Ty Frazier is an entrepreneur, lighting designer, software developer, high school teacher, and enjoys hosting karaoke.
In 2017, Ty launched a local AV/stage labor company, Backstage Action, giving many stage technicians the opportunity to learn and grow in their field of expertise while earning a livable income to support their families. Backstage Action has been accredited by the Better Business Bureau (BBB), a member of the National Association for Catering and Events (NACE), and The Houston LGBT Chamber of Commerce.
Ty has worked in entertainment production since he was 15 years old. Over the years, he has been a part of many productions with performers and guests such as President George Bush Sr and Jr, Ashanti, Ja Rule, Enrique Iglesias, Pitbull, Beyonce, Jay-Z, Queen Latifah, Ludacris, La Mafia, Jon Bon Jovi, Nene Leakes, Zac Brown Band, Lady Gaga, and many others. He has previously worked on productions including Super Bowl LI, Free Press Summer Fest, Houston Zoo's Feast with the Beast, Freedom over Texas (July 4th), Republican Presidential Debate (Houston 2016) and has stage managed events for The Houston Press for over 10 years. Ty has also designed the lighting for hundreds of theatre productions, many multimillion dollar weddings, and a large number of concerts, galas, and special events.
In addition to entertainment production, Ty also operates a software development company, Tytec LLC. Ty taught himself at the age of 19 to write code, and has since developed and launched a number of software packages designed to help with effective and efficient communication. Ty now operates more than 50 websites mainly focused in small business operation; he most recently launched HoustonTheatreScene.com to help connect Houston Theatres with patrons, actors, and backstage artists. Overall, the software Ty has developed supports about 9,000 daily users and incurs more than one million dollars in total annual processing volume.
Ty has also taken on the role of Technical Director at a local high school for the past 7 years, where he teaches a class of about 20 students and designs, builds, and produces musicals such as Crazy For You, Spamalot, Curtains!, Mary Poppins, and more. He is very proud to say his students received the Tommy Tune Award for "Best Technical Execution" in 2020 and have been previously nominated for "Best Lighting Design," "Best Scenic Design," and "Best Costume Design." Theatre gives students the responsibility of producing a work being viewed by thousands of people each night and being able to watch these students grow, learn, and take on such a role is an amazing journey for Ty each year. "It's amazing to watch them apply their core curriculum skills and knowledge to think outside the box and problem solve throughout the high stress of teching and performing a show. Something breaks on stage during a performance and my students are suddenly ducked underneath a set piece using a drill wrapped in a t-shirt, as a silencer, to fix it before anyone notices or gets hurt."
If you would like to catch Ty on stage you can always find him hosting his award winning karaoke show twice a week at Guava Lamp! Ty has been a host of the show for about 8 years and has received awards for "Personality of the Year" and "Best Local (male) Entertainer of the Year." The show itself has received a number of awards over the years as well including "Best Karaoke Show."
Ty graduated from the University of Houston with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre with an emphasis in Production. Previously, he has led a successful political campaign in 2009, launched a local magazine in 2012, and was a member of Bunnies on the Bayou for five years. During his time with Bunnies on the Bayou he helped to raise more than $830,000 to assist local non-profits support and strengthen important cultural outreach programs, provide critical health care services, and encourage life changing educational opportunities. In 2019, Ty joined the Polar Express team in Galveston, TX; recreating the experience of the Warner Bros. movie and selling over 30,000 tickets in the first year alone.
"If 'all the world's a stage', find your light and stand in it." |
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