Katelyn Benton

Pictures from yesterday’s run, 50k at Point Mugu!

katelynbenton — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 18:41:36 +0000

Yesterday I went out to Point Mugu to join the Coyotes for an attempt at a 31 mile run. I haven’t run further than 9 miles since Leona Divide at the end of April, but I didn’t really feel like that was going to be an issue. However, I did need to borrow a Camalbak since both of mine need a replacement bladder. My plan was to show up to the run at 8:30, a half an hour early, and transfer all my food, salt, my camera, etc., into this borrowed Camelbak. Instead, I got lost looking for my group in the wrong location, parked the car at 9, and got to the trail head right after they left. I had a handful of GU that couldn’t all fit into the single handheld water bottle that I brought. I was a little bummed that there was no way I could go out and attempt 31 miles now that I didn’t have a way to carry water, but I figured I could squeeze a few GUs into the water bottle and I could probably make the water bottle stretch for a 2 hour run, so not all was lost.

Early in the run, catching up to Kevin.

About 35 minutes into the run, I caught up with my friend Kevin, who also started running late and knew I didn’t have water or food. He told me that he never drank all of his water and he had extra food and salt, so I could run with him if I wanted to. I definitely wanted to. However, about 20 minutes later I really wasn’t feeling good about it. I had a GU and it made me so extremely thirsty that I sucked down most of the rest of my water bottle. I told Kevin that I didn’t want to not drink enough water because I was worried of taking too much and it might be a safer idea if I cut my run short. Right about then, we saw Jimmy up ahead with a handful of other Coyotes.

This made me feel much better about my situation. We also found out that there would be water at 2 places during the run, so we’d be able to fill up Kevin’s pack a few times. Kevin and I both decided to just run until we felt like making a call on the distance. We had a lot of opportunities to cut the run short, but neither of us really wanted to take them.

Photo by Kevin Chan

It was also quite windy. Even some of the flat stuff was quite challenging with wind resistance. Not that there was a lot of flat stuff – this course is no joke. It’s got some big climbs throughout, including one of the steepest right at 25 miles in.

Photo by Kevin Chan - mileage is in the early 20's here.

Beginning the final descent! These views were stupidly pretty.

Near the end of the 31 mile run. Me and my little water bottle. Photo by Kevin Chan

Meet Kevin - my friend and camel for the day.

I’m glad I was able to complete the run yesterday. I’ve been wanting to spend the day on the trails for a long time and with Shmedia and music, it’s really difficult to spend an entire day running as often as I used to. I wouldn’t have been able to attempt the run if it weren’t for Kevin’s generosity. He shared his food, his water, and salt all day long.

I’m so happy I did that run. It was so much fun and I feel surprisingly pretty good today! Not destroyed!! More please!

Coolest Show Poster!

katelynbenton — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 22:50:14 +0000

Pictures from NAMM!

katelynbenton — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 17:28:50 +0000

I originally was planning to do this whole long update describing each day of NAMM, but truly, it’s all a giant blur of performing, playing instruments, and walking around with TONS of people. Also, my Twitter pretty much covered it and by this point most of you are probably sick of hearing about it

Anyway, this past weekend at NAMM is probably best described by some of the photos below. Enjoy!

Katelyn Benton + Band performing at the Sennheiser NAMM booth, 2012

Sound check!

Toby's setlist

Scott Nickoley and Toby Karlin

Katelyn Benton + Band at the Sennheiser NAMM booth, 2012

Katelyn Benton at the PreSonus NAMM booth, 2012

Want!

I could have spent an entire day with the pianos.

Getting some love from the PreSonus crowd.

NAMM 2012 Begins – An inspired backward glance

katelynbenton — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 18:04:25 +0000

Today is the first day of the 2012 NAMM trade show. It’s the largest of it’s kind in the world. Musicians and vendors come from everywhere to scope out and present all the newest gadgets and gear in the music world. It’s pretty much the best if you’re a visiting musician. You get to check out endless (and I mean endless) rows of cool stuff – instruments, microphones, pedals, interfaces, software, accessories, and you can touch and sample almost anything! The show lasts for 4 days, and you need 4 days to cover everything. It’s that big.

4 years ago I had just graduated from Berklee, was working for PreSonus Audio and was attending NAMM for the first time. I loved my time with PreSonus, although from day one on the job, I knew I couldn’t last in a situation where I wasn’t actively involved in pursuing my own music career. The jobs that have followed taught me that I don’t like having a boss in general – and not in the “well, duh, no one wants a boss” kind of way. I am just not nearly as efficient, productive or creative when I’m in a situation with a boss. I’m too worried about making mistakes when someone is “accountable” for me and it prevents me from taking risks.

21-year-old me (right) during NAMM, working for PreSonus.

