Article Contributed on: 2/6/2008 6:40:48 PM
Jim Schwartzkoff of Venture West is an innovator. In 1987, Jim had a vision of a Performing Arts Trade Show and Jamboree that would bring top quality small acts and talent buyers together locally, affordably and easily. Venture West partners with CPRA, Colorado Parks and Recreation Association, a nonprofit organization.
The week of Feb.4, the 2008 Performing Arts Trade Show and Jamboree at the Adams County Regional Park, 9755 Henderson Road, Brighton, Colorado, was a hit. This year 88 exhibitors and a record number of talent buyers -- 130 to be exact -- spent the better part of the day together. Where else could you meet a 100 acts on your lunch hour?
Nine acts were chosen for a short live performance, a "showcase." This year the small acts and acoustic bands chosen were Faces of Eve, The Trifolkals and Rachid Halihal Ensemble with Dancer; on the family and children's stage, Connie & Co's Magic for Children, Eric West -- Music for Kids and the Sunny and Cher(i) Show, with Sunny Marie and Cheri Seeton, a vaudevillian-style show featuring music, magic, clowning, storytelling and audience participation. The headliners presenting after lunch were Pete Wernick and Flexigrass, Joel Siemion & Cayman Moon and After Midnight.
In addition to live showcases, each registered act gave attention to their individual table displays, affording buyers a complete summary of the act's abilities, via computers, CDs, DVDs, etc. The variety of talent was remarkable. Every genre of music was represented, as well as dance acts, clowns, storytellers, balloon twisters, tatoo artists and stilt walkers
On odd-numbered years, Venture West and CPRA publish the
Guide to Colorado Performers, featuring
Where The Gigs Are!, to provide a means for performers and presenters in Colorado to find each other. The Guide is in its 14th year and is the most complete directory of its kind published in the state.
This was the first year that Sunny Marie Hackman and
Cheri Seeton (Golden) participated in the event. "We were delighted to be picked for the showcase and can't wait to come next year!" the performers responded enthusiastically when asked to comment about their impression of the day's events.
For more information about the Colorado Performing Arts Jamboree and The Guide to Colorado Performers, contact
Jim Schwartzkopff at
venture.west@comcast.netFor more information on the
Sunny and Cher(i) Show, please call
303-279-2419. www.merrycheri.com