I really enjoyed my time with RAW! I had support for my work and even continued support after the showcases. My only downside to the showcases is that you do have to sell tickets. I know they require you do this so that they can have money to run the showcases, which I get. No ticket sales, no showcase. Other than that, I loved it! I met some great artists at the showcase, and have had a chance to collaborate with many of them on photo shoots. I did receive more requests and bookings for shoots which was fantastic. I had more site hits and more likes on fb too. I had a lot of fun and am very glad I was able to work through RAW while I was out in Hawaii! Thank you thank you! -Kari Geha Photography read more

I first attended a RAW event back when they were held at Vice Nightclub a little over a year ago, and I've been hooked! Since that first time I've been able to make it out to this monthly showcase many more times, and have loved each and every time! Since the start of this year, the RAW events have been held at Aloha Beer on Nimtz. It's a nice spacious venue with awesome beer. The variety of local artists showcased range. There have been painters, sculptors, photographers, dancers, musicians, fashion designers, makeup artists, poets, comedians, film artists, jewelers, and many others that you might not even think of. It seems like every showcase has all different and new artists, so the events are always fresh with new amazing talent. There were several times where I've seen the artists not only interacting with the event attendants, but also with the other artists. It seems like a great way for local artists to network and connect with others just like them. I've also seen an impromptu collaboration between a human beat box and a dance group who were both performers at the same RAW event. It was spectacular! Even though the RAW artists only seem to be showcased once, I've seen many of them at other events, such as the Honolulu Night Market, and various Yelp events. I guess it shows that RAW is a great way for our talented local artists to branch out, and gain well deserved exposure. Now I just need to find my artistic talent, so I can be showcased as a RAW artist! RAW is a fantastic grassroots movement that is definitely worth checking out! read more

SCAM As a band that was asked to play this event, I give it a 1. This is a pay-to-play scam. seen 'em a million times and this is just another flavor of the ol "pay to play". The band has to sell 30 tickets at 10 bucks each and does not get to keep any money. The "form" letter we received says it all. They really don't care who shows up to play.... as long as they got your $$ and free entertainment. We decided to leave it for those who cannot find a paying gig on Oahu. I get more "exposure" at the beach. read more

I've done RAW, twice, and I'll have to agree with Sam there. Selling the ticket was one thing, but what got me the most was how much they really "cared" for us artist. The second showcase was a bit too soon, and had several questions to ask since I missed the pre-viewing due to a family emergency. So I've sent SEVERAL emails and none were answered. And yknow when was the only time they emailed me?? When they wanted me to push for more sales on the tickets even though I made well past the minimum. Even during the showcase there was no help, but I was glad to have really awesome and nice artist next to me cause we ended up sharing equipment and supplies to get through the night. And I'm definitely sure I'm not the only one that did the showcases that feels this way. read more

I'm writing this review as someone who has been asked multiple times to participate and as someone who has attended their events. Each time they come into town I am emailed with some copy/pasted letter about how great my work is and how I would make such a great addition to their show. It seemed fishy to me from the start since they wanted money, had so many different categories for art, and some people I knew who weren't very good had been emailed to be featured as well. The event is almost completely filled with artist's friends, family, and people attending for just that one person so it seems no one really gets any exposure. I would say it's more of a networking event to meet other artists. I haven't seen or heard of anyone truly benefiting from it or selling any of their work at the show. I have talked to quite a few photographers and makeup artists who wished they hadn't wasted their time or money on it. I do always get to go for free, though. Many people on Facebook give their tickets away by the night of the event cause they know they're going to have to pay anyway. read more

RAW is a great program that promotes artists and offers support to those artists with networking opportunities, marketing materials, and exposure at certain levels... While Honolulu already has a supportive community of individual artists/musicians, we lack the organization by which to expand our industry and "undiscovered" artists... The insinuation that only the desperate artist would participate for limited exposure is insulting to those that support "the cause" to perpetuate the arts in their community... If this program should be limited to those "who can't get a paid gig on Oahu", how do you explain, that at the showcase I attended, the music act with over 20 million YouTube views and countless "paid" public/private gigs or the other act who regularly "plays the circuit" and is a Hoku Award Nominee that participated? I don't think they necessarily "need the exposure"... Perhaps, most importantly to these acts, they simply support an arts organization such as RAW. Furthermore, the notion that this organization is somehow getting rich off these artists is nonsense... I saw probably 15 artists at the showcase that I attended... At $10/ticket, that's $3,000 IF each sold their 20 tickets... With the materials provided to the artists (venue/video/photo), no one's "gettin paid" off of $3K... I agree, there are many scams out there promising stardom/etc, but RAW is not one of them... Their mission is in genuine interest of promoting the arts (and artists) in their community. PS - I'm the father of a RAW Artist - not an administrator of the program as it may seem from my defense of the organization ;P read more

I was very let down by the "RAW experience". This is not at all worth your time as an artist. It is very expensive, terrifically unprofessional, the communication is awful, and the impersonal form letters border on insulting. This organization does not help the artist, and does a terrible job even pretending that they will. It actually feels manipulative. One of your big incentives is that you get to choose any other city to go to for "free" (without selling tickets), but they do not tell you that they have strict rules and that you can only turn down one show invite or miss one show invite email before being disqualified. The folks attending the showcases seem to be the family members of the teenagers performing, which is adorable, but not exactly the art buying type. All around it just feels like a scam. read more

