RezaRitesRi.com

by Reza Corinne Clifton

If you haven’t checked out my new site lately, VenusSings.com, here are snippets from a few of the newest posts:

Finally!! A Venus Sings Weekend on WRIU
I don’t know about you, but it has definitely felt like a long wait for me. Alas, without further delay, it is a VENUS SINGS weekend on WRIU!

On Saturday, June 20 from 9 - 11 AM (EST), yours truly, Reza Rites / Venus Sings / Reza Wreckage will be running Voices of Women on 90.3 FM in and Rhode Island or streaming live online at www.wriu.org.

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Phase 2 of Venus Sings Has Begun - Book Me Baby
by Reza Corinne Clifton
(aka Reza Rites, aka DJ Reza Wreckage, aka Venus Sings)

PROVIDENCE, RI - For those of you who were not present at the first two events to witness it personally, it is official: I am entering phase 2 of my Venus Sings adventure - live dj’ing gigs.

It started innocently enough: a request to dj for the wedding of two friends. Excited and flattered by the request, and safe and secure with my association, I accepted. Soon after, I accepted an invitation to perform/provide tunes for another friend, who was organizing a private and intimate affair for her inner circle.

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May 9 WRIU Playlist - Soul Ruled the World
by Reza Corinne Clifton

KINGSTON, RI - Yesterday, May 9, I was charged with hosting and running Voices of Women, a program on WRIU, 90.3 FM. VOW airs weekly, on Saturdays from 9-11 AM, thanks to the love and time put into it by Gail, Beth, Liza and me. Wanting to make things special, I themed the show - and preempted the selections I would weave into it - …If Soul Ruled the World….

The RI Young Professionals, Providence Black Repertory Company and Mu Theta Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. host the 3rd Annual All-White Affair: A Summer Eleganza at Waterplace Restaurant on July 9, 2009.

Providence, R.I. – Rhode Island Young Professionals (RIYP), an auxiliary of the Urban League of Rhode Island, in partnership with Providence Black Repertory Company and Mu Theta Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. will host its third annual All-White Affair: A Summer Eleganza on Thursday, July 9, 2009 from 6:30 PM – 1 AM. The event is part of Black Rep’s genre-defying music festival, Sound Session ’09. As a fundraiser and the only Sound Session event offering an upscale networking dinner and gala for business leaders, community champions, and up-and-coming professionals, the Eleganza will be held at Waterplace, a Pinelli Marra Restaurant and Lounge, downtown Providence, RI.

Drawing from the charm and beauty of Caribbean, Pacific, and other Island Cultures, Eleganza guests will be draped in all white attire, enjoying a carefully selected dinner from Downcity Providence’s premiere Restaurant and Lounge, Waterplace. With a Live Jazz by Reception by Gregg Mazel quartet at 6:30 PM and dinner served at 8, the latter part of the evening will be devoted to dancing and entertainment provided by surprise guests, live performers and Providence’s best DJ’s ½ PINT. Eleganza guests will be treated to a night of ‘decadence and elegance’ at our Summer Eleganza; All White Affair and at Sound Session 09. Sponsorship opportunities are available.

The All White Affair event has been a success for the past two year thanks to sponsors like Nappa Building Corporation, Rhode Island Hospital, Detroit Collision, and South Street Café.

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How to purchase All White Affair Tickets
Tickets for the 3rd annual Eleganza are available by calling 401-419-0088 or visiting RIYP’s Eleganza Home Page: www.riyp.org . Tickets must be purchase by Monday, July 6th 2009. All proceeds from the event will directly benefit programs and services offered by the hosting organizations: Rhode Island Young Professionals, Mu Theta Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. and Providence Black Repertory Company. All are 501(c)3 organizations. Sponsorship opportunities are also available.

About Sound Session ‘09
Providence Sound Session’ 09 is New England’s premier summer music festival. A multi-stage, genre defying event, Sound Session is produced by the Providence Black Repertory Company in partnership with the City of Providence, Department of Art, Culture & Tourism. 09 Festivities run from July 5 through July 12, 2009.

About Providence Black Repertory Company
Providence Black Repertory Company, www.blackrep.org, fosters a creative environment that celebrates the artistic contributions of black artists throughout American history. The company produces and presents artistic performances that bring people together, provoke thought, inspire hope, and create understanding. The Black Rep is an arts organization that provides a unique experience inspired by the cultural traditions of the African Diaspora in three key areas: theater, education, and public programs.

About Mu Theta Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
Founded on December 4, 1906 at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. Mu Theta Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., www.alphaphialpha.net, has continued to supply voice and vision to the struggle of African Americans and people of color around the world. Long standing at the forefront of the civil rights movement, Alpha men include Adam Clayton Powell Jr., Martin Luther King Jr. and the Honorable Thurgood Marshall. The fraternity through its college and alumni chapters serves the community through nearly a thousand chapters in the United States, Europe and the Caribbean.

About Rhode Island Young Professionals
Rhode Island Young Professionals (RIYP), www.riyp.org, is a member-based non-profit serving Rhode Islanders between the ages of 21 and 40. Founded in 2002, the organization is an auxiliary of the Urban League of Rhode Island and the Rhode Island chapter of the National Urban League Young Professionals. RIYP serves the League’s movement toward social and economic equality by providing a diverse membership with networking opportunities, workshops and resources aimed at nurturing personal and professional development. An active part of the Rhode Island community, RIYP is dedicated to offering and promoting services and programs that encourage meaningful participation in civic life. General body meetings are held the first Thursday of the month, 6:00p to 8:00p, at the Urban League headquarters, 246 Prairie Avenue, Providence, RI 02905; meetings are open to the public. For more information about RIYP, visit www.riyp.org.

by Reza Corinne Clifton

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Click on the photo or here to read tips from Reza Rites on “Surviving as a Freelancer.” It was part of a series of workshops organized by Rhode Island Council for the Humanities.

PROVIDENCE, RI - On Wednesday, May 13, 2009 I participated in a workshop titled “Surviving as a Freelancer: Three project directors under the age of 30 share some tips for making ends meet.” It was part of the “Skill Share Workshops: Tips for Thriving on a Shoestring,” a free workshop series organized by Rhode Island Council for the Humanities. I shared the floor with Matthew Lawrence and Paul McCarthy, two fellow RICH grant recipient/directors and independent producers.

I immediately addressed the issues of whether to work for free and how to establish rates. Other do’s and don’ts I shared (with more detail and examples) included:

- Do work for free

- Don’t work for free

- Do maintain, create, or identify your specialty

- Do create take risks

- Don’t become fixated on things you don’t know

- Don’t pretend like you and your computer are friends; back up your back up.

To read the entire presentation, click on the photo above or here. To read other talks and presentations I’ve given, click here.

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