SBC Zombie Walk ~ An Interview with Alex Richardson

Back in May, the Marketing Coordinator for Bossier Arts Council, Alexander Richardson, asked if I’d be interested in participating as a vendor in the 2022 SBC Zombie Walk. 

Of course, I accepted the invitation.

I decided October’s Books by Trista posts will all be zombie-themed. I have some pretty good interviews lined up. My first one is, of course, with Alexander Richardson.

Alex, thanks so much for inviting me to join the SBC Zombie Walk festivities and for agreeing to this interview. 

Tell us a little about yourself and Bossier Arts Council.

Alex : The Bossier Arts Council is a local, nonprofit organization that works to cultivate art in our area and grow local artists by giving them opportunities to show their work. We provide programming geared towards supporting local artists and their artwork, as well as educating the public at large about the benefits of having art in your community and in your life in general.

2. How did you become a part of the SBC Zombie Walk?

Alex: I was given the SBC Zombie Walk in 2016 after the original founder, Michelle Diane, could no longer run it due to health reasons. For a couple of years I ran it by myself before bringing it into the BAC fold as part of our quarterly programming. Now it has grown into its new home here in the East Bank District into something even greater.

3. What is the Zombie Walk all about?

Alex: The Zombie Walk is about supporting your community. From its inception it was always meant as a fun, zombie-themed event held in order to raise food donations for the Food Bank of Northwest Louisiana. “Hungry Zombies Feeding the Hungry”. Since then, we have also added LifeShare Blood Center as another mainstay organization, who come out and accept blood donations from attendees dressed up as the Undead. To continue the spirit of giving, each year we bring a third nonprofit to benefit that also influences the theme of that year. We’ve now worked with organizations like the National Multiple Sclerosis Foundation, K-9 Karma, The Fight Like Emily Foundation, The American Heart Association, and now The Council on Alcoholism & Drug Abuse of NWLA.

4. How’d it get started?

Alex: The first Zombie Walk, originally called the Shreveport Zombie Walk before crossing over the Red River, was held in 2008 and organized by a woman named Michelle Diane. She is a die-hard fan of all things spooky and undead and wanted a way to celebrate her love of the season while also giving back to the community. Back then it was a more simple event with people in costumes wandering around Pierremont Mall, enjoying the undead festivities, and bringing food to donate. During her time as the “Zombie Queen”, she hit a milestone one year after managing to raise One Ton of food for the Food Bank during a single event. Despite taking a few years off here and there, the Zombie Walk retained its die hard fan-base with supporters who have attended every single year (such as the current owners of NecroManor Haunted House) and it’s because of that support that it has turned into what it is today.

5. How long does it take to plan an event like this?

Alex: As soon as the Zombie Walk ends, we’re already thinking about ideas for the next year. Admittedly it’s hard to get sponsors excited about a Halloween-themed event in Spring, but the vendors are excited to sign-up the second they’re able to. We usually spend August and September coming up with plans, reaching out to sponsors and vendors, and hyping up our fanbase. I think it’s funny how we typically don’t have much social media activity for 9 months out of the year and then BAM, we burst out of the grave and we’re posting left and right for weeks leading up to the big night!

6. I hear there will also be a dance-off. Tell us about that.

Alex: Our previous Executive Director, Robin Jones, wanted to have a Thriller Dance-Off Competition at the next Zombie Walk so bad after last year’s event. This past July, she had to leave her role as our Executive Director to be with family in Alabama and her biggest request to me was to promise to make the Thriller Dance-Off happen, so that’s what we did! We teamed up with Steven Knight of Knight Life Creative to instruct four classes of Thriller for friends and family to come and learn together. During the Zombie Walk, we will have a Dance Competition with Guest Judges to see who can pull the best “Thriller Moves” and the winner will receive a fun prize basket!

7. What’s your favorite thing about the walk?

Alex: The costumes, hands down. I love seeing the creativity people bring with their zombie getups! The Costume Contest is my favorite part of the night for sure and I love that we get to work with NecroManor Haunted House as our Costume Contest Judges. They know scary costumes!

8. How many vendors and sponsors are participating this year? How does that compare to other years?

Alex: This year we have over 20 Sponsors, which is almost double the amount we had last year! This is also the first time we’ve had the pleasure of working with a big brand like Liquid Death Mountain Water, who has donated $250 worth of their canned water to help keep our attendees healthy and hydrated while also reducing plastic waste. We also have around 30 Vendors, with a good mix of new and returning!

9. What’s your favorite zombie movie? Book?

Alex: My favorite zombie movie is a tie between Shaun of the Dead and Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island. I’m just a huge fan of British, dry humor (my dad is from Manchester, England) and couple that with Edgar Wright’s stylistic editing alongside Sean Pegg and Nick Frost’s acting and writing, well it’s just a winner! That being said though, Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island is quite possibly the best Scooby-Doo movie ever made! The best Scooby-Doo media period. It’s a hard matchup to say the least. As for books, this may be cheating, but I’m particularly a big fan of the Marvel Zombies comic series!

10. I have to agree, Scooby Doo on Zombie Island is awesome. Is there anything else you’d like to tell our readers?

Alex: Thank you to each and every one of you who come out and celebrate our silly little Zombie event! We love putting together because it’s such a community-driven project and the family friendly atmosphere mixed with the celebration of Halloween and all things a little scary has been a great experience each and every year. Please bring plenty of food to donate to the Food Bank, donate to LifeShare and CADA, win cool door prizes from our many sponsors, and come shambel with us down the East Bank District on October 15th!

Thank you again, Alex, for your time. I appreciate it and all you’re doing. 

That’s all for today, dear readers. Mark your calendars for October 15, 4 PM!

I’ll be there with my books, Zombiesaurs, Halloween Night and Other Poems, and The Magic Telescope. Y’all come see us and tell your friends!

Thanks for reading. God bless.

~ T