(Photo credit: Jesse Scheckner)
A successful art scene, like jazz, is a collaborative endeavor — a symphony of interconnected components in which each participant plays not only his or her part, but supports the efforts of others.
It is rather appropriate then that Backroom Sessions — a locally sourced showcase of local performers and visual artists held monthly at The Fish House on Miller Drive — drew inspiration from the weekly jazz shows performed in The Fish House’s revered New Orleans themed Backroom.
“Before I saw the crowd [at The Fish House], I didn’t believe a place like this existed in suburban Miami — that you didn’t have to drive across town to reach it,” said Rudy Flores, Backroom Sessions founder and director. “It has great organic talent, vibes and music. I wanted to plan a talent showcase, and when I found this place I knew that this is where I wanted to do it.”
Flores approached his friend Angelina Rivero, daughter of The Fish House owners Jose and Angela Rivero, and pitched his idea — a variety show in which musicians, poets, comedians, actors and visual artists perform and display their artwork inside, while deejays spin music, bands play and other forms of entertainment take place under a large canopy outside.
Shows are divided into three acts and feature a mélange of genres and styles. More than 20 performers and about five visual artists participate in each show, called a volume. Everywhere you look in the dimly lit Backroom, transformed from a dining room into a small theater, hangs artwork chosen specifically for the show. All participating artists are credited, with social media information, in printed programs and on a prominently placed chalkboard.
“We try to make each of our three acts as diverse as possible,” said Rivero, Backroom Sessions director. “If you were to drop in for Act One, you would get a little bit of everything, and when you drop in for Act Three, you get something else, but you’ll get some poetry, some comedy, music and more.”
Performers and visual artists wanting to participate must contact Flores or Rivero in advance through social media, provide samples of their work and audition. They are then expected to rehearse before the show to meet the other performers and better prepare themselves for the show.
“In Miami, we come from a culture where everyone needs to step on each other to get to the top; here’s a place where it’s the opposite,” Flores said. “Instead of finding a seat at the table so we can eat, we’re creating that table so we can all eat together.”
Backroom Sessions Vol. 1 took place on Dec. 27, 2016, at The Fish House. Since then, three other events have taken place. On Apr. 23, Flores, Rivero and host Kevin Hernandez held Backroom Session Vol. 4, the biggest and most successful event to date. More than 250 people were in attendance by 9 p.m., three hours into the roughly six-hour show.
Though Backroom Sessions volumes will be unique to The Fish House, there are plans to bring the concept to other venues by 2018. Small “popup” shows throughout Miami, including a tentative beach event, are being scheduled for this year.
“With the reactions we’ve gotten, I see Backroom Sessions becoming a small festival,” he said. “It’s been an evolution with every volume, so it’s going to keep growing. There’s nothing but positivity here.”
Backroom Sessions Vol. 5 will take place on Sunday, June 25, at The Fish House, 10000 SW 56 St. Tickets cost $5.
For more information, visit www.WrittenReal.com/Backroom-Sessions or follow the event on Facebook, www.facebook.com/BackroomSessionsMIA, Twitter www.Twitter.com/BackroomSeshMIA and Instagram (@BackroomSeshMIA).
