04/29/2024
TLDR; I am leaving Tampa, heading to Chicago, love you all- hit me with any of your advice or connections!
I moved back to Florida in June 2016. My time had been good, as I just got back from LA, a town that didn't need another body pursuing what everyone else was pursuing there, and Florida/St. Pete was refreshingly open to me.
By 2018 I found myself performing standup regularly, producing The Estate Show and A Murder of Shows with Scott as The Bitter And. I met some extremely talented folks that took comedy seriously and pushed themselves. I ran shows at The Studio at 620 and met Coralette and Marcus who are still super awesome! I also met Justin and Kelly who became fast friends with our similar sensibilities- and of course we now have The Commodore as a testament to that. Darryl, John, Zachery, Patrick, Kathryn, Lauren... so many improv folks I consider lifelong friends...!
Around that same time I met Mark and Roger who were putting on an awesome series of shows around St. Pete (Florida Folk Scene). I met some amazingly talented musicians that took/take the craft very seriously. Made music with Nick, Dane and so many others since.
In 2018, I also rented an art studio with fellow artist/improviser and friend Kyle Friese. John Gascot, Robert N Riedel, Derek Donnelly, I AM LOY, and so many folks that are super talented, formed an awesome community at Studios at 5663- which was right next door to where I worked at Painting with a Twist. Which was a formative time for me as an artist.
I worked with some really great people at Rococo Steakhouse with some great bosses (Will Howard and Kevin Quinn) and was trudging ahead trying to make a career in comedy.
After 2020 things became dire. I staff wrote for Florida Studio Theatre in 3 writers rooms, and it kept me afloat until June. I made paintings, did artwork, whatever I could to avoid not having money while everything was shut down. Carlyn and I hunkered down in our 500 sq foot apartment and she began grad school.
When things really became dire in 2021, I responded to a post that Kyle Barrett made in the Film in Florida FB group about needing a Production Assistant the next day. I met some really lovely folks that by the end of the first day I worked, they asked if I could come back the next day, which snowballed to the entire week- which then became months and months of work. I was learning film sets quickly by hitting the ground running and fell in love with the art department when I met Amykkphotography who has been my biggest advocate; giving me work, invaluable advice, and just being so fun to work with. I wish I could go through and tag every single person that makes me light up when I see them on sets, but alas- there are SO many of you.
In 2021 I started on a podcast with my now boyzzz Zach and Kirk and met some awesome folks through The Podfix Nation which eventually housed Wallares's podcast Little Bits and Pieces.
By happenstance I was on a job in 2022 (?) where I met Dylan, who became a frequent collaborator, friend, and supporter. We shot the first 10 pages of a pilot I wrote in December and we just finished a third draft of a feature film we're looking to shoot in July (!!); all of course while also collaborating with my amazing partner in crime, and fellow Chilis aficionado Kristofer, who has been such a good friend and just amazingly talented guy and insanely helpful person- like really, I don't know where I'd be without Kris. And along those same lines Geoffrey and Sarah- I've spent collectively, like a month with them the past year and it's been so amazing living in the same state and country as you both again. We have been collaborating on so many things it's almost impossible to even keep up. Love you two, and James is the cutest (and I'm so glad I've met him and hung out with him so much)! You two have been SO kind to me and I've had a lot of fun with you both!
I could go on and on about every cool person I've met in the area, and how much they've meant to me. Every supporter, every peer, and every mentor I've had in Florida for literally the end of time...
It wasn't always great, and I will say we lost a wide swath of my friends and peers to rising rents and lack of funding for the arts people (that I liked) actually liked and of course, my life was turned upside down last year... but overall, my experience in Florida, was a good one. I was able to reconnect with friends and family and am so thankful for the lifelines that presented themselves when I was in trouble.
I don't know if Chicago is "it," officially yet, but I leave Tampa tomorrow to stay there for a month as I try to make it work. Just... if I have known you within the last 8 years you have made a lasting impact on me and helped make my time in Florida valuable. I'm sorry I have become increasingly aloof from social media and from reaching out/texting/calling back (for which, I'm sorry), your existence has made my life better- so, thank you so much!
Sorry this is so long. I just know I'm going to miss the people and not the place- and that'll be the hardest part of leaving- always is.
If anyone has any advice, connections, or anything, I welcome it with open arms! Currently trying to hop on some sets but it's a union production town (so if anyone has any advice on that especially- I'd appreciate it immensely). If you comment I'll tell you what my favorite memory is of you!
