Yesterday evening, I had the absolute honour of attending Pancakes & Booze at Fortune Sound Club, and I can say without a doubt that it was one of the most incredible events I have attended in the past few years!
The venue itself was gorgeous. Not only is it an absolute vibe, but the way the event utilized the space to afford each of the artists their own area while also providing ample walking space for participants/guests/attendees was amazing! Having the event spread out over two floors, one being the showroom where the artists were presenting their works, and the other being designated for vendors as well as for where people could pick up the (absolutely delicious) pancakes, made the whole event feel way less crowded!
I truly cannot say enough good things about the staff at the event! They were all incredibly welcoming and friendly, and it was a pleasure to meet them all! From the moment you walk into the event, to any questions you might have throughout it, to buying drinks or getting your pancakes, to checking in your bag or coats at the Coat Check, to heading out for the night, the team at Pancakes & Booze were there to not only assist, but to do so with a warm smile and friendly demeanour! As someone who struggles with social anxiety, this made such a huge difference to me, and again, there are not enough kind words I can say to compliment the team there!
And of course, this event would just not be the same without the incredibly talented and insanely amazing group of artists who attended last night's event. During my time attending Pancakes & Booze, I had the pleasure of interviewing several of the artists. I learned about what got them into art, what motivated them when they were creating their works, what spoke to them about last night's event and why they wanted to join it, and what advice they would give to new artists who were just starting out. Below is a synopsis of the responses I received:
How did you get into art?
- Influenced by family and friends
- Life-long creativity
- Able to express oneself better through art
- A desire to put designs on paper
- A desire to explore and try new things
- The pandemic and all the new free time that came with it
What motivates you/what inspires you to create your art pieces?
- Loves vinyl painting and wanted to keep it alive
- Finds art calming/peaceful/meditative/therapeutic
- A desire to make something unique and to work with new people to create collaborative pieces
- The enjoyment that comes from making beautiful things
- A passion for art, and everything it is
- Loves feeling inspired by everyday things, and being able to create things based on that
- The desire to create things that provoked a specific emotion
- Being able to connect to people, places, and things through their works
- Being able to make a difference in people's lives through their works
What brought you to this event/what stood out to you about Pancakes & Booze in particular?
- The vibe of the event (described as easy-going)
- The fact that people are very friendly, welcoming, and kind at the event, for many, this was not their first time attending the event as an artist, and everyone I spoke to who had attended and shared their art at the event before made specific mention of how the atmosphere of the event really stood out to them
- Cool style
- Low entry fees for artists, some noted that this was especially nice for new artists
- The joy of seeing new artists sharing their works, and the excitement of seeing how the event has expanded over time
- A desire to share their work/to get out there
- Found the event online/through Instagram, and thought it seemed really fun
- The event was easy to find and easy to sign up for
- The pancakes and booze!
If you had any advice to give to new artists, what would it be?
- Repetition is good, even if it is frustrating sometimes
- Just try it! Worst-case scenario, you get rejection therapy
- Always look around you for inspiration
- Double-check the formatting before you send prints in
- Don't be afraid to play around with new things
- Be relaxed
- Keep going/don't give up
- Finish pieces, even if you aren't sure how they will turn out
- Enjoy the process of failing/do not be afraid to make mistakes
- Make something every day/find ways to keep up the motivation
- Have fun
- Make art for yourself, not just for others
Yesterday evening, I attended an event that was not only fun but deeply moving and inspiring. I met people, artists, staff, attendees, from all walks of life, and had conversations that I know I will carry with me for years to come. I saw art pieces that I simply cannot describe because words cannot capture their magnificence, and I got to meet the amazing people behind those creations.
Thank you to the organizers of Pancakes & Booze for allowing me the opportunity to be a part of this incredible event. And a huge thank you as well to all of the artists and attendees who allowed me to interview them! It was an absolute pleasure to have met everyone and to have attended the event!