Today we’d like to introduce you to Kate (Belly Belt) Feldmann.
Hi Kate (Belly Belt), we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I came to Austin as an Industry Plant. I live in Los Angeles. I’m a major corporate asset to my audio visual service delivery team. I’m the perfect example of a competent liaison between industry and creatives.
I’m not from Los Angeles, I’m from Iowa. I studied audio production in Phoenix, and quickly advanced to Los Angeles to put to practice what I learned.
I started as a field technician in event productions. This was the perfect environment for me to expand my skills beyond audio into lighting, projection, and leadership.
My performances, traveling, and merchandise are funded by my corporate drive. I’m a full time vendor for Google and YouTube. I’m proud and accepting of this reality. This was by design to live comfortably in a city on my own, and to continue create at the caliber I imagine.
Project Managing is band leading, music video producing, and tour planning. Corporate meetings involve listening to folks talk beyond their means and are attended by folks who owe you nothing.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Financial and emotional, mostly.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
My act, Belly Belt, has evolved through about 10 years of existence. I started Belly Belt as a solo performer, flailing energetically across a stage with an instrument here or there. It was not special, I wanted to make friends.
I added members to Belly Belt. We choreographed dances to my songs and ditched all technical complications such as keyboards or sound checks. We added stage props, wardrobe, and character lore.
As a consequence of time, I lost my backup dancers. Returning to anything less than a full stage performance would not satisfy me or my new fan base.
Now, I create projections to support a combination of lip syncs and original songs. It’s not what you think. Imagine, if I project a white circle, I have a spotlight. If I animate the white circe to move across a screen as I dance on stage, I have a followspot. I am the followspot operator, I am the subject in the spotlight.
My light projections are a programmed light show. I’m a 3D object in a virtual world of light. But IRL. It’s high tech, and low musicianship. High camp, low seriousness.
What do you like and dislike about the city?
I love the people in Austin. They are so kind to me and are genuinely interested in my work. They ask me questions about my dreams and the universe I create. They want to join.
Austin, like me, appreciates and honors live performance, puppetry, and clownery.
I’m invited to Austin more than any other city. Austin gives me the time and a stage!
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/belly_belt/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kate-feldmann-927745187
- Youtube: http://youtube.com/bellybeltcorporate
