THE FIRE OPEN MIC MONDAY NIGHT MEETUP GUEST MENTOR SPEAKERS

Rasean Monte'z Lopez has been an entrepreneur for 5+ years. He owns over 12 businesses and uses his platforms to inspire, motivate, and encourage the public. His goal is to create a historic, lifelong legacy for generations. Rasean specializes in several markets including fashion, sales, marketing, promotions, and music. He has received many positive reviews and was also mentioned in different news articles, including MNG Bulletin which was known on all social media platforms. He has styled wardrobes for indie artists, burlesque entertainers, and more. He recently collaborated with Michael Connor as a celebrity makeup artist to style artists for the ACX1 MUSIC LAUNCH in Atlantic City. 

Though he has many accolades, he focuses on inspiring the public by being a true example of genuine, positive success. His message to all aspiring entrepreneurs is to go for it and enjoy the process! 

To learn more about Rasean please visit https://linktr.ee/rmontezentertainment/.

Ashlee  Hollis is a visionary leader with the ability to champion creatives,  and the President and Founder of award-winning Helm Creative Studio, a  certified women-owned business and creative agency and production house  that is redefining what it means to lead one’s story. With multiple  degrees in Business Administration, Digital Marketing, and Philanthropy,  Ashlee has merged her intelligence with her empathy for people by  building a team culture where creatives can thrive and are focused on  growth, excellence, clarity, creativity, passion, and heart. A focused  extrovert determined to do the best for both client and team, Ashlee has  fiercely set out to ensure that she invests in work that also results  in positive social impact. Her ability to think outside of the box is  reshaping how creatives intersect with business and is reimagining what  it means to have an agency value people over production, on-purpose.  Based in Philadelphia since 2018, Ashlee has brought both her Midwest  values and her family to the City of Brotherly Love, and continues to be  driven by not just what is created, but by who it’s created for, from  idea to implementation. In addition to the awards won for Helm Creative  Studio, Ashlee has received a 2024 American Business Award for “Maverick  of the Year,” of which she won a silver Stevie Award, in recognition of  an individual executive or manager who’s affected the most positive  change on his or her company and/or industry since 2022. And, along with her husband and Helm’s Chief Storyteller, Elijah, they have received a citation from the City of Philadelphia for their commitment towards positive social impact within the city. 

Ashlee  has worked with clients including Comcast, Philadelphia Ballet, Live  Nation, Robert Irvine’s Fit Crunch, Robert Irvine Foundation, Four  Seasons, BLOCS (Business Leaders Organized for Catholic Schools), United  Way, Central Association of the Miraculous Medal, Music Forward  Foundation, American Red Cross, Our Community Salutes, Global Citizen  Martin Luther King Day, MANNA, Back on my Feet, and Bunker Labs PHL.

To learn more about Ashlee and Helm Creative Studio please visit https://www.helmcreativestudio.com/.

Audio alchemist Zach Atom blends musical styles like lab chemicals.  As a full-time producer, DJ, and audio engineer, his projects and  interests range from the deep underground to the popular sounds of  today. 

After quitting his corporate job in  2021, Zach has become a sought-after producer & engineer in Philly.  Notable collaborators include Joshua Mitchell, Val Fleury, dream by  dream, Uncle T, and Fawziyya Heart (among many others).

Zach's  goal is to help artists self-actualize through their work. He is  passionate about helping creatives & freelancers make a living off  their art.

To learn more about Zach Atom please visit https://linktr.ee/zach_atom.

Born in the Philadelphia hospital for the indigent and raised in  foster care, Karen Saillant rose to become an accomplished opera singer  and creator. An expert in theater, music, breathing coordination,  movement, and fine arts, Karen has spent the last 50+ years creating,  directing and producing classic and original works of art and training  others to perform in them. She has performed leading roles in opera  houses across the United States and around the world, receiving rave  reviews and collaborating with Italian maestros from La Scala di Milano,  Teatro Fenice in Venice, and Maggio Musicale in Florence. In 1975, she  was chosen as the first American representative to the annual  international opera singing competition in Sofia, Bulgaria, then behind  the Iron Curtain. 

Karen has been  commissioned by numerous organizations to collaborate on the creation of  new theatrical and musical works, including the Smithsonian Institute  in Washington, the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Detroit Museum  of Art, The Philadelphia Museum of Art, The National Constitution Center  and The Philadelphia Orchestra. In addition, she has created  historical, interactive musical theater pieces for many corporate  celebrations, including Vargas Pharmaceutical, in Caracas, Venezuela,  where she sand the leading role.

