Meet Wayne Watts and Destiny Hardney of Dream Create Inspire Tour

Today we’d like to introduce you to Wayne Watts and Destiny Hardney.

Wayne and Destiny, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
You are now rocking with The Dream Create Inspire Tour. Our mission is to entertain, provide exposure, and build community by curating soul-enriching experiences. This includes running youth songwriting workshops across the country featuring amazingly talented musicians who offer a space for aspiring creators to not only evolve their creative process but learn how to monetize their intellectual property. In our goal to build community, we host small business-friendly pop-ups that serve to connect local brands and community-focused services.

Back in 2018, we started as a Kickstarter campaign. With over 172 backers, in approximately 30 days, we raised over $15, 000 to fund an eight-city social connections tour. This resulted in over 150 youth participants in workshops, over 500 attendees at pop-ups, and collaboration with over 60 performers and small businesses.

Due to COVID-19, we have been curating virtual experiences via virtual songwriting workshops, home concert series, and visual mixtapes.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
1.Resourcefulness on Tour. Leading up to the tour, we could not get a band booked for the Houston show. We tried everything (Facebook ads, emails, phone calls, etc.) However, six days before the show in Houston, we networked after an open mic in NYC and an amazingly dope vocalist connected us to a drummer living in Houston. Problem solved, right… WRONG. The drummer happened to be leaving the country in a few days. However, we convinced him to connect us to a band he had worked with. After a few emails and Instagram DMS, we were able to book a band just 48 hours before the show.

2. COVID-19. Shows were canceled. Events were canceled. Workshops were canceled. The silver lining in this is that it birthed innovation. We adopted the mantra “By any DREAM necessary”. New logo. New virtual Workshops. New social distance community events. New partnerships.

Please tell us about Dream Create Inspire Tour.
Our Mission. To entertain, provide exposure, and build community by curating soul-enriching experiences. Our Vision. To jumpstart thriving communities where individuals and the collective can exist, create, and maintain synergy.

What we do: 1.Workshops. Our songwriting workshop specializes in providing best practice strategies on how to collaboratively write songs while also creating a space for aspiring creatives to network with professional musicians. In 2020, we have expanded into both virtual workshops and virtual programs.

2. Community Events. Our community event allows small businesses, community leaders, and professional creators to come together. Small businesses are able to utilize free vending spaces and network with other entrepreneurs while growing their audience. In 2020, we have held virtual movie nights, social distance open mics, and our new visual mixtape series.

3. Partnerships. We strategically partner with organizations that share similar values and can offer supplementary services. We connect creatives to one another, to supporters, to new fans, and to new streams of income. In 2020, we have served as panelists on virtual webinars/conferences such as SXSW Edu, SoFar Sounds Artist Sessions, Soundtrap Edu Summit, Colorado Mentoring Summit, and the American Art Therapy Association.

Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
Wayne: In the summer of my sixth-grade year, I traveled across the country to a family reunion in my grandparent’s van. Getting the chance to see the country and get up with family along the trip was life-changing.

Destiny: Favorite childhood memory is playing with my cousins and all the kids from the neighborhood at my grandma’s. She watched all of her grandkids and neighbor’s kids during the summer and set it up for us like a real program. She took us places she had games for our food for us—all the fun.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.dreamcreateinspiretour.com/
• Email: dreamcreateinspiretour@gmail.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dreamcreateinspiretour/
• Other: Destiny Hardney LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/destiny-hardney-73355186/
  Wayne Watts LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wayne-watts-b70007110/

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