In this inquisitive Q&A series, meet Jeffery Kin, executive director and founder of Sarasota Rising and The Living Arts Festival Sarasota, a nonprofit organization with a vision to create a viable, sustainable and unified annual arts-centric festival, along with other supporting events, to highlight and uplift our region’s extensive cultural legacy, arts organizations and economic partners.

A recent day in your life.
I rise at the crack of 9am. (Sorry, my body is best suited to live theater and morning ANYTHING has always been rough on me!) Some apple juice to get the blood sugar going and a little trip to the yard to check on the weather and my plants. I hit the office at 10am and usually have a lunch or tea meeting planned almost every day.  I’ve been ‘dating’ our arts community now for two years and lunches and teas are the way to get things done. I get a bunch of planning and emails done in the office til 6 or 7pm and then hit a show, or an event or something to help elevate our arts organizations.  Why wait for this coming November for us to celebrate the arts community—let’s start this RISING movement now!

Your favorite virtue is . . . Not sure it’s a virtue, but I love anyone who can admit they made a mistake.  If you can be bold enough to mess up and admit it, you are okay in my book.

When you were a kid you dreamed of  . . .  Getting off the farm.  And now, 50 years later, that simple farm life is looking pretty darn good!

Your guilty pleasure  . . .  If I can have a delicious black tea, a little honey and get some fresh air, I’m happy!

Thought you had driving to work this morning . . . Why do some people actually look like the car they drive?

For what fault have you been the most tolerant? I can tolerate someone who just doesn’t know any better. For some, it’s simply the lack of knowledge—a person doesn’t know what they don’t know!

Your favorite villains in fiction. I am not fond of conflict so I don’t relish or enjoy villains. I would be very happy without conflict—a world without villains sure would be nice! 

My last supper would include . . . Homemade drop biscuits and beef gravy.  It was my favorite as a kid, my mom made the best but now my family still makes it for me and it's always a treat.  I would be content if this was my last meal—just the aroma brings in all of those wonderful memories.

Word you use too often  . . . Awesome! 

Your favorite music artists . . . Annie Lennox has been my shining light for 40 years … I feel she sings the soundtrack of my life.  The deep base thumping intro to Sweet Dreams is like heaven.

With two more hours in the day, I would  . . .  get back to writing plays.

If you could undo one invention in the world, what would it be?  Plastic.

What was the funniest thing you remember doing as a kid?  I drove a tractor right into our hog house.  I was sure I was going to get killed—I was confused when everyone just chased pigs and laughed!

Would you rather have a rewind button or a pause button in your life? Both! I would use the rewind button just one time, and the pause button daily.

If you had your own talk show, who would your first three guests be? 
Ryan Reynolds—he’s funny.  Neil deGrasse Tyson—he’s smart.  Annie Lennox—she’s incredible.

What is the scariest thing you’ve ever done?  I have literally jumped out of an airplane and skydived all on my own—and that was easier than walking into my Dad’s hospital room knowing that he was not going to pull through.

Your favorite food of the moment is . . .   Coxinha de Galinha, it’s Brazilian . . . and yummy.

Which cartoon character best represents your personal philosophy?  Well, I have a feeling Rabbit from Winnie The Pooh on most days, and Eeyore on the rough days.

If you had to wear a T-shirt with one word on it, what would it be?  If the word was on the front?  Hello!  If the word was on the back of the shirt?  Peace.