Thomas, Scarlet Keys as well as special guests Paula Cole and Melissa Ferrick. There’s nothing quite like experiencing the Dawson’s Creek theme, “I Don’t Want To Wait,” from just a few feet away.
NB: What advice would you give to those trying to step into the music industry these days?
AF: For those considering going into the music industry I guess I would just say make sure you really want it. It’s no secret that the music industry is a hard place to be right now, and also very competitive. All of it is worth it though if your heart is in it 100%. Because innovation is the best tool the music business has right now, dedication becomes necessary. But if you want it, I say go for it.
NB: What’s your last music purchase?
AF: The last purchase I made was a Temptations record. When I saw that it was only $2.99 I couldn’t think of a single reason not to buy it, though usually I try to have more restraint.
Berklee College of Music’s own Karmin has made their way up to the top and are soaring.
From a YouTube channel, then going viral, and landing a spot on The Ellen Degeneres Show,
their career has sky-rocketed, winning the American Music Award for New Media Honors, and now landing a spot to perform on SNL!
Watch our artist interview with Karmin taped here at The Red Room:
Last year around this time, 02/19/11, The Civil Wars graced the stage at The Red Room @ Cafe 939.
Only a year later, they are now nominated for a Grammy Award.
Read this article, in the Times Daily on their Grammy nomination and all the success they have had.
Watch our Artist Interview with The Civil Wars below:
Berklee Alumna, Shea Rose’s show at The Red Room on 2/4/12 was such a success.
Shea is the winner of the “Best R&B/Soul/Urban Contemporary Artist of the Year” at recent Boston Music Awards, she also blew away the jaded music community with a performance that will be talked about for years to come. The Boston Globe said it best: “The act that stole the show was Female Vocalist nominee Shea Rose, who came mostly unbeknownst to me, and proved herself the Boston artist most likely to make an impact on the national stage this year with a soulful set of hip-hop inflected funk and rock, and a crack band that showcased the vibrant singer’s star power.”
Check out these photos of the Shea Rose concert, posted on Facebook, taken by Tom Lee.
This month the children of James Taylor and Carly Simon, Ben and Sally Taylor graced the stage with an amazing performance, two shows in one night. It was the two of them, and a third outstanding guitarist, David Saw, and all together they put on an overwhelmingly beautiful show.
Read this review written up on www.thenoise-boston.com:
BEN & SALLY TAYLOR
The Red Room at Cafe 939, Boston, MA
12/15/11
Before I even walk through the door I know this rare local concert of James Taylor and Carly Simon’s children will be a special event. Ben Taylor comes onstage alone to open the set and performs the clever and humorous “Boyfriend” written by David Saw. Then Sally Taylor and David join Ben and go through a great set that showcases their tremendous songwriting abilities. Yes, at times Ben sounds like his dad and yes, at times Sally sounds like her mom, but that isn’t their main attraction. Ben’s “You Must Have Fallen” and “Nothing I Can Do” are brilliant foot-tapping acoustic folk and his song “America” impresses me, as it’s like the “This Land Is Your Land” of the current young generation. The changes in the dynamics of the group when Ben sings in front and Sally and David sing beautiful three-part harmonies or when Sally sings lead and Ben and David do backup is very exciting. Another cool facet of this show is when the siblings rib each other while talking to the crowd. You can tell they are brother and sister and love performing together. When Sally introduces her song “Give Me the Strength” and retells her personal feelings dealing with Carly’s cancer scare, the performance touches the listeners even more. Or her sharing the relationship troubles that led to her writing “Disaster” really makes the song reach me even deeper. They also do “Mad World” (Depeche Mode), “Better Be Home Soon” (Crowded House), and a cover of “Tomorrow” a song they joke is from Bugsy Malone, one of their favorite movie as kids. In the audience, I watch uncle Livingston enjoy his niece and nephew carry on the family tradition. A great show . (A.J. Wachtel)
Watch our Artist Interview with Ben and Sally here:
