We recently connected with Michael Carpenter and have shared our conversation below.
Michael, we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.
When I was a young man, my son was born. He was born severely disabled and I was completely unprepared for the lifetime of challenges that I was about to face. For a short time, I let this situation weigh me down and let the fear take control of my choices and actions, but I quickly turned that around and decided that I would provide my son, and myself, with a full life despite the challenges. So, I became an entrepreneur. Given our circumstances, I was unable to find gainful employment that fit our lifestyle and schedule. At first, we struggled, a lot, but after a few years we were doing well. I joined the local Chamber of Commerce, became an active member in the business community and a part of local leadership. After a few years of this, I became more and more aware of the mechanisms that make a community run, and having inside knowledge of things to come, I saw an opportunity….
My business at the time was doing fine, but I was bored and uninspired. I was looking for something more fulfilling and challenging. It seems I have a proclivity for adversity. So, I decided to bring live music and entertainment to Downtown Gastonia. Entertainment was a need that was not being met, and my experience in the past of running bars and restaurants, combined with my connection to the world of the arts gave me a unique ability to do this. I sold my other business and used the money to purchase the building that is now home to The Rooster.
Our mission statement is as follows: It is our mission to provide a platform for local and regional artists to display their gifts in a safe, inviting environment, while offering the people in this community of all demographics a one-of-a-kind entertainment experience this is welcoming, fun and (most importantly) inclusive. It is love that drives this machine. Love of music, love of art, love of community, and love of one another. We seek to celebrate our love for the arts together with our neighbors, and we hope that our message rings true with every show we book.
So, to answer your question, I found purpose in being a beacon of positivity and togetherness for my community…..by providing a place that brings people together.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I’m a husband, a father, an employer, lover of the arts and all things unique. While turning a profit is a priority for me and my business, it is certainly not our main focus. Building relationships with the people and artists we provide opportunity to is by far the most fun and rewarding part of what I do. Not only do we provide opportunities for artists, but we also support other local business owners with our monthly vendor markets and festivals.
While the fear, anxiety and stress of starting a new business and striving to keep the doors open can be tough, crushing even, at times, when we fill this place up with people that are dancing, singing along, smiling and having such a great time, I know that I’ve made the right decision. Making people happy is what we do, and we are really good at it.
Every Wednesday we host an Open Mic that is for all artists. From musicians to singers to comedians, spoken word poets and any other talent one may want to share. Our Open Mic has become a community of people that love and appreciate each other, every Wednesday feel like a family reunion.
Our vendor markets are hosted on the 1st Saturday of every month and provide opportunity for local crafters, artisans, makers and artists to share and sell their work. It also provides our community with a place to find unique, one-of-a-kind products and gifts while supporting their neighbor’s work.
We host a weekly podcast called Rooster Radio. On the show, we interview local artists, business owners and leaders of the community in an effort to shine a spotlight on those we believe are doing great work in the community or to promote bands/artists that will be performing here in the near future.
Lastly, our concerts are amazing. Since we are a smaller venue, every show has this intimate feeling that allows everyone to be up close and personal with the entertainers while still feeling like a big show because of our professional set up on stage.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Experience running bars/restaurants in the past was probably the most important skill I had coming in to this. Knowing what to do and what not to do when it comes to food and alcohol sales and management, as well as knowing how to keep people safe and keeping a keen eye on customer service.
My love and passion for music and the arts is the driving force that has kept me pushing through it all. I found a way to do something I love and get paid for it, that is the dream, right? Being so passionate about music and art allows me to relate to everyone I work with.
Having realistic goals and world view would be the 3rd thing here. It’s easy to let your dreams run wild, but being able to reign that in and have realistic expectations and goals helps to guide you in the right direction. Then, as you start to achieve the smaller goals, you can expand on them and make bigger goals. One thing I say all the time is “one foot in front of the other” that is how I deal with the good and the bad.
Is there a particular challenge you are currently facing?
The most difficult challenge I face is getting people to show up for shows. We have had many nights with a mostly empty room, and that is very difficult to deal with. Trial and error is literally what has guided me in my decision making for booking shows. The conclusion I have come to is that it is my responsibility to give the people in this community something worth coming out to. So I have gotten much more selective with my booking and while we still fall short sometimes, we try to learn from the failures and build upon the successes.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://theroostergastonia.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theroostergastonia/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theroostergastonia/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCixuFiqZTKFK9XCv8t8fm9w
Image Credits
Nelson Stegall Photography
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
