Today we’d like to introduce you to Mackenzie Quinn.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Over the course of the past 26 years capturing stories on camera and translating them for an audience has quickly become a part of my DNA. Growing up I was one of the main stars in our family home videos, a credit I’m still honored to have, and quickly found that capturing stories on film could be like riding a bike. Around the time I was 18 I knew I wanted the adventure to be the cornerstone of every storyline, so I took my camera and set off around the midwest interviewing locals and capturing off-the-beaten-path lifestyles. And yes… many people thought I was crazy… especially when I told complete strangers that this 5-minute interview would be solely about their life adventures and cornerstones. That turned into Sidewalk Stories. In 2019 our Sidewalk Stories documentary featuring Cincinnati, Ohio took home multiple awards, including a Regional Emmy in Writing. It was around this time that I met my husband and finally answered a call that had been ringing in my head for years, that call told me to pack up everything I owned and chase adventure out west. We settled in Utah, and the Sidewalk Stories adventure has been continuing here ever since.
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?
For a creator, I believe the bumps are inevitable. I found myself pushing for opportunities for years that felt like they would never come, or would go to someone else. That was always hard to see, especially experience, but a voice in my head reminded me that what’s meant to be will be, I just need to keep pushing until I find that opportunity that is meant for me. I’ve probably googled a hundred stories about how long it might take to make it, and read dozens of how-to books about having the right mindset, but the truth is grit and endurance is the only way to eventually find that break-through moment, which by the way, is an up-hill mountain drive that will never let off the gas. I’ll always be climbing, and that’s the secret ingredient.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Sidewalk Stories is the core of everything I do. Whether it be on social media, Amazon Prime documentaries, or even now on our newest platform YouTube. The adventure out west has not been an easy one but has also unlocked the door to so many new locals and off-the-beaten paths to explore. My husband, our dog and I have taken our next step in the Sidewalk Stories journey to a YouTube series we call “1 Hour Roadtrips.” The whole idea is that in 1 hour and a quarter tank of gas you can find an entirely new experience that could change the course of your life, or even just give you a little break from the everyday. Either way, 1 hour can be all you need for that reset… and let’s be honest, we all need a good reset sometimes! What sets us apart is that we pick a location, turn the camera on, and drive. Nothing we capture is planned other than the location, and that is historically the Sidewalk Stories way. It’s honestly exciting just to say that. Check us out on YouTube at Sidewalk Storytellers.
Can you share something surprising about yourself?
I always love to answer these questions, because it’s easy to think those around us know it all! My day job is working for a corporate Marketing team with an international retailer, which always presents its new set of challenges. I also enjoy working with a team of Utah Archaeologists who I run social media for. These are both polar opposite industries, and I absolutely love that. They both fall into line with another passion of mine which is helping small businesses establish a thriving marketing presence. We’re launching a new website with this in mind later this summer. Follow us on social media to keep up-to-date with when that releases! These experiences and our 1 Hour Roadtrip adventures make for a never dull lifestyle here in Utah, which let’s be honest, is the best kind.
Pricing:
- Specific location feature for 1 Hour Roadtrips: $250
- Small Business Marketing Consultation: $50
- Small Business Marketing Plans: Starting at $500
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.mysidewalkstory.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sidewalk_storyteller/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sidewalkstoryteller
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxcXQT8HdsiHCpmN1x0DI0A
- Other: https://www.amazon.com/Chagrin-Falls-OH-Pt-2/dp/B08DTNHTX1/ref=sr_1_3?crid=2S19DQPJZRZVB&keywords=sidewalk+stories&qid=1655390433&s=instant-video&sprefix=sidewalk+stories%2Cinstant-video%2C105&sr=1-3
Image Credits
Husband, Jordan
