February Happy Hour: Chris Porter, Former Programming Director of Bumbershoot
February 25, 5 p.m. – 7 p.m. at Spitfire in Belltown.
February’s Happy Hour will feature Chris Porter, a 27-year music industry veteran who has worked in several facets of the industry, most recently as programming director of Bumbershoot: Seattle’s Music & Arts Festival.
Ever wondered how festivals are curated, what’s involved in programming an event the size and scale of Bumbershoot, and what are the key industry factors that can affect what bands are booked on which stages? Chris will draw back the curtain and share his industry experience with festival programming. He’ll also provide insight into what artists and musicians can do to catch the eye of a promoter or festival programmer, elevate their presence, and get noticed.
About Chris
After working in college radio at WJUL in Lowell, MA and becoming the station’s music director, Chris went on to manage several Boston-based rock acts and start his own record label, called Presto Records, in the late 1980s. That led to opportunities to book well-known nightclubs in Boston throughout most of the 1990s, including Bunratty’s, The Middle East, and Mama Kin Music Hall.
In 1997 his career brought him to Seattle where he became the music talent buyer for One Reel, the producers of the long running Bumbershoot Festival and other special events and concerts. He spent 18 years at One Reel and served as the company’s programming director for the last five. In that position he oversaw all aspects of programming and booking for various events, including Bumbershoot.
Chris recently left One Reel and Bumbershoot and is now devoting time to his own company that offers talent buying and event planning services to events around the country. In addition to these duties, he is also an occasional nightclub event promoter, DJ, and sports fan event producer.
The Mixer | Seattle 