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Mike Gaines

Mike Gaines

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Mike, along with wife Shannon, is the co-founder of San Francisco’s circus-infused performance-art community, Vau de Vire Society. What began 21 years ago as a grass-roots, subculture circus movement has now blossomed into a world-renowned performance company, having been featured at high-profile events and music festivals around the globe including Super Bowl XLII, SF Symphony, Lincoln Center (NYC), Coachella, Outside Lands, Electric Daisy Carnival, Bumbershoot, Electric Forest, Symbiosis Gathering/Global Eclipse, Download Fest, Burning Man, Lightning In A Bottle, and many more.

In addition to circus ringleader, Mike plays the roll of Executive Producer of Events for Vau de Vire’s parent company, VdV Entertainment. Mike and team are responsible for some of the Bay Area’s most creative annual art and performance events and nightlife parties (Edwardian Ball, The Soiled Dove, New Bohemia NYE, Phantasm/Halloween) as well as casting and producing a slew of national experiential tours and campaigns for hip brands such as Lagunitas (“Beer Circus”), Dos Eqius (“Most Interesting Show”), and Stoli (“Moskova Affair”), to name a few.

Beyond having a great script, amazing cast/crew, an awesome setting and good luck, I believe mastering event production can be gauged on how you REACT to the unanticipated and inevitable obstacles facing your project. Covid is just another hurdle … face it with graceful tenacity to satisfy your soul and inspire those around you.
Beyond having a great script, amazing cast/crew, an awesome setting and good luck, I believe mastering event production can be gauged on how you REACT to the unanticipated and inevitable obstacles facing your project. Covid is just another hurdle … face it with graceful tenacity to satisfy your soul and inspire those around you.
Dream BIG (then compromise the fluff to fit the budget). Lean on your team and community for inspiration and implementation – you can’t do it alone.
Mother Nature does a damn good job at inspiring. Lean on her (it’s presumed consensual ☺).
Keep up your chops! Find the motivation to keep practicing your craft, for the curtain will rise again before you know it!

Mike Gaines

[ visit website ]

Mike, along with wife Shannon, is the co-founder of San Francisco’s circus-infused performance-art community, Vau de Vire Society. What began 21 years ago as a grass-roots, subculture circus movement has now blossomed into a world-renowned performance company, having been featured at high-profile events and music festivals around the globe including Super Bowl XLII, SF Symphony, Lincoln Center (NYC), Coachella, Outside Lands, Electric Daisy Carnival, Bumbershoot, Electric Forest, Symbiosis Gathering/Global Eclipse, Download Fest, Burning Man, Lightning In A Bottle, and many more.

In addition to circus ringleader, Mike plays the roll of Executive Producer of Events for Vau de Vire’s parent company, VdV Entertainment. Mike and team are responsible for some of the Bay Area’s most creative annual art and performance events and nightlife parties (Edwardian Ball, The Soiled Dove, New Bohemia NYE, Phantasm/Halloween) as well as casting and producing a slew of national experiential tours and campaigns for hip brands such as Lagunitas (“Beer Circus”), Dos Eqius (“Most Interesting Show”), and Stoli (“Moskova Affair”), to name a few.

Beyond having a great script, amazing cast/crew, an awesome setting and good luck, I believe mastering event production can be gauged on how you REACT to the unanticipated and inevitable obstacles facing your project. Covid is just another hurdle … face it with graceful tenacity to satisfy your soul and inspire those around you.
Beyond having a great script, amazing cast/crew, an awesome setting and good luck, I believe mastering event production can be gauged on how you REACT to the unanticipated and inevitable obstacles facing your project. Covid is just another hurdle … face it with graceful tenacity to satisfy your soul and inspire those around you.
Dream BIG (then compromise the fluff to fit the budget). Lean on your team and community for inspiration and implementation – you can’t do it alone.
Mother Nature does a damn good job at inspiring. Lean on her (it’s presumed consensual ☺).
Keep up your chops! Find the motivation to keep practicing your craft, for the curtain will rise again before you know it!

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