In  2003, she founded The American International School for Commedia  dell’Arte in Philadelphia in collaboration with Maestro Antonio Fava.  The following year, she founded  International Opera Theater of  Philadelphia and began producing world premiere  Italian operas, a total  of 16, with artists from more than 75 countries,  based on texts of  William Shakespeare and biographies of historical characters and events,  including the liberation of Italy by The Buffalo Soldiers at the end of  WWII, in Citta' della' Pieve, Umbria and Teatro Valle, Rome's oldest  theater, as well as opera houses in Saluzzo, Orvieto, Pavia and for The  Bergamo International Festival of Culture, which drew more than 80,000  people.  Today, Karen owns and operates The Fire, the oldest original  music venue in the city of Philadelphia, where My Chemical Romance,  Maroon 5, Santi Gold and others played and where John Legend was first  discovered. She also launched Philly in FLOW, a project to turn  Philadelphia into a safe haven through music. 

To learn more about Karen Saillant please visit her Facebook page here.

Peter  Breslow is obsessed with creating buzz. He’s been professionally  pursuing buzz since 1997, when he joined his family’s public relations  firm in Philadelphia. In the decade Peter spent as the Publicity  Director of Breslow Partners, he led the PR and branding efforts for  star chefs, restaurants, luxury real estate developments and retail  projects, hotels, conference centers, and the introduction of the  Borgata Hotel Casino and Spa, and The Pier Shops at Caesars in Atlantic  City, NJ.

Peter  left Breslow Partners in the summer of 2007 to launch Peter Breslow  Consulting & Public Relations — A company utilizing every drop of  the decade of experiences, results, relationships, lessons, successes  and challenges he endured — to deliver increased visibility, strategic  editorial coverage and irrefutable buzz for the people and brands he  works with.

Breslow  believes that “every brand or product positioning is unique, and  whomever is guiding a brand from introduction throughout maturity needs  to understand how target markets acquire their information and what  effects their spending decisions”. Upon completely understanding the  consumers he’s targeting, Breslow and his team place news stories in new  and traditional media outlets, and utilizes social networks to connect  virally to influencers. Alliances with regional lifestyle magazines,  charities, community groups, influencers, public relations and  advertising agencies, etc. are also strategic targets.

Once  a brand’s positioning is clearly defined and markets are identified,  Breslow creates a critical path of action steps necessary to achieve  objectives. Specific goals and strategies are conceived and agreed to,  and then the plan is executed. The plan is reviewed regularly, and new  ideas and objectives are added continuously.

Peter  Breslow’s drive, determination, high energy and affable personality  make him a one-of-a-kind maverick in the world of PR and marketing. One  could say that he’s created a buzz about himself in obsessing about  generating buzz for his clients.

To learn more about Peter Breslow Consulting & Public Reations visit peterbreslow.com.

For a generation of music fans, the center of R&B music was the  City of Brotherly Love, and it is impossible to muse on Philadelphia’s  run of musical greatness without pausing to admire the work of singer,  songwriter and producer Phil Hurtt. The Philly native quietly put his imprint on dozens of the most recognizable songs of the 1970s and 80s. 

Hurtt’s  contributions as a songwriter are immense. The Spinners’ “I’ll Be  Around,” The Persuaders’ “Some Guys Have All The Luck,” “Sunshine” by  The O’Jays, as well as hits for The Ritchie Family, Sister Sledge, The  Village People, Billy Paul and more, all came from Hurtt’s pen. His  success in the late 70s led to a nomination by Billboard as Disco Composer of the Year. 

Hurtt  also worked in the studio with such acts as Blue Magic, Jean Carn, and  Eddie Kendricks before signing a recording contract of his own with  Fantasy Records in 1977. He recorded two albums for the label in the  late 70s that have become collectors’ items among deep soul and dance  fans. 

Hurtt spent the 90s focusing on Gospel  music, and produced several artists in that genre. Then in 2007, he  created an ambitious project to pay tribute to the biggest musical  cities of the 60s (Detroit) and 70s (Philadelphia). Titled A Soulful Tale of Two Cities, it  had some of the biggest Motown acts performing new versions of Philly  classics, and vice versa. The project served as a love-in for classic  soul artists of the two cities and became a cherished collection  internationally. 

Hurtt continues to serve as a  music ambassador for Philadelphia soul music, and is revered by  generations of musical artists, many of whom have covered his biggest  compositions. 

