Backstage Pass - Far From Sanity - Interview

ATP

For the record, who's answering the interview?

Jamie Kucinski

Jamie Kucinski: Co-Founder of Mpact Events

ATP

Begin we begin, can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

Jamie Kucinski

We’re based in Tulsa, OK and have been active for 4.5 years, Our company goal is to raise awareness about the needs of children in our community, empower individuals by providing them the opportunity to give, and effectively combine these resources to make a positive MPACT on the lives of children.

ATP

What is your event's name? How did you come up with that name?

Jamie Kucinski

Well…it’s called the Not So Silent Night. I don’t think our name is ground breaking but it just fits. Lol! We believe that our greatest weapon is our voice. The children we serve have had their voices taken away and we feel like in (at least some small way) that we can stand in the gap and be a “voice”. Thus our event hashtag this year is #WEWILLNOTBESILENT

ATP

Is this the first event? If not, how many have you hosted?

Jamie Kucinski

This is your fifth Not So Silent Night and our ninth overall event.

ATP

Who is benefiting from the event?

Jamie Kucinski

Our mission is to assist organizations in our community that are on the frontlines of serving children that have been victims of child abuse. We know that many of these children are in shelters and/or being shipped around the foster care system. Most foster families do not have money to support additional children at Christmas nor do many of the shelters.
We have been able to serve an organization called C.A.S.A. (Court Appointed Special Advocates) as well as The Child Abuse Network and Tulsa Advocates for the Protection of Children. This year, we’re also partnering with an organization called All For A Child who goes into our area shady motels and provides children with food to eat. We’re planning on sending them with some small toys to provide with their meals.

ATP

How did you get involved?

Jamie Kucinski

Honestly, that is a very long story but the short version is that we saw a need and we had something we believed could help the situation in some small way. We took what we could do and we gave it those who could benefit from our gift. Fortunately, the idea has continued to resonated with our community.

ATP

Are you getting help putting on the event? If so, who's helping?

Jamie Kucinski

Well..I will have to say that none of what we do would be remotely possible without many people believing in the work we are trying to accomplish.
Each year starts with a creative team that looks at where we will be setting up and they come up with great ideas on how we can put together the best event possible with the resources allotted to us. This creative team also bounces ideas for art work as well as promotional video ideas. I am very excited about this years “Santa” mascot because it was hand drawn by my compadre Derek Sanders from The Art of D Sanders. Then we had some additional touches placed on from a great friend of mine name Rich Ingram and my compadre Justin Hines from The 318 Nation.
We also have some very awesome sponsors. We are not able to keep our door admission to a new, unwrapped toy of “any” amount without our sponsors financially backing this idea. This year we were able to have a title sponsor sign on with us. D&B Processing is steel bending company in our city. With them on board, it really goes to show ya that the subject of child abuse touches us all no matter what industry that we’re in.
Enerje Event Center has sponsored my venue the last two years. Sacred by Design Tattoo has been one of our champion sponsors since the day they heard about our work and this is their third year sponsoring.
We have tattoo shops, music stores, car dealers, local eateries, martial arts studios, music studios and of course…we are honored to count Arm the Pit in this list for our 2015 edition.
One of the fun elements of our event is that since it’s Christmas, we also hand out sweet treats to our guests. My wife and sister in law will be spending the week prior to the event cooking up delicious baked treats to give away at the event. I think we’re on schedule to cook about 300-400 cupcakes.
And, finally, I cannot forget my awesome volunteer team. Each year, approximately 50 volunteer sign up to give of their time to serve by setting up our stage, working as stage hands, service staff and clean-up crew. This bunch is the nuts and bolts of this whole operation. Without them, we don’t have the success that we do. They are the first people you see when you walk in the door and they are responsible for setting the whole tone for the night.
I wish I could give an abridged version of this answer but as stated above…I CANNOT do this alone. I appreciate each and every person vested into the success of this event because it is TOGETHER that we are making the greatest MPACT!

ATP

Tell us about the event? What can we expect?

Jamie Kucinski

My good friend, TD Benton, from the awesome band White Collar Sideshow said it best. “Music is just an excuse for us to get together.” And…he’s right. We use music because it DOES bring us together. The premise is simple. We host a rock n roll show and you bring the toys. Lol! All toys go into the hands of children in our community that have suffered at the hands of an abuser.
Going into our fifth year, I think the expectation remains an event that does what it says it’s going to do. We do this to collectively be a voice for children who have had their silenced. It is our mission to bring a smile and maybe give some hope to kiddos in our community who have had to face things that no child should ever have to experience.

ATP

When and where is the event being held? What is the cost of admission?

Jamie Kucinski

Our event is held on Saturday, December 5th at 5PM at Enerje Event Center 9341 N. 129th E. Ave Owasso, OK . Admission is one new, unwrapped toy of any monetary amount.

ATP

What is your favorite part of hosting this event?

Jamie Kucinski

There are so many things I love about this event but I think the number one thing is bringing people together. We have so much the separates us day in and day out that it warms my heart that for one evening we can put our differences aside and join together for common purpose.

ATP

What is your least favorite part of hosting this event?

Jamie Kucinski

When you love something, there really is no non-favorite part.

ATP

How can you help out if you can't make it to the event?

Jamie Kucinski

We are still accepting toy donations or gift card donations that will be utilized to purchase toys. The items can be mailed to Mpact Events Attn: Jamie Kucinski 115 N. Delaware Ave Tulsa, OK 74110. I hear that Amazon Prime has free shipping.
We also have a music compilation CD up for sale right now. The proceeds from this CD go toward helping continue our work. The CD celebrates 5 years of musicianship that has taken our stage. You can grab it at the “Buy Merch” tab of our website mpacter.wix.com/mpactevents

ATP

What are your plans for the event in a year, 5 years?

Jamie Kucinski

It is always our ambition to take what we learn to grow and adapt. Our venue holds approximately 800 people. I’d love to see a packed house each year. We also plan to expand our reputation and reach in our community. We want to continue to be known as an organization that works with integrity. It allows the people we work with confidence that their contributions go to the proper places.

ATP

Do you have any last words you would like to share?

Jamie Kucinski

I am greatly appreciative to Arm the Pit for taking an interest in the work we’re doing in Tulsa, OK. I will repeat that music truly is an excuse for us all to get together. I believe Arm the Pit completely understands that sentiment.