Today we’d like to introduce you to Genesis Vasquez.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Officially, Technicolor Booking began in 2019 right before the pandemic, but originally, Technicolor Booking began in 2015 with an idea of inclusivity in the Austin music scene.
I am a drummer, originally from El Paso, Texas, and to my knowledge, probably one of the only queer, non-binary/ womxn drummers in the city at that time.
Life in El Paso, at least, from my upbringing, was primarily conservative, with “machista” attitudes towards anyone different. I moved to Austin, Texas, in 2008 primarily for the music scene and began getting involved with searching for my first band in 2014.
I always felt Austin was one of the most liberal and more accepting cities to people like myself. With excitement, I started to try out for bands, posting inquiries on many of the Austin Facebook Groups for musicians. It was then that I started to notice that it was like finding’ a needle in a haystack’ when it came to finding queer musicians. They existed, but you really had to know someone when it came to putting a queer band together.
It was then that I began booking under the name, ‘The Cosmic Clash.’ From 2016 to 2019, I was booking under my friend’s social media music/website. They team i worked with were beyond supportive, but I was surrounded by cis, straight dudes and I wanted to make it a mission to seek out other queer artists and find ways to have the lineups be more diverse. I think it was 2017 that the idea of Drummer Babes was born. Drummer Babes was a show that highlighted femme/non-binary/and trans womxn drummers. It became my motivation to continue to book a queer artist on every one of my lineups regardless of the music genre.
In the fall of 2019, I decided to be brave and start my own venture, which is when I created Technicolor Booking, primarily focusing on booking “the weirdos and the queerdos.”
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
As much as I wish my journey was smooth, it has not been. While I was booking under The Cosmic Clash , I began organizing shows highlighting only queer artists and DJs. I was not necessarily met with open arms by some Austin venues. There were times when I attempted to secure a venue, and I received a lack of response or a “no” primarily because It wasn’t an exclusive “queer club” and they always felt that an all queer show was not the right fit.
One of the worst experiences ironically happened during a Gay Pride show. I had booked at a “non-gay-venue.” At the time of booking, it seemed like we had the green light to have our Gay Pride show, which included bands like Mamis, Krudas Cubensi, and drag queens, like Gotcha Grabmoar.
Unfortunately, we ended up getting shut down right before the drag show because some regular patrons were not comfortable with the overtaking of their bar. It was heartbreaking, and the worst of it, was that it was for Gay Pride.
These were some of the struggles that I had to internalize in some form, yet used this experience as a learning lesson to build resilience and strength from. After all, that is what makes us queers strong.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
We provide booking and promotional services primarily focused on queer artists, musicians, and creatives.
We also provide a Facebook group and Instagram called “Queer Musicians and Artists ATX/SATX” group where locals from Austin and San Antonio can come together to collaborate, celebrate queer success, and where we provide networking of local queer musicians.
Technicolor Booking works with venues that would like to hold an inclusive lineup of many diverse, queer musicians and artists. We keep a growing roster of queer bands and creatives.
Technicolor Booking also offers promotional services for brands such as videos, flyers, booking, and social media promotion.
If interested in services please send an email to Technicolorbooking@gmail.com.
Pricing is dependent on the artist or venue need since we offer a variety of services.
Contact Info:
- Email: Technicolorbooking@gmail.com
- Instagram: technicolor_booking_
- Facebook: TechnicolorBooking
- Other: Austin Spotify Playlist : Queer artists atx + allies
Image Credits:
Pics by Elina Wilson Pics by Brandi Vasquez Flyer by Amanda Kluck Flyer by Paige Berry
