the jennefit: for jenn barnett

erik koskinen, by jenn barnett

i first met jenn barnett last year some time.  i think the first time we actually spoke to each other was as i arrived at a church to shoot a wedding with her.  i had long since known about and admired her work and i was mostly familiar with her band photography, although she has quite a diverse portfolio.

jenn is an avid music lover and has done much to promote local bands and musicians.  local producer/rock star ed ackerson summed it up well when he said, “Jenn is golden, a huge asset for our community as a whole.”

you will no doubt be shocked (shocked, i tell you!  jk) to learn that it can be really difficult to make a living based purely on photography.  and what is even more shocking (yeah, right) is that it is equally difficult to make a living performing music.  i admire jenn because she is a full time photographer, she has her eye fixed on the target and she’s making it happen.  but, like many of us in creative fields, it sometimes takes the support of the community to make it through.

i recently learned that jenn’s camera had been on its last leg despite having undergone repairs.  and then it died completely.  her only option to make enough money to replace her camera body would be to sell prints – she couldn’t rely on the income from new shoots, because she couldn’t do new shoots.  panic! complete panic.  i just can’t imagine being without a camera – mine is never far from my sight.  i can’t live without it.  i wanted to help but i wasn’t sure what to do.  then i had an idea.

jenn has done *so* much for local musicians and helping to promote them, both through creating amazing images of their bands and telling people about their music . . . surely some of them would rally to help her replace her camera.  and they would! they are!  the bands i approached immediately embraced the idea of donating their time to help.

as of yesterday, we have the final lineup – although i’m certain that any of the bands on the bill would be willing to work in a cameo if anyone else wanted to get in on this.  i started calling it the Jennefit (because i’m hilarious) even though that’s basically painful in it’s dorkiness.  it’s super fun to say!  say it out loud.  do it!  jennefit.

here’s what we are going to do, and i TOTALLY need your help, if you are reading this.  we are going to the turf club on march 26th and we are going to watch these kick ass bands play until they make us all go home:

the honeydogs
ashleigh still
erik koskinen
ryan paul & the ardent
the mad ripple (jim walsh)

here’s what i need YOU to do.

1. tell everyone you know.  right now, go do it. tell them to write it on their calendars.
2. come to the show!
3. if you are in the media, um – contact me?  please?  and write about this.  for reals.  kthx.

ready, set, go.