30 SECONDS: Lori Finta

In May the new Tipitina’s Foundation Baton Rouge Co-Op officially opened on Government Street near Baton Rouge Magnet High School. The Co-Op aims to be a creative hub and workshop for local musicians. As its manager, Lori Finta is going from being a video producer to tutoring local musicians in a wide range of creative technologies.

So what kind of office space does a musician need?

Our goal is to help musicians and artists to increase their bottom-line income. How we do that is give them access to the tools they need to be successful. Whether it’s teaching them how to make MySpace pages or put a video on YouTube—anything to help them get their music out where other people can see it. We have a creative suite with Final Cut Pro and ProTools for video editing and audio mixing. Our creative suite has Photoshop and Illustrator for designing album covers, posters, flyers.

Were you with the Tip’s Foundation in New Orleans?

I had been a video editor, director and producer in Memphis, doing things like corporate training videos for FedEx, then I moved here to be near family. I got on Craigslist and sent my resume in, and about five minutes later the Foundation called me.

The teaching process must be different for you.

When you’re editing and under the gun you have to do it fast, but the whole purpose now is to transfer the knowledge, not do it for them. It’s been rewarding to see how excited they are when they start getting it.

Will you have workshops and events?

One of my volunteers is a lawyer, and he’s going to be giving seminars on how to copyright your songs or write contracts, anything that might affect you in the industry that a lot of artists don’t know about.

I would think middle-aged musicians would know less about Photoshop, but younger musicians might need help with legal issues. What are your demographics like?

It’s a huge mix. Right now we have almost 30 members, and it’s increasing fast.

What would I have to do to become a member?

All you have to do is come in, fill out a questionnaire and pay $10.

Do you get logjams because musicians want to use the same equipment at the same time?

When we first started anyone could come in at any time and use, say, Final Cut for however long. Now I’ve got members coming in every other day and they all have to call ahead and book the equipment. And that’s cool. We may need to get another editing machine soon, which is exciting.

Have there been misconceptions about what the Co-Op does?

A lot of people think it is Tipitina’s the bar. There have been quite a few disappointed people.