The Idea - Live Web TV Shows

Web TV was a broadcast format just beginning to go mainstream. With hardware and streaming capabilities now available, live Web TV was finally beginning to converge the interactivity of the Internet with traditional broadcast capabilities and a worldwide audience—on computer and TV, tablet and phone. Broadcasting can now be done from a full, traditional broadcast studio, to cyber and media cafes, to a roving camera about town, to a garage or a "Waynes World" basement.

The shows I have been involved have been at uDetroit Cafe in downtown Detroit, a pioneer in this format, running live Web TV shows day and night, six days a week beginning the Summer of 2011 with national and local guests. I got involved at uDetroit after launching Detroit Rock N' Fashion: A Virtual Art Exhibit on Bob Bauer's From Paradise Valley to Motown: The Rock Starts Here daily show, which led to creating a physical Detroit Rock N' Fashion art exhibit at the Cafe, and the sale of several pieces of original art and giclee prints. Chizzy CAM, a live Web TV show with one of my artists from the exhibit, arose from that. The D Factor and Detroit Rock N' Fashion: A Live Web TV Show simultaneously followed Chizzy CAM, the latter to fill an immediate need, the former to develop into a bigger production.

My primary roles included show concept and design, hosting, producing, directing, photography, branding and evangelizing. Having a presence at uDetroit Cafe for over a year allowed promotion for the Gallery of the Arts, the Detroit Rock N' Fashion exhibit, and its artists the entire time in a number of ways. The physical exhibit— eventually extended from the cafe, up two flights of stairs and into two floors of the recording studio. Promotional cards on each and every table in the cafe. Giveaway promo cards at the cafe entrance. Promotion and mention on each live Web TV show we hosted.

Detroit Rock N' Fashion: The Show

Detroit Rock N' Fashion was a celebration of Detroit music, Detroit art and Detroit fashion—and a synthesis of these three creative elements—and more. This live audience, live streaming, Web TV show featured a variety of Motor City talent, veteran and emerging: musicians, singers, artists, performers, dancers, designers, models and more. The show was broadcast from UDetroit Cafe downtown Detroit.

Originating as a virtual art exhibit from The Gallery of the Arts called Detroit Rock N' Fashion: A Virtual Art Exhibit, with a physical Detroit Rock N' Fashion art exhibit established in the Cafe. One of my Detroit Rock N' Fashion artists, Chizzy and I were granted a venue and time slot at uDetroit. We created a live Web TV show called Chizzy CAM, a weekly charity+arts+music experience.

Chizzy CAM ran for 13 weeks with Danny D & The Vagabonds joining as the house band. Chizzy left to seek other ventures. Danny D and I created this show to maintain a creative venue for veteran artists and to foster emerging talents—as well as to invent new ways to synthesize creative elements interactively.

The show featured a spotlight artist to create a work of art inspired by the music and energy of the live audience; our house band Danny D & The Vagabonds; and musical guests. Being a live Web TV show, we filled the space during band switch ups with a variety of creative elements, usually a guest photographer and a model doing a fashion photo shoot, but a runway fashion show one time, and interviews other times.

Guests included: House band - Danny D & The Vagabonds with Danny D, Darryl Lee, James Niemi, Paul Sikorski and numerous guest musicians. Christopher Williams, Freedom Underground and Diablo Il' Gato. WAL•E, Erich Goebel, Motor Honey, Jeff Belt, Audra Ely, Laura Mendoza, and the Honey Bunny Variety Burlesque. Leroy Johnson, The Joyride, The Nicholas Tabarias Project, and Harry Jarvis. Billy Gaffney's Blue Gill Bill. Cara Lundgren, Two Tone Tobacco, and Meridith Lourde. James Browneagle Niemi, Bethany Chandler, and the late Larry Leitner. MSV, Silverback, Simon Black, Ziam Penn, and Gwen Joy. Me, Rock City Voodoo, Rose Detroit and Gmo, and Gillihan. Crooked Joint, Tamera Menard, Zaniah Amirah, Adina Gamal and Cookie Crumbble. Justina Black, Steph Hamood, Darryl Lee, and Mr MSV with Royal Flush & The All Star Team.

My involvement included co-conceiving the show and concept, co-hosting the show, logo design, website, posters, branding and marketing. I was also involved in producing and creative direction, acquiring and working with talent and guests. This show consisted primarily of a four-member team, a band and very talented guests.