Life & Work with Candice Belton

Today we’d like to introduce you to Candice Belton.

Hi Candice, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I got to where I am after burning everything down to the ground in my life at 21…but if I hadn’t done that, I probably wouldn’t have found this internal fire for music festivals and live events. I spent years staying small and quiet in fear of rocking any kind of boat. This was pre-pandemic–I found myself being put on time out from the consequences of my actions. I thugged it out through several soul-sucking jobs because my sense of self-worth was low; I used to think, “Who would want me?” Well, eventually I snapped. Hit that wall where I was ready to be homeless and sleep in bushes before I spent another day inside of an office feeling as though my bones were rotting in this flesh suit. Right before lockdown, I left that job and have been freefalling ever since. I took that first year of doing some deep inner work and intensive therapy to address the multi-layered PTSD I had racked up and avoided from existing in a survival state for so long. Moved around a few times. Wound up delivering art pieces for a sick-ass Newport gallery across the country in a sprinter van with an amazing friend. Lived in the mountains, restoring an estate. Basically, I got in where I fit in, but I knew I was lacking clarity despite the increased momentum. After sitting with myself to feel what I really loved, all the memories of music festivals and live events I’ve been a part of flooded my mind. Not even a few weeks after locking into my personal vision, I picked up a job managing multiple venues in DTLA while simultaneously juggling various festivals. I love that I found my people in all things production, artistry, operations, and expression.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Absolutely not. There is no road. Just out here free falling upwards is what I’ve been joking about with my friends lately. Anyone who has chosen to answer to that creative path, if they’re like me anyways, it’s a lot of asking yourself daily, “Why the f*ck am I doing this? What am I doing?” There is no manual when it comes to transmuting your self-expression into a tangible art form and experience. And you know what? It’s not that it gets any easier, I think we just get better at how we respond to adversity along the way. I don’t have enough time to cover specific struggles here, but tea will be spilled in a new book I’m working on.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I specialize in enhancing the situation. My specialty is that I don’t have just one, let’s say. I have a proven track record of managing operations and productions of live events and music festivals, and I have a natural knack when it comes to getting plugged in anything artist relations facing which is possibly because I’m also an artist. I’m really proud of myself for this last year alone in successfully publicizing my mirror art RFLCTN, collaborating with some gifted photographers and creating amazing photos I modeled in, taking chances and getting myself into awesome positions working music festivals, and actively trying new things like when I wound up backing @goldsightmedia as his AD for a music video.

What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
Stay down til you come up. A lot of people f*ck up and only ask god to give them what they want. They forget the second part, ask for the wisdom in how to keep what you get. Collaboration over competition any day. Few will stand with you; none will stand for you. I f*ck up but I do not fail. I’m not afraid to be wrong.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://spchthrpy.art.blog/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/spchthrpy/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/candicebelton/
• Other: https://linktr.ee/beltonc22

Image Credits
@davetherainbow_washere @goldsightmedia @imashoots @madisonfromdallas