Hilltop Productions: Festivals-R-Us
By Bruce Collier March 22, 2007 Issue

Chuck Hinson of DeFuniak Springs is sole owner and boss of Hilltop Productions. The company was founded in 1998 as the result of what Hinson calls “a friendly challenge.” As the arts and entertainment writer for an area newspaper, Hinson covered the Flutterby festival. He liked much of what he saw, but voiced a few constructive criticisms on how to make it even better. The director of the festival heard about it, and cordially invited Hinson to do his best. Hinson accepted, and has been helping others to make merry ever since. Hilltop provides management, promotion and production services, not only to art festivals, but also concerts, trade shows, and theatrical events.

Hinson’s local plunge was not just out-of-the-blue. He has an undergraduate degree in journalism and public relations from Southern Mississippi University, and an impressive list of accomplishments as an employee of Beerse Integral, which oversaw work on the Olympic games in Atlanta. Hinson served as media liaison and event coordinator. His tasks included schmoozing the press and brokering relations between Olympic officials and the multitude of contractors and subcontractors setting up the games.

“I worked to help welcome the athletes, and introduce them to Southern hospitality,” says Hinson, whose experience with the overseas visitors led him to Florida State University to work on an advanced degree in international communications. Hinson’s job responsibilities interrupted his studies, but he remains an ardent and outspoken Seminoles fan. He returned to DeFuniak Springs, where he had spent much of his childhood. Hinson’s mother is a DeFuniak native, and he has a touch of Louisiana Cajun on his paternal side.

Following his success with Flutterby, Hinson moved on to set up the 1999 Folkfest in Seacrest, then ArtsQuest and the West Indies Market in Rosemary Beach. He praises the latter as “one of the longest continuously running arts events in the Panhandle. [The market] draws artists from all over.” Hilltop’s largest event, one evidently dear to Hinson’s heart, is the annual Seabreeze Jazz Festival, held in April.

“Our main responsibility is coordinating vendors and exhibitors, mapping it out, and doing transport and security for the musicians.” The festival is produced and sponsored by smooth jazz station WSBZ, and draws an estimated 10,000 smooth jazz fans from Florida, Georgia, Texas, and elsewhere. Performers come from the United States, Great Britain, Australia, and Africa. Hinson says it is the “second largest smooth jazz festival in the nation.” Hilltop has been a part of it for five years.

“We start working on it in October, meeting with crew about once a month. My job is to be the liaison between the producer, the talent, etc. It takes about six to seven months.” The number of Hilltop employees varies seasonally and with the event, ranging from three to 10 at any given time, says Hinson.

When not coordinating events, or sometimes simultaneously, Hinson also finds time for the “sister business,” H&M Tent and Party Rentals. Hinson’s business partner in this is Jeff McDowell. H&M sets up some 120 events a year, including weddings and assorted social gatherings. Hilltop’s yearly workload is around 45 events. The busy season for both starts in February and continues through November, with an emphasis on tourist-driven events. “There’s a lot of overlap between the two businesses,” says Hinson, adding that a 100-hour workweek “is nothing” in the high season.

Once the jazz festival is history, Hinson and Hilltop will get busy on Festival of Life, co-sponsored by Children’s Miracle Network and Florida Hospice, which will run Aug. 25-26 at the Morgan Sports Complex in Destin. The festival features music, art, and children’s events, coordinated with Emerald Coast Entertainment. “There’s to be over a hundred art exhibits, food, and bands — rock, country, and smooth jazz,” says Hinson. Proceeds go to send children undergoing cancer treatment to Florida camps for a vacation getaway.

The list of past events for which Hilltop Productions has provided its services also includes the Willie & Lobo concert at Baytowne Wharf, Rosemary Beach’s Renaissance Festival and Vintage Car Show, the 30A Arts Festival, the Street Art Festival in Eufaula, and the Jules Burt art show in DeFuniak Springs.

As if this weren’t enough, Hinson says his company has plans to expand its area of operations into Georgia, Louisiana, and Mississippi, adding wine tours and home and garden shows to the existing menu of concerts and arts events.

“We’ll still maintain events on the Emerald Coast,” he says. “So everyone should spread out.” He adds, “but stay home, too.”

Hilltop Productions may be reached at 951-2148, or online at www.hilltopproductionsinc.com.