August 1, 2022
That was the first full day that I dedicated to this tiny but fierce brand and has the last six months been such a humbling and uplifting time in my 37-years of life. It has been nice to have a few days in the week to fully commit a full work day to work on a variety of things that makes this brand running. I have also been thinking of the kind of career I want to pass on to my children and the kind of legacy I want to leave imprinted on this world. And it made me really think that I should just jump in to creating the kind of business I want this brand to be. So over the course of the last six months or so, I have been carrying a notebook around and jotting down ideas I want to incorporate to this brand and expanding and delegating tasks that I would normally take on to others. That it is quite alright to ask for help and to take ownership of being the best boss this brand would want me to be. So here’s a brief yet over-thought out rundown of what was the last few months of my life and where the next year would be like.
The Business of the Brand.
Many people may not know this but I had majored in Business Management and Marketing at BYU and Rosemont with a focus on the Entertainment Industry and while many of my peers went into careers in music. I knew I needed to have experience to add to my CV that reflects how I am an invaluable asset to their company. I had only worked in a business (or office) setting through my parents companies. So it was a humbling experience to adjust to life outside of my parents company office. I started out a receptionist and then moved to office manager and soon found myself in the administrative assistant and coordinator level of the office roles. This coupled with my many years in a supervisory position at my parents company gave me the edge I needed to start writing a very rough draft of a business plan that would eventually be the at kismet + co brand you all have come to know and love today. With that long-winded introduction out of the way, it brings me to my next point.
I want people to look at what I do with at kismet + co as a serious brand with tangible goods and services and having the last two years to flesh out that experience with working with a lot of publicists and artist managers and everything in between was a dream. Getting opportunities like photographing the JOJ O to photographing dream artists like Panic at the Disco, MARINA and James Arthur – it definitely was a confidence booster. I got the opportunity to grow and learn how to be a better businesswoman and become successful. Even when I was getting an email stating “we are at capacity with press/photo passes, thank you” – I was thankful because it meant someone loved what I did photography-wise that they considered me for credentials. That I am even thought of with press invites and even photographing the Philadelphia Flower Show (something college me had dreamt about). I accredit that success to my leap of faith and desire to get out of the corporate world and make a name for myself. But it sure as hell did not happen overnight, it was a gradual uphill climb and sometimes was met with obstacles. I think when most people think of going freelance with photography - they didn’t imagine how lonely or difficult that path can be. I was out of work for six months and had to recently get a retail job just to pay the bills and to also get back on medication and continue with my mental health care.
Now that it is the beginning May, I am ready to tackle this year with so much pride and joy and enthusiasm that it feels I am bursting at the seams.
So where does that lead us?
For starters things won’t change around here with the exception of a few new faces and shifts in content. So the brand is now split into three divisions - atkismet + co (music and arts, video and photography), Made for Drew (our lifestyle and creative brand; pop-up events and more) and our In-House Production Team (TBA). One of the things that I had heavily debated on was how to approach the division between what we do and who are audience is for. I see atkismet + co as our commision and freelance entity with the same level of service and commitment you’ve all come to know and love. Made for Drew was born out of a necessity to do more lifestyle and creative things freely and also make limited-edition products that people can display in their homes. I am proud of this development as it’ll be a driving force in bring at kismet + co into more homes. Our in-house production team will be the ones to offer photography and videography and content creation services at a competitive rate that will allow us to pay our team their weight in gold (money). One of the other things that we are planning to do with this year is becoming an incorporated LLC and entity…which has taken a lot longer than I had anticipated. So we will be able to build a solid foundation to carry on legacies that’ll leave a positive impact on the world and its citizens.
2023 and beyond.
You can expect to see more great things from this brand and its talented team members. We will be taking a two week break in April to head over to London and create some really cool content that I am excited about. PLUS FILM PHOTOGRAPHY IN LONDON. A dream come true. We also are going to be out at the Furness High School Spring Fair benefiting the Furness Class of 2023 (GO FALCONS). A brand new online shop and then a pop-up event in the summer to launch our summer collection.
WE are happy to be here and hope you all are feeling welcomed and loved and appreciated today and every day.
Sam MacPherson - Philadelphia, PA - World Cafe Live
April 18, 2023
There was a slight chill in the air as I had approached the venue for Sam MacPherson’s Philadelphia tour stop on the Powerlines Tour. He had recently played at the Ardmore Music Hall but this was his first time playing Philadelphia proper. The main support Mike Ferrari opened up the night with a stellar performance that won over many fans. The downstairs lounge of World Cafe Live had two levels with a mezzanine overlooking the stage and general admission floor. The room itself was spacious giving fans comfortable spots to watch the live performances.
Mike Ferrari is the main support on the Powerlines tour stood front and center with an acoustic guitar ready to showcase his vocal prowess for the crowd in Philadelphia. Noting that it’s his first tour – he made sure the first impressions reigned on a positive note. His companion for the tour is a bear statue aptly named “Boss” who Ferrari said has a striking resemblance to the singer/songwriter sans the specs he wears onstage. Ferrari does a great job at engaging fans, new and old, to his performance and even includes some crowd participation during his final two songs. Which crowned the fans two thumbs as witnessed from my vantage point in the mezzanine.
