Miami New Times' Mastermind Awards honors the city's most inspiring creatives. This year, we received more than 100 submissions, which our staff narrowed to an elite group of 30. We'll be profiling those honorable mentions, and eventually the finalists, in the weeks to come. This year's three Mastermind Award winners will be announced February 28 at Artopia, our annual soiree celebrating Miami culture. For tickets and more information, visit the website.
Director, event organizer and promoter, culture cultivator, and co-founder of The Overthrow Collective, Samuel Baum seems to be everywhere at once, like a hipster ninja.
As Minister of Culture for The Overthrow, he's responsible for such weekly parties as Dirty Hairy at LIV, Misfit Friday at Louis, Arcade Saturdays at White Room, as well as huge annual showcases such as Basel Castle, Hard 2 Leave, and Winter Music Conference events. He manages DJs and producers like Damaged Goods, Troy Kurtz, and Caligula, and worked closely with Tamara Sky, Contra, Danny Daze, and others.
The Miami native spent several years in New York and Boston and returned to Miami in 2002 and started putting together entertainment events showcasing music from emerging, yet-not-trendy genre such as dubstep. "It's just about knowing who is doing what and when, going to the right places for vibe and the music you're feeling."
Follow the jump for our short Q&A with Baum.
Hot Pink Delorean Club Crashers Music Video written and directed by Baum:
Cultist: In first grade, what did you want to be when you grew up?
Samuel Baum: I wanted to be a member of the X-Men.
Name your ideal concert lineup. No more than four DJs/Bands/Musicians.
Radiohead, The Strokes, Outkast, and the London Philharmonic.
Favorite season in Miami?
Basel and WMC (Winter Music Conference), although I also enjoy the downtime of summer.
Favorite thing about Miami?
It's the most beautiful city in the U.S. and the weather cannot be beat. I literally island hop on a daily basis. It's also such a dynamically evolving city right now. It's the best place to be able to make new things happen. And Cuban coffee.
What should Miami promoters be doing more of?
Promoters in Miami need to continue to take creative risks, not only on the music acts they are programming but on the X-factors that make events unique. Throwing parties is best approached like an art project. Also, making sure their business deals and plans are thorough and clear. Just because it's a party doesn't mean it shouldn't be well organized and thought out.
Less of?
Probably drugs.
2013 Mastermind Award Honorable Mentions:
Kevin Arrow
Pioneer Winter
The Overthrow
Follow Baum on Twitter @SammyScryer and Facebook.
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