By Chris Rizik 

To learn more about Soultracks Phil Hurtt visit his website!

Kathleen Daidone is a Founder and Owner of Code 3 Records Artist Services. Code 3 Records Artist Services works with self-published artists and musicians from all over the world. Code 3 looks for opportunities to expand their brand through synchronization licensing placements across many platforms. The focus of the artist services is metadata management, music publishing, copyright registrations, royalty collection, agency relationships, monthly sync licensing opportunities, social media marketing plugs and Spotify playlist features that are sent out in a monthly newsletter to approximately 20,000 subscribers.

Clients include: Bands, Songwriters, Artists, Musicians

TV/Film: HBO, Showtime, Netflix, Animal Planet, The CW, Discovery Channel, Independent films

Before Code 3 Records Artist Services came to fruition in 2017, Kathleen assisted artists to secure sync licensing, tour support, distribution, marketing, royalty collection and copyrights. She began her journey in the music industry in 2003 when music from one of her bands was featured in the cartoon “Bumble Beeing” which aired at the Sundance Film Festival. In addition to assisting artists, bands, and songwriters with their music, Kathleen has also helped several bands and artists create their own business/LLCs in their home state. Kathleen has also mentored several interns from area colleges and universities in the music business. When Kathleen is not working on music, listening to music, and talking with musicians she is spending time with her kids, family and friends…and riding her electric bike!

To learn more about Kathleen Daidone / Code 3 Records visit code3records.com

Kevin C.  Sutton - A native of Brooklyn, NY, has been in sales, marketing and advertising for over 20 years. He is a proud alumnus of both Milton Hershey School, and Grambling State University, where he received his degree in Mass Communications. He has amassed over 10 million dollars in sales for fortune 500 companies throughout his work experience. His passion for music began as an artist working under Platinum producer Just Blaze, and his vast knowledge for the industry formed while designing for the clothing Powerhouse Avirex.  

Kevin has assisted in the careers of Wu-Tang Clan, Shyheim The Rugged Child, Mysonne, Fred the Godson, Rass Kass, Mr.Cheeks, and Funk Master Flex. He has secured distribution deals with EQ Roc-Nation for Son of the 215, Zigg the artist & Dutchieman, MeWe a EP deal with DJ Alamo of the coalition DJ’s as well as a sponsorship with TI’s Hustle gang for Lil Moptop. Kevin has also secured booking for Casanova 2x, Young MA, Fivio Foreign, and Beanie Sigel to name a few.  Most recently he has been named the operations manager for Freeways new imprint Freedom Thinkers Academy. His connections with Shade 45, Worldstar HipHop, The Source, BET, VH1, This is 50, Power 105.1 & Hot 97.1 as well as countless other major outlets ensures each entity, he encounters will have the ability to be seen and heard alongside the heavy hitters of the Music Industry. 

Kevin has had the pleasure of creating strategic marketing plans for the NBA, Sprint, Virco manufacturing, The Source Magazine, XXL Magazine, Ed Hardy Vodka, and countless others.  As the founder of the firm 11:22 MMG he is dedicated to helping both artists and organizations alike reach their goals by leveraging the many relationships he has garnered throughout his lifetime to ensure everyone reach their highest expectations. 

To learn more about Kevin Sutton and his business endeavors check out these links:

1122mmg.com

freedomthinkers.academy 

onestopwellnessmd.com

Chris Swartz got his start as a DIY touring artist, promoter, and agent  in 2015 fresh out of high school. After successfully building Big Red  Booking into a respected DIY outfit in the DMV and touring for hundreds  of days across the US, Chris joined forces with Eva Alexiou-Reo at FATA  Booking Agency and has been with the company for 6 years. His roster  spans an incredibly wide range of genres and includes the likes of  Charles Esten, Mystery Skulls, Transviolet, Bit Brigade, LowDown Brass  Band, Kyle Sparkman and many others. Chris's work is highly informed by  his fundamental grassroots and DIY values and work ethic. Chris has been  a Philadelphia resident since 2019 and spends his free time  supporting the Philadelphia Union and enjoying the city's amazing  cuisine with his fiancé.

To learn more about FATA Booking Agency visit http://fatabooking.com/

To learn about Jaz Willimans and his business, Hookmaster Studios, visit www.hookmaster.net. 

