CM
text By Marlley Gonzalez
As the Coachella Valley is becoming the next desert metropolis, a hidden treasure of art and creativity is booming to be the next big thing. On Saturday, June 29th Coachella Magazine presented its first-ever Image Maker Network. Alongside the event, Palm Springs Grip & Lighting owner Taylor Sherrill and studio manager, Ed Zabel hosted and Tommy Bahama restaurant provided delectable food and drinks. Attendees were encouraged to make new connections, take photos and enjoy the vibes. The Open House was designed as a social mixer to shine a spotlight on creative industries including: artists, models, hair stylists, makeup artists, photographers, videographers, directors and more.
Kicking off the event at 5pm, guests arrived with smiles bouncing from person to person. Talents throughout the desert gathered within the ambient space. Lighting designed by studio manager Ed Zabel, described his approach as: “colorfully subdued with intentional spots for photo opportunities.” To get the conversation started, a slideshow exhibiting images and short videos by various artists was projected on a wall and played on loop.
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Meanwhile, guests enjoyed exquisite appetizers and drinks that flourished taste buds. The menu provided by Tommy Bahama restaurants included: Macadamia Nut Encrusted Goat Cheese Bites, Ahi Tuna Poke Cones, Tropical Fruit / Cheese Tree and a bar serving Island Tea drinks.
Music by Inglish and BigCali swayed the crowd to mingle — and the networking began. Guests were branching off ideas, speaking boldly about their passions and future endeavors. Attendees of all ages engaged and made personal connections with one another. Here are a few takeaways from the night.
“This is something I have never seen, I am glad it is in the desert. It was like a whole new oasis walking in here… you walked in and it was like a whole new world. It was like a movie studio. It was beautiful. I’m excited, I can’t wait to see the progression of this spot too. Definitely excited what’s going on in the desert.” — BigCali
“My favorite part of the industry I’m in is the creativity factor. Every client that I get in my chair, whether it’s a model or just somebody that’s coming in for a haircut or hair color, everybody’s an individual.” — Victor Simmons
“The best part of my job is longevity with the good people I meet. Sometimes you know, it’s smoke and mirrors, but I’ve held a lot of good relationships within good humans that I still get to partake with.” — Inglish
“This industry is kind of right on par with who I am as a person. I can get up when I want, which is usually early in the morning. I can get on my computer, I can be very creative whenever I want. I’m not stressed from a nine-to-five and I can really let my creative side flow.” — JC Cartwright
Between interviews glistening at the studio entranceway and crowds in the back networking — guests were able to catch a feeling of camaraderie. Social media engagement was positive and kept the momentum going. As entrepreneurs trying to find themselves in an ever growing and changing world; Image Maker opened a space for creatives to meet, connect and start a new conversation. We hope you enjoyed the event and look forward to seeing you and new faces in the future. Special shout out to Palm Springs Grip & Lighting and Tommy Bahama for supporting creatives in the Coachella Valley.
SPONSORED LINKS
palmspringsgripandLighting.com
tommybahama.com