Member Spotlight: Crystal Paradis

Alexis Hahalis: Can you tell us a little about yourself?
Crystal Paradis: Sure! I was born in Portsmouth, on the hill where City Hall stands, as were my mother and father before me. I write, organize, and work to build community on behalf of efforts and organizations that I believe in, as a communications and community engagement consultant. I also publish a weekly email called The #PortsmouthLOVE Letter, am organizing Portsmouth’s 5th annual TEDx event, and coordinating Seacoast Outright’s 3rd annual PRIDE event.

AH: You’re involved with a lot of local organizations, how did you first get introduced to The Music Hall and what drew you to become a member?
CP: While I think attended a show at TMH as a schoolkid, my first adult introduction to The Music Hall was a photo exhibition in the Founders Lobby by Philip Case Cohen, which happened to coincide with an NH TweetUp. That single event introduced me to many people who are still some of my closest Portsmouth pals, and was also the site of a conversation that resulted in my first job in the creative design/digital agency world.

AH: You’re not just a member, you’ve presented at Music Hall forums, and along with our Director of Marketing & Communications, Monte Bohanan you curate the Let’s Talk About… series, what has been your favorite moment here at TMH?
CP: Without question the most moving moment at TMH was our first Let’s Talk event at The Loft. It was so impactful to see a room at capacity filled with people who wanted to talk about, and do something about, the heroin epidemic, but my favorite moment was each time that night someone decided to stand and say why they were there. The moment when each new voice started to speak represented that moment of bravery when whatever is inside of you reaches the point where it overcomes the fear of speaking in front of a crowded room. A room full of honest, generous, true neighbors talking and organizing — that was the best moment.

AH: You started a newsletter called #PortsmouthLOVE that keeps subscribers up to date on all of the arts and culture events around the seacoast, what inspired you to create this?
CP: It sprung from genuine enthusiasm about Portsmouth, which often overcame me ever since I returned to my hometown of about eight years ago. I started sharing moments of beauty, then curating other people’s enthusiasm about the city (remember that Chicago Tribune article from 2013?!), then promoting local events, especially free ones. I keep it going to pass on cool things on my radar, especially things that promote civic engagement, that are for good community causes or stuff that’s new, local or arts-related that could use a boost in amplification. It will never be comprehensive, but I do my best to get as much in every issue that I can.

AH: For those who may not be members yet, what would you say are some of the “unexpected benefits” of being a Music Hall member?
CP: Early ticket access, discounted shows and local member deals are pretty top-of-mind, I guess. The benefits that are more unexpected, I think, are the member-only events like official unveilings. There’s also this cool thing that happens when you go to lots of things at the Hall — with or without that card (which you probably have, or at least should, if you go to lots of events), you just get to know everyone that helps make these amazing events happen. Here are a few of my personal benefits:

• The bartenders who see me and say, “Old Brown Dog?” #whereeverybodyknowsyourname
• The smell of popcorn in my stack of mail at the time of month when NOW arrives!
• Following @sergeantclancy on Instagram

AH: If you could have dinner with any five people dead or alive who would be at your table?
CP: Jennifer Armbrust, Sonia Sotomayor, Maya Angelou, Mary Carey Dondero and Manal al-Sharif. Luckily, by the time this is published, I will have met at least TWO of these people at The Music Hall or Loft!