By Eric Curl
Overcoming Stage Fright, Embracing Imperfection, and Advocating for the Arts: Insights from a Music Industry Discussion
Jan. 13, 2025 – On Saturday, representatives of the local music scene shared their insights on the industry during a panel discussion hosted by the Savannah Music Festival at Live Oak Library’s Bull Street branch. The conversation explored topics ranging from the challenges of stage fright to navigating career transitions, all while emphasizing the importance of community building and advocacy for the arts.
The panelists included:
- Andrew Sovine, an independent recording artist (Back Room Record Studios), producer, sound engineer and performer
- Amy Williams, executive director of the Savannah Philharmonic Orchestra
- Mary Dugas, Savannah Music Festival Board Chair and Founder/Executive Director of the Savannah Music Collective
- Jacob E. Evans, aka Sandwich, musician, independent recording artist and social media personality
Key take aways:
- Stage fright never goes away, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Dugas said Greg Allman said got nervous before a show for his entire decades’ long career but described the feeling as a “sign of respect for the crowd.”
- Engaged with others to get find others in the industry. Go out to see shows, including different types of music that you may not normally think of checking out, and play music with others. “Jam, definitely jam with other people,” Evans said.
- Social media can be a great tool, if used right. Williams said she found authenticity was key for artists to grow their fanbase, rather than worrying about algorithms, while recounting a story about an artist who posted a video of herself just talking about a song she wrote, while eating a sandwich and not worrying about how she looked or the technical aspects, and the video took off. “Know who you are, be genuine, tell your story,” Williams said.
- The music business is a business and can be tough. Practice, persevere, network and learn as much as you can about the industry, so you are not taken advantage of, Sovine said, while noting there is a musicians union in Savannah to provide support.
- Suppport other musicians. “To build community, we just need to leave the house every once and a while,” Sovine said, while adding that Dugas’ Savannah Music Collective provides a regularly updated calendar of upcoming shows and musical events.
Bridging Generations: Lessons from the Past, Pathways to the Future
Event Overview: On Sunday, The King-Tisdell Cottage Foundation celebrated its 40th anniversary with a panel discussion titled “Bridging Generations: Lessons from the Past, Pathways to the Future.” Moderated by Chatham Commissioner Aaron “Adot” Whitely, the event gathered local leaders and emerging voices, including former mayor Otis Johnson, Darnell Johnson, Moncello Stewart, Chatham Commissioner Bobby Lockett, and Aaron Whitely Jr. The dialogue focused on honoring the legacy of civil rights leader W.W. Law, fostering mentorship across generations, and strategizing for an equitable and inclusive future.
Key takeaways:
- Mentorship is key to empowering younger generations. “People need positive role models,” Otis Johnson said. “We need to lift them up.”
- There must be community involvement and collaboration across generations. Aaron Whitely Jr., the youngest panelist at 13, highlighted the value of leaders setting examples through actions, not just words.
- Education and opportunity is crucial to the community’s success. Otis Johnson highlighted his work with the Chatham Savannah Youth Futures Authority, which focused on turning at-risk youth toward positive outcomes through academic support and after-school programs. “The purpose was to turn the life trajectory around from a negative to a positive for these young people in middle school,” Johnson said.
- Economic empowerment should not be a private affair. Otis Johnson stressed the importance of cooperative economics—pooling resources and working collectively—was underscored as a pathway to community wealth and sustainability.
- “If we believe in community, there has to be a formable plan,” Otis Johnson said. “How do we bring our community together to work.”
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