Today we’d like to introduce you to Jennifer Ellison.
Hi Jennifer, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
For 12 years, I served as the Director of Events for Abilene Christian University. It was an exceptional experience filled with great opportunities and incredible events. But at some point, I knew I had reached the height of my career at ACU and I was looking for a new challenge. Few challenges are greater than breaking out on your own, so I moved to Fort Worth and started my event firm, Ellison Event Productions. At EEP, we focus on planning events with a purpose. We specialize in everything from large-scale productions like concerts and festivals to intimate weddings and social gatherings. After having planned music festivals for other clients, I decided it was time to create my own festival. I sought out help from my good friend, Omar Ortiz, who owns 83 Entertainment. Together, Omar and I partnered to build the Fort Worth River and Blues Festival. Omar handles all of the stage production pieces like lighting, sound, special effects, etc. and I handle all of the festival logistics like hospitality, contract negotiations, festival layout, vendors and staffing. Together, we curate the lineup and choose artists that we think fit our genres and festival goals but also bring a unique sound to Fort Worth.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I don’t know of any entrepreneurs who would tell you they’ve had a smooth road in opening their business. There are always bumps along the way for any start-up, but for River and Blues, there was no greater obstacle than COVID-19.
We started planning the festival in early 2019 and chose May 15-16, 2020 as our inaugural date. Then, March 2020 came and the world stopped. It was clear to see there was no way we’d be having a May festival. As most people did in the event industry, we pivoted. After surviving the summer, we decided to reschedule the festival for November 2020. We had social distancing guidelines in place, created pods so that groups could gather safely, emphasized our mask mandate, drastically increased the number of hand sanitizers, had crew on-site cleaning restrooms every 30 minutes, took the temperatures of every guest and more. We had planned the safest event possible. What we couldn’t control was the spike in cases in Texas in the late fall which lead to another public scare and dramatically decreased our attendance. But we took a gamble, moved forward with the event, and had a fantastic show.
For 2021, we decided to keep the event in November. We have a fantastic lineup that features artists like Aaron Watson, Larkin Poe, American Aquarium, Ana Popovic and more. We have exciting new additions to the festival like a street taco competition and a second stage that allows us to pack even more great music into the two-day event. It’s going to be a great festival!
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about River and Blues Festival?
We chose the two genres of country and blues to honor their origins in a city that supports both history and new beginnings. They began in the same place, the American south, and as the genres grew, they came to a figurative fork in the road, which split them into what we now know as country and blues. The River and Blues Festival takes place at the literal fork of the Trinity River at Panther Island Pavilion and has given Fort Worth an annual event highlighting the southern roots and soul of both country and blues.
We’ve planned a festival that has a purpose. We’re committed to giving back to the community and supporting a nonprofit that greatly impacts so many families. R&B is proud to partner with the Ronald McDonald House of Fort Worth by giving a portion of our proceeds, as well as $1 guaranteed from every ticket sold, to this beloved organization.
From day one, when Omar and I began building the festival, brainstorming what we wanted the event to look like, we had several things we wanted to accomplish.
One – to make sure we always have a female headliner, which is rare in the festival world.
Two – to make sure we always have a racially diverse lineup.
Three – to create a musical event where parents can feel safe bringing their kids without fear of explicit content coming from the stage.
Pricing:
- 2-day General Admission Tickets – $85
- 2-day VIP Tickets – $160
- 1-day General Admission Tickets – $49
- 1-day VIP Tickets – $109
- VIP tickets include expedited festival entrance, exclusive stage-front seating, private bar with access to top-shelf drinks for purchase, private restroom facilities and more.
Contact Info:
- Email: info@riverandbluesfest.com
- Website: https://riverandbluesfest.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/riverandbluesfest/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/riverandbluesfest
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/riverandbluesfw
Image Credits
The Bogle Agency BJD Photography
