Your Ears Are Worth Protecting (Kelly Fox of Plug and Play Jewelry)
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Transcript:
Mike: Hey Kelly, how are you?
Kelly: Hey Mike, I'm great. How are you?
Mike: I'm doing fantastic, thanks. Thank you so much for being on the show—I really appreciate it.
Kelly: Thank you for having me. I'm really looking forward to it.
Mike: Me too. And it's great because we were introduced by a mutual friend—shoutout to Chelsey Louise from Fairy Bones and Poor Life Choice Management. Chelsey’s been on the podcast a couple of times now, and when she says “you have to meet someone,” I listen. She's very wise that way.
Kelly: She is!
Mike: And I gotta say, after meeting you and seeing the amazing work you’ve done, I knew right away I wanted to keep you in my circles. You're doing such incredible things and I can't wait to dive into all of it. But first, I always like to share how I meet my guests—because so much of this show is about the relationships we build.
Kelly: A hundred percent. Especially in a place like Phoenix where people are always coming in and out, those relationships matter. Someone you worked with five or ten years ago can come back around, and you collaborate again. I love the scene here—it's so much fun.
Mike: Are you a Phoenix native?
Kelly: I'm from Indiana originally, but I've been out here since 2016. So essentially, my adult life.
Mike: Once you hit the 9- to 10-year mark, you may not be native, but you're Arizonan.
Kelly: Right? And I feel like the last two summers count for five each. That gives me bonus points!
Mike: Agreed! I've been here 25 years and the last couple summers have definitely earned their own category. You've got the heat stamp now. So, you're an extremely talented photographer—do you remember your first paid photography gig?
Kelly: Yeah! It was a local show in Indianapolis. My friend was managing a band and set me up with them. It was the first time I showed up with the band, did portraits, behind-the-scenes content—the whole day. I can't remember what I got paid, but it wasn’t much. Still, it was such a great time. And actually, tomorrow is my 10-year anniversary of shooting shows. I shot my first one on July 1st, 2015. It was a band called Annie Girl and the Flight, opening for Against Me and Frank Iero and the Celebration. They even stayed at my parents’ house for two days—very DIY. That was a life-changing moment for me.
Mike: That’s amazing—congratulations!
Kelly: Thank you!
Mike: So you were already part of the music scene in Indiana before moving to Arizona?
Kelly: Yeah, I started working in publications when I was about 17. I wanted to shoot but started writing—album reviews, concert reviews. It was my way in. Once I got to Arizona, I did both writing and shooting for press, which is usually unpaid. Eventually, I started working directly with artists, which is where you can start to make money.
Mike: Did you just reach out to publications saying, “Hey, I want to write”?
Kelly: I actually started by reaching out to a venue. I wanted to shoot at this concert venue in Indianapolis, so I emailed about 115 bands asking for photo passes. Most ghosted me, but three or four said yes. I started shooting for the artists. I also emailed the venue to ask about rules—I'm a big rule follower and didn’t want to get blacklisted. Someone passed my email to a marketing coordinator who was also a photographer and worked for Live Nation. He became a mentor and connected me with publications. I had a tiny baby portfolio, but they took a chance on me. My first big show through them was Sublime with Rome. I went from small venues to an amphitheater—huge moment for teen me.
Mike: That’s incredible. And the fact that you reached out to over 100 bands—that’s hustle.
Kelly: For sure. I emailed openers, locals, headliners—anyone I could find a contact for. Just went for it.
Mike: So when you got to Arizona, you already had a portfolio and network starting to form.
Kelly: Exactly. I got involved with Blaze Radio at ASU, where I DJed and also worked for their blog. Eventually I became the editor and had more control over what shows I covered.
Mike: Let’s talk about how you transitioned into doing concert and tour photography professionally, as well as photo shoots.
Kelly: It kind of snowballed. I was doing press work and started touring during college breaks. My first tour was with a band I had shot for free years earlier. I also worked with friends' bands and locals. On the side, I practiced portraiture to learn the camera and exposure. Eventually people wanted to pay me for portraits, and I started developing a style. I think I ended up on Warped Tour because Doll Skin hired me for a portrait shoot and liked my energy. That led to Europe and then more touring.
