'I Am Living Productions' brings monthly Tea Dance parties to Chicago with unique musical sound
Wed. November 21, 2018 11:30 AM by Ross Forman
brock “beau” guidry (center) of 'i am living productions'
photo credit // brock guidry
Founder/owner Brock Guidry credits CircuitMOM, Dan Tran and others
Brock "Beau" Guidry launched his Sunday Funday daytime Tea Dance/dance party production company this summer, and there was no doubt what he'd call it, especially since he wanted to attract a wide variety in the crowd.
Guidry has, you see, long been that guy with "I Am Living" blazing from his cell phone at various local bars.
"Everyone is always wanting to 'live their best life,' so what better name than, I Am Living. This way, if you are a drinker, non-drinker, gay straight, whatever, your preference is you, and you will be welcome to live your best life with us," he said.
I Am Living events feature renowned DJs who focus on music with vocals. "I stress to all of my DJs, I don't want to just hear beats; I want to hear words that people know and can sing while they are dancing."
I Am Living events launched in July and have been a Chicago staple every month since. Next up: Sunday, Nov. 25, with a Tea Dance starting at 5 p.m., at The Call (Andersonville), 1547 W. Bryn Mawr Ave., featuring DJ Sean O'Hara and go-go dancer Jackson Cole.
"My first party, I named 'Tea Time,' with an Alice in Wonderland (theme and) some fun decorations that tied into it," Guidry said. "The August party was 'Tea Time' bringing you somewhere over the rainbow. With that I had a Wizard of Oz-style, with a yellow brick road leading you into the venue. (For) September, I went back to just 'Tea Time' after realizing that I wanted to keep (the) name of the party the same, (thus) each month when I am planning the next one and am promoting it, people will remember and start to make it trend and help my production grow. My party in October I decided to go with a theme again only because it was Halloween month."
The highlights of some past parties have been the DJs, he said. "Without an amazing DJ my parties would not have been as successful as they have been," he said. "I have had G. Cole, Jesse Mercado, and Ale Maes twice.
DJ Sean O'Hara takes the musical spotlight on Nov. 25.
"I have been a fan of his since the first time I heard him spin," Guidry said. "He, like most other DJs I've hired, focuses on reading the room and spinning to the crowd. I will have my resident go-go dancer Jackson Cole, (who) has been a friend of mine ever since I met him at (an) IML party in 2015. He has amazing costumes and moves that are sure to keep you entertained."
Guidry, 28, lives in Chicago's Buena Park neighborhood. He is originally from Hathaway, Louisiana, and has been calling Chicago home for the past four years. Guidry also is a real estate broker with Exit Strategy Realty and is in a relationship with Andrew Perdzock.
Guidry said he has bright plans for 2019 parties, including one that will carry a house music theme.
Energy will be electric at any I Am Living event, he said without hesitation.
"You don't want to walk into a circuit party and see people standing around. At my events and others that I have attended, the moment the doors open and the music starts people start to fill the dance floor right away," he said. "I started my production because my group of friends wanted something different to do outside of Boystown (for) Sunday Funday. There are other Tea Dances here in Chicago, but they attract different crowds. I love attending all of them, however mine has a different vibe and style music."
Guidry attended his first circuit party, courtesy of CircuitMOM Productions, over IML weekend in 2015.
And CircuitMOM's "Drama Party" this past August ranks as Guidry's all-time favorite. "I've gone to circuit parties all over the U.S., including Washington D.C., Atlanta, Miami (and) New Orleans, but never have I had more fun at a circuit party," he said. "CircuitMOM has been my biggest role-model, as well as one of my mentors, along with Dan Tran who owns SKIN Productions. To know a legend such as Mathew Harvat and be able to speak about my company and get help is truly a blessing. Both (Harvat) and Dan have been very helpful, and both are a big part of our community here."
Guidry added, "As someone who grew up all over the world (in a military family, it) truly been a blessing. Growing up, it was hard moving all the time, but as an adult, there is nothing I can appreciate more than have been able to do so. It has made me appreciate all the things that Chicago has to offer. Breaking into this industry is very hard and takes a lot of behind the scenes work that a lot of people don't see or even know about. One thing my mom has always told me is, 'If you set your mind to it, you will do it.' So I set my mind to starting this production company and with the help of so many, it has become something people look forward to every month and that is all I want to gain out of this ...for now."
