We recently connected with Marcus Gladney and have shared our conversation below.
Marcus, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.
Once I saw how positive meaningful creations, make people happy and lives easier. It was a No Brainer this was the direction I wanted go.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
Upon arriving in Los Angeles from Kansas City with a then significant other in 2014, and she determined Los Angeles was not for her and returned. I stayed met Sebastian the Lightman in early 2015 we instantly became friends. He was the innovator of bicycle wheel lights since 2008. Once befriending him he taught me the history and how to install them. I would meet him daily at Sunset in Venice Beach California to assist. I quickly noticed there wasn’t a sense of community people would get wheel lights and ride off in their respective directions. After meeting several celebrities equally as excited to get wheel lights, i decided to start the weekly Bicycle Parade widely known as the World Famous Venice Electric Light Parade. The Bike Parade allows people to LEAVE their problems at the door and for 1h 30 mins enjoy the Love, magic and happiness the Parade creates. The Venice Electric Light Parade is a Safe Sober event that’s family friendly and is structured so that the entire local and surrounding community can enjoy. I’m most Proud of my consistency 500+ Sundays in showing up weekly to activate the platform for the community to come participate and show off their LED Lit Bikes and help create this amazing Event.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
The most rewarding aspect of being a Creative is “Creating” something that promotes kindness and that helps everyone. There’s nothing like seeing smiling faces from 9 to 90.
Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
Yes there is a Goal to Keep the Venice Electric Light Parade going well after I’ve had to pass the “TORCH” or the “LED LIGHT”. My end goal is to have a Trust that funds the Venice Electric Light Parade for many years to come. and insure the Parade is there to help and create happy people just like it was intended to.
Contact Info:
- Website: veniceelectriclightparade.com
- Instagram: @VeniceElectricLightParade
- Facebook: @VeniceElectricLightParade
- Twitter: @VeniceLights
- Youtube: Venice Electric Light Parade
Image Credits
All photos are licensed and released for use by @Lertzf0t0graphy @dmgimaging @VeniceElectricLightParade