Today we’d like to introduce you to Renata Flot-Patterson.
Hi Renata, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself
I am the founder of “Big Easy Entertainment & Productions, LLC and the first female vocalist in one of its subsidiary companies, The “Sensations Soul Band” for about 12 years. From 2002 through 2012, the band became such a demanded request for weddings and private events, so much that we were unable to fill all of the dates. So I then started hiring other local bands to fulfill dates that The Sensations were not available for.
It came to a point where I became more of a booking agent for local talent and I then realized how much I loved being on the other side of the stage. Eventually, I resigned as a performing artist and decided to test my skills at booking more talent and creating and I took the leap to do what I had always dreamed of doing and created a Motown Musical Production.
Pulling a team of professionals together to include Daniel and Jennifer Tarasevich of Voodoo Productions, Monica DaSilva and Frazier Tedford of Hopscotch Outreach Foundation amongst many other talented local artists, musicians, and professionals in the Salt Lake music industry. From there, a show was born. “The Motown Sounds and More Tribute Show” that featured all the hits and hitmakers of the Motown era was the talk of the town and the word was rapidly spreading through the Western Mountain Region.
The show was then recognized and introduced to Randy Barton, the Park City Egyptian Theater’s Executive Director, who scheduled its first debut at the historical venue and sold out four consecutive shows in June of 2013. From there, the sky was the limit! The show began to perform for and sold out many local theaters including the Janee Wagner Rose Wagner Theater in Salt Lake City. With selling out theaters, festivals, and more, this dynamic showcase was just what Salt Lake had been hoping for. True, authentic, exciting, cultural, and energetic entertainment. There were many trials and triumphs, but somehow we always made it work and seemed to come out on top. The showcase was a large production of approximately 21 cast and crew members and we were all like one big family.
The show traveled and with every showcase, the group of artists and musicians became closer and closer. After a six-year run, a nasty divorce, and a need for a change of pace, I was offered an opportunity as a managing partner at a jazz club in Coastal Mississippi. I accepted the offer without hesitation. By this time, the Motown Show was becoming a bit too expensive to showcase and travel and the decent-paying gigs were now becoming far and few in between. As I ventured to Mississippi to embark on my new project, the Motown Show continued for approximately one more year until I learned that the show was then being compromised by local promoters and artists who began to claim the Motown Show as their own.
Our initial creative team worked entirely too hard to build this showcase, so the last thing I was going to allow, was for someone to just take it and claim it as their own. From there, I decided to found “LeFleau Entertainment Groups & Productions, Inc., which was sort of a rebranding, but then decided to take about a three year break on promoting Motown Shows in Utah all together. I only focused on the events which I had produced in Salt Lake City for what is now the past 15 years. One being the “Big Easy New Years Eve Masquerade Ball” which generates about 1000 attendees each year. This Annual New Year’s Eve Ball features “DeeJay Stario” one of Utah’s Hottest DJ’s on the scene.
I have also now created a smaller Motown showcase called the “Motown Magic Broadway Dinner Show” which will debut on November 13, 2021 at the Hilton Salt Lake City Center and will run monthly as a broadway-style dinner show at the same location. The show will feature local and broadway performing artists, and the Motown Magic Dinner Show Band will be led by Salt Lake City’s own Musical Director, David Holliday of Lone Peak Sound and David Halliday Music. We have come a long way, but we’ve truly only just begun.
I recently lost my 34 years old daughter and my 7-months old grandson to an act of domestic violence and will be launching “ Halloween Hoopla” an event that will honor their lives, their October birthdays and all proceeds from this event as well as any other events or shows that I produce, will go directly to the Keli and Brixx Foundation which will bring awareness and many resources to victims and survivors of domestic violence.
For more info please visit: https://www.kelibrixx.org
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has not always been smooth. Many life challenges in general, will automatically bring on challenges in business as well. We’ve certainly had some ups and downs but we have survived every storm. COVID-19 has been the biggest challenge of all.
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?
I have a love and passion for creating cultural shows, productions, and events. My work presents my true and authentic culture. My Creole, African-American, and my New Orleans culture is rich and is what I aim to share with the world. I am a native of New Orleans, and I love showing off anything that represents my culture in my work.
What I am most proud of is my tenacity and drive to keep on going in order to help others and to provide events and attractions to the Salt Lake Community. I feel that the diverse and cultural events that I bring to Salt Lake City is what sets me apart from many other event and entertainment producers.
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
Producing and presenting quality, professional and experienced entertainment & events is a true and authentic characteristic that brings forth success in all that I do.
Contact Info:
- Email: lefleauentgroups@gmail.com
- Website: www.LeFleauentertainiment.com
- Instagram: @lefleau_entertainment
- Facebook: https://www.Facebook.com/LeFleauentertainment
Image Credits
Todd Collins Photography
