With just two weeks until PYGMALION celebrates its 20th anniversary and reopens a floodgate of talent into Champaign-Urbana, time is ticking down to grab tickets and get in on the frenzy.
In the meantime, we at The Prospectus have decided to slow down and peek behind the curtain with Seth Fein to air out the gritty persistence, supportive community, and spirit of evolution that continues to make PYGMALION possible.
Sourced from: PYGMALION’s website
Although it is primarily a collection of larger-than-life music performances in Champaign-Urbana’s various-sized venues, Fein, PYGMALION’s creator, chose to lead with ambition and an open mind.
“We decided that Pygmalion could be whatever we wanted it to be… to limit ourselves was boring and restrictive. We would rather be more creative and willing to be daring as far as our approach to programming… So yeah, it’s just PYGMALION. We’ve lost the music festival part.”
These decisions were spurred by the interests of PYGMALION’s staff. The four-person team includes Fein, his wife, Justine Fein-Bursoni, Patrick Singer and his wife, Anna Longworth-Singer, who have all come together to promote the many facets of the CU community.
After a false start as the Mosaic Music Festival, named after the web browser that “changed the world,” Fein hit a wall after Bursoni pointed out that it was taken. Instead, he pivoted to his deep love of both literature and music, landing on the Greek story of Pygmalion, prompted by his love of Slowdive’s 1995 album. Now, the PYGMALION has grown into Made Fest (a crafting fair), literature talks, technology and innovation seminars, food festivals, comedy shows, live podcasts and, of course, live music performances.
Sourced from: The Nicodemus Website
“It is an amazing album. Very rich and extraordinary,” he said. “I’ve always been fascinated with the idea of the Pygmalion story. And there’s something unique and interesting about the idea of falling in love with something of your own creation, something you can’t possess, but that drives you to, at times, to madness… And yeah, I just think I needed a name.”
Although the event is now helmed solely by Fein and Singer, much credit was given to Boswell Hutson, who runs tickets, and Ryan Videtich, who ensures the busy weekend runs smoothly. In the face of all of its evolution, Fein made it abundantly clear that although it is run by people who care, PYGMALION’s ability to thrive is due to its sponsors.
“None of Pygmalion happens without robust support from our sponsors and the advertisers at Smile Politely. The truth is that 20 years in, the festival is primarily capable of doing what it does as a result of our magazine, Smile Politely, being as well read and popular as it is.”
Source: PYGMALION’s website
From the beginning, Smile Politely has shown its dedication to uplifting the Champaign County community. While many recognize the online magazine for shedding light on local excitement, its commitment runs deeper than that.
By exclusively running local adverts instead of profiting from Google AdSense, the news source has ensured that it is curated by the community, for the community.
“If you’re buying advertising from Smile Politely, you’re not just buying advertising for yourself, you’re buying advertising for the vast amount of people and organizations and businesses and startups that can’t afford advertising. Because our magazine is an editorial magazine primarily, it’s not an advertorial.”
Gaining the tools for creating and running PYGMALION was a series of rolling punches and standing back up for Fein. Before he was ever a Champaign Urbana Schools Foundation honoree or a Parkland and U of I alumni, he found himself in rough, ever-changing waters.
“It took me into my thirties before I was able to do this and take the leap. [I] umpired, I worked at a liquor store, I worked for Canopy Club. I DJed at… different clubs. It took years of hustling and just making money any way I could to get to the place where I was able to just operate Pygmalion and Smile Politely.”
Fein reflected on how he compiled his life experiences into something he could gift to others. Time as a drummer in his family band, Absinthe Blind, gave him insight into booking and running shows. Gaining a degree in Rhetoric while publishing under the Daily Illini and Buzz Magazine gave him the tools to create Smile Politely alongside its original web designer, Mason Kessinger.
By giving away ad space to exclusively local businesses as a perk for supporting PYGMALION in its early days, he established a foundation for the news source’s purpose.
After reinventing the likes of the Nicodemus Agency and Smile Politely – which the website says is on its 5th redesign – Fein has maintained an outlook of living to improve, stating, “I think that we’re always building skills, and whether or not it ends up applying to our work later is kind of up to us.”
In response to granting advice to the trailblazers who have yet to find their spark, Fein says, “Find a good guide, take a bunch of magic mushrooms, and [en]vision your future.”
“Uh, no. I mean, do what you want… I don’t know that I’m the right person to give anyone specific advice about something as broad as their career path, but I will say that if you’re miserable doing what you’re doing, you shouldn’t do it… [My parents] always said ‘Hey, if you’re gonna do that… Do it, and do it with passion. If you’re gonna do it, do it!’”’
Final thoughts
While their creator would be shy to admit it, PYGMALION, Smile Politely, and Seth Fein, for that matter, are all monuments to the triumphs of a community and a willingness to persevere in the face of uncertainty.
We sincerely hope you join the festivities for the 20 years of dedication and community building that has helped PYGMALION to keep growing and uniting so many aspects of the community.
Buy tickets here | Follow PYGMALION on social media | PYGMALION’s website | Support Smile Politely
