Today we’d like to introduce you to Manny Dominguez.
Hi Manny, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
From Yorba Linda,Ca.
Grew up as a Cowboy with horses and other farm animals. Was involved in Showing in Competition events. Late 60’s Early 70’s.
As a young man I always enjoyed photography and did some work on the yearbook staff as a Freshman/Sophomore.
Few jobs growing up. Restaurant for a short time. Grocery Retail with Ralph’s Grocery Co 25 years. 1976 to 2000
Owned my own Landscape Co for 15 years. 2000 to 2015 2015 to 2017 some health issues.
Back to retail in 2017 with Sprouts as a QC Inspector for all Produce Inbound to SPROUTS WAREHOUSE California .
That is my basic background.
Now the history of my Photography.
After being off for year from my business due to a car accident and almost dying, I never really recovered finically and was falling very behind in paying my bills. At one point or another prior to all this happening I heard of Tribute Bands. One particular band was a Oingo Boingo Tribute named DEAD MAN’S PARTY. I had family down from Washington St that was my Nephews. So we went to see a show near by at a local venue. It was amazing! Later on I heard of other bands that were Tributes too such Queen,Bon Jovi, The Stones,and many more.
Now as I mentioned earlier I wasn’t really doing well financially and falling into somewhat of a depression that was keeping up at nights. Wondering how I was going to pay our bills and falling behind loosing our home.
The sleepless nights would keep my mind awake and not let me sleep. I started thinking about the Tribute Bands and how much I liked them. I started to go to more and more of the shows that were primarily free like Summer Concert series at parks and recreation centers. I started to take a camera that wasn’t the best but got ok shots.
I then thought of a idea that would help promote these Tribute Bands. I started a FACEBOOK PAGE that later on became MANNY’S TRIBUTE BAND PAGE. For the best of Tribute Bands on Tour.
I became a advocate for Tribute Bands. I would go to these shows and take hundreds of pics and post them to my page and share them of Facebook. My audience grew and fanbase for the page.
Started to get invites to more and more shows and offered guest list and get in free.
Time passed and made friends and started more to promote bands and book at various venues.
Speed up a couple years after booking a few bands here and there, i made friends with Talent Buyers and bookers at clubs and venues.
I had heard that one of my favorite artist was on a solo tour from his normal gig with Cheap Trick and was in town. The Artist was Robin Zander lead singer of Cheap Trick.
Playing at the Coach House and I got to see him sing as well as shoot him on stage.
After the show I was honored to meet Robin and chat. I then asked him what was the possibility of shooting Cheap Trick the following week at the LA County Fair. He then hollered to his tour manager Howard and said Manny wants to shoot us next week can I help him out?
Spoke with Howard and then said to contact him the next morning by e-mail. I did and less then a half hour later I was on the Media list to shoot one of my favorite bands of all time Cheap Trick!
The Rest is history! I had graduated to the big leagues!
The Word got out that I shot a professional band like Cheap Trick. Doors opened for more gigs down the road.
Did THE WORLDS GREATEST TRIBUTE BANDS on AXS Tv with Katie Daryl for 8 seasons as a Contributor Photographer.
Contributor photographer for CALIFORNIA ROCK NEWS.
Contributor photographer for Music Connection Magazine
House Photographer for Canyon Clubs for 5 years.
Pacific Amphitheatre Summer Concert Series Photographer.
Met many various Rockstars over the years that are in my studio.
Many who I saw as a kid and later in life got to photograph them.
Have done Red Carpet events.
Awards shows.
I could go on and on how my life as changed by way of photography.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Always going to be bumps in the road and the best way to avoid them is to keep your eyes open and be a good driver that will do the best to avoid them.
Almost loosing my home was the worst feeling in the world.
Car Accident when catching thieves that were stealing from me.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Somewhat explained in earlier comments but my photography has let me shoot some of the best well known bands and artist. The Eagle’s, The Who, Motley Crue, Alice Copper ,Boy George, Morris Day, Chicago, Styx, Cheap Trick and many more. I managed to do all this on my own over the years just by being myself.
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
My aggressiveness in going for it! When you want something bad enough then you do what you can to get it as long as its not illegal.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.californiarocknews.com%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR58O12AwR81Pvw7SByKnRtSx9dkgFZInEza5HUk8vkFj-J9og-Q6p6AjdQcSQ_aem_pD-EkfbX2yxORZy3SKDz-w&h=AT36FQ-Os4zZaU7MdP_YwKDGi0Nzo8zOYyEYhABPgeRQ1XlHtfgdjEIrNmvVXKNVImuKdVPQG_R7tZf4um6Yxetfy9AYUNMSRjiHcmDpszG95Rp8Njwb7HJQ0ayJnR7e3kqg7A
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/frontrowpromotionsrocks/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063495163704
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@frontrowpromotionsmannydom1743
- Other: https://www.facebook.com/manny.dominguez.5076/