I moved to Los Angeles 10 months after taking the PreSonus job. I spent the next few years not having a place to live, being on food stamps, working several jobs, but being completely dedicated to nurturing my own ideas and letting myself have adventures. I upgraded my living situation to the dining room of a 1 bedroom apartment that I shared with 4 other people, started running ultra-marathons, and started working on my new record with Scott Nickoley.

Today I’ve been holding down the fort in an apartment of my own for the past 8 months, 4 of which were paid for by my brand new company. I still have no idea how I’m going to pay rent most months up until the days before it’s due, but that’s a lot of people.

This year at NAMM I’ll be performing in the PreSonus booth and the Sennheiser booth. Me from 2008 is high-fiving the present me SO HARD right now.

Have you ever quit your job(s) to work for yourself? Any insight to offer?

Don’t understand #SOPA? Here’s a video to help explain it -

katelynbenton — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 17:56:25 +0000

PROTECT IP / SOPA Breaks The Internet from Fight for the Future on Vimeo.

Big News: ShmediaMedia.com is UP!

katelynbenton — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 20:00:33 +0000

Back in June, when progress temporarily halted on my album, Max Goldberg and I started Shmedia, a Social Media Marketing company that develops strategy and runs the social accounts for brands, non-profits, and artists. Max and I both have knowledge and passion for Social Media and the Internet thanks in part to it’s importance within our artistic endeavors. We have both been working professionally with social media for the past several years, though until recently we had not realized that we could make this into a functioning business of our own, and help other people grow their business’s online communities. We got the chance to work on some great brands right off the bat and we have been able to grow our experience, our skill set, and our resume over these past 8 months.

Today is our official website launch. We even put together a short 1 minute video to describe what Social Media Marketing is!

I’d like to invite you to see what we’ve been working so hard on, since we haven’t shared this information in any public way before and this is probably the only time I will dedicate a post on this blog to Shmedia. Please take a look around and let me know what you think! Thanks for your support!

Oh, and just a heads up, look into SOPA if you haven’t already, and be prepared for blackouts on some major websites tomorrow.

My “Me in my Place” Interview!

katelynbenton — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 18:28:35 +0000

Go check it out!! Just posted!

And in case you missed the shoot – you can check it out here

2011 Wrap-Up + Photos & Videos that prove it was great!

katelynbenton — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 17:27:25 +0000

I could write a novel about this year, but instead, I’ll limit it to some of my favorite highlights via pictures and videos! Thanks for ALL of the support this year! I can’t wait to see what 2012 holds. It’s going to be a big year and I’ll be worth watching for it. I promise

Recording Album with Scott Nickoley (Release Date scheduled for Spring 2012)

So many fun shows! (Here some pictures from a few)

I moved out of the 1 bedroom I was sharing with 4 other people into my own apartment!

My old "room" - the dining room transformed with shelves, blinds, and a curtain for a door.

Still Managed to Squeeze in some Ultra-Marathon Fun!

Crewing out at AC100

Pacing a runner through the night leg of Nanny Goat's 24-hour Run

Feet post-Leona Divide 50. No blisters!

My 3rd niece, Marley Skye Benton, born!

Denali Sol Benton meeting her baby sister Marley Skye for the first time.

Photoshoot with Me in my Place! (Yowza!!)

Click for the whole shoot! (nsfw)

Max Goldberg and I launch our Social Media business, SHMEDIA, and have somehow managed to scrape by with it!

Click to check out our site! Still under construction, but coming along!

Thanks to everyone who played a part in this fantastic year!

Want to support my music? Here’s how:

katelynbenton — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 20:47:49 +0000

Friends,

As many of you know, I am currently fundraising in order to finish my album. I’m working with film composer/producer Scott Nickoley (best known for South Park) on a collection of all new Katelyn Benton songs. This is my first full length album in 10 years and I am very excited about it! Once the record is finished, our goal is immediate and widespread television, movie and commercial placement, and we have the resources and energy to do this. However, we cannot complete this record without the help of donations. We are committed to doing this project right. We believe in what we are doing, we’re excited about it, and we want you to get excited about it too!

Thank you for keeping the arts alive! YOU are the reason we are here!

$15+ FREE copy of the new CD, before it is officially released

$100+ Receive liner note credit on the album

$500+ 5 copies of the new CD before it is officially released, your name or logo on www.KatelynBenton.com, plus all of the above

$1000+ 10 copies of the new CD before it is officially released, “Guest list” priority to all Katelyn Benton shows plus all of the above

Please e-mail Katelyn.Benton@gmail.com if you would like to receive more information on our fundraising efforts.

To Whom it May Inspire

katelynbenton — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 04:10:42 +0000

I absolutely love this – Open letter to artists of any kind from Pixar animator Austin Madison.

Enjoy