Professional Experience
Creative Development Coordinator- Working as a creative development coordinator, I am able to encourage, assist, and help find employment for adults with special needs. Tasks include: helping a person express themselves the best way they can; assisting in ideas for trying out different skill sets; finding ways for the person to make money in their desired field. This is called “Customized Employment”. In order to get my clients placed, I need to do a lot of cold calling, showing up and convincing small businesses let the participant try out tasks in their business. This requires ability to develop relationships, which helps for long term business transactions between businesses and participants. This also allows me to visit again with more participants. This position is better described in conversation.
Costume Assistant/ Coordinator- As a costume assistant I have worked on major motion pictures where I have been in charge of shopping, returns, assisting to create inspiration boards, fittings, continuity, some mending, etc. As costume coordinator, I kept the budget in control, made relationships with companies (couture, international, et al..) and fashion designers to use their product for free. I did this by calling/emailing these clients to convince them why I needed these products for free. I was in charge of all rentals (and returns of rentals); took care of weekly cost reports, EP cards for designer and assistant designer, and made sure everyone was delivered their petty cash on time, and that the department was paid on time by filling out time cards for the department. Qualifications for this position include Microsoft Office programs, Google Media, keeping a tight schedule and excellent professional relationships.
Costume Designer/ Wardrobe Stylist- Since 2005 I have been wardrobe styling for bands. I have styled music videos and photo shoots. I have also designed t-shirts and full costumes for bands on tour. I’ve also styled commercials and advertising photo shoots. The way of getting this position was a lot of selling personal skill sets to clients.
Public Relations/ Management- I have worked with up & coming bands in need of publicity. When I began doing this, prior to the internet, I would send CDs to record labels, booking agents, and venues. As time has progressed, I was able to access information online and call and email. I sent to music blogs as a promotional effort to get new musicians noticed. I also help with writing bios, making wikipedia pages, submitting music to sources like Pandora, Spotify, iTunes, etc. I have designed artwork (for merchandise. I’ve booked shows/ tours, managed social media. I’ve done this for other artists as well - cartoonists, actors. What I enjoy most about doing this sort of work are the relationships I’ve developed.
Visual Assistant- Featured window displays for Vintage Shop in Philadelphia. Assisted artists such as Giant Dwarf, In-Formal Formals, & Dressed by Lola to create new designs, initiate new ideas, & bring color theory to their shops. Worked with Haley Trikes to contribute ideas, woodworking, metal working, painting, etc.
Freelance- Social Media for independent Artists/small businesses (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, Blogs). Creating websites for companies/artists, contributing to blogs (fashion/music/culture). Writing grants for artists/organizations. Astrologist for the Spirit Newspaper, Title-magazine.com, and The Secret Admirer. I had my own small company called “Albumtease”, where I hand drew albums of customers’ choice on T Shirts, and sold these as one of a kind pieces of art/replica interpretation
Artist Mediums- Self taught seamstress. I’ve shown this work by hand sewing shirts for bands, making clothing sold in boutiques, and being commissioned to make clothing for friends, bands, and clients. In 2006 I was commissioned to assist an artist by making a costume for a spirit animal at a notable gallery in Philadelphia. I also am a writer and enjoy writing poetry as well as writing bios and grants for people. I am a painter; I use watercolor on paper to create impressionistic views on crowded areas. I was the featured artist in February 2013, this being my first solo show, at the world’s only Pizza Museum. This was a pizza themed art show, with one painting of mine given to and hanging in the museum. My second solo show was at Brewerytown Beats in Philadelphia, where I showed a year long project of a project titled #celebridoozy. I make handmade Album T Shirts for sale on website. I am also a stand up comedian, and I have performed for small art gallery spaces as well as sold out music venues.
Creative Development Coordinator
2017 - Present via Community Integrated Services
Costume Assistant/ Coordinator
2008 Costume Assistant “The Answer Man”
2008 Wardrobe Production Assistant “Transformers 2”
2009 Wardrobe Production Assistant “Law Abiding Citizen”
2009/10 Costume Assistant “The Last Airbender”
2012 Costume Coordinator “Dead Man Down”
2012/13 Costume Coordinator “Paranoia”
2015 Costume Assistant Black Cherry Burlesque
2016 Costume Assistant for Audi Commercial
2016 Campaign shoot for Target
2016 Costume Assistant to Heidi Bivens for Benefit Cosmetics Advertising Campaign
2016 PECO commercial
2016 PA Lottery Commercial
Costume Designer/ Wardrobe Stylist
2005 Designed photo shoot for band Dr. Dog
2008 Helped design/create costumes for a video for band Make A Rising
2009/13 Designed/created costumes for band Man Man
2009/10 Co-creator of costumes for Vaudevillians Mummers Brigade
2010 Assistant Designer for video for band mewithoutYou
2010 Make-up and wardrobe Design for video for Big Shommy Love
2010 Assistant Designer for photo shoot for photographer Steve Belkowitz
2010 Assistant Designer for photo shoot for photographer Dominic Episcopo
2012 Assistant Designer for Parx Casino commercial
2014 Assistant Designer for Dressed By Lola
2021 Designed and created from scratch costume for actor/comedian Steve Little
Public Relations/ Management
2004/06 Partial manager/tour manager/ PR Dr. Dog
2006 PR Blood Feathers
2007 PR Golden Boots
2012/13 Management/ PR/ booking Andrew Collberg
2014 PR Artist Jesse Moynihann
2014 PR Tennis System
Visual Assistant
2009/11 Retrospect Vintage Boutique
2011/13 Giant Dwarf
2014/15 Dressed By Lola
2016 Haley Trikes
Artistic History
1996/ present
Painting/Drawing
1999/present
Writer commissioned for grants and bios, fictional writer of short stories and poetry
2003/present
Self taught seamstress, making self motivated and commissioned works. Paintings, Drawings, Freelance writing
2017 - present
Creative Business Specialist : Assisting adult artists with special needs to be integrated into the workforce, whether in their own business or another.
2005-2010
Part of the artist collective “Avant Gentlemen’s Lodge”. Put on plays, built a stage, hosted equinox & solstice parties. In charge of visual decoration for space when used as a venue.
2006
Assisted artist Walter Benjamin Smith, sewing Huichol Indian garb for a spirit animal sculpture for Seraphin Gallery, Philadelphia
2009/present
Stand up Comedian. I’ve performed in small artist galleries and larger music venues, opening directly before such headlining bands as Free Energy.
February 2013 featured artist; my first solo show at Pizza Brain, the world’s only pizza museum and restaurant in Philadelphia.
2013
Assisted performance artist Geneva Jacuzzi in building set for performance at Night Gallery,LA.
July 2016
Featured artist solo show at Brewerytown Beats, titled “#celebridoozy”
2016 - present
Creator/Owner of Albumtease; hand drawn Album T Shirts
2016
Hand Model for Mural Arts Brochure, Philadelphia; hand model for Benefit Cosmetics, NY, NY
December 2016
Contributed piece to 1026 Art Auction
Other Skills
Excellent communication skills
TIme management
Multitasking
Outstanding Organizational Skills
Meeting deadlines
Ability to cold call and make connections
Networking to develop and maintain professional relationships
Social Media platforms