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| Photo by Eric Wolfe |
| A Slideluck Potshow cake is among the potluck dishes at SLPS VIII on Saturday, November 18, 2006 in New York City. Click photo for more images. |
Casey Kelbaugh has seen his share of pictures over the years; from Seattle to Seville, his work has carried him all over the world. But unlike most globetrotting freelance photographers, Kelbaugh has spent little time shooting for assignments during his travels, and the photos, they're not his.
While living in Seattle in 2000, the now 33-year-old New York-based advertising and editorial photographer founded Slideluck Potshow, a non-profit slideshow and potluck dinner. Seven years later, what began with a small gathering in his Seattle apartment has exploded into one of the wonders of the photo world.
Slideluck has attracted photographers, artists, and various other creative types, giving participants an opportunity to meet people they wouldn't ordinarily run into while on the job. What Kelbaugh describes as a potpourri of people share a common passion for photos, art, and home-cooked food.
"You get a rich mix of people that wouldn't ordinarily be standing next to each other and showing work to each other," Kelbaugh said. "There's a lot of cross-pollination."
In addition to still photos, the Slideluck Potshow programs feature paintings, drawings, and multimedia presentations, consisting of photos paired with sound recorded in the field. There aren't any guidelines restricting work individuals can submit, and while children are sometimes present, parents are warned that adult content may be shown during presentations.
Together with producer Alys Kenny, Kelbaugh has launched Slideluck in 20 cities around the world, while continuing to host shows near his home in the Big Apple. With recent launches throughout Europe, the pair hopes to expand to the Far East, with launches in China, Japan, and India planned for next year.
Word of mouth has helped Slideluck spread throughout the United States and to a handful of other cities throughout the world, with frequent requests to bring the show to even more new cities.
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| Photo by Casey Kelbaugh |
| Slideluck attendees watch a program during SLPS in Milan, Italy. Click photo for more scenes from the slideshows. |
"We get e-mail every other day from people who want to bring it to their hometown," Kenny said. "It spreads exponentially. We have such a following throughout the world, it's really exciting."
Kelbaugh and Kenny operate Slideluck as a franchise of sorts, visiting each new city to help with the launch of a Slideluck Potshow in order to maintain their brand's image, but leaving future shows in the hands of trained locals. This helps cut back on travel costs, and allows shows to take place in multiple cities around the world on the same day.
When visiting a new city, Kenny trains local producers so the show can go on after she leaves. "People don't really know what to expect so we have to go and set the tone," Kenny said "I've had to train people in languages that I don't speak; sometimes there's a translator and sometimes there's not. It's an incredible teaching experience and learning experience at the same time."
The Slideluck duo hopes to produce nearly 50 shows next year, with over 50 more to be run by individuals trained by Kenny. Unfortunately, she says their ambitious calendar of events won't be possible without a corporate sponsor, as Kenny and Kelbaugh are currently producing shows out of pocket. Even with non-profit status and frequent donations, the two often end up contributing lots of their own cash to pay for equipment, venues, and travel expenses.
Kelbaugh and Kenny are currently in New York City planning for the next Slideluck, which will take place at 7 p.m. on Saturday, November 17, at Sandbox Studio in New York. While the deadline to submit work has come and gone, individuals can still attend by sending an email to rsvp@slideluckpotshow.com. For notification of future Slideluck Potshows around the world, join the Slideluck mailing list.
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