Guidry has, you see, long been that guy with "I Am Living" blazing from his cell phone at various local bars.
"Everyone is always wanting to 'live their best life,' so what better name than, I Am Living. This way, if you are a drinker, non-drinker, gay straight, whatever, your preference is you, and you will be welcome to live your best life with us," he said.
I Am Living events feature renowned DJs who focus on music with vocals. "I stress to all of my DJs, I don't want to just hear beats; I want to hear words that people know and can sing while they are dancing."
I Am Living events launched in July and have been a Chicago staple every month since. Next up: Sunday, Nov. 25, with a Tea Dance starting at 5 p.m., at The Call (Andersonville), 1547 W. Bryn Mawr Ave., featuring DJ Sean O'Hara and go-go dancer Jackson Cole.
"My first party, I named 'Tea Time,' with an Alice in Wonderland (theme and) some fun decorations that tied into it," Guidry said. "The August party was 'Tea Time' bringing you somewhere over the rainbow. With that I had a Wizard of Oz-style, with a yellow brick road leading you into the venue. (For) September, I went back to just 'Tea Time' after realizing that I wanted to keep (the) name of the party the same, (thus) each month when I am planning the next one and am promoting it, people will remember and start to make it trend and help my production grow. My party in October I decided to go with a theme again only because it was Halloween month."
The highlights of some past parties have been the DJs, he said. "Without an amazing DJ my parties would not have been as successful as they have been," he said. "I have had G. Cole, Jesse Mercado, and Ale Maes twice.
DJ Sean O'Hara takes the musical spotlight on Nov. 25.
"I have been a fan of his since the first time I heard him spin," Guidry said. "He, like most other DJs I've hired, focuses on reading the room and spinning to the crowd. I will have my resident go-go dancer Jackson Cole, (who) has been a friend of mine ever since I met him at (an) IML party in 2015. He has amazing costumes and moves that are sure to keep you entertained."
Guidry, 28, lives in Chicago's Buena Park neighborhood. He is originally from Hathaway, Louisiana, and has been calling Chicago home for the past four years. Guidry also is a real estate broker with Exit Strategy Realty and is in a relationship with Andrew Perdzock.
Guidry said he has bright plans for 2019 parties, including one that will carry a house music theme.
Energy will be electric at any I Am Living event, he said without hesitation.
"You don't want to walk into a circuit party and see people standing around. At my events and others that I have attended, the moment the doors open and the music starts people start to fill the dance floor right away," he said. "I started my production because my group of friends wanted something different to do outside of Boystown (for) Sunday Funday. There are other Tea Dances here in Chicago, but they attract different crowds. I love attending all of them, however mine has a different vibe and style music."
Guidry attended his first circuit party, courtesy of CircuitMOM Productions, over IML weekend in 2015.
And CircuitMOM's "Drama Party" this past August ranks as Guidry's all-time favorite. "I've gone to circuit parties all over the U.S., including Washington D.C., Atlanta, Miami (and) New Orleans, but never have I had more fun at a circuit party," he said. "CircuitMOM has been my biggest role-model, as well as one of my mentors, along with Dan Tran who owns SKIN Productions. To know a legend such as Mathew Harvat and be able to speak about my company and get help is truly a blessing. Both (Harvat) and Dan have been very helpful, and both are a big part of our community here."
Guidry added, "As someone who grew up all over the world (in a military family, it) truly been a blessing. Growing up, it was hard moving all the time, but as an adult, there is nothing I can appreciate more than have been able to do so. It has made me appreciate all the things that Chicago has to offer. Breaking into this industry is very hard and takes a lot of behind the scenes work that a lot of people don't see or even know about. One thing my mom has always told me is, 'If you set your mind to it, you will do it.' So I set my mind to starting this production company and with the help of so many, it has become something people look forward to every month and that is all I want to gain out of this ...for now."