ValenTINY Elevator Concerts

I'm obsessed with NPR's Tiny Desk Concerts series. The idea of bringing big-name musical talents to play live around a small desk makes me squeal with delight. So when we were brainstorming new ways to celebrate Valentine's Day, a lightbulb went off. I wondered: "What if we turned a small, awkward space in our studio (in this case, a tiny, creaky, platform elevator in an unloved corner) into a pop-up performance space?"

Several designers in our community were also musicians, so it was easy to find performers. Going from "Tiny Desk" to "ValenTINY Elevator" was a snap. Taking the theme to the next level meant serving tiny foods and drinks, getting a graphic designer to create miniature, heart-shaped programs, and keeping the event tight at 15 minutes. We added uplights, foil curtains, and paper hearts to transform the formerly bland space into a pop-up nightclub on the cheap.

At the start of each Valentiny Elevator Concert, 60+ IDEOers would jam into 300 sq. ft. of standing-room-only space while the musical act — up to five performers — crammed into the elevator. The show would begin by awkwardly — and loudly — raising the elevator to half height. And it would end by awkwardly — and loudly — lowering back down to the floor.

We held in-person Valentiny Elevator Concerts from 2015 to 2020. We tried to keep the ritual alive during the pandemic via Zoom, but its charm and power came from the physical constraints of the space, the janky elevator, and the miniature food and drink. Without those, it was just another Zoom call.

It was a good reminder: Just like elevators, rituals have their ups and downs! We loved our Valentiny Elevator Concerts while they lasted.