How it all came about

The Cary Street Shakedown was founded with the goal of providing music on campus. A chance conversation with a stranger one afternoon started it all. This newfound connection gave us the team we needed to put on live acts. DIY shows have long been in Richmond’s blood. Through the knowledge gained from our own experience, the backyard transformed into a welcoming space for music and connection. With a bit of networking and goodwill, a collective team made it happen. All corners of Richmond came out. The crowds were electric. It felt like entering a portal of art and celebration. Our first show was a cozy turnout and amazing live sounds. The live mix through a wireless setup became the standard operating procedure for every show going forward. A foundation was being set, one that would allow us to keep building with every new event.

With this strong foundation, we crafted bills that combined DJs, rock, and metal. The multi-genre bills became an important part of the shakedown. New groups of students got introduced to a whole new scene. Richmond is a place for artists, so naturally, everyone found their place. October was a busy month, and we were prepared. For our second show, we transformed the backyard with Halloween decorations, adding lights, lasers, a projector, and a fog machine. It became clear that quality enhanced the experience for everyone. Our neighbors generously let us host vendors in their backyard, so we invited someone who was making zines! Ultimately, it was a community effort that made this idea flourish. It was beginning to stick, and people were flocking. The fall semester hit us like a crashing wave. Our biggest show was Halloween with an over 600-person turnout. There was a roaring hunger for connecting, and we were there to feed it. Week after week, new artist after new artist, we strived through the cold months with the warmth of human connection. The backyard became a place to meet new people, reconnect with old friends, and work out drama. Each event built stronger ties, setting the stage for further growth

After each successful event, the network grew quicker than we could’ve imagined. More creators wanted to get on board and help elevate this beacon within the DIY community. The connections we made from the beginning moved us forward. With some searching and guidance, we found the first set of speakers. Now that we didn’t have to rely on local help for sound, we were free to move around. The first venue opportunity arose during the New Year's holiday. A DIY booking group needed some DJs for a celebration of the new year. This brought us to a private venue, where we spent the next four months performing shows. These shows put us on the map as a force to push diy forward. It was our job to maintain all aspects of the show with our team. Clean up, sound, lights, doors, security, and breakdown. This would all happen within 2 days. Same-night setup and next-day breakdown. This was a hyper learning phase for us. With every show, we pushed the needle. No 2 shows were ever the same. By acquiring lighting equipment from resellers, we transitioned from DIY to a professional light rig. The simple lighting modes quickly outgrew our needs, and we acquired our first 4-channel lighting board. We used multiple projectors, live video, and unique lighting setups to keep the minds elevated. More control meant more quality, and Richmond was taking notice.

We spent this time learning and building our brand, often at the expense of our health and personal lives. It was a tough period so taking a long break over the summer was necessary. That break became a turning point, helping us figure out what we truly wanted to do with the shakedown.

The hiatus created a need within the party scene. We showed everyone that anyone can host a party, and the whole city lit up. Last year, there were rarely any parties being promoted publicly; now, everyone was getting their piece. It went from Is there anywhere to go? To, where are we going? We went from hosting to supporting. We started showing up to gigs with our own equipment for free to show our love for the scene. For us, what is good for the scene is good for everyone. It was time to grow Richmond as a whole, rather than just us. Suddenly, a new era of partying had been created. A mesh network of reposting and sharing on Instagram broke any barriers to entry. DIY wasn’t underground anymore. It’s started to become mainstream. More discussion around safety became the norm. Crowds started to act with dignity instead of embarrassing themselves at the one-off party. For shakedown, this was a period of focusing on what makes people move. What can we do to further improve this system? There is no straight answer. Part is in fear of missing out. To create an emotion, you must provide something emotional. The goal is not to squeeze money, it’s to gain a fan. It’s about building a brand that genuinely cares about you as an individual. We are not only creating a culture, but a moment in history. These moments inspire others to do the same. It’s a system that benefits us all. This momentum can lead to significant change one day. An organization that is based on reciprocity and connection rather than corporate profits. A place where your money goes to the artists you are seeing. A third space.

Til that happens, that's where the story ends.