Ferrari thanked the crowd for their rad energy and stated he would be at the merch table in between sets and he would love to catch up and meet them. Mike Ferrari didn’t let being a solo act hinder his performance; his vocals and guitar shone bright through his 30 minute set. Ferrari’s charm and charisma is a nice added touch to the tour as he is the crema to Sam’s musical body and heart. (Espresso nerds rejoice as I squeezed a coffee pun into this review.) By the end of his set he had made his presence known and true to his form made a bunch of new fans.
The view from the mezzanine showed the crew putting together the finishing touches as it was Sam’s turn to wow the crowd at World Cafe Live. Walking out to a darkened stage, fans could only get a glimpse of his silhouette of Sam MacPherson’s frame. He kicked off the set in Philadelphia with “Homesick” which is a ballad dedicated to places and feelings he call home. He drove in the high octane energy with “Counts”, “Backseat (All I Got)” and then went moodier for “How Do You Dress For The Rain” which accompanied by the lighting and added sound amplified through the room. Made it feel like you’re standing in the living room of your home staring at the rain and wondering if you’ll go out in the rain. MacPherson has a knack for connecting with fans on a deeper, intimate level. And when mentioned that he had been to the Philadelphia area before (he had played Ardmore Music Hall last year) — he had noted that it was a nice night for good live music with even greater company.
One thing that is admirable about Sam is that he is down to earth, and just grateful to be performing his songs for the masses. Despite having songs being a coveted part of social media platforms like TikTok. Everything about Sam’s performance was carefully thought, from the lighting to the placement of songs in the set. It was done to bring fans on a journey through; as if he was sitting on an emotional rollercoaster with his fans. Furthermore, he can hit those high notes with such ease and bravado. We can’t wait to see what else he will get to this year and beyond.
You can see the rest of the photos from the show linked here in the full gallery.
You can catch Sam MacPherson on tour with Mike Ferrari this Spring on “The Powerlines Tour”
He will be hitting Schuba’s in Chicago* and rolling through the midwest and closing out the tour in California at the Troubadour in West Hollywood on May 19, 2023.
Set List:
Homesick
Counts
Backseat (All I Got)
No Bad Memories
Forget I Exist
Play Dumb
How Do You Dress For The Rain?
Safe to Say
Solar Flare
First Place
Routine
Crash Course
Stretch
Powerlines
Maggie Will
Last Minute
Review and Photos: Meg Duong
*The tour rolled through Shuba’s in Chicago at the time of writing this review on April 28, 2023.
The Philadelphia Horticultural Society announced early this year that the annual event was making its grand return to the Pennsylvania Convention Center during the early days of March. After having the event outdoors for the last two years - the organizers were excited to share the news that it would be held indoors, during the springtime making it accessible for visitors to attend the weeklong event with their loved ones in tow. The Garden Electric laid out the fantastic and imaginative ways that electricity can power greenery and florals. The Exotica Studio transformed the organic landscape into a nighttime environment where synthesized music flowed through the air as attendees experienced the exhibition with the rest of their senses. The exhibitions were orderly, with signs labeled to keep the areas from getting too congested which I really liked as it helped attendees enjoy the experience without any distractions.
What blew me away was just how they would make their grand entrance unique and memorable to everyone who walked through Hall A at the convention center. As you walked through the hall doors you are greeted with a club atmosphere but with the grandeur of a botanical garden surrounding every corner of your peripheral. From the two identical florals to the massive wall of tropical plants and flowers. I just couldn’t stop looking at every detail. My favorite thing about the grand entrance was the flowers hanging from the rafters with clear vases added in them. It was spectacular and made me want to experience more of the event. I was stunned.
As it was the closing weekend, the crowds were out in full force and for an introvert who needs some time to center themselves. I stood in a corner and popped in my headphones to listen to my favorite playlist. Doing this amplified my experience exponentially because I was able to fully immerse myself in all of these new exhibits and visuals. My favorites were the installation of the chandelier with multicolored acrylics and floral vases. Studio Exotica was a must see for me but pressed for time I could see glimpses of it through the masses, same thing with the sweet things exhibit that has bright neon lights across the top that made it feel like you’re in a tunnel. Amongst all the other great things going on — I really enjoyed just how much the organizers were able to fit in. Hall A also housed the marketplace, much of the sponsored areas and plenty of places to sit, eat and take a much needed respite from all the excitement.
Other family friendly activities were just down the hall, the butterfly interactive activity was across from the makers markets which had local makers wares on display. I got to see Stephanie from Exit 343 who is an illustrator and maker that designs Philly inspired works of arts, with a variety of different designs for the plant and pet enthusiasts alike. Next year I will save myself time by grabbing a pre-paid ticket to make my own floral crowns or arrangements to take home.
I think that having the flower show back at the convention center was a great idea because the local businesses are accessible, the trains are close by and having the convenience of not being too far from all of the amenities at the event made it that much easier for attendees. Plus it just felt like coming back to a familiar place, a place that is more special to us as a city than anyone could imagine. Thank you to the Philadelphia Horticultural Society for inviting us back to the event. We are so glad to support the event and local communities. ✌🏽✌🏽✌🏽
See the full image gallery here.
