How Sam Timmerman Creates Space for Creatives at the Melody Room

By day, Sam Timmerman serves as a behavior technician supervisor at The Arc of the Ozarks, where he manages care plans, oversees financial responsibilities and leads a team supporting individuals with intellectual disabilities. But after hours, he’s building something entirely different—a grassroots venture that’s beginning to make waves in Springfield’s creative economy.

In 2022, Timmerman founded The Melody Room, a live event platform that offers space for music, spoken word and performance art. The Melody Room has become a hub for underrepresented voices—and a growing business with big potential.

“Early in my music career, I was turned away by local venues for being a ‘no name,’” Timmerman says. “That experience lit a fire in me to create something that would give others a chance to be heard.”

What started as a passion project quickly evolved into a small operation with structure and strategy. The Melody Room now hosts open mic nights, poetry events and curated shows—many of which are at or near audience capacity. Timmerman manages bookings, handles artist outreach and coordinates logistics, all while working full time. “It’s not a hobby, it’s a business,” Timmerman says. “But more importantly, it’s a business with a mission.”

And that mission has traction. In its first three years, The Melody Room has grown from a grassroots idea into a respected platform for emerging talent—earning a strong local following and providing meaningful performance opportunities for creatives who often don’t get the spotlight. One standout moment came when local poet Emili German performed a tribute piece at an open mic night. The audience responded with a standing ovation—and that night, she sold out her debut book.

Stories like that drive Timmerman’s vision. He sees The Melody Room not just as a cultural space, but as a long-term investment in Springfield’s creative economy. The next phase: securing a permanent venue, expanding programming and launching paid workshops and community partnerships.

“There’s real potential for economic and social return here,” Timmerman says. “We’re creating a platform that develops talent, fosters connection and adds vibrancy to our city.”

For now, he continues balancing both of his roles with a long view on turning The Melody Room into a full-time, self-sustaining enterprise. “The groundwork is in place,” he says. “Now it’s about scaling with purpose.”