Meet Sydney Connors | Executive Producer, Director, & Curator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Sydney Connors and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Sydney, what role has risk played in your life or career?
Risk is a major part of the formula to success. As an innovator I have experienced facing risk constantly. The risk of no one liking anything I’m presenting. The risk of having no support yet taking the leap anyways. When I started the process of excecutive producing and directing Dreamgirls on Clubhouse in 2021 no one thought it was possible, they also believed it was too much of a risk to try to do something so huge via a social audio app. Still I took the leap and took the risk anyways making it one of my most successful projects to date. Without taking that risk who knows where I would be in the moment. Currently i am taking the same risk with my business Manifesto. Diving into the world of music festivals against all the odds as a black woman without a million dollars in the bank is a risk some can not understand. When you love something this much risk just isn’t as scary as it should be. I will forever leap into risk because i know at the end of taking that risk I’m even closer to my success.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am a singer, writer, actor, director and curator. My journey started as young as 5 singing in church. I went on to play Clairenet in the 5th grade up until the 10th grade when i joined choir. At this time I also began to do theater, writing and leading my own shows. For 12 years after high school I worked as a theater teacher and director for Shaker Heights High School Black history theater program called sankofa. That experience lead me to Ohio media school where I got a degree in production and broadcasting. I used this to also begin my business in event curation. Planning and producing event for underground and up and coming artist in the city of Cleveland taking them to different cities through the country to build their fan base from 2018-2020. In 2019 i began to plan my 3 day festival Manifesto. A bipoc focused 3 music festival bridging the gap between the already established artists and the artists working to be established in the music industry. This year Manifesto will be in my hometown Cleveland, Ohio. In 2021 i had the priveledge of exec producing and directing the very first audio only version of Dreamgirls on the app clubhouse. We trended number 2 on twitter and had amazing write ups with essence, buzz feed, insider news and many more. With all of these different ventures I have learned to never give up on yourself. Even the seemingly impossible is very much so possible. I have also learned that life’s experiences and traumas make us the artist we are deep inside. Every experience i had laid the foundation for these projects that I have produced and am currently producing. I thank God for the lessons and experiences because they have molded me into a person that is here to change the world through her talents.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Cleveland is a great city for some pretty dope experiences. Rock and roll hall of fame is a for sure stop for anyone that has never been to the city. Cedar point is also a stop we would make. As far as food we would eat the bbq, polish boys, and corned beef sandwhiches. West 6th is the spot to be if you want to go clubbing or the flats. I would also take them to my city of shaker heights where I attended high school so they can see where Cudi, MGK, Gerald Levert and many other well known celebrities attended High School. We would take a trip to the lake as well because that is always a spot i go to manifest and clear my head.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Brandon Patterson, my best friend of 25 plus years deserves a shoutout because he’s always believed in what i do. So much so he has been right there with me when I succeed getting the same success. We both are creatives actively making our print within the industry as well as within education. Brandon is an amazing teacher, friend, writer, director and artist and deserves every shout out! Thank you Brandon for always being there for me and never giving up on any of my crazy ideas.

Website: Www.Manifestofest.com

Instagram: Www.instagram.com/muahchichi_

Twitter: Www.twitter.com/muahbychichi_

Facebook: Www.facebook.com/sydneychichispacelee

Youtube: Www.YouTube.com/dreamgirlsch