The ascent of a creative marketing expert : Sequoia Slentz? During a comical fiasco that occurred while setting up for a stand-up show in Chicago (which involved a belligerent Beetlejuice, a bridal party and a video camera), the idea for a reality show suddenly occurred to Slentz. “I thought to myself, this is even funnier than the real show,” he said. “I’ve got to find a way to make a reality show.” He pitched the idea to Third Floor Films producer Michael Maccarone (who also played the child version of Stern in “Private Parts”) who decided it was film-worthy.
Sequoia Slentz profile in 944 Magazine : Although the world CleanBox inhabits is a far cry from the glossy photo spreads of beautiful people getting their rocks off that fill the mag’s pages, the recognition is still appreciated. Even though we despise the types of people who are into the magazine: the Armani and cologne wearing set, the bitchy, fake-titted chicks who won’t give us the time of day, we are ready and willing to accept all publicity. Plus, Sequoia and I got some free tequila at the photo shoot. Nothing beats a semi-solid excuse to drink hard liquor at noon.
About Sequoia Slentz: Owned and operated CleanBox Entertainment since 2001. Over the past 4 years we have produced major live events nationwide. My company created a television show which was licensed to Howard TV in 2009. We are interested in all ideas. Specialties: Designing, Manufacturing, Merchandise, Producing Live Shows, Creative Marketing on a budget, Event Planning.
Sequoia Slentz creative marketing tricks: Whether you are planning the event logistics, identifying the technical requirements, working on content or estimating the budget – all things flow from the wants and needs of the main client. You can save your self a lot of work if you can get a meeting with the main client in advance and discuss staging, presentation style in advance. With all the handlers, you get a lot of filtered information and waste a lot of time getting through the layers. Knowing your location is your best defense against failure. Not only are you able to assess the space for room dimensions, ceiling height, power needs, lighting, noise, Internet connections, access to loading dock, etc… you also get to meet the people who manage the venue – and who will ultimately be the ones that support you and your production. Some venues will let you bring in all your own gear, without any buy-out fee – but some venues have exclusives on lighting and audio, and can even be within the jurisdiction of a local I.A.T.S.E. union, like Local 16 in San Francisco, and you’ll be required to hire union labor. If you’re a producer, it’s best to work with a meeting planner who can deal with the hotel contract so you can focus on the AV and event production. But be sure to make friends with the venue, both the in-house AV and banquets staff. Don’t forget that you’re in their house and they are key partners in your success. The two most important aspects of your site survey are to gain intelligence and build relationships.
Sequoia Slentz on Covid-19 times and the entertainment industry : Beyond the effects of COVID-19, what are common reasons why musicians have to seek employment outside of the industry they love? When artists are starting, most don’t already have hit records or a trust fund. Without a fan base, the primary focus is making money, paying rent, groceries, and car insurance. They have to figure out a way to survive. At the same time, in some ways, it’s good to work outside of music because work begets work. Being grateful for the ability to play music is important. You have to be thankful and humble that you do get to practice your instrument, write music, and record. Most artists don’t realize that they can find jobs with transferable skills that will help their music career beyond making music: graphic design, fashion, education, website design, software, programming, marketing, social media, accounting, business development, and working at a studio. Learning about money management is a great way for an artist to support their career when they’re starting out.
Killers of Comedy & Sequoia Slentz : We travel around the country with the Killers, meeting super fans everywhere we go. When you hang out with Beetlejuice before a Killers show, you feel like you’re hanging with freak show royalty. Everyone recognizes him and everyone loves him. After the train wreck, Levy and Yucko made a beeline for the exit. Shuli and Beetle risked the angry mob to nab some free food.