Isla Vista Community Center bounced with an electric energy on Saturday, August 3, for the inaugural 805 Media Day. Clusters of tents packed the interior, spilling outdoors onto the grassy lot beyond, alongside dozens of attendees. Music pulsed softly in the background, complementing a steady rumble of conversation that crisscrossed amongst attendees.
Conceptualized by Anthony Alvarado, 805 Media Day can best be described as a networking event for small creators throughout the 805. When explaining his inspiration for 805 Media Day, Alvarado recounted his background as a part of the local music industry, where his role has always been to bolster other artists, helping them to connect with those in the field and grow their careers.
Alvarado outlined his vision for the event as an extension of these efforts. He intended to craft a space that would foster professional relationships between budding music artists and emerging media professionals, such as podcasters, bloggers, photographers, and videographers, across the 805 region.