RAPID CITY, SD — After more than a decade of working in the Black Hills music community, Mitchell Stafford has officially launched Stitch Productions LLC, a new business focused on artist and venue management.
Stafford, a local radio personality and advertising Account Executive, announced the creation of his LLC just last week but said this step has been a long time coming.
“I’ve been working in the Black Hills music scene for, I don’t know, 10-plus years, if not longer,” he said. “I’ve helped musicians get gigs. I’ve helped venues find musicians. And so I was like, I’m already doing this stuff, so might as well just put a name behind it and create an LLC.”
Stafford said Stitch Productions grew out of work he was already doing for local venues, including booking live music and managing artist relationships. For example, he’s worked as a contractor for Murphy’s Pub & Grill where he books both acoustic and full-band performances.
In addition to venue booking, Stafford manages several local and regional bands and helps coordinate larger events. Once such event includes the annual Four Winds Music Festival in downtown Rapid City. The festival, now entering its third year, is scheduled for Aug. 22 at Aby’s.
“That was basically hosting events, putting together shows surrounding those events,” Stafford said. “These are all things encompassing skills that I’ve already had hands-on.”
While Stitch Productions can assist with booking artists, Stafford said the business also serves as a resource for venues and organizations unfamiliar with the technical side of live music.
“If you don’t know who to reach out to, you don’t know who to reach out to,” he said. I can provide all that information and experience. I can be that person for you.”
As far as Stafford’s motivation to get Stitch Productions off the ground, “It’s not a money move,” he said. “It’s always been more about the relationships.”
Looking ahead, Stafford said he sees strong potential for continued growth in the local music ecosystem. He also emphasized the importance of a supportive music community, which he says is already present in the Black Hills.
“The Black Hills is a very, very special place,” he said. “The music scene here locally, everybody supports each other. That’s not normal in a lot of areas.”
Stitch Productions is in its early stages with a full website still in development. Interested parties can visit stitchproductionsllc.com or contact Stafford directly through his public Facebook page.
