We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Renee Thibodeaux Perez a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Renee, appreciate you joining us today. The first dollar you earn is always exciting – it’s like the start of a new chapter and so we’d love to hear about the first time you sold or generated revenue from your creative work?
I’ll never forget the first dollar I earned as a musician. I started playing washtub bass with a great group of people. One was from Argentina, one from Hawaii and the rest of the guys were from New Orleans. We played right in front of St. Louis Cathedral in Jackson Square. We had so much fun. I really looked forward to playing daily on Royal Street, Jackson Square and sometimes the right there in the Mississippi River in New Orleans, La.
Renee, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
After playing for some years in the French Quarter in New Orleans, I was hired by an old blues musician named Slewfoot. I played bass for Slewfoot at various clubs and bars in New Orleans. We had a Wednesday afternoon gig at Jimmy Buffets Margaritaville on Decatur St. The highlight of that era was having Greg Allman walk in and ask us to sit in with us; we played Stateboro Blues. It was really awesome and he was a very nice, polite person.
Later I joined Ariel Kattan and we also played all over the French Quarter for some years. Ariel is an incredible guitarist and later joined the military Jazz Band and traveled the world.
The next band I played bass for was Katherine O’Conner. We had weekly gigs at The Dragon’s Den on Esplanade. Crazy Times.
I did a France Tour with Coco Robichaux around 1996. The nightlight of that was playing the Nice Jazz Festival. We traveled all over France for 3 weeks. So many little cities, hotels, people, festivals. It’s kind a blur now but I remember I loved playing a festival in Meze. That area of the world is incredibly beautiful.
Kindlighk was the next band I had. It was a duo or sometimes a trio and we played mostly originals. We had a weekly gig at The Spotted Cat on Frenchman. That was around 2001 or 2002 when The Cat first opened.
I played around New Orleans a bit with various bands and in fact the last gig I played was with Amzie at Tipitina’s in uptown New Orleans.
Soon after I met my now ex husband and became pregnant with the light of my life Nita Perez.
Motherhood changed my life and although I know many of my female musician peers continue with their careers as a gigging musician, I did not.
I entered my next phase of life as a working Artist. I always had an artistic side, but now I decided to concentrate on creating and started my first business which over the years has progressed into Lotus Love Shop.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
The most rewarding aspect of being an artist or creative person for me is that my time is my own. I really love that about my life. As an artist, I am always working. I’m always seeing and creating ideas in my mind before I manifest them on the physical plane. I’m always working but it’s on my time so it doesn’t feel like work; it feels like joy! Joyful Living! I’m also able to Homeschool my daughter, Nita which has been my greatest joy.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
I want to say to anyone out there trying to live their dream, you can’t give up. If you truly want to be an artist, musician, doctor, fireman, homemaker or whatever you choose, then it’s important that you remove other options from your mind. For instance, I’ve had my small business of making jewelry since 1999. I’ve had to change styles I create several times. I’ve even had to add in other merchandise that I’ve sourced from my other passion, travel. But, I never gave up on my small business. I just changed with the times instead of throwing in the towel.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.lotusloveshoo.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lotusloveshop?igsh=YTQwZjQ0NmI0OA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1356044871&mibextid=9R9pXO
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@lotusloveshop?_t=8jggqntAkxT&_r=1
Image Credits
Amzie Adams Renée Thibodeaux Perez Nita Perez