"the plug" needs to rest | krileytips (Trigger Warning)
People call me "the plug" and I realized I've had a bit of burnout.
hello friends! Thank you so much for checking out another edition of my newsletter.
I haven’t been honest with a lot of people about how I truly feel on the inside. For most of 2019, I have felt very drained and exhausted. Having years of experience working alongside artists, producers, media/PR heads, and other movers and shakers has left me feeling more depleted than energized. I have had so many traumatic experiences that left me feeling humiliated, alienated, frustrated, embarrassed and ultimately violated.
*Trigger Warning* - Date Rape, Sexual Assault
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I shared on social media about how less than two years ago, an artist’s DJ and manager tried to take advantage of a friend and I after an industry event. I am pretty certain that they added a drug to the beverages that we consumed. I was moved to share this after reading yet again about another local creative who is now known to be a serial predator of young girls in Chicago. Since my own personal experience, I’ve been hyper-aware of how I present myself at events and rarely drink when I’m out if at all unless I’m in a very secure and monitored area. I found the resolve to actually reach out to a mutual friend so that the artist is aware of what happened to me. It took me almost two years to not see all the people associated with that traumatic night as inherently terrible people because they legitimately had no idea what happened to me.
Additionally, because of my perceived label as “the plug” or connect to a lot of what’s going on in the Chicago scene, I get so many inquiries about my insight and opinion on people’s music projects, invites to people’s events, asked to “collab”, and more. I literally don’t have the time to get back to everyone on top of the work I do on a day-to-day basis to sustain myself. I created a form to track consulting inquiries and tried to enforce more boundaries. I still had so many people waste my time and stress me out with all the back and forth before I ultimately decided the opportunity or project wasn’t worth my time. As a result, I felt like people were undervaluing me and what I bring to the table.
I have decided to make a semi-permanent pivot away from events, entertainment and media. You’re probably like “Kelsey, why would you do that?!” Please go back and read the first two paragraphs again. This is not even 1% of what I’ve experienced in the last 5+ years of working with people who treat every interaction like a transaction and any sense of joy or success is fleeting and far between. It’s time for me, for you, for all of us to really take stock as to what we need to sustain ourselves and fill our own cup before we walk around like a leaky faucet or a bad socket. It’s time for the plug to rest.
With that being said, I’m glad to have this space to share my thoughts and also connect with people in a deeper way than what you may see or perceive on the surface. I actually wrote one of the most honest essays ever publicly about my mental health journey while I was completing an artist development program here in Chicago. You can also learn more about me and my journey as a creative in my conversation with Voyage Chicago.
Gettin’ To the Money
I am going to be getting back into my influencer bag! If you would like to support me, keep sharing my newsletter, follow me @krileytips on Facebook/Twitter/Instagram and be sure to like and comment on things that are interesting to you there. I am offering customized promotional packages for folks to promote events, services, job opportunities and more on my social media channels, newsletter and my website. If you know of anyone who may be interested (especially those in the Chicagoland area or the Midwest) please have them contact me at hello@krileytips.com. I am also offering 15 minute ($15), 30 minute ($30) and 60 minute ($60) consultations for a limited time that will require a minimum $15 deposit payable through Chase Quickpay/Zelle/PayPal/Cash App/Venmo. You can fill out the interest form here. I am happy to provide feedback on proposals, creative projects, campaign strategies, relationship building and more.
Lastly, I am open to providing baked goods or limited catering for small, intimate dinners as well. If you have something specific in mind as we’re transitioning to fall, please contact me at hello@krileytips.com. Here’s my baked goods menu again for those that may have missed in the last issue:
Snickers Sea Salt Chocolate Chip Cookies (contains dairy and peanuts)
6 cookies - $12
1 dozen (12 cookies) - $20
Salted Caramel Brookies (brownies + cookies, contains dairy and nuts)
6 pc. - $15
1 dozen (12 pc.) - $25
Scheduled Pickup: FREE
Scheduled Delivery in Chicago area (please confirm address): $5-15 extra depending on location
Packaging: All orders will come with a box and each piece or cookie will be individually wrapped. If these orders are meant to be gifts or shared with others, feel free to let me know in advance.
Methods of Payment Accepted:
Ca$h App: $krileytips
Venmo: @Kelsey-Riley
PayPal/Zelle: kelseydr@gmail.com
NOTE for New Customers : Please follow up with a memo about your order i.e. “6 Snickers Cookies” or “1 Dozen Brookies” and method of payment so I can track orders.
Dope Creative Black Womxn to Follow:
Donnie Nicole, CEO of Work With Donnie (@workwithdonnie) and We Spell Well (@wespellwell)
Kori Coleman aka The Chicagolite (@thechicagolite), Founder of the Black Chamber Music Experience D-Composed (@dcomposedchicago on Instagram)
Joi Weathers of @JoiHasQuestions, the Podcast (Joi Has Questions Facebook Page)
Upcoming Events:
Windy Fest 2019 Hosted by 6D Networktainment
6D Networktainment Presents...
The "2nd Annual" Windy Fest!
A Music + Community Festival... for Chicago, by Chicago!
Sunday, September 1, 2019
2pm-10pm
The Lab on Lake
3450 W. Lake St.
Chicago, IL 60624
For more info, visit windyfestchi.com
FOUR: PN 4th Anniversary FunQtion Hosted by Party Noire
This Labor Day, Monday, September 2nd, it’s a family affair in honor of our 4th birthday. FOUR YEARS! That’s four years of centering Black womyn. Four years of making space for Black joy. Four years of moving in love with our folx. Four years of uplifting Black + POC Queer creatives.
*No Black/QWOC femmes or womyn turned away due to lack of funds. Email us: thepeople@thepartynoire.com
The Promontory is fully ADA accessible. Please call ahead of time or send an e-mail to info@promontorychicago.com to make accommodations.
More info: www.thepartynoire.com; https://www.instagram.com/partynoire/
Join us for the second helping of FEAST, a festival where everybody eats!
AMFM Presents an outdoor art, music and food festival on the West side featuring emerging artists and performances to bring awareness to food deserts in Chicago.
If you are interested in being involved as a sponsor, a vendor, or volunteer, please email them at amfmevents@gmail.com