From the corner booth at Skip Paige’s Little Bar, the conversation swings from karaoke dreams to the real work of building a thriving arts scene. Singer-producer Scott Coulter shares how his company, Spot-On Entertainment, grew from performing to creating concert experiences for orchestras and performing arts centers nationwide—plus how the Palm Springs Pops Orchestra and Plaza Theatre programming are bringing fresh energy downtown. Photographer-producer Michael Childers adds Hollywood history, personal milestones, and a playful (sometimes outrageous) nostalgia for the Plaza’s past, while also reflecting on how AI is expanding creative possibilities in photography and exhibitions. Along the way: stories of Dolly Parton, Broadway paths not taken, the power of live performance as “church,” and why restored venues matter to artists and communities. The episode spotlights friendship, gratitude, and the momentum behind Coachella Valley’s cultural renaissance.

Takeaways

1. The Plaza Theatre restoration isn’t cosmetic—it’s major infrastructure: sound, air, and artist-first spaces.
2. The Palm Springs Pops Orchestra is anchoring a multi-show series that blends local talent with major guests.
3. Scott Coulter’s Spot-On Entertainment evolved from performing into producing concert concepts worldwide.
4. A career “no” (and being ghosted after an audition) can redirect you into building your own platform.
5. Michael Childers’ life story mirrors the arc of LGBTQ+ progress—visibility, partnership, and late-in-life marriage.
6. Downtown Palm Springs performing arts drive real economic impact: audiences, restaurants, and nightlife momentum.
7. Live performance is framed as modern “ministry”: connection, healing, and shared language through music.

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Recorded at Skip Paige’s Little Bar, this episode of Big Conversations, Little Bar with Patrick Evans & Randy Florence welcomes musician, actor, and award-winning composer Tommy Fields for a wide-ranging conversation about creativity, career pivots, and life in the desert. Tommy shares how growing up in small-town Indiana led to guitars, garage bands, and a leap to Los Angeles with little more than a one-way ti cket and a dream. He reflects on early hustle—music school, odd jobs, and club gigs—before finding his lane writing for TV, film, and commercials, including a fast-paced world of two-to-five-week scoring deadlines. The hosts dig into his inspirations, from Back to the Future-era orchestral storytelling to the quirky magic of Danny Elfman, and Tommy breaks down his writing process between piano and studio. He also tells the unreal story of nearly becoming the lead singer of Velvet Revolver, and why life ultimately steered him toward composing.

1. A small-town upbringing can still lead to big creative careers with persistence.
2. Moving to L.A. required hustle: school, odd jobs, and immediate band work.
3. Film/TV scoring often runs on intense deadlines—sometimes just two weeks.
4. Tommy’s process starts with script themes, then moves between piano and studio.
5. Classic composers shaped his approach: strong themes and scene-by-scene storytelling.
6. Rock-band experience can translate into scoring, as many composers began in bands.
7. He nearly fronted Velvet Revolver, but the band chose a different direction.
8. Desert living helps balance high-pressure work with a calmer day-to-day rhythm.

#BigConversationsLittleBarPodcast #PatrickEvans #RandyFlorence #SkipsLittleBar #MutualBroadcastingSystem #CoachellaValleyResidents #SkipPaige #McCallumTheatre #TommyFields #Musician #Actor #FilmComposer #TVScoring #MovieScores #VelvetRevolver #DannyElfman #JohnWilliams #IndianaToLA #DesertLife #CreativeProcess #NikkiBoyer

From the coveted corner booth at Skip Paige’s Little Bar in Palm Desert, Big Conversations, Little Bar with Patrick Evans & Randy Florence turns to one of Palm Springs’ biggest preservation wins: reopening the Plaza Theatre as a public venue. Architect, preservationist, and former city council member J.R. Roberts recounts how a shuttered landmark nearly became a gutted nightclub, then survived COVID uncertainty and post-pandemic construction inflation. He explains how a pivotal $5 million gift—and a promise that he’d “stay to the end”—reignited the effort, why contractor bids ballooned, and how the city’s support helped bridge the gap. The hosts also dig into civic life, small-town politics, and why volunteering locally can change outcomes fast. Finally, Roberts shares how Oak View Group stepped in for programming and management, setting up the theatre for a steady stream of major acts, community events, and economic impact across the Coachella Valley. Along the way, expect laughs, stories, and a candid look at what it takes to save a landmark.

Takeaways:

1. The Plaza Theatre’s comeback began when a proposed nightclub “gut job” raised preservation alarms.
2. A small early fundraising push stalled during COVID—then the project rebounded dramatically afterward.
3. A transformative $5 million commitment came with one condition: finish the mission, no matter what.
4. Post-COVID construction costs and competitive bids drove the restoration budget far higher than expected.
5. City support helped bridge the financing gap, with payback tied to cash plus economic/tax impacts.
6. Oak View Group became a key partner, bringing resources, marketing reach, and operating expertise.
7. Roberts’ path from Sausalito to Palm Springs highlights how local politics can shape a city’s character.
8. The episode underscores a simple civic lesson: you can make a difference by showing up locally.

#BigConversationsLittleBarPodcast #PatrickEvans #RandyFlorence #SkipsLittleBar #MutualBroadcastingSystem #CoachellaValleyResidents #SkipPaige #McCallumTheatre #SharonLawrence #JRRoberts #PlazaTheatre #PalmSprings #PalmSpringsPlazaTheatre #ArchitecturalPreservation #HistoricPreservation #ArchitecturalRestoration #OakViewGroup #AcrisureArena #HaroldMatzner #DavidLee