Small town, big dreams.

Welcome to Cedar Rapids, population 128,000. St. Louis has 360,000, Minneapolis stands at 377,000 and Peoria rests at 369,000. All cities in the Midwest that are popular places for bands to travel to, and the interest is heavy. When the topic of music comes to Iowa, there is a major interest, but not enough support. That is what Nexus Entertainment Arts is working to change.
Nexus is made up of staff that are interested in raising a local music and arts scene, much like what is rolling in cities like Iowa City and other various places. The entire business is run in the same way that much larger operations are, booking bands and artists, scoping out new venues to perform in, hiring staff and even offering internships. They take a very hands-on approach to the work, with frequent staff meetings in informal settings.
The staff is rounded out by volunteers from the area that share the same passion as the staff, and are there as extra hands to help at events and planning. Volunteers can raise through the ranks, becoming staff members as they help out more with the business.

My position among the staff is a simple volunteer, working her way through long promotion routes, nights spent at the Paul Engle, welcoming various people through the doors, designing flyers for events under harsh deadlines and travelling to other locations the night of shows to shamelessly promote our group. It’s gruelling, but it’s worth it. And I think it needs told.
There is a secret story waiting to be told of the people who are devotiong their life to bring music and art to those stuck in conservative towns. It is my goal here to show how this business works. Part of that hands-on thing we like to do.

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