This past weekend in Montreal, Rising Star hosted their second RISE N CONNECT, an event for artists to get together and make connections. Rising star’s founders: Jeffrey Baret, Jordan Karab and Nicolas Kara alongside OYABUN organized the event, which featured live music, comedy, catering and merchandise.
Comedians Karadjordjevic André and Leandra Rudolfo were the first to take the stage. Later the Host OTM Josh, from One Track Mind, presented rappers Zouli and Litty X. MiQ The Burb Boy was invited on stage at the finale for an impromptu performance.
“This time, this event has more of an emphasis on the fashion, art and music world. So it’s a little blend of those three worlds. The first thing we did was we hand-selected personal invites to those people, and opened up an RSVP space on the website, to invite the public. It’s different from the first event because we have a blend of all artists and outsourced sponsors, like Cucci, who is Toronto based” Karab said.
Hannah Nakawatase, Founder and CEO of the four-year-old company Cucci Cucci Cucci was selling goods and set up an art painting table for event-goers. “We started with doing elevated wellness events, so we got our community together to enjoy cannabis and CBD-derived products. We carry all women-owned CBD brands and all women-owned all-natural, vegan, organic goods. So we’re trying to help women in industry, women in business, women in wellness. And also just, in general, our community, so we can reduce stigma and reeducate people on the benefits of CBD derived products, and cannabis-derived products” Nakawatase said.
For the second time, Grimey, the art brand sponsored at RISE N CONNECT. This time they brought more merchandise and projected all the videos filmed over the past year on the wall. Grimey accepts artwork submissions for their brand, and have sticker contests as well.
When Leandra Rudolfo, Grimey’s illustrator, project and product manager was asked about her experience at the past RISE N CONNECT she said:
“I’ve said this to so many people when we were talking about it afterwards. It was certainly an event that had I met all the people that I meet there, in any other situation, in any other context, I would have been way less likely and way less open to talking to them. Because it was such a nice, humble, friendly environment, I found that I made so many nice connections.
Karadjordjevic André performed a comedy skit for the first time. People had always told him he’s funny and that he should give it a go sometime. He put on a hilarious skit, which will be the first of more to come.
“It’s great to see opportunities like that, it’s a good event for newcomers or starters, it’s a very good thing. André said. “It was awesome, someone giving me an opportunity like this was life-changing.”
Differently from the first RISE N CONNECT, this one introduced an open bar. Everyone who RSVP’d, for the event was accepted.
Jennifer Barrak came back from the first RISE N CONNECT with Masterpiece Kitchen. She was able to cater to everyone’s food needs. “I enjoyed the event, seeing people smile when they ask about details about the food, the ones that are happy to find something that they can enjoy that won’t upset their stomach, the people’s reactions when they take the first bite or when they come back for more!”
The event showcased upcoming rappers like Litty X, based in Montreal. “The event was super, honestly! I didn’t expect the crowd to be hyped like that, food was amazing big up to them. The merch posted on each wall was super dope. People was so social and great I loved it, I could feel the love in this event” rapper Litty X said.
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