We had the good fortune of connecting with Daniela Cardenas and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Daniela, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
When I first got into the creative scene, I never imagined that I would be able to monetize something that I am passionate about. In truth, the founding of Tiny Stage Entertainment was never really about that. Firstly it was about giving our community an entity. Secondly, It was about creating the proper container to funnel & scale our operations. Not to mention, it opened up the ability to partner with sponsors & seek funding through grants.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My art is simple. I create and help facilitate spaces and experiences for members of my community to build their talents, express themselves, and explore. At the heart of it, I always strive to create a program that brings forth the possibility for people to find inspiration, new connections, and reconnection to their passions. If you ever participated in or attended one of our Tiny Stage live shows, you would not only see our artists being actively challenged to expand their live performance capabilities alongside a live band but you’d also see our local vendors coming out and representing their brands and products in ways they hadn’t before. There was so much active growth happening in the room that you couldn’t help but be inspired to network and connect and understand the feeling in the air. That is what I am most proud of. What sets me apart from others is my intention.

Along the way, I’ve learned to accept the highs just as much as the lows. It is not easy! I used to believe that the success of a brand or event came down to funding. Although funding can certainly be a plus, there’s something so beautiful about starting small. Creating manageable & scalable steps and not getting too lost in the competition of it all. Also, the most important thing is accepting that sometimes you really don’t know what’s best and being open to leaning on your partners, mentors, and community members. Tiny Stage began at a physical round table meeting. A group of young like-minded members of a community coming together and supporting something greater than us. In life, it is crucial to have a roundtable of sorts. Joined together with a carefully selected group of individuals that are first and foremost; smarter than you, and also like-minded in their approach to their goals and aspirations. That is what really helps you overcome challenges along the way.

If there’s one thing I want the world to know about Tiny Stage Entertainment is that we are not done yet. Although we have taken a step back from the scene for a while. We have been in a beautiful process of rebranding and reanalyzing the approach and impact we’d like to have. Stay connected & tuned in, world!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
There’s nothing like pulling up to Love Life Cafe in Wynwood to talk business and grab a vegan bite to eat or coming to The Purple Bodega in Midtown for their “No Request” DJ event on Thursday nights led by the Cush Creations team. A few other favorites would definitely be, Red Rooster in Overtown on Groove Theory Fridays, Gramps in Wynwood, and The Oasis in Wynwood.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I want to shout out the masterminds behind The Hippie Haven, ArtLoveTrap aka Markus Delmont & Mulatta aka InnerG. These two not only gave me the opportunity to showcase and hone my Event Coordination & Hosting abilities but they were the first people to believe in the vision of what Tiny Stage could be. I consider them my creative mentors and am eternally grateful for the teachings and resources they so graciously shared with me and other members of the Miami Art Scene. It truly takes a village. I couldn’t have done it without them.

Instagram: @daniibabiiii & @tinystagemia & @tinytalkmia

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danicardenasts/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC37AE8VNtAj8mEOxuX7_uEg

Image Credits
Photographer Credits: Teresa Vespa Shooter Sai

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutMiami is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.