Tanvi Mahajan, an entrepreneur from Jammu, is the founder of Pause Tribe, a platform dedicated to offering a secure and inclusive space for artists to display their talents.
In 2018, Jammu lacked a platform for writers, myself included. Despite my search for a place to perform my poetry, I found no luck until I organized an open mic event in Jammu, inspired by Mumbai’s vibrant scene. This led to the birth of Pause Tribe in 2019, offering people a chance to escape their busy lives and embrace art. We hosted regular open mics, overcoming challenges like internet bans and lockdowns, and in 2021, Pause transformed into J&K’s first performing art studio.
The allure of the word ‘entrepreneur’ always fascinated me. Pause provided me the opportunity to blend my artistic insight with entrepreneurship. My journey, filled with various shades, included concerns about my safety as a girl in a small town and the struggle to balance artist-audience ratios, which currently stands at 70% artists and 30% audience. Convincing people from tier 2 or 3 cities to support unconventional art proved challenging, affecting our profits based on ticketing and sponsorships.
Regrettably, we have to charge our artists to cover expenses, a practice I disagree with. However, amidst these challenges, I receive immense love and gratitude from artists of all ages and genders, appreciating our safe and inclusive space for their art.
Pause has become a significant part of many lives, holding a special place in my heart. It didn’t just make Pause; it transformed me, boosting my confidence and helping me overcome insecurities and fears.
To aspiring artists, my advice is to turn ‘may be’ into ‘let’s do it,’ avoiding regrets due to self-doubt. Even starting from zero can’t bring you down to minus one. For those ambitious about creating similar platforms, I urge honesty with your work, your platform, and your artists. Dedicate the same passion, whether there’s one person in the audience or a full house. Event management can be draining, so having hobbies like learning the ukulele and cultivating a reading habit is essential for unwinding.
I aspire to witness the open-mic culture flourish not only in Jammu and Kashmir but in every state of India.