What We Do
Stage Time gives aspiring musicians in the Bellingham area the chance to perform alongside veteran musicians in front of live audiences. Right now, that happens at our jam sessions: we hire the best veteran players we can find for the house band, and young musicians sit in with them to learn what can't be taught in a practice room or a classroom.
Why the Stage Matters
Jazz, blues, and rock are American art forms that have always been passed down on the bandstand, from one generation of players to the next. Lessons and a music degree can make someone a skilled musician, but working as a professional takes more: running a set, reading a room, recovering from a mistake without losing the audience, and finding the balance between entertaining people and staying true to the music. Those lessons come from playing next to people who have done it for decades.
Where the Idea Came From
Stage Time founder Scot Ranney got his start this way. His first professional overseas house gig, at J.J. Mahoney's in the Grand Hyatt in Seoul, Korea, put him in a band led by James "Curley" Cooke, one of the founding members of the Steve Miller Band. Curley called out every mistake, right there on stage, for two straight weeks, until the mistakes stopped. In four months with that band, Scot learned more about running a stage, working a room, and being a professional entertainer than college had ever taught him. Stage Time exists to give young musicians that same kind of experience.
Why We Need Your Support
The quality of the mentorship depends on the quality of the mentors. The veteran musicians with the most to teach are working professionals, and we're working to pay them what they're worth. Your donations and grants let us hire top-tier players for every Stage Time event, so the young musicians who share the stage with them are learning from the best.
