Staff

Management

Name: Bekka Collins
Location: Newcastle, UK
Age: 19
Contact: Email // Twitter // Tumblr

Hi, I’m Bekka and I’m the founder of Venture Mag. I live in the UK and I hate it because we never get any sun. I love tea, films and Grey’s Anatomy far too much. I’m studying Magazine Journalism at University, and I believe that if you work hard enough for you want you’ll get it. My ambition to be part of the music industry began when I started promoting bands on MySpace when I was fourteen. Since then I’ve written for a few online sites most notably thesoundalarm, and then I launched Venture. I go through different phases a lot with music, but my all time favourite artists are Paramore, MuteMath, Jimmy Eat World and Ellie Goulding.

Editors

Name: Breanne Gill
Location: Los Angeles, CA.
Age: 21
Contact: Email // Twitter // Tumblr

Hi everyone, I’m Breanne. I’m currently a music director and editor for Venture. I live and breath music. Some of my favorite bands/artists are Paramore, Avril Lavigne, We the Kings, Mayday Parade, Tegan and Sara, and Jessie J. Besides music my favorite things are the beach, sunshine, and good friends.

Name: Amy Rebair
Location: Newcastle, UK.
Age: 19
Contact: Email // Twitter // Tumblr 

Hey! My name is Amy and I’m currently an editor for Venture. For as long as I can remember, I’ve been a huge listener of music. And ever since going to my first gig in 2009 I’ve never looked back – whether I’m buying tickets to see bands/artists perform live or writing reviews. Going to study Journalism at University in September, I’m hoping this will lead to a career in the industry. My music tastes vary from Panic! At The Disco to Lana Del Rey to Canterbury to Blink 182, the list goes on.

Social Networkers

Journalists

Name: Melisa Baykent
Location: Arizona
Contact: Twitter

Hello! I’m Mel and I write/take pictures for Venture. I love photography, music, fashion, writing, and film. I’ve tried to do several different projects involving music, whether it be promoting bands or making music videos for fun. My love for music first began when I was given The Spice Girls cassette when I was little. Later on The Spice Girls turned into Green Day and Gwen Stefani, which later turned into Fall Out Boy and Panic! At The Disco. I have a wide range in the artists that I listen to now, a few being: Ed Sheeran, Angus & Julia Stone, Empire Of The Sun, Ellie Goulding, Iwan Rheon, Lana Del Rey, Aerosmith, and The Kooks. On my free time I like to hang with friends, go to shows, dance to 80s music, and quote Misfits or The Inbetweeners.

Name: Maureen Ginley
Location: Cleveland, Ohio.
Age: 20
Contact: Twitter // Tumblr

Hello all!  My name is Maureen, and I’m 20 years-young and residing in Cleveland, Ohio.  I have a love-hate relationship with the city (the weather can change in moments), but hey – we have the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, so I can’t complain! I’m a junior at John Carroll university studying writing, and firmly believe that the words we write can change the world.  (Dead Poet’s Society reference intended.)  I drink far too much coffee (the baristas at my neighborhood Starbucks know me by name), I’m a rather big fan of the television show Arrested Development, and am a proud breakfast food enthusiast.  Next to writing, music is one of my biggest passions.  I am always on the hunt for new artists and bands to listen to, and love adding album upon album to my iTunes.  My favorites though are Death Cab for Cutie, Ryan Adams, The Maine, Wilco, Jimmy Eat World, Arkells, and many, many more. (:

Name: December Leanne
Location: Canada
Age: 20
Contact: Twitter // Tumblr

Hey I’m December Leanne and I write/interview for Venture. I graduated with film & music business so I absolutely adore anything and everything to do with it. My music taste varies to many different genres but a few of my favourites lately are Marianas Trench, Pierce the Veil, Green Day & Ten Second Epic. I also love travelling, supernatural & starbucks.

Name: Julia Purcell
Location: New Jersey
Age: 16
Contact: Twitter

My name is Julia Purcell. Music has been a huge part of my life ever since I first heard Green Day’s “American Idiot” in the the fourth grade. I listen to just about everything, my musical taste ranging from The Doors to Chiodos to Have Heart to the Black Keys. I’ve been playing guitar for four years, even though I don’t consider myself very good. I joined Venture in May of 2012 and love being a journalist here!

Name: Megan Sauers
Location: Ohio
Age: 19
Contact: Twitter 

Name: Bryson Schmidt
Location: Florida
Contact: Twitter // Tumblr

My name is Bryson Schmidt, Im a college student from Satellite Beach Florida. The main thing about about me is that I love God, and I’m chasing after Him with everything I have. Second to that, I consume music more so than I do food. Any genre will do, but I’m massively picky on what I enjoy. Some of my favorite bands include Lydia, Josh Garrels, Ben Folds, Man Overboard, Rend Collective, and Ascend The Hill. I am also constantly writing, performing, and producing songs for my band. Any time that I have other than that is spent drawing, surfing, taking pictures, or riding roller coasters (but not the emotional ones).