Bill Johnson currently serves as general manager of WRTI,  Philadelphia’s classical music and jazz station.  Prior to that he was  station manager and comes from a fundraising background in higher  education.

He believes music is an excellent model for social change and has an  intense interest in exploring the complex issues associated with keeping  jazz and classical music financially viable, as well as present and  relevant in the lives of listeners daily. Bill currently serves on the  board of the International Society for Improvised Music (ISIM) which  promotes performance, education, and research in improvised music, and  explores connections between musical improvisation and creativity across  fields.  He is also a board member of Interdisciplinary Artists  Aggregation, and has served on the board of the African-American Jazz  Caucus.

Bill has played trumpet for over 40 years and currently performs with  Karlton Hester as part of the contemporary interdisciplinary  improvisational group Hesterian Musicism.

He holds a B.S. in Policy Analysis from Cornell University and  resides in Glen Mills, PA in a farmhouse with his wife, daughter, 2  dogs, 2 cats, and occasional raccoon.

WRTI Your Classical and Jazz Source

Studio Crash has been a top recording studio serving the Philadelphia area for over 25 years!

Originally created by musicians Ed Hamilton and Dave Falciani in the mid  90’s as a high-end studio for their personal recording needs, they  opened the studio to other musicians.  In 2000, Michael Harmon,  freelance engineer with multi-platinum selling and multi-Grammy winning  album credits, joined Studio Crash as chief engineer and later purchased  the studio in 2003. Fast forward to 2011, Studio Crash moved from its  humble 2nd floor space and purchased a 3,700 square foot commercial  property and designed and constructed a new recording studio.

To learn more about Michael Harmon and Studio Crash, visit www.studiocrash.com.

Jason Dunkerley has been involved in music in some form or another since the age of 3. He is an accomplished drummer, played in many local and signed bands over the years, and has added value to every project he’s been a part of. His producing and engineering journey began in 2002 when his then-band, asked him to build a recording / rehearsal studio in his new home in Abington, Pa. With the help of his peers, including Grammy-winning Mike Tarsia, and an endless supply of  passion for creating musical art, he has developed himself over the last  20-plus years as a staple in the Philadelphia recording studio scene. Helping countless bands and artists get their sound, Jason built Drowning Fish Studio truly from the ground up.

To learn more about Jason Dunkerley and Drowning Fish Studio, visit www.drowningfishstudio.com.

To learn about Lexi Mangoni visit the Electric Beach's Facebook group page.

John Fisher, President of Winding Way Records - a Label and Publisher that works with a network of industry pros who share the goal of artist  advocacy. Winding Way signed Philly’s Huffamoose (Interscope) and  Sharon Little (CBS Records) and other indie artists in the area,  throughout the US, Canada, Europe, etc. but our vision is to help make  Philly a Music Capital.

John has 30+ years of entrepreneurship experience as founder and operator of an international electrical engineering firm (Unidec). His past clients have included AMS-Neve, Bose, Marshall Amps, Mesa  Boogie, Peavey, Soundcraft and Sony Music NYC to name a few. He brings his experience at strategy, business development, distribution, marketing, social media networking, planning, project management, PR and promotions to the label.

John is  also a musician (drums/percussion), studio and live musician and has worked on many original projects over the years. John handles  A&R, contracts, operations, promotions, software engineering, business strategy, and internal audio engineering and video production.

John earned a Masters Degree in Management from The University of  Pennsylvania – The Wharton School of Business and the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. His undergraduate degree is in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Villanova University.

To learn more about John Fisher's record label, Winding Way Records, visit www.windingwayrecords.com.

Anthony Obas has always seen the bigger picture. That bigger picture is communicated in his work successfully curating live events such as “This is Upstate,” where six artists from the upstate New York area, (three from the city of Syracuse and three from the city Utica) competed for bragging rights for their respective area. Obas’ series of rants, appropriately titled, “#Obasrants”, helped him to communicate his vision with the masses. From the development of local artists to not having hot water in his apartment, Obas has found a way to keep a smile on his face while ranting about what matters to him. Born and raised the youngest of three in Harlem, New York, Obas had an enchanting childhood. This all came together in his high school years as he attended Xavier High School where he was focused on getting the right mentality. Obas’ is currently moving his first publication,  Shifting Your Music Into a Career Volume 1, around the states as he continues to keep the picture big as he continues to become a man of many traits and search for his passion within the music industry.

- Nate Spurlin, founder of OLDMLK.COM

To learn more and follow Anthony Obas visit www.guidedbyobas.net.