How to Build an Awards Show 

If you didn’t fully love Laguna before last week’s Laguna Achievement Festival (LAF Awards), you surely are renewing your vows now. What a wonderful, wacky, passionate, talented, and just plain weird group of people who affirmed what a special place this continues to be. It was a collection of unbelievable moments, a full throttle experience that made you look around the room and grok what a remarkable place this is, and how deep our bench is in the arts, music, sports, dining, retail, entrepreneurship, charity and public service. 

The mantra of the night seemed to be “Unity through Community,” and it came to life through the dozens of presenters, nominees, and a rowdy audience that cheered every nominee.  

I’m still swimming in the warm and gooey afterbirth of the show. Because we at KXFM danced on the tightrope of unrehearsed stagecraft, fearing that whatever could go wrong, would, but without ever considering the possibility that whatever could go right, would go even better. And it’s because of the willing talent that we have at our disposal. 

if you want to make something out of nothing, you first go to people like Laguna Planning Commissioner, actor and occasional artist Jorg Dubin, our unpaid Creative Director and merry misfit, always up for something devious. Who not only played the hapless reporter Tad Shorter (both on screen and on stage), but also designed our inimitable and substantial LAF trophy with the Joker-like grin, with production help from our co-conspirator, sculptor Louis Longhi. 

Did someone say misfit? Look no further than international sports announcer and happy hour savant Pat Parnell, who played Pat Cornfield, a satiric version of himself with some serious comedic chops.

And definitely call last year’s Laguna Legacy award winner Steve Wood, who still loves to perform after more than half a century on stage, and occasionally puts himself on the high wire reputationally by agreeing to be the Musical Director for something he knows is amateur hour. And to hair stylist and child voice actor Jax Owens, who fearlessly shed her gown and donned a robot onesie costume to play Baby Robot. 

Then you invite Michael the Greeter, who can animate any gathering with his gregarious personality and relentless positivity, and you pair him with KXFM General Manager Jonathan Tufano, who played Michael’s long lost brother Anthony (and sounded identical), who then surprised Michael by bringing up Mayor Orgill to present him a key to the city to complement the one he is getting for his new ADU. And then watch him tear up as he thanks the 510 people who contributed to his GoFundMe campaign to help him “get off the street and into a room of my own.” Grab your hankie. 

Then you ask reggae crooner and sometime Chiropractor Gary Arthur to warm the crowd up for the 2nd half of the show by singing his new hit, “Laguna Aloha,” which got the entire audience singing along. You ask gifted filmmaker and bourgeoning DJ Bhushan Thakker to make your impeccable graphics, backdrop and animations. And Nirvana Grill’s Lindsay Smith to do your hors d’oeuvres, and station DJ’s Ella Wyatt and Tommy Benson to write and perform a spoof song to kick off the show. And KX’s Lex Simonton and Brenden Hexberg to announce the Most Inspirational Students. And then you ask Nino Panzarella, a guy you just met last week during our closing party at the old studio, to come and film the event. And then you ask the great DJ Chayu to handle our decks at the afterparty. And then you ask another 50 Laguna Luminaries or so present the categories. And if they are in town of course they say yes, and voila, you have a show. A show that included at least 5 standing ovations.

But that’s how the night went, with one serendipitous and full circle moment after another. Like when longtime Sandpiper owner Chuck Harrell spoke emotionally about his family’s legacy with the place, and how this was one of those nights that made those 57 years worthwhile. Which was then surpassed by 96-year-old Laguna Legacy winner Dick Metz talking about working at that very Sandpiper before Chuck was born. But wait, then husband and wife presenters and station DJ’s Jen and Chad Gibbs revealed that they met at the Sandpiper. You just can’t script these things!

Other unscripted moments included last year’s Best Surfer Hans Hagan bringing all of this year’s nominees on stage, and winner Eli Viszolay saying humbly, “All of these guys are the best surfer on any given day.”  Or how skim board pioneer Tex Haines said Laguna was the sport’s capital, and how it was “long overdue to give these guys some recognition.” Or how Best female sole artist Anesha Rose broke into an impromptu song. Or Tuvalu’s Laurie Altar saying she felt so “supported by all of you.” 

The finale of the night was when Mark Christy and Paul Naude gave the Laguna Legacy award to 96-year-old Dick Metz. He received it, not because of the historic contributions he has made to surf culture worldwide, but because of what he is doing here, right now – bringing the Surf Heritage and Cultural Center right smack dab in the middle of town. And I must say, this is easily the biggest thing to hit Laguna maybe ever. The greatest collection of surf memorabilia and history on the planet. 

I left knowing that this was a night most in that room will never forget. We have created something meaningful and enduring that brings people together in community and allows us to pause from our frenetic lives and celebrate the enormous gifts this town provides us. But that’s what community radio is here for. 

Thank you everyone who trusted the process and lent your talents to something that will become an enduring part of our culture. See you next year. Or maybe next Wednesday June 3rd when we continue the revelry with a ribbon-cutting grand opening of our new radio station at Oak and Glenneyre from 6-9pm. It’s free!

Billy is the Executive Director of KXFM Radio and can be reached at billy@kxfmradio.org.