PHOTO/FREEDOM OF SPEECH THURSDAY
LOS ANGELES, CA—Freedom of Speech Thursday (FOST) is more than a moniker or a reference to the 1st Amendment. It is a collective of unique individuals freely and authentically expressing their creative talents in a supportive atmosphere and endearing creative community.
FOST is located at Sabor y Cultura in Hollywood. The similarity to Tinseltown is that FOST treats every artist who gets on the mic as a star. It doesn’t matter if it’s the artist’s first time or millionth time performing; everyone gets the love they deserve. FOST acknowledges that it takes a great amount of courage to get up in front of people and be completely vulnerable, to share something very near and dear to your heart. The number one fear is public speaking, the second death; meaning people would rather die than speak in public. FOST realizes the importance of nurturing voices and talent. As a close friend to FOST says, “You shine. I shine.”
I produce and host FOST. The technical producer is Claudius West. We have been operating FOST for nearly two years. This wouldn’t be possible without the supportive staff and management of Sabor y Cultura. Every Thursday artists from all over have the opportunity to rock out on the mic. There are a couple requirements, but we ask that everyone show respect and love to everyone in the establishment. This creates a friendly and welcoming vibe.
When it comes to the artists, there is a large variety to choose from. FOST is an epicenter for a diverse group of artists from all backgrounds. FOST is an artistic collective that includes poets, musicians, songwriters, singers, stage performers, heartfelt sharing, comedians and magic. All the artists share their own original work. There are no feature artists because every artist that performs is the feature. There is no one person above the other. Every artist is sharing something valuable.
The greatest asset that FOST provides is a loving and caring community. The people who walk in the door come in as strangers and leave as friends. Artists have gone on to collaborate, support one another’s events and each other. There are artists who have been coming consistently since the inception of FOST. One of the sentiments generally expressed about FOST is that it feels like home. People want a place they can go relax, commune and be entertained.
For those who can’t physically attend, FOST broadcasts in real time all over the world to millions of viewers. FOST can be seen online at Ustream from 8pm-11pm Pacific Time. Also, FOST is connecting to the Internet community through its website and multiple social media platforms. FOST’s dedicated production team is mainstreaming this effort.
Although FOST was the brainchild of one man, it is the collective that keeps it running. There are no bells and whistles, but the bellow of laughter and the whistling a guitar makes when the cords correlate in harmony. The majority of people attending FOST are looking for that harmony not only as artists, but also as human beings. However, every time they perform they draw one step closer to that place they are seeking. FOST holds the space for them to take those steps and willingly provides the support they need on their journey. All love all the time!
