The Buzz Print Issue for November 2024

 

Q&A: The Buzz Interviews SEAM Club President Jakoby Kimmell

      Jakoby Kimmell, president of the Smyrna Entertainment, Arts and Media Club, shared insight on the organization's many activities on the Motlow Smyrna campus. Jakoby is a first-year freshman who is currently going for general studies, but plans to switch to history to pursue a doctorate in order to achieve his goal of becoming a history professor.

Question: Tell me about SEAM club.

Answer: The SEAM Club stands for the Smyrna entertainment, arts and media club. We just recently did a field trip to the Frist Art Museum, and the next thing that we're planning is a holiday event. We also have a speech contest on the Moore County campus. This isn't something that we're hosting directly, but it is something that we helped organize and, of course, we do what we can to assist the paper. Our primary focus is right now doing events, and we're always looking to expand into other stuff as well new types of events. We are looking to expand into other things. Specifically, right now, we're interested in expanding into podcasting, with the help of Professor Whitting and a few other of our members who have experience in that area. So, we look forward to setting up a school podcast that we can put out for you guys. We're always looking to expand into other stuff as well, new types of events, other types of media. We're always just trying to entertain people, inform them, and just kind of have fun and give people opportunities to express themselves and be themselves. It really is a member ran organization, and what we do really comes from who we have that means what they know, what they're comfortable with, the kind of passion they bring to the table and their experience.

 

Question: What made you decide to become SEAM club president?

Answer: When the SEAM club just started out this semester, we only had a handful of members, and we weren't sure who was going to stay and who was going to go, so some members didn't feel like they could take on the responsibilities of being president. So, it ended up just kind of falling to me, and so far, it seems like that's been a good choice. I've been doing everything I can as the president to make sure everything goes smoothly here, and people don't seem to hate me. So that's good. The role just kind of fell to me, and it seems like it was a good choice. We’re growing in members every day, usually, and I do want to emphasize how it is a member ran organization. People bring their own passions and experience to the table. Even though I may have the title of club president, I'm not here to tell people how to do things. I'm just here to try and get everything organized so we can do things. If a member has an idea, I want to be able to fulfill that. I don't want to be the person trying to tell them that we shouldn't be doing anything.

 

Question: What's your favorite part of the SEAM club?

Answer: It's probably the thing that draws in most people, just the opportunity to have self-expression, to put myself out there, and to really have fun with it. And I think that that should be the driving force of anyone joining the SEAM club, because that really is what we want to cultivate. We want to have people bring their passions and be able to have that supported and grown, and have that turn into something, yeah.

 

Question: Who do you think should join the SEAM club?

Answer: People with passion, is what I'll say. People who are interested in all the stuff our acronym stands for or want to get involved with any of that sort of stuff, but the most fundamental thing is a passion for self-expression.

     To learn more about the SEAM Club, contact co-faculty advisor Professor Charles Whiting at cwhiting@mscc.edu. 

MUSIC INDUSTRY VETERAN VINNY RIBAS TO SPEAK AT MOTLOW SMYRNA

 

            SMYRNA — Music industry veteran Vinny Ribas will speak Nov. 12 (Tuesday) on the Motlow Smyrna campus as part of the ongoing “Famous Communicator Speakers Series.”

 

            Ribas, an author and artist manager who serves as the founder of Indie Connect, will present the talk “20 Ways to Best Support Your Favorite Indie Artist.” His talk will occur from 2-3 p.m. in HSC 323. The free activity is open to students, faculty and staff with seating available on a first-come, first-serve basis.

            “I will talk about the struggles of being an artist these days, then share 20 ways to help support them,” said Ribas, who developed Cartne, an e-learning platform for indie artists and songwriters.

 

            The Nashville music industry professional will share stories, videos and a PowerPoint to help bring the reality of artist challenges and successes to life. He noted that the world of music has drastically changed since the 1990s because of the Digital Revolution. CD sales have dropped sharply from around $13 billion in 2000 to an anticipated $500 million in 2024, with streaming and downloads generating the most income.

 

            Meanwhile, artists and songwriters face lower royalties in a profession that requires more paid performances with merchandise sales at entertainment venues. The days of knocking on record company and music publisher doors have ended. Fan followings are mostly built online through social media, including Instagram, YouTube and TikTok.

            Ribas also serves as the assistant business manager for Razzy Baily Music Enterprises, managing a catalog of 1,000 songs and executive producing recording and film projects. He co-authored the books “Leverage: Achieve a Lot with the Little You’ve Got” and “CEO Secrets.” Hundreds of his business and music industry articles have been published worldwide.

 

            In his 60 years in the music business, Ribas has also been a full-time performing artist, a booking agent, the entertainment director of the Nevada State Fair, a producer, a studio owner, a band leader, and a songwriter.

 

            Outside of the music business, he has served as an executive coach, strategic business consultant, and business plan writer. He has advised entrepreneurs and small business owners on how to set up their businesses to grow without limits. This has included clarifying and solidifying success strategies with the writing and execution of business plans.

 

            The "Famous Communicators Speakers Series" is staged by the Mass Communications program and sponsored by the Smyrna Entertainment, Arts & Media Club. For more information, contact Professor Charles Whiting at cwhiting@mscc.edu .