A Community Of Harmony

Cindy Ingram Fights For Musical Equality

Let’s face it, since the dawn of the Spice Girls in the late 90s, female artists have lost a lot of credibility as musicians. The women, eccentrically dressed, hopped around stage, shook their bottoms, and took to screaming more than carrying a tune or busting out some sweet riffs. Their band names made it even more difficult for the women artists to be taken seriously. With titles such as Scary, Baby, and Sporty, the women were shrunk down to action figures and dolls – child’s play. To add to this phenomenon, the continual sexploitation of women artists was carried to new lengths with scandalous dancing, lyrics and unforgettable music videos from artists such as Britney Spears. So what does this mean for women in the music industry? It means women must take a stand and reclaim a position once claimed by the talents of Janis Joplin, Billie Holiday and Cher. That is exactly what Cindy Ingram, 35, has dedicated her career to – the empowerment of women musicians.  In 2005, she began helping her friends book shows for their bands. Now, Ingram is one of three female music promoters in Oregon, the creator of Grrrlz Rock! concert series celebrating women musicians, and the founder and co-founder of two non-profit organizations. With a bachelor’s degree in family and human services, a minor in women’s and gender studies, and a graduate certificate in not-for-profit management, Ingram’s thirst for community and gender equality has continued to grow.

Aside from the leisure of having a hobby as a career, success has not come easily to Ingram, who went from working in the female-dominated field of social work to the male-saturated music industry.

“I found right away that whenever I was trying to get gigs for bands I was always communicating with men. The other promoters and bar owners were men, 99 percent of every band I have ever worked with was men, Guitar manufacturers and other instruments are all made by men, and in general there are just very few women.”

In Ingram’s hometown of Eugene, Ore., she is the only female music promoter working in a city with one female owned bar or venue, adding additional obstacles.

In light of the challenges faced by Ingram, her experience has given way for the creation of Grrrlz Rock! concert series. The series, in its fourth year has grown to 20 shows in various local venues and bars during the month of November, debuting all-female bands and bands with at least one female performer.

“I wanted to focus on the wide topic of what it’s like to be a woman and be on stage. There is the whole Britney Spears look where it is sexualized, or there is the other side where you want to be taken seriously. I wanted to see how you can balance that.”

Beyond Ingrams’s fight for equality, her other claims to fame are from the amazing track record of booking popular bands at local venues. This past spring, she received a call from and agent in Los Angeles to book a young couple who had just released the independent film Once and a CD. As skeptical as she was, Ingram booked the artists Swell Season for the popular venue, the MacDonald Theater. A few days later, the artists were nominated for a Grammy and an Academy Award – the show sold out in one day.

Ingram’s work in the community and local music industry prevails to ask the question, “Can you be sexy and be respected, or do you have to chose?” With each band booked, each female artists given an opportunity to be heard, and each audience listening, Ingram is single-handedly working to redefine what it is to be a female musician.

About

Cindy Ingram currently resides in Springfield, Ore., while working primarily in Eugene. She runs her own company, Cindy Ingram Booking and Promotions, while also keeping track of daily operations as the general manager of a local venue. Ingram established the Land of Awe Children’s Museum, now The Science Factory in Eugene, and has co-found the Network for Reproductive Options, helping low-income women have the option of abortion. She has extended experience in grant and proposal writing and has received Eugene Weekly’s Happening People Award three times and is the second place winner of Best Person Who Makes A Difference in 2007.