Fran Pitre and Class Act

How do you see the role of performing arts evolving in today’s culture? Music and performing live has always been and will always be an enjoyable activity for both the spectator and and the performer. And in addition to providing a very valuable, positive entertainment service, I enjoy combining musical performances with raising awareness and raising funds for local community organizations. We’ve organized, produced, and hosted several successful local benefit concerts in the last few years.

What inspires your creative process? Writing and recording new music is one of my favorite parts of my business. A new song may be inspired by a deep and long-pondered concept or problem, or it can be about the desire to relax and have fun! Another inspiration is my family and my own experiences: contemplative, faith-based or humorous.
Writing my book was inspired by the crazy, emotional roller-coaster that has been my life… I took private journal jotting and created a comprehensive, faith-journey that I’ve shared with the world, because I believe that our experiences are meant to help others in their journeys.

How do you navigate the balance between art and commercial success? Creating and completing a song for release is just the beginning. Sure, it’s perfected and released for public listening, but the real art is in live performance. Practice, polishing and more practice allows the song to always be best-represented when it’s being performed live. Not only does Class Act perform some of my original music, but this coming summer, some of us from our band will be touring with a live stage variety show including many artists, and I’ll have the honor of performing my original music all over the country and beyond! Truly dreams are coming true.

What’s been your most memorable project or performance and why? I would have to say that I’ve been most proud of collaborations that have resulted in the success of spotlighting local organizations.
In 2022 I produced and held a benefit called “Nice to Meet You” that featured mostly my original songs and raised funds for a local high school’s band, and for Women’s Help Center of Jacksonville. Just this past October, during breast cancer awareness month, we held the benefit entitled “Nothing to Fear”, featuring a nine-piece group performing mostly original music and raising funds for Pink Ribbon Jax and again Women’s Help Center. To date, our “Nothing to Fear” event was the most rewarding and memorable. I have to add, though, that my opportunities to perform on stage several times in NYC with a NYC-based performer friend also hold incredible memories for me.

How has technology influenced live performance and entertainment? Recording studio technologies certainly have become perfected and refined for those industry professionals. I’ve been able to experience these technologies from the recording booth perspective both while recording music as well as my audiobook. As for live entertainment, stellar productions can only be successful with skilled sound engineers at the helm. This applies to our 6-piece gigs, our larger concerts and will apply for our upcoming road shows. There is vocal/pitch enhancement technology for both the recording studio as well as for live performances, but I have not used nor ever plan to use, so I can’t say I’m influenced by it.

What advice would you give to emerging artists? I believe that musicians aren’t musicians because it’s what they do, but because it’s who they are. Emerging artists have known this truth about themselves since they were learning how to walk and talk. And each person’s path will be different than anyone else’s. Try not to feel that you must copy the steps of another, but pray for the right people and opportunities to merge at some point on your unique journey. That’s what it takes and that’s how it happens. Also, have faith in the gifts and dreams God gave you, because they weren’t given by mistake.

How do you stay connected with your audience? I stay active online (website and social media updates) with upcoming events, new song releases, award nominations, etc., but I also engage personally with our local fan base. I stay active with a large group of friends who are wonderful friends and supporters of each other’s activities and love to spotlight each other’s accomplishments and life celebrations.
I often send private invitations to upcoming events to keep things personal. During show breaks I flutter around the venue visiting with old friends and making new ones. For those fans who aren’t local, social media keeps everyone in the loop. Over the past several years I’ve hired publicists and had several promotional campaigns to get the word out about my books, audiobook, music and band performances, during which I’ve done many online magazine written contributions as well as radio and audio/video podcast interviews over the years. I’ve been on Jacksonville’s News4JAX, interviewed twice and our band performed on River City Live’s music feature: River City Beats. Rance Adams with News4JAX also interviewed my prior to our last benefit concert to help increase ticket sales.
And I try to connect and stay in touch with organizations like Buzz Daily News Network!