{"id":3197,"date":"2014-03-05T13:59:29","date_gmt":"2014-03-05T13:59:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/pegasus\/?p=3197&post_type=story"},"modified":"2020-06-29T16:45:55","modified_gmt":"2020-06-29T16:45:55","slug":"sean-perry-96-rick-wheeler-95-founders-florida-music-festival","status":"publish","type":"story","link":"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/pegasus\/sean-perry-96-rick-wheeler-95-founders-florida-music-festival\/","title":{"rendered":"Sean Perry ’96 and Rick Wheeler ’95: Founders, Florida Music Festival"},"content":{"rendered":"

Spring 2014<\/em><\/p>\n

[sidebar background=”#2eabe5″ position=”right”]<\/p>\n

TOP 7 MOMENTS FROM FMF HISTORY<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

1.<\/strong> In 2002, I had to ask a sweet 14-year-old acoustic artist to leave a venue after her performance because it was for age 18 and older. I would apologize to Taylor Swift<\/strong> now if she would take my call. \u2014 Sean Perry<\/p>\n

2.<\/strong> The reggae rock band Boxelder<\/strong> played the main stage at Wall Street Plaza in downtown Orlando in 2002. They were a local band with a decent following, and I remember looking out at 4,000 people and thinking that we were on to something. \u2014 Rick Wheeler<\/p>\n

3.<\/strong> On a Friday night at Wall Street Plaza in 2005, the band Lit<\/strong> put on a rock show like they were playing a sold-out stadium \u2014 chugging Jack Daniels onstage and spitting it on the audience. It was one of FMF\u2019s best performances. \u2014 RW<\/p>\n

4.<\/strong> In 2006, I watched a swirling mosh pit of 3,500 crazed Flogging Molly<\/strong> fans scare the hell out of the Wall Street Plaza security and Orlando Police Department. \u2014 SP<\/p>\n

5.<\/strong> In 2006, the rock band Black Tide<\/strong> was a group of teenagers who called themselves Radio. They were determined to get a record deal [during FMF] and set up an impromptu showcase at Blue Room. They signed a deal based off that performance and are still touring. \u2014 SP<\/p>\n

6.<\/strong> Following the conference seminars in 2010, a band from Scotland \u2014 Our Future Glory<\/strong> \u2014 handed their demo CD to the president of Universal Republic Records. They traveled thousands of miles for that single interaction. \u2014 SP<\/p>\n

7.<\/strong> A rising young band called Big 10-4<\/strong> showcased at Backbooth in 2012. It was a madhouse with the audience jumping in unison and singing every word. They got a record deal a few months later. \u2014 RW<\/p>\n

[\/sidebar]<\/p>\n

SEAN PERRY:<\/strong> When we started the Florida Music Festival and Conference (FMF) in 2002, it was a marriage of the national music business and downtown Orlando.<\/p>\n

RICK WHEELER:<\/strong> We wanted to have unsigned artists perform and national industry people discover them. Music fans could see an act that they knew, but also discover new artists from around the country.<\/p>\n

SP:<\/strong> And there\u2019s always been an educational aspect to FMF. Artists and students from UCF, its Florida Interactive Entertainment Academy and Full Sail 海角直播 learn about the entertainment business from attorneys, agents, promoters and record label people.<\/p>\n

RW:<\/strong> For the annual FMF, we listen to every submission \u2014 which number from 1,000 to 1,500 \u2014 and pick the best 300 bands.<\/p>\n

SP:<\/strong> We don\u2019t focus on headliners; we focus on providing three days of discovery.<\/p>\n

SP:<\/strong> There are no local music scenes anymore. Thanks to the Internet, every genre of music has a massive scene online. Artists don\u2019t have to go out and play to get exposure.<\/p>\n

RW:<\/strong> The digital music trend has helped FMF. It\u2019s the one time of the year where there are 300 bands playing all over downtown Orlando, and people are connecting face to face.<\/p>\n

SP:<\/strong> Music brought us together.<\/p>\n

RW:<\/strong> In 1989, Tom Petty had just released \u201cFree Fallin\u2019,\u201d and I was singing it when I heard someone say, \u201cAw, dude. That\u2019s a great song.\u201d I turned around and it was Sean.<\/p>\n

SP:<\/strong> We were roommates in college and in the same fraternity.<\/p>\n

RW:<\/strong> Sean started aXis Magazine<\/i> when we graduated. I went to work as a representative for Miller Light.<\/p>\n

SP:<\/strong> We discussed working together for about three years, and it finally made sense for both of us. The key to our 16-year partnership is balancing work and play. We make sure to balance the intense tactical debates with a few pints and equally intense debates about UCF football and pop culture.<\/p>\n

RW:<\/strong> We have times when we don\u2019t see eye to eye, and that\u2019s when we lean on our friendship. We\u2019re lucky to have different strengths that complement each other.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

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