During the first half of 2019, something happened that shook me to my core. It intimidated me and made me basically crawl back into a shell that was already challenging to come out of in the first place.

It stunted the business I started before it even got legs to walk and a chance to grow. I packed up shop, too afraid to take a step in that direction for fear of the world-of-work sharks plotting, attacking me, fabricating lies and more stories; that in the wrong hands would be given more wings to fly than red bull ever could. #whoKnowsKnows

BUT alas, I am ready to push that fear aside and start again from ground zero. To that end, let me reintroduce the professional me…

Hello, my name is Melissa Jimenez and I am an Arts Manager (not a Talent Manager – an Arts Manager aka as an Arts Administrator/ Cultural Manager).

My calling is to teach and to be a servant so educating and helping others is what fulfils me most.

WHAT DO I DO?

1. I help creatives start and grow their creative businesses
2. I help private sector strategize on how to reach their creative target audiences across campaigns
3. I manage creative projects across the arts, media and entertainment

I have been actively involved in the creative sector all my life. Here are some tidbits of my Creative resume (don’t ask me about the years, I’m TERRIBLE at recalling them) not limited to and in no particular order …

✅ Started playing piano at age 4 with Theresa Noel (RIP) and continued all the way to university under Natasha Sealey-Worrell.

✅ Started singing at age 6 and i mean in full scale productions (I was a Queen’s Hall baby from then to now. Would roll in with my suitcase, blanket and pillow)

✅ Sang in both Primary and Secondary school choirs

✅ Started playing steelpan while at Tranquillity Government Secondary School in 2003 under Evette Graham (RIP)

✅ Performed in San Fest and Music Festival

✅ Worked as a volunteer with several arts organizations on various projects spanning visual arts, events management, music, dance, theatre and marketing to learn and hone skills

✅ Aced most of my Royal School of Music Theory and Practical exams with distinctions (missed my Gr.6 practical exam distinction by 2 marks and I get angry thinking about it to this second)

✅ Graduated from UWI Music Certificate (Pan) in 2007.

✅ Was introduced to Panorama while in UWI and played with Chord Masters first, then Pandemonium. (Don’t like playing with large bands – too crowded).

✅ Performed in full scale musical theatre productions with Must Come See Productions and later worked as part of the administrative team executing them.

✅ Became a member of the UWI Arts Chorale and still an active member to this day (16 years and counting) as a first soprano. I was the President of the chorale for the academic year 2022-23 and filled the role of Internal Liaison for many years prior.

✅ Won a music scholarship from Design Engineering while studying for my BA Musical Arts at UWI where I majored in voice and graduated in 2012.

✅ Garnered a ton of experience writing for grants over the years and was able to win over 5 million dollars in grants for different causes

✅ Won a Fulbright scholarship in 2015 to Columbia College Chicago where I graduated in 2017 with a MAM – Master of Arts Management degree (formerly known as Arts Media and Entertainment Management) .

✅ Won academic scholarships 2 years in a row from Columbia College Chicago.

✅ Also earned certificates from various universities in Personal Branding, Events Management, Budgeting and Scheduling Projects, Initiating and Planning Projects and very soon a Google certificate in Foundations of Digital Marketing and E-Commerce.

✅ Founded the RVRB X (Reverb Experience) music conference in 2021.

✅ Adjudicated for the Prime Minister’s Best Village Trophy Competition from 2022 to present.

✅ Won a scholarship from UNESCO Transultura programme for Grant Writing in 2023.

✅ Was selected to be a Fellow at the January 2024 International Society for the Performing Arts.

✅ Worked as a consultant with several creatives and arts organizations on various projects spanning visual arts, events management, music, dance and theatre across T&T, St. Lucia, Haiti, Atlanta, India and Chicago 13 years and counting…

✅ Scholarship Consulting helping students and parents navigate the onward to college journey.

That is as much of a nutshell that I can sum up because i won’t be bashful to say I’ve dipped my hands in quite a few pots, as most creatives generally do.

So, after that lengthy re-introduction, you’d be seeing alot more posts and hearing more from me along the lines of Arts Management. I’m ready to start over and flex those muscles.

STAY TUNED…

Melly

6th November 2023