It's Austin's 31st Birthday...Give the Gift of Varietyville!

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On August 8, Austin celebrates his 31st birthday, and I need your help to make it as special as possible!

This year, for Austin's birthday I am raising money to support Varietyville, a show that he created 2 years ago and has been thriving ever since! Austin has poured decades of passion for TV, comedy, and family entertainment into this project, and with my support as executive producer, we put on a brand new live show every single month at the LA Connection Comedy Theatre in Burbank, CA.

In lieu of birthday gifts, I’d like to invite all of our friends, family, and loved ones to support Varietyville in Austin’s honor.

My goal of $5,000 will cover the cost of an entire season of Varietyville, including:

10 shows at our venue in Burbank, CA ($300 rental/show)
A special one-time-only show in Polk County, FL ($2,000 rental)

The more we raise, the more profit we'll have from each show to invest in growing the biz (marketing, local ads, promotional materials). No matter how much we raise, every dollar will make a HUGE difference as Austin gives his all to expand Varietyville!

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To all of Austin's friends, family, fans, and loved ones:

For those who have known Austin since he was little, you know he’s a born entertainer. Destined for the stage, he’s stayed resolute in his mission of bringing joy, laughter, and comfort as a performer – and he hasn’t regretted it for a single second.

Austin has been in LA for about 10 years now, and his very proud partner (and now, fiancé!) of more than 6 years, I want to share a little behind-the-scenes of what it’s been like to see him flourish as an actor, writer, director, and collaborator.

The life of an entertainer is indescribably difficult. Work has always been hard to come by in this industry, but between COVID, strikes, devastating wildfires, the soaring cost of living, and so much more, it’s harder than ever to find a job, whether it’s an acting gig or bagging groceries. The mental and physical toll of sleepless nights, days on end of staring at a computer, and keeping up with the ever growing pile of administrative responsibilities can be crippling. But the ability to live in a creative flow, write interesting stories and characters, and perform your own work makes life deeply fulfilling.

Every day is both a sprint and a marathon – exhausting, exhilarating, and ultimately, rewarding.

As a Florida man through and through, Austin has fearlessly faced this metaphorical hurricane every day since he arrived in his car a decade ago. He’s faced homelessness, failure, isolation, and the harshness of a profit-driven world. And yet, his life has been so full – rich in experience, relationships, and growth. He’s shown me that life’s real wealth is found not in money, but in people, stories, and personal purpose.

A stable, picture-perfect life is hard to attain…but love, laughter, and community are not. No matter what obstacles Austin has faced, this belief shapes who he is. Even in the strongest winds, he stands firm in his goal of building something unique that can not only become a necessary source of revenue for us, but also a rich and lasting community that can depend on each other when times are tough.

Varietyville is more than a show – it’s a lifeline. A sanctuary not just for us but for our growing community of performers and guests. A comfortable, joyful place to weather life’s storms together.

My career in nonprofit fundraising has taught me to work smarter, not harder. When I see a great idea with a lot of potential, I run with it. I can say with total confidence that Varietyville is a truly great idea, and we’ve only scratched the surface with its potential. The future of this show is very bright – but we need your help to light the way!

As we start to plan for our marriage and future together, we’re focusing our energy more intensely than ever to make Varietyville the success we know it can be. We are giving all the time, energy, and resources we can, but we need help to cover the upfront costs that keep our show running.

No birthday gift will be more special to Austin than your support of this project. These donations will help secure Varietyville’s future, and ensure that Austin can continue growing the business into a lasting legacy!