Mike: Do you find photo shoots or concerts more challenging?
Kelly: Concerts are like portraits on hard mode. You have no control over lighting, timing, or subject. Your subject is usually singing—not great for flattering photos. There’s definitely some spray and pray involved.
Mike: Totally. I do a little concert photography on my phone for fun. Once I get the angle I like, it’s just waiting for that moment. And now that iPhones are better, I can actually get decent shots without blur. But I’ve definitely gone through 60 shots just to get 2 usable ones.
Kelly: Absolutely. And artists tend to move in patterns. Even without choreography, you can learn how they perform. That helps when planning shots on tour. Like if there’s a balcony or good drummer access, I can prep where to be at what song for the best shot.
Mike: I’ve played dual roles as a manager and photographer, and I’ve had shows with tiny crowds where I’m like, “Great! More space for content.”
Kelly: Exactly. We call those content days. I can go on stage, use flash, get creative. Even with a small crowd, you can walk away with stunning photos.
Mike: Something I appreciate is when performers engage with the photographer. That makes for some killer shots.
Kelly: 100%. Touring builds that relationship. Artists start looking for you in the crowd, and it just makes the shoot more fun.
Mike: Let’s shift to photo shoots. What are some do’s and don’ts for artists or clients?
Kelly: Most of the work happens before the shoot—location planning, mood boards, visual references. I love when artists have a strong aesthetic or bring inspiration photos. For band shoots, think about how to stagger group members. Even if they can’t articulate it technically, telling me what vibe they want helps a lot. I also show clients photos as we go so they can adjust. It builds confidence and improves results.
Mike: What are common mistakes?
Kelly: Don’t show up in stilettos if we’re trekking through the desert! Bring walking shoes and change on site. Also, bring extra clothes and props. And don’t be afraid to say what you do or don’t like. It helps me make you happy with the final product.
Mike: Have you always had that entrepreneurial drive?
Kelly: Definitely. My parents own a small business, so I grew up around that mindset. I was always making things, selling things, starting projects. I think being from a small Midwest town where opportunities were limited, I learned to create my own.
Mike: That brings us to Plug and Play Jewelry. How did that start?
Kelly: I was working shows constantly and kept losing my earplugs. One week I went to CVS three times for replacements. I remembered a meme of a foam earplug on an earring hook and thought, “What if I made a real version?” I made a rough prototype, wore it to shows, and people started asking for them. Eventually I took jewelry-making classes, made them properly, and sold them at merch tables. Then I realized if I made them customizable, they could be artist merch. That’s when I looked into manufacturing.
Mike: That’s so smart. You found a pain point and turned it into a scalable product.
Kelly: Exactly. Now we have wholesale, a custom jewelry bar at events, and monthly artist collaborations. We let collaborators pick everything—style, plug color, charm. It gives artists something meaningful for fans that promotes hearing protection.
Mike: And you’re normalizing hearing protection in a stylish, fun way.
Kelly: That’s the goal. I want it to be part of your outfit, part of the ritual. It’s a win if someone is excited to wear them because they feel cool, not just because they “should.”
Mike: I couldn’t agree more. Let’s wrap with a few fun questions. What was your first concert?
Kelly: Hawthorne Heights in a church basement! But the one that really started everything was Young the Giant on their Mind Over Matter tour.
Mike: Love it. What are you listening to right now?
Kelly: A lot of early 2000s pop—Kesha, Lady Gaga, Jason Derulo. I’m having a recession pop summer.
Mike: And your one piece of advice for creatives?
Kelly: The only person with you your entire life is you. Make decisions based on what brings you joy. Everyone will have opinions, but you’re the one living with the outcomes. Be proud of your choices.
Mike: I couldn’t agree more. That’s something I try to remind myself every day. You’re absolutely right. Thank you so much, Kelly, for being on the show. I really appreciate it. I wish you the best of luck with Plug and Play—I’m so excited to see where it goes next. And again, congratulations on 10 years.
Kelly: Thank you. That’s so kind of you, and I appreciate the support for Plug and Play and for me. Thanks so much for taking the time to talk today.
Mike: Absolutely.