Name: Elizabeth Tolbert
Location: Batesville, Mississippi
Age: 22
Contact: Twitter // Tumblr

I’m Elizabeth. I just graduated from Southern Miss with a degree in Entertainment Industry. I’m moving to Orlando, FL to work at Disney! My favorite band of all time is Paramore, but I also love VersaEmerge, States,  and Bon Iver. I’ve been writing for Venture since May 2012. I love music and movies and hope to be able to turn my passion for them into a career.

Name: Codi Trosper
 Location: Orlando, Fl
 Contact: Twitter

Hey everyone, i’m Codi with an I. I hail from a little town about 45 minutes north of Orlando, Fl. I love all things music and attend as many shows as possible.I believe in dreaming big and following through. I love road trips and seeing what the world has to offer. I’m obsessed with far too many tv shows and spend far too much money on delicious food.I joined Venture in the summer of 2011 to tie together my love for music and writing and I hope to further this passion one day touring. Let’s make it happen.

Name: Helen Whittle
Location: Isle of Wight, United Kingdom
Age: 16
Contact: Twitter // Tumblr

YO! I’m Helen. I love pop punk & indie music, sunny days, books, travelling, gigs, vanilla lattes, photography, theme parks, writing & The Goonies!

Britany Gibbs
Mel Baykent

Photographers:

Name: Jade Algarme
Location: Seattle, Washington
Age: 20
Contact: Twitter // Tumblr

I’m Jade.  Taking pictures of people who play music is what I love to do. When I was younger, I always had this dream of being in a band and play music for a living. After learning I had no musical skills at all, I decided to try out photography instead and instantly fell in love with it. My dream is to turn this hobby of mine into a career. Some of the bands I listen to include Fall Out Boy, The Get Up Kids, The Maine, and Jack’s Mannequin.

Name: Stephanie Brown
Location: San Diego / Arizone
Contact: Email // Twitter // Tumblr

Heyo! I’m Steph. I call San Diego home and I’m currently studying Photography and Public Relations at Northern Arizona University. In 2008 I went to a Jonas Brothers show and brought my camera along so I wouldn’t forget a second of it. Although my music taste has changed and I have upgraded my camera equipment, my love for photography and music have only grown. Capturing the energy of the music, musicians, and crowd keeps me coming back for more. My music taste is all over the place. Some of my favorites are Lydia, The Dangerous Summer, Tonight Alive, Pierce The Veil, Man Overboard, Mumford & Sons, and Brand New (just to, uh, name a few). You can find me at a local venue making awkward comments only I think are funny and quoting my favorite show, Workaholics. In the future I hope to travel the world and make a career in the music business to celebrate my ultimate love, music.

Name: Devin DeRose
Location: Orlando, Florida
Age: 16
Contact: Twitter

My name’s Devin DeRose and I’m from Orlando, Florida, but I’ve never been to Disney World.  I try to involve myself in the music scene as much as possible, between shooting shows and playing bass in the band After Vegas. I want to experience everything the world has to offer.

Name: Courtney Dondelinger
Location: Chicago
Age: 18
Contact: Twitter // Tumblr 

Hi guys my name is Courtney. I’m eighteen years old and I’m from Orlando, Florida. I am currently living in Chicago, Illinois and going to school at Columbia College Chicago for Photojournalism and Music Business. I like rainy days, dystopian novels, thrifting, boy bands, and attempting DIY Projects I find on the Internet.

Name: Dustina Hooper
Location: New York
Age: 21
Contact: Twitter // Tumblr

My name’s Dustina Hooper . I’m a senior photography major at SUNY Fredonia. My photography ranges from live performances to weddings to portraits. I hope to some day own my own studio! I love many forms of art such as sculpture and ceramics, my artistic wish is to be able to have talent in painting. Check me out at Dustina Hooper Photography on facebook.

Name: Nicole Thomas
Location: Minneapolis, MN
Age: 20
Contact: Twitter  // Tumblr

Hi!  My name is Nicole and I do photography and interviews for Venture. I am currently living in Minneapolis and work at a retail store. Photography and music have always been a huge part of my life, and I’ve been doing concert photography for about two years now.   When I’m not working you can almost always find me at a show! Some of my favorite artists include Taking Back Sunday, There For Tomorrow, Brand New, Walk The Moon, Parachute, and Tom Petty. Aside from music I enjoy traveling, painting, Pretty Little Liars, coffee, the beach and snowboarding.

Kyle Kotajarvi