Gala Season

The holiday season looms large after Halloween weekend, signalling the start of a very impactful time of year: gala season. For some, it’s nothing but a tax write off. For others, it’s a way to truly give back and connect.

Last week, I had the honor of attending the 10th annual POP Gala. Pencils of Promise is an organization built by Adam Braun, brother of music mogul, Scooter Braun. The first time I attended this event, Justin Bieber was honored. They auctioned off a game of 2-on-2 where the winning bidder got to play Justin Bieber and Shaq at Shaq’s house in L.A.

This year, the event was at The Brooklyn Navy Yard. MASSIVE! Tori Kelly serenaded the crowd and Zane Lowe manned the decks. The room was filled with top-notch entrepreneurs and the big debate was which is worth more: a mentor’s lunch with Scooter Braun or an hour in the studio with Usher? Scooter and Lewis Howe ended up buying the lunch themselves 😉

Pencils of Promise alum, Brad Haugen, was also in attendance. His company, ATTN: is taking the Internet by storm with their difference-making viral video content. If you haven’t seen the Zooey Deschanel-starring Your Food’s Roots, check it out.

I was invited to sit at Joe and Christie Marchese’s table this time around. Christie was reliving the early days of POP and how she helped build one of the program’s first schools. Cut to 2018 and they’re auctioning off the naming rights to their 500th school. “If your dreams don’t scare you,” Adam Braun told the crowd, “you don’t dream big enough.”

Still reeling from the inspo of POP, I attended the Sing for Hope gala last night…

If you too want to contribute to either of these wonderful organizations:

Pencils of Promise — https://pencilsofpromise.org/donate/

Sing for Hope — https://www.singforhope.org/donate/

– Jesse K

PS: A couple articles below mention e-sports…

PlayVIG is a free to use gaming application…

BEATS

Drake And Scooter Braun Invest In Esports Company 100 Thieves
Matt Perez – Forbes

Why The Intersection Of Music And Esports Is Bigger Business Than Ever
Cherie Hu – Forbes

A&R ‘Moneyball’ Is Hotter Than Ever. But Will It Actually Improve The Music Business?
Cherie Hu – MBW

SoundCloud’s New Artist Contract Is A Raw Deal For Musicians
Dani Deahl, Nilay Patel – The Verge