We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Tamara (Sweet T) Rodriguez a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Tamara (Sweet T), thank you so much for joining us today. Let’s jump right into something we’re really interested in hearing about from you – being the only one in the room. So many of us find ourselves as the only woman in the room, the only immigrant or the only artist in the room, etc. Can you talk to us about how you have learned to be effective and successful in situations where you are the only one in the room like you?
Bitten by the Pinup bug in 2014, after the purchase of my 66′ F250, Herman Munster, I started attending local Car Shows in the Dallas area, and was mesmerized by the entire Rockabilly Culture, the cars, the clothes, and mostly the light your hair on fire music. I couldn’t take my eyes off the immaculate styled Victory Rolls & beautiful petticoat fluffed dresses of the Pinup girls. Growing up in the 90’s Beauty Pageant Circuit, dressing up and performing was second nature to me. I began dressing in Vintage styles almost daily and quickly became amerced into the Rockabilly Culture. The entire Rockabilly vibe intoxicated me, it was like a whole different world was opened up to me and I would never be the same again.
My unique style might get some strange looks, but it also attracted the attention of local New Braunfels, Rockabilly Drummer, Eric Vasquez (Booker-E on Drums). In 2020, with our combined love for music and our local community, Booker-E Entertainment & Events by Exquisite Endeavors was born. Noticing a decline in the local live music scene, we started brainstorming ideas to elevate local bars & restaurants. With his sky-high Pompadour and my perfectly quaffed Beehive, we made it our mission to bring family friendly fun and inclusiveness back to our local live music scene.
What do the Patrons want? They want to be entertained, right? That was easy enough to figure out. But where are the Venues & other Booking Agents falling short on this, and what can we do to bridge the gap?
Let’s face it, if you own a Venue, there are so many facets of business you have to deal with. Many times, advertising & live music booking takes a back seat to the day-to-day efforts of keeping your business afloat. That is completely understandable given your workload, but you are leaving money on the table by not capitalizing on these 2 amazing business tools. It’s ok to ask for help, networking and collaborating with other local businesses is the key to succeeding within your community.
Most Venues are not utilizing their live music to its full potential. Rather than hiring background music sitting in a chair, Booker-E Entertainment wants to make your live music Premier and draw more patrons to your Venue. You don’t have to host song swaps, let us spice up your live music with Theme Nights such as Latin Dance Night, 70’s Funk Party, or Two-Step Thursday. Pair the music with themed drink specials and keep the patrons at your Venue all night. Booker-E Artists are not only great Musicians, but also seasoned Entertainers and will keep the patrons coming back for more.
Booker-E Entertainment can help at No Cost to the Venue. Deal with just one-person instead of multiple musicians and take advantage of our in-house free advertising on Facebook & Instagram. It’s Easy, just tell us your budget, open dates, & genres of music preferred. We will send YouTube links of live performances by Artists that are available for your event. From Solo/Duo to Full Party Band, Booker-E has it all. No background music here, Booker-E Entertainment prides itself in booking the Best Artists in the Hill Country. Our Artists dominate the band stand in Talent, Professional Stage Appearance, & Event Advertising.
Not just an event planner, Booker-E Entertainment is the Concierge of Booking. Booker-E can help facilitate the perfect music lineup & help advertise for your events. Booker-E Entertainment currently books live music for many local Venues including Seguin Power Plant, Gruene Grove, Maven’s Inn & Grill in Canyon Lake, Kreuz Market in Lockhart, Hill Country Conferences, & the Uptown Gruene Market. Check us out on Facebook or at bookereentertainment.com
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
Booker-E Entertainment & Events by Exquisite Endeavors are very excited about our biggest event of the year, the 2nd Annual Hill Country Rockabilly Weekender, 3-Day Music Festival, May 17-19th.
In the scenic Texas Hill Country, the Hill Country Rockabilly Weekender is unlike any Music Festival you have ever attended. You will not only hear live Rockabilly music from some of the biggest names on the scene, but you will also have access to Rockabilly themed Activities, Car Show, Vendors, & Food Trucks. Located at Mountain Breeze Campground on the beautiful Guadalupe River of New Braunfels Texas, there are Camp & RV Sites available, as well as Air BNB’s & Hotels nearby.
We have an amazing music lineup this year featuring Honky-tonk King *Dale Watson* as our headliner. Dale has flown the flag for classic honky-tonk for over two decades. He’s christened his brand of American Roots “Ameripolitan” to differentiate it from the current crop of Nashville-based pop country. The Alabama born, Texas raised Watson may be the hardest working entertainer today and is rapidly approaching legendary status.
The Hill Country Rockabilly Weekender will also feature music from New Braunfels favorites *The Prairie Rattlers*, Austin based Rockabilly band *The Jerrells*, recently heard on Texas Rebel Radio Network *Living Hairitage* and a Funk Dance Party by *Barfield the Tyrant*
The most unique aspect of the Hill Country Weekender is the inclusiveness and community involvement. Each activity at the Weekender is sponsored by local businesses. Activities include Boozy Bingo, Dance Lessons, Elvis Contest, Neon Acoustic Hour, Car & Bike Show, Canopy Decorating Contest, Fashion Show, Instrument Petting Zoo, Scavenger Hunt, Pinup Photo Shoot, Pinup Contest, Karaoke, and more.
