We recently connected with Sherry and Darryl Wade and have shared our conversation below.
Sherry and Darryl, 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 Darryl graduated, our college hired him as an admissions counselor and asked him to create a fun event for visiting high school students and families. He came up with an interactive murder mystery evening that was successful enough to catch the eye of some local Atlanta companies. He kept writing and directing comedy mystery shows for companies for years, and when he proposed that we open a comedy mystery theatre in Charleston, SC, I knew that it was a crazy idea for sure and just possibly a very good one. I had been working as a website manager for a marketing company for quite a while, and I have always been happiest when figuring out how to make things work. I thought I could be behind the scenes and help Darryl make the theatre “work” – build it out, furnish it, staff it, and manage it – while he made the most of his creative gifts. I didn’t realize running the theatre would become so meaningful for both of us. We are starting our 12th year in this gig, and our theatre family and the guests who come laugh with us give our lives purpose and connection.
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?
Darryl and I own the Black Fedora Comedy Mystery Theatre, where our audience-interactive comic mysteries run most evenings. Guests can volunteer to play a character or choose to just watch and enjoy appetizers, homemade desserts, and drinks including beer and wine. We opened the theatre 12 years ago with a small business loan, after a couple decades of doing corporate entertainment and video production in Atlanta. We are completely aware that our business works because our friends — the actors and staff running the place — are talented, friendly, funny, and (most importantly) kind people. And our shows are less about us and more about our guests having a fun and joyful experience.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Darryl has a quirky, sincere, and just plain silly humor, a gift for writing that’s meant to be heard, and the ability to engage and direct a roomful of people – all obviously important to our business. I have a willingness to figure out unknowns (Quickbooks! Tax forms! Google ads!) and the perseverance to work through less exciting tasks (baking desserts, ordering inventory). We are a team – it is great to have a business partner you can trust.
Finally, and forgive me for being idealistic – we aspire to live a worthy and actively loving life – although we get it wrong ALL THE TIME. I just don’t know what would feel good about running a business if you didn’t care about the impact it was having on other people. When we started the business, I was all about scrabbling to get it done on my own and to make a living, so I’ve changed as I’ve aged. My advice – grab on to this goal a little earlier and better than I have done, if you can!
What is the number one obstacle or challenge you are currently facing and what are you doing to try to resolve or overcome this challenge?
Our number one obstacle has always been the demons of anxiety and depression. We make it through with a community of supportive friends and family (including our theatre family), good doctors and medicine, and a lot of self-care.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.charlestonmysteries.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blackfedoratheatre/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/charlestonmysteries
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/the-black-fedora-comedy-mystery-theatre-charleston
