Tipsy Studio Blog

Memphis Tennessee gets a lot of negative exposure for always ranking high on the “worst of ” list. Memphis is a place with a church and a liquor store for every mile. A place where million dollar homes on one block, are next to low income families on the next. No one is fleeing anywhere, and according to my grandmother, it’s always been that way.  Memphis is the root of many creative geniuses, famous and under appreciated alike.  I can’t help but think the energy from just living in Memphis has something to do with it.

One of these Memphian’s is award winning film maker Craig Brewer. Craig is the director of the 1980′s remake, Footloose. His early film, The Poor and the Hungry, was filmed in Memphis and was the first ever digital award at the Hollywood Film Festival. I met Craig when he filmed some of this movie where I worked as a waitress. I played myself and he was nice enough to tip me for my fake customers! He supports Memphis arts and we support him.

Live from Memphis recorded an interview with Craig as part of their Nothing to See Here series. It’s great, and you can here some Memphis music! Watch it here.

We celebrated my BFF’s birthday this weekend by listening to the Steve Miller Band at the Dixon Gardens in Memphis, TN.  Three picnic blankets, 14 friends, cold drinks, good music, and large spread of food, can only equal a great time. The best part of the show was when they brought out 4 kids from the Stax Music Academy, and one child from the rock program to perform, “Fly like an Eagle” with Miller.

The Stax Music Academy not only honors some of the rich musical history of  Memphis, but uses it to enrich the lives of at risk youth and give them an alternative to the high levels of crime and gang activity that plague the area. Steve Miller supports these kinds of programs and is currently touring with an unbelievable child from “School of Rock” named Dylan. It was awesome to see Miller take time to do something so special for these kids, who by their incredible music skills worked very hard for it.