Today we’d like to introduce you to Chris Duncan.
Hi Chris, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I’m the founder of Where’s The Music Memphis. I’ve always had a strong passion for music and entertainment. I first got into the entertainment industry working radio promotions in college and helping out with a few Live at the Garden shows which hooked me. I was hired by Memphis in May 2014 and that’s when I got to learn the ins and outs of the festival world.
After MIM I left the festival business for about a year or two, but got back involved when Mempho Fest began in 2017.
I worked with their sponsorship team for two years and was eventually hired as their full-time Marketing Director in 2019. In 2021, I contributed to their only sell out to date while also navigating the uncertainties of the pandemic. I left there at the beginning of this year and I’ve been consulting for a few out-of-state festivals and entertainment agencies.
And, in August of this year, I started Where’s The Music Memphis to showcase all the incredible music that comes through our city that is oftentimes overlooked. I’ve also served on the Overton Park Shell Professionals board and currently serve as the Vice Chair on the Music Export Memphis board.
Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Of course. There have definitely been a few obstacles along the way. Those are always expected, you just don’t know to what level it will be. So you just have to try and anticipate them as best you can, pivot when needed, and always keep your head up. If you let your struggles get you down, then you start to lose the confidence that got you to where you are in the first place.
I knew there was a need for getting the word out about the music around town, but wasn’t sure how to do it. My biggest challenge, and fear, was if other people would think it was needed. Since I started it just a few months ago, I’ve received numerous messages about how it’s such a great source and that people are referencing it not only for themselves, but for tourists visiting the city. Live music is on Beale St. daily, and it’s great, but sometimes tourists want to go where the locals go and @wheresthemusicmemphis is that source.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Where’s The Music Memphis is mainly a social media platform and source for finding daily live music in Memphis. While there are similar event sources around, all of which are great, WTMM focuses strictly on live music. There’s not any other local source that’s just posting or promoting the daily live music happening around town.
Instead of having to filter through art festivals, plays/musicals, or general events, you can visit @wheresthemusicmemphis or wheresthemusicmemphis.com and see what live music is happening for the week. On Monday morning we post the shows for the week (Monday – Thursday) and on Friday morning we’ll post the weekend shows.
If you want to see live music in Memphis, then we should be the first place you look.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.wheresthemusicmemphis.com
- Instagram: @wheresthemusicmemphis
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/wheresthemusicmemphis
Image Credits
Keith Griner
