Arts Orbit

Q: Who IS that? A: Sarah Moeding, doing jobs that aren’t jobs

Name: Sarah Moeding
Twitter: @smoeding. “I Tweet in epileptic fits, completely forgetting it for like four days, then tweeting twenty times a day for two. I can be relied upon to overshare about my sex life, current state of heartbreak, cats, whatever I’m making for dinner, and my love of alt-country musician Robert Ellis.”
Website: ”My Tumblr is woefully neglected and brazenly NSFW since I discovered the perfect pervy Jewish boy next door, porn star James Deen. Updating with greater frequency is on the docket for the coming weeks, probably with even more James Deen GIFs.”

What’s your job?
“I’ve done a pretty good job the last few years of having jobs that aren’t really jobs; low pressure to perform is ideal. I’m an ‘artist,’ so I don’t really anticipate ever making money doing something I love. I usually work through a temp agency, getting placed in office settings where mostly I get to make my coworkers LOL, handle tasks at my own pace, and eat leftover catering all the damn day.”

Other than your job, what are your claims to fame?
“The past year, I think people have known me mostly for my work as the executive producer of the Twin Cities ‘chapter’ of the Literary Death Match. It’s an event that takes place in nearly 40 cities worldwide, and is doing great things for the taking the lame out of what people normally associate with a literary event. Our last one on March 1—we do it every four months, with the next one June 6th at the Nomad—had a finale involving throwing cupcakes at a giant poster of Neil Gaiman. This fall I’ll start producing one in New Orleans as well, as I’m moving down there in October. Otherwise, I’ve been working as a freelance writer for Vita.mn since 2007, so I’m as involved in the arts and entertainment scenes here as my time will allow; it’s a LOT of work to keep on top of all the amazing music, literary and art events here in the Cities. Also, I’m a musician, and my newest project, The Deceitful Lapwings, will be having our debut show April 28th at the Amsterdam in St. Paul. It’s El Le Faunt’s vinyl release show, with Venus De Mars and All The Pretty Horses headlining. We’re also having burlesque dancers between bands, and a number of other visual elements. It should be a beautiful, memorable mess of artistry.” 

What’s your relationship status?
“Currently nursing a particularly raw heartbreak, unfortunately. But the clouds are starting to break with the arrival of spring, thankfully.”

Where are you most likely to be seen?
“I’ve been in hibernation mostly since October due to the hours I’ve had at my temp job—not to mention the busted heart—but I’ve negotiated a later start time at work and will happily be showing my face at Muddy Waters, Cause, the 331, and Clubhouse Jäger’s Transmission on the regular yet again. Summertime also means long hours at not-so-Hidden Beach and Caffetto, and when I want to hide from my peers for a hella cheap drink, I dip into Jimmy’s or Mayslack’s in Northeast.”

Where are you least likely to be seen?
“Grumpy’s makes me grumpy.”

With whom are you most likely to be seen?
“Because I go to so many shows/events, I tend to roll solo so I don’t have to be responsible for someone if they’re being a petulant brat about some of the weirder shit I get into, and there are also always people I know out and about, so I don’t feel awkward about doing things on my own schedule. But when I go out on the town with friends, my partners in crime are usually Mister Toneski Love and/or Ms. Kat Kluegel, who are brilliant, completely unoffendable, and delightfully acerbic, the both of them.”

Where were you born?
“I was born in a wee town in South Dakota called Yankton, but never lived there. I spent my formative years moving every couple of years all over eastern South Dakota and southwest Minnesota. Minneapolis is the place I’ve spent the most time in, a decade as of May 27th. Which is why it’s time for me to move on to New Orleans…but, I will be returning here regularly to continue producing Literary Death Match, so you won’t be rid of me, probably ever. Besides, summers in Minneapolis are too damned good.”

What neighborhood do you live in now?
”The Old Highland neighborhood in North Minneapolis. It’s the best place I’ve lived in the cities, just a stone’s throw above downtown, west of 94. Quiet, safe neighborhood with a lot of interesting folks, street parking so good I’ve never not parked directly in front of my house, and proximity to everywhere I want to go in 20 minutes or less.”

What’s your ride?
“I’m limping along with a 2004 Dodge Stratus that’s never caused me a bit of trouble, but can’t really keep truckin’ for too much longer without a major overhaul. I’m gonna sell her soon and take to my Kona Smoke for the summer, getting a 1993 Toyota Tacoma sometime shortly before I head to New Orleans, because I figure if a vehicle’s good enough for your average third-world guerilla uprising, it’s good enough for me.”

What’s the best way for someone to start a conversation with you?
“I wear a black blazer covered in buttons about 90% of the time I’m out of the house. Most of those buttons are for local bands and organisations, one of them is a brooch I made out of mink bones—I make them on commission, for anyone interested! If you can approach me and not make some Office-Space-oriented crack about ‘pieces of flair’ and take genuine interest in them, that’s a fine way to break the ice. “

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