Today we’d like to introduce you to Walter Santiago.
Walter, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
My pronouns are He/Him. I began pursuing my entrepreneurial endeavors in 2012 in Manhattan and Northern New Jersey Metro (Passaic County) where I freelanced during my last two years of high school while living with my best friend Alexa, on our part-time jobs at Subway. Before 2012, I was constantly moving between the states and Puerto Rico in very unstable and low-income conditions to high-income families and just unbelievably inconsistent upbringing of a childhood, not to pity for I’m grateful as I knew even in times when we (my sisters who we often lived together and often didn’t) had nothing and we’re on the street, eventually, we would have a roof and get everything (sometimes together and sometimes not), but vice versa. In high school with my friend Marggie, we worked as underground music consultants for a project we founded known as IRXXI | Underground Innovators, 2012 – Inspired by Michael Jackson’s Immortal Revolution Tour. Around this time, I also found myself sneaking into the queer NYC spaces and nightclubs where I often stayed with my Uncle’s and eventually College came around. College moved me to the Chicago Suburbs where I eventually moved downtown for Columbia where I studied my undergrad in Arts Mgt. and PR and carried IRXXI for a short time in the midwest.
I wasn’t all that new to Chicago being my godparents adopted me briefly when I was younger and they live here. They truly supported my passion for music and the arts in the most pivotal times of a youth’s life. They were huge fans even when I released my last EP ‘NOEL’ (named after my twins son), 2016 which told stories on my queer identity and the frustrations in our American educational and political systems. Yes, it’s true, I write music too and received my Associates in composition when living with my godparents. I eventually got into the DIY scene in Chicago, this led me to ultimately discovering my niche in the creative industry in queer nightlife and events.
All thanks to my #1’s Jasofchicago, Darling Shear, and those who really broke in my structure and frankly mentored me into everything I know because of folks like Emily Dahlquist, Preston Jones of Canvas, Elijah Mckinnon, and Chrome City PR founder Alex Ott. Despite our ethical and strategic work differences, I molded into my own operations – which I acknowledge as, ‘creative services’ because my crafts are an umbrella and intersection of tasking executed from development to marketing and media, to random mediums even like spray painting, visual merchandising, etc. I freelance the hell out of this city, sometimes probono even but it’s okay to be broke as long as you pay your rent. But more importantly, get free snacks, any club kid or drag queen/king would agree.
Solely, here in Chicago, I developed our (Chicago’s) independent and freelance platform as a medium to give radical visibility to community engagement among marginalized and other dominating communities that engage in the massive cultural landscape of the growing and revolutionary arts industry here in Chicago.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I’ve made several accomplishments in my work with clients like Women of The Now and our city’s own downtown queer party BOUM at Disco Chicago. Moving from the back and forth of NYC/NNJ, Miami, and San German, I experienced an array of oppression in my identity and peers.
I’ve been injected with the reality of need for democracy more so than ever in Chicago with the media’s constant micro aggression’s on the south and west side or the ignorant public stigma or mentality’s, to the negative capitalization on groups such as people of color, The LGBTQ+ (especially in drag), and even the fight for positive gentrification as this city’s GDP (more so for arts & Culture) expands rapidly since Obama’s office. My superpowers are in my services. I’m like Batman because I for sure have had to defend mine and others work especially in nightlife events. Regardless, I’ve always got my Alfred and Robin!
Jokes aside, I identify strongly with the Latinx and POC communities around the city through these experiences and my proud Puerto Rican heritage. Our stories are my motivations leading me to where I am now as a local publicist and Media Director for projects like KeepingitLITE.org. While I still intend to engage with music again, for now, I am committed to serving the people the best way I know how.
In nightlife and events, we don’t often talk about all the different things mentioned in the dirty end of a business. To vaguely go into detail – there are drugs including alcohol, rape culture, and horrific plagiarism and appropriation. While I’ve experienced most of these as an unofficial attorney for my clients, I to have been sometimes pushed to the limit where my mental health has been taxed and even roller coasters of vanity and humbleness where I’ve lost partners and friends and even faith in former mentors. But again, I’ve always got my Alfred and Robin to hold me accountable or get me back up.
Walterofchicago – what should we know? What do you do best? What sets you apart from others?
I’ll reiterate my LinkedIn, and hopefully, I’m not being redundant.
“WalterofChicago | A Freelance niche in the creative industry in nightlife and events. Practices ‘creative services’, the umbrella and intersection of [events, media/marketing] tasking and crafts.”
More specifically:
– Event & Artistic Consultation/Management
– PR/Media distribution
– Social Media & Marketing Strategy
– Bookings/Talent Buying
What I am known for – is my competition, it is what sets me apart, and it is the capacity in which I have to multitask and balance or earn my relationships in the media perspective but more importantly, the ability, to be honest with myself and with others and that is how I connect the people in the world with each other.
I am most proud of the faith I put in my clients/community and it never fails to pay back and pay forward not monetarily but in advocacy and genuine products (content, productions, interviews, i.e. etc.)
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
The proudest moment of my career so far has been fairly recent.
After being on a hiatus for my mental and physical health my mom actually told me and I quote
“I’m sorry, I couldn’t ever be there and I’m just so proud of everything you’re doing and I’m sorry[…]”,
This frankly validated my life while struggling with depression. I never could accept myself in my own work, constantly seeking validation, being overly selfless. We never talked much before this year, prior our relationship was entirely transactional and I couldn’t care less. But long story short – I was lying in Rush hospital after painting for hours with Jas when a blood infection flared up and I was so disappointed in myself. I couldn’t finish painting and I missed my own party, BOUM, I felt utterly lonely and after working so hard and fast the previous four years, this was my first time of reflection in a long time.
I know to most this wouldn’t be a milestone in a career, but it, in fact, is for me.
Pricing:
- one hour or probono consultation | FREE
- Media kit and/or Press Release, One Sheet, Similar document | $50
- Sponsorship/Outreach letter | $25
- 6 Month Contract for full house creative service labor | starts at $6k
Contact Info:
- Website: Walterofchicago.com
- Email: walterofchicago@gmail.com
- Instagram: Instagram.com/Walterofchicago
- Facebook: facebook.com/walterofchicago
- Twitter: twitter.com/walterofworld
- Other: https://www.linkedin.com/in/walterofchicago/
Image Credit:
Colectivo Multipolar – BOUM, Erik Michael Kommer – QUEEN – INSIDE, Katrina Tarzian, Stephanie Jensen, Glitter Guts – The Fly Honeys Show, Madeline Spanier – Coupl3 Goals, Pinche Alvarito, Women of The Now
Getting in touch: VoyageChicago is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
