Meet Amy Whitesell | Festival promoter

We had the good fortune of connecting with Amy Whitesell and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Amy, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
Both my husband and I got together later in life and we didn’t really have any savings.
At one point each of us had to declare bankruptcy.
We were working very hard with a non profit that we are founded.
I said if we are going to work this hard, let’s make it work for us and that is how A Music a company Inc. started.

What should our readers know about your business?
A Music Company Inc. came to be in 2006. We have survived a fire, flood and a pandemic.
We started a festival, Blues on the Mesa, in 2021 and this is the 5th year.
Was it easy? No! Starting a festival is difficult and takes lots of community support which luckily we have had and have this year.
Getting your name out to agencies that manage national touring artists and having them take your offers seriously, takes time. We have paid our dues.
I very much believe in creating Win/Win situations with businesses and people. Otherwise if it’s not win/win, you probably will not work together again.
I also believe that we all put on our pants the same way, one leg at a t time. Meaning no one is better than someone else.
This business does rely on relationships and we have made many over the years.
I work hard at creating a festival line up that appeals to the masses-male, female, black, white, different instrumentation. This year our headliner, Ruthie Foster, just won a Grammy. This weekend, Mike Zito is playing Red Rocks with Bill Murray as the Blood Brothers. We are excited about this years lineup.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I really like taking people to Star Kempf’s house to see his metal sculptures that move with the wind.
From there we go up Old Stage Road and take the back way to Cripple Creek and Victor. Stay a night at the new Charmonix hotel and eat at their steakhouse.
Next day a bike ride through Colorado Springs. Food-where to start. Patty Jewett has amazing food and views and we can ride our bikes there.
A walk through Garden of the Gods is incredible and then a stop at the Trading post for a light bite to eat and a drink. Maybe a souvenir or two.
A drive down 115 first stopping g at Coyote’s Coffee Den for music on Sunday morning (I have booked their music for the past 12 years) and then on through Canon City with a stop at Pizza Madness for lunch. The Royal Gorge is a fun place to take visitors.
On the way back stop at the hot springs right off Hwy 50.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
For our festival, Blues on the Mesa, Children’s Literacy Center has been amazing to work with. They were the festival beneficiary last year and again this year.
They bring volunteers and do what they say they will do. The volunteers pick up garbage and empty the garbage pails, keep the bathrooms clean, help any vendor who asks and more. They come early and help set up tents, tables, chairs and way more.
They are an excellent team of folks to work with and I’m glad to turn over the profits to them.

Website: https://BluesOnTheMesa.org

Instagram: BluesOnTheMesa

Linkedin: Amy Whitesell/A Music Company Inc

Facebook: https://Facebook.com/bluesonthemesa

Youtube: Blues On The Mesa