Meet Timi Conley | Wild Rumpus Exec Dir. and Master of Ceremonies
We had the good fortune of connecting with Timi Conley and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Timi, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
My business, which now is a Halloween parade and celebration organized into a 501(c)(3) non-profit, pretty much started on a whim.
A startup record label was brainstorming ideas to promote a record of mine, called NERD SEXY, that they were releasing and casually suggested a “Timi parade”. Though I wasn’t into that as a concept, it did lead to my inspiration to do a Halloween parade, and I decided on the name Wild Rumpus.
The first Rumpus was on Oct. 31st, 2009. In previous years, I always put on Halloween shows with my band, so it was in line with a kind of history for me, to be sure. Anyway, that Wednesday was a cold night, and it was raining… I was sure it was going to flop. The only promotions that had gone into it were a mention on my fledgeling facebook profile, and a small blurb in the local paper. 30 minutes before the announced start time, I was still at home wondering if it mattered if I showed up at all, but I dragged myself downtown to follow through on what I said I was going to do.
Lo and behold, hundreds of people were there waiting, all decked out in fabulous home-made costumes, ready to Rumpus! I blew the ceremonial conch shell to start the parade for the very first time, and that was the beginning! There were so many participants that year, I received a citation for disrupting traffic.
Now the Wild Rumpus attracts thousands or excited, joyful participants and spectators annually, and I created the non-profit to handle the growth in scope and scale. I’ve learned as I’ve gone along. As an artist, making a transition to business hasn’t always been easy but it’s been necessary to manage the success we have had. The org also sets Wild Rumpus up for the long-term, which is a legacy I want to make sure is in place.
I feel incredibly lucky that the Wild Rumpus happens to be one of those ideas that was just the “right thing at the right time”. I was 42 years old for the first one, so my advice is just keep at it, and keep trying new creative ideas!!
Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
At heart, I am definitely mostly a musician.. I totally live for it. I’m ridiculously proud of where that’s going with my current band, Wonderland Rangers. We love people hearing our stuff, so if you’re interested you can listen for yourself at www.wonderlandrangers.
I also paint, as I have since I first picked up materials as a tiny tot, all the way through earning a BFA in oil painting from UMASS, Amherst, and 30 years post-grad in Athens, GA. My art can be seen at www.timiconley.com, and of course emblazoning all the years of Wild Rumpus.
A unique quality of both my art and music is that every single song and painting is different. My teachers always said to me, “FOCUS!!” but it’s just not in me… My work reflects a nature that is forever curious, exploratory, and thrilled by new ideas and approaches.
If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Dear friend, if your plan is to visit Athens, GA for fun, you have to come for Halloween and the Wild Rumpus. A massively good time is guaranteed, with costumes galore, thousands of people dancing and partying in the streets, and a terrific spread of Athens, GA local music in the mix to boot!!
Athens has other wonderful, large-scale public events at other times in the calendar year too.. I would highly recommend those as well, for sure!! Athfest, Twilight Criterium, the brand-new Pride Parade, The MLK Parade, and Hot Corner Festival are just a few.
While you’re here, visit the Tree That Owns Itself, and pause to wonder why there’s only one (so far!), and by all means enjoy a bike ride on our new Greenway and Firefly Trails!!
If you’re so inclined, also check out Wild Rumpus’ list of sponsors for places to eat, explore, shop, have drinks, and have fun. Our sponsors do amazing things here!!!!!!
Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Heavenly shout-out to Maurice Sendak for his Where The Wild Things Are book, which somehow instilled in me some kind of license to be wild, and mischievous, and still get a hot supper. Earthly shout-out to Daniel Peiken for the Timi Parade idea, to Wild Rumpus stellar Board of Directors, to our FABULOUS Sponsors (without whom it could. not. happen!!!), and to everyone that has supported, encouraged, and directly helped me put on the event… It takes hundreds of people now!! Also, HUGE shout-out to Wild Rumpus’ all-ways #1 co-conspirator, ATHENS, GA one of the most fun-loving, creative, party-minded cities in the world. I don’t think it would have happened like this anywhere else.
Website: www.wildrumpus.org
Instagram: @wildrumpusathens
Facebook: @wildrumpusparade
Other: www.timiconley.com personal IG @timiconley personal fb facebook.com/timi2
Image Credits
Jolynn Gillican Mike White Jason Thrasher Kamell Brasher / Brasher Media John DeStefano Chris McKay
Nominate Someone: ShoutoutAtlanta is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