After attending last year’s Hill Country Rockabilly Weekender, Edub of Kick Push Radio – KNON Dallas compared the event to summer camp as a kid. “You arrive on the first day not knowing anyone and by the end of the weekend everyone is hanging out together and having a blast,”
Huge Shout Out to Our Event Sponsors, without you this amazing event would never be possible, The New Braunfels Pinups, Haarschnitts Men’s Grooming, Lonestar Steel Erection & Fabrication, The Paint Spot, RCS Guitars & Gear, County Line Mortgage, Gruene Grove, Xtreme Street Kustomz, Olmos Icehouse, & Hillview Automotive.
We also appreciate and thank our Activity Sponsors, Morgan Rain Photography, Glitz Glam & Rebellion, Old Chap Menswear, Winery on the Gruene, Smitten Kitten Pinup Magazine, The Glamourous Pink Riders Podcast, Yessica & Alan Morales, Mandy McMillian, Los Classicos Car Club, Yellow Door Closet, and Texican Twilight Haus, E.W. Bateman Company, Sunflower & Friends.
There is only a few more weeks to purchase Discounted Tickets Online at hillcountryrockabillyweekender.com
Need more info? Email us at [email protected]
For Upcoming Announcements Follow Us on Facebook & Instagram
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
The qualities that propelled me into the entertainment industry, is my love for live music, my affinity for costumes, and my ability to throw one hell of a party. Throwing themed events and seeing the happiness it brings others really brings up my vibrations. Music may be the last thing on earth that brings everyone together no matter gender, race, or religion. Centered around Live Music, Booker-E Entertainment & Events by Exquisite Endeavors Theme Nights are always Family Friendly. Themes include Urban Cowboy Night, Tiki Surf Rock Night, Mix Tape Rewind, Sock Hop Night, Yacht Rock Night and more. Follow Booker-E Entertainment on Facebook & Instagram for upcoming Spring & Summer Theme Nights at Gruene Grove in historic Gruene & Maven’s Inn & Grill in Canyon Lake.
Wanna throw your own theme nights? Booker-E is here to help! Over the last 4 years, Booker-E Entertainment & Events by Exquisite Endeavors has hosted many community events including The Hill Country Rockabilly Weekender, Booker-E Music Foundation, Monster’s Ball, Wedding Dress Pub Crawl, Roper Romp, & Sweet T’s Pinup Parties. Creating events that bring people together is our passion.
Another passion of mine is throwing Pinup Photo Shoot events & Pinup Contests. I am honored to be hosting the Pinup Contests at some amazing Car & Bike Shows this year including The Ghost Town Drive Down – May 26th at Broadway Bar & Grill in Nordheim, The Weighted Plate Car Show – Sept 14th in New Braunfels, and Uno Rios – Oct 12th benefiting Legacy Vets at Mountain Breeze Campground in New Braunfels. Winner will receive a guaranteed publication in Smitten Kitten Pinup Magazine & be a special guest on the Glamourous Pink Rider’s Podcast with CeCe Glamour.
Last but not least, the quality that I hold the most important is my community involvement. After moving to the Hill Country, I wanted to give back to my community, while embracing my love for Rockabilly Culture. In 2019, I created The New Braunfels Pinups, with a goal of throwing themed events, to raise money for local charities. Starting with only 10 members, the group has grown to over 1.8K members worldwide in 2024. The New Braunfels Pinups have hosted many local charity events benefiting Room Redux, ARF, and Wreaths Across America, just to name a few. Follow The New Braunfels Pinups on Facebook for upcoming events.
One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?
Collaborating & Networking with other local businesses is crucial to thrive within your community. We are always looking for new opportunities to partner with other entrepreneurs. Currently, Booker-E Entertainment is partnered/endorsed by these amazing Brands, Haarschnitts Men’s Grooming, Old Chap Menswear, Pork Pie Percussion, Soletone Cymbals, Longhorn Health & Fitness, Cooper Groove Grips, Morgan Rain Photography, and Let’s Talk Earz – Ultimate Ears.
Got an idea for a collaboration? We want to hear it, email us at [email protected]
Booker-E Entertainment is looking for Artists that are willing to work as a Team with the Booking Agency & the Venue to elevate the Hill Country Live Music Scene. No Contracts!
Want to Join the Booker-E Family? Feel free to fill out a Band Booking Request at bookereentertainment.com for booking consideration.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: bookere_entertainment
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bookere.entertainment
- Linkedin: linktr.ee/bookere.entertainment
- Other: hillcountryrockabillyweekender.com https://www.facebook.com/hillcountryrockabillyweekender https://www.facebook.com/eventsbyexquisiteendeavours https://www.facebook.com/sweettspinupparties https://www.facebook.com/pinupsweett0 New Braunfels Pinups Facebook Group – https://www.facebook.com/groups/2106208453027480
Image Credits
Morgan Rain Photography Dark Horse Photography Shot X Sean Photography 1044 Photography LLC My Kind of Pinup Vron’s Photography
