Daily Inspiration: Meet Kim Paige

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kim Paige.

Kim, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Thanks so much for inviting me to be a part of this!

I moved to Nashville in 2010 to pursue a career as a country singer-songwriter. I quickly fell in love with the art of songwriting and was lucky enough to score a publishing deal on Music Row in 2011.

With all the co-writing I was doing, I thought it’d be fun to put together a writers retreat down to my hometown just outside Jacksonville, FL where we would write songs all week and then perform for about 100 friends and family in my parents’ backyard.

This is where my festival, Roscolusa, was born. A few months later, in 2013, I started getting messages asking when the next Roscolusa would be, and at the time, I didn’t think much about doing a 2nd event. But they persisted and I thought, heck why not!? Roscolusa 2022 marked our 10-year anniversary with a sold-out attendance of 5,000 people and we were awarded the Best of the Best Event in Ponte Vedra, FL, which was a huge milestone for us!

Over the last few years, we’ve raised over $75,000 for the Tom Coughlin Jay Fund helping local families tackle childhood cancer. After completing my 4-year contract as a staff songwriter, Roscolusa became a full-time job, but for only 4 months out of the year. I decided to take the incredible education that Roscolusa had taught me and started a new company called, What It Is Collective in 2016.

WIIC specializes in digital marketing and consultation for festivals, events, and artists. With our experiences in sponsorships, events, and social media marketing, WIIC grew to include an artist management division in 2017. As of 2020, I’ve stepped down from my full-time commitment as CEO of What It Is Collective to pursue my passion for architecture.

With artist management, I’ve had the pleasure of traveling coast to coast attending many festivals, amphitheaters, clubs, and music venues taking note of the pros and cons of each location which sets a great foundation for my new adventure of becoming a licensed architect and creating the next generation of performing arts, amphitheaters, and music venues.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Being an artist and signed songwriter taught me so much. There were more slow days than good days, but it definitely gave me the hands-on education that I needed to become a great artist manager and consultant in the music industry.

I know firsthand what it is like to be an artist and be given so many empty promises. People overpromising and underdelivering seemed to be a constant theme during my career as an artist/songwriter. I got burnt out pretty quickly. I wanted more control over my outcome, which could be one of the things that drove me to persuing festivals full time.

I loved the excitement of securing new sponsors, negotiating deals with contractors, and all the hustle and bustle that comes with putting together a music festival. Of course, there are the inevitable “fires” we have to put out every year, but that’s the kind of adrenalin rush that I like!

We’d love to learn more about your work. What do you do, what do you specialize in, what are you known for, etc. What are you most proud of?
I would have to say I’m most proud of my music festival, Roscolusa. I attended a four-year university and graduated in 2014, but no education was greater than hitting the ground running with the creation of Roscolusa back in 2012.

I taught myself graphic design, website development, SEO, brand development, accounting, budget planning, social media marketing, how to send professional emails, how to secure sponsorships, how to negotiate contracts, not to mention writing contracts, organization, prioritization, networking, etc.

I also learned it’s okay to have weaknesses and the importance of finding the right people to balance your strengths and weaknesses. My event manager, Steve Nix, is the yin to my yang when it comes to putting on Roscolusa. We make one helluva team! I couldn’t do it without him.

After the March 2020 tornado ripped through our streets in East Nashville, my yard was covered in all kinds of debris. My flower bed had been smashed underneath a sheet of glass and I thought it looked so beautiful I wanted to find a way to preserve it. After a deep dive into the ‘interweb’ trying to figure out the best way to do it, I discovered the world of modern stained glass art.

A week after the tornado, the pandemic hit our towns and, like so many others, my career came to a standstill.

Festivals were canceling, artists were postponing tours, and I found myself with very little to do. I decided to enjoy the “short” break and learn how to make stained glass art while we were without work for those “two weeks” of postponement.

I created a few pieces and made a post on my social. All of a sudden people were sending me offers! I was dumbfounded by the response which inspired me to keep creating. After a few orders, I created a website, developed a brand, and put out some social media ads. Somehow, and I really can’t believe it, I was able to pay all my bills throughout the rest of the year.

After the holiday rush, I put the stained glass on hold as I started my newest adventure of becoming a licensed architect. My alma mater, Belmont University, is the first school in Middle TN to offer the program and I couldn’t be happier to be a part of the first graduating class. It’s hard to believe I’m already two years in with three more to go!

This summer, I am working as an architectural intern at Orcutt|Winslow and absolutely loving it.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/KIMPAIGECREATES/

Image Credits
Meredith Asper