I can not speak badly about RAW employees or organizers, but I'm compelled to write this review as an overview of the company both as an independent artist and someone who has experienced a RAW event. Mainly, RAW's business model does NOT directly help support artists. In fact it reinforces manipulation of artists and their perception of their own worth. Simply looking at the functions behind these events, it's clear that RAW leeches resources off of the artists themselves. Artists are asked to sell a certain number of tickets to the event and don't receive even a percentage of that funding- the sum of which are well over average gallery fees. The event can be summed up as gaining the 'exposure' of showing your artwork in a venue to mostly your friends and family, who are under the misconception that somehow buying that $20+ ticket is helping you in the best way that it can. The show has no rhyme or reason; no juried curation. The only underlying organization to it is that everyone there went door to door successfully selling cookies for this organization. And so with $400+ collected and handed over to RAW, artists get to sit happily at their little booth for a few hours, and ultimately go home empty handed and financially unsupported. Witnessing this was saddening. Most artists and reputable galleries do not take events like these seriously. Please find alternate, DIRECT ways of supporting your favorite artists, performers and musicians. No one needs a middleman taking advantage of talent. Artists, you have more chance of success with traditional galleries or your own personal crowdfunding project. read more

RAW Honolulu successfully delivered another incredible showcase last Sunday. Despite having a last minute venue change, Cy and his team rallied together and secured The Villa at Aloha Tower Marketplace. A very cool club with lots of room for the artists and guests to get comfortable. The night consisted of fabulous live music from several groups, visual arts, the fashion designers, make up artists and hair stylists put on a RAWkn fashion show, a there was even a film and a comic! Great time was had by all. Look for their next event coming up in September. To have this much local talent in one place, you don't want to miss it! As a RAW artist, I have to disagree with the reviewers who said they couldn't get in contact with the RAW organizers. To the contrary, Cy was available night and day, and I never waited more than a few minutes to get answers to my questions. If you're going in as an artist to a RAW event, expect incredible support from this team. If you're going as a guest to a RAW event, expect that the RAW Honolulu team will be up front and available to you for any question/comment you may have. This is a fantastic group of people. RAWk on RAW Honolulu! read more

RAW is a great showcase for young musicians, photographers, film-makers everywhere. As a RAW artist, they do care about where you go and where RAW can take you. One big thing is selling the tickets. I'm only 12 so it wasn't a big deal for me but for my parents that have a lot of friends, wasn't a big deal either. Fans do get to vote who goes to the showcase and for 2014, I was nominated for Musician of the Year. I didn't win but RAW was awesome and I would do a event again. read more

I did RAW Honolulu as an artist and got exactly what I signed up for. A space to show my art to my friends and family in an event setting. It was a good night! read more

Ok now I might be a little biased since I am a Honolulu RAW artist (Proof: http://www.rawartists.org/cordeliacreatives) but I sincerely love RAW. This has got to be one of, if not the best deal in Honolulu if you're looking to attend an arts event. Its also pretty great for the artists. You get a TON of bang for your buck. Multiple live musicians and performers of all varieties. Fashion, artists and sculptures. Great venue. Wonderful food and a full bar. If you buy ahead of time not only do you get to support the artist of your choice, but you only pay $10. However if you have to pay at the door its still only $15. Yes once you get in you do have to pay for drinks and food if you want it, but where else are you gonna get a deal like this? I was one of the featured artists at the Marvel showcase in April, and I just went to the Expressions showcase last night. I'm extremely satisfied with RAW. This is a great way to support the local arts scene. Cordelia Edison read more

RAW is such a scam for new artist's. Having to sell 20 tickets in order to showcase is awful. That's worse than a flat booth fee. And having to provide your own table to showcase in another city is unacceptable. I would recommend all artists to stay away. read more

I learned about RAW online and noticed that some people I recognized and knew on where a part of the showcase. Before inquiring I did some research about the organization and what it has to offer to potential artists. After checking out the website and watching some videos I figured I go inquire within. So I created an Artist profile on the RAW website and got a call from the event organizer who pretty much laid down everything on what the event and organization is about. Everything sounded pretty good. RAW really provides many benefits and incentives for the Artist before, during, and after your involvement in the RAW showcase that you as an Artist is featured in. The only thing they ask you of as an Artist is if you can help generate revenue for the event by inviting people to come over to support not any yourself but for the event and organization as a whole. For $10 pre-sale and $15 at the door, it's really not that bad. Every RAW showcase is filled with many talented Artists that specialize in an Art category; photography, music, performing art, and may more. My dance crew participated and enjoy ourselves in all aspects of the showcase; from networking, performing, and promoting our crew through our booth. Prior to the performance and showcase, they also provide you with a media packets of sorts with cool photos and videos so that you can use personally and professionally. Best of all, once you are a part of a showcase, you are a part of the RAW family for I guess for life or as for as how long the organization exists. They have your RAW profile up on their website for people to always look at and you can also update it anytime you want. Overall, if you are a hungry Artist out their in our community, an organization like RAW is a pretty good thing to invest in. They will help you all along the way. read more