Austin, TX (PRWEB) August 06, 2014
ComboPlate Booking, local music agency owned and operated by native Austinite Laura Thomas, celebrates its fifteenth-year anniversary this month. Since its founding, Laura Thomas has delivered artist tour booking services with a lot of heart and individual attention - and with a unique sensitivity to both the artist and the concert presenter. Laura attributes this to her prior history of working as a social worker. “Social work and booking are the same thing," Laura wrote in her bio as a response of sorts to many people commenting on what they perceived as a big shift in her career. After working nine years as a hospice social worker, Laura made the tough decision to leave the job she loved. She made an inventory of her passions (travel, tea, live music) and she made the decision to open her own tea shop. During that process and exploration, Laura began to informally help a friend’s band by securing a couple of gigs. Long story short, the tea shop turned into a booking agency, and a hospice social worker turned into an artist focused booking agency.
Two years after learning the booking industry, Laura’s social work roots starting stirring. While working a part time job at Caritas of Austin to help fund her booking business, Laura started organizing monthly concerts for the clients in April 2001. Since organizing the first concert in 2001, she has made it a personal goal to not repeat an artist. March 2002, Laura started South By Soup Fest, a 3 day showcase at the soup kitchen, and in 2005, Laura converted her annual agency non-SXSW showcase to also be a fundraiser for the soup kitchen at Caritas of Austin (http://www.caritasofaustin.org). Although it will take a little digging to get an exact number, Laura feels very confident in saying she has raised near or most likely over $20,000 for Caritas since the fundraiser began. Laura & ComboPlate Booking’s community service has been recognized by being a recipient of the “Women On Their Toes” Award by the Austin Ballet as well as Austin’s coveted “Kick Ass Award”.
To celebrate the 15 year anniversary, ComboPlate Booking will be gathering at Maria’s Taco Xpress on August 9th. Roster artists Michael Fracasso, Nathan Hamilton & Beaver Nelson will be trading songs from 7-9pm - they will be the guests of the Folk Alliance International Gaslight Troubadour Series hosted by William Graham. The Painted Redstarts, Christianne Swenson & Payton Nicole will open the show at 6pm. In the ComboPlate Booking spirit, there will be a collection of non-perishable food for the Food Pantry at Caritas of Austin. Caritas is especially in need of canned fruit, soups, canned chicken and sardines - and anything you can do is appreciated.
More information on the event can be found on our FB event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/610455202408275/.
WHAT: ComboPlate Booking's 15th Anniversary Party
WHERE: Maria’s Taco Xpress, 2529 S. Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78704
WHEN: Saturday, August 9, 6-9:00pm
WHY: Celebrate 15 years, live music, food drive for Caritas of Austin
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About ComboPlate Booking
ComboPlate Booking is a music booking agency representing artists of the folk, Americana and roots rock music genres. ComboPlate Booking organizes national tours for the artists on the roster, and the agency has also booked tours in Europe and Canada. In addition to artist based tour services, ComboPlate Booking organizes volunteer musicians for a once a month concert at a local soup kitchen. The agency also organizes an annual community concert raising funds for the same soup kitchen. Native Austinite Laura Thomas is the agent and owner.
ComboPlate Booking Contacts:
Laura Thomas, Owner/Agent, 512.423.7667, laura(at)comboplatebooking(dot)com
Rebecca Johnson, Communications Intern, rebecca(at)comboplatebooking(dot)com