Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
iHeart Media Presents CEOs. You should know Ben Austen is
founder and CEO of Loose End's Entertainment. Welcome to CEOs
you should know Ben.
Speaker 2 (00:09):
Hey, thank you for having me. I really appreciate you guys.
Speaker 1 (00:11):
Yeah, well, thanks for joining us today. So please explain
to our listeners what it is that Loose Ends Entertainment does.
Speaker 2 (00:18):
Yeah, so we are a group here and what I
like to tell people we can focus on, you know,
exactly what our our product is, but but what essentially
I like to think of it as as we're in
the business of community. So we like to bring people
together through music, art and tech. Those are our three
(00:40):
pillars we work through. Basically producing new and unique experiences
to Charleston, trying to gather like minded people together in
the in these creative fields, getting them into one place
that otherwise they wouldn't be in together at least, so
bring in people together. Creating community is essentially the backbone
(01:03):
of what we do. But you know, on a surface level,
we're creating experiences through underutilized spaces, providing house music and
so how we do that is through you know, local
and regional artists, but transforming these underutilized spaces and providing
(01:27):
a new experience for people in Charleston that that might
resemble something out of Miami, LA, or you know internationally.
Speaker 1 (01:37):
Sure, now, you've been involved in plenty of projects already
in the Charleston area. You know, you just started in
twenty twenty three, right, correct, And there's some there's some
projects that I'm sure people would recognize that you've already
been involved with here in the area.
Speaker 2 (01:52):
Yeah. So we started last year, launched with High Tide
Music Festival. We did the opening party the night before
the festival twenty twenty three, and then we kind of
had to gather what would work for the Charleston market.
So with our vision, we kind of came to terms
(02:13):
with a restaurant formerly known as Neon Tiger, which is
recently closed down. So we were able to transform that
into a club experience once a month, and that kind
of gave us some shoes to walk on in Charleston,
which has been really nice. It's been very receptive.
Speaker 1 (02:30):
Well, I love the fact that you're using those underutilized
spaces and kind of the for lack of a better description,
maybe you have one, you know, that kind of pop
up experience.
Speaker 2 (02:41):
Yeah. So we're currently partnered with a few venues right now,
we're working with multiple spaces at the Refinery.
Speaker 1 (02:49):
How was there a weekend before last?
Speaker 2 (02:52):
Oh? Yeah, yeah, I mean it's a great space. They
have a lot going on over there. Everyone's great. So
it's a pleasure to work with them and you know,
create with them. Really it's been it's been an amazing
experience with them.
Speaker 1 (03:04):
Now, new technology has been a game changer. How has
the entertainment industry changed over the last few years, have
you found?
Speaker 2 (03:12):
Yeah, So what we're seeing more now with with kind
of the things that we're doing and live music experiences
is you know, we're incorporating a lot of visual aspects,
so you know, not only just you know, projections or lighting,
all of like the stage design and that kind of stuff.
(03:34):
You're pulling in decor and creating new experiences through basically
creating an entirely new space out of something that wasn't there.
So we'd like to look for those blank canvases to
that really tell our story and how we can transform
something into a new and unique experience and.
Speaker 1 (03:54):
It creates a rather immersive experience.
Speaker 2 (03:57):
Right Yeah, Yeah, I mean the whole idea is creating
something that's going to connect people. So whether it be
you know, the decor brings you a little bit closer
in your creative side or your esthetic. But you know,
having all of these things come together while the music's
playing and you know the right people are there, it
(04:19):
allows you to connect to the people and the music
and ultimately yourself. So that's kind of what we're striving
to create here now.
Speaker 1 (04:28):
There's so many challenges that startups face, and some of
them are foreseen and some of them come as a surprise.
What are some of the hurdles that you had overcome
when you were launching Loose Sunds.
Speaker 2 (04:41):
Well, it was really just figuring out what would work
while trying to maintain our sense of uh, you know, uniqueness,
or just trying to strive to be different.
Speaker 1 (04:55):
You know.
Speaker 2 (04:55):
I My my thing was, you know, I had this
vision and I wanted to make sure that the people
around me shared the same vision. So I think that's
that's imperative when you're creating a new project. You need
to be surrounded by like minded people, you know, nonetheless,
but everyone needs to be on the same page with
(05:16):
where you're going, or else you're going to have somebody
saying you know, this, that, and the other. We should
be doing it this way, you know what I mean.
So having a team around me that's supportive and our
community that's been extremely receptive, that goes a long way.
Speaker 1 (05:33):
Yeah, they need to share your vision and they also
need to always put it this way. They need to
be able to tell the story too.
Speaker 2 (05:39):
Right, Yeah. Correct. I mean a lot of the folks
in our community, it's it's not superficial, it's real. So
for them to legitimately bond with the experiences that we create,
and you know, the people that it attracts, you know,
it helps us continue to do This's that's our bread
(06:01):
and butter. Is community really?
Speaker 1 (06:02):
Now, what motivated you to choose Charleston? Do you think
that the vibes here is different than other places?
Speaker 2 (06:08):
I saw a serious void in house music specifically, but
events in general. I just saw this void that I think,
you know, we needed it. I think somebody needed something
else going on here. I think a lot of people
are looking for something new and exciting because they're tired
of doing the same old thing. And you know, no
(06:33):
disrespect anyone else doing events. I just think you can
kind of get caught up and doing the same thing
over and over, and I think we just wanted to
offer something, you know, new and exciting.
Speaker 1 (06:43):
Well, and there's a lesson for other entrepreneurs, right is
you have to find a need or create a need,
and you have to find that hole in the market, right.
Speaker 2 (06:55):
Yeah, yeah, so, you know, and I think selfishly it
was out of of you know, I just wanted I
just wanted better house music for myself, and so we've
had to create, you know, the events that we want
to have, you know that, you know, we travel to
go to and and that sort of thing. So we
were selfishly creating this thing, you know, so that we
(07:17):
had something to do here.
Speaker 1 (07:18):
Well, I mean, I love to hear you say that,
because that's one of the things I used to say.
You know, I was a program director for a long time,
and you have to nurture talent. Sure, and one of
the things that I always told them was start with
yourself and entertain yourself and do it for you and
that will convey to your audience. Yeah, exactly.
Speaker 2 (07:38):
I mean it's essentially it's it's us just sticking to
our guns. We know what we like, we know what
we want. So it was a matter of you know,
finding the right people that aligned with that, that could
help move this thing in the right direction and make
it sustainable.
Speaker 1 (07:54):
Now you already kind of touched on it, But if
you had to put it in a nutshell, what's the
philosophy that drives you? Oh?
Speaker 2 (08:00):
Man, Well, you know, I can. I've thought about this
for a long time and I think I keep coming
back to it. I can't really get away from it.
It's the North Carolina motto. It's essa kwam videri, which
means to be rather than to seem. I kind of
grew up around this through my brother. He kept bringing
(08:22):
it up, but it's really stuck with me in this
process of building a brand, and I think to be
as authentic and genuine as you can and express that
through your business or professional life and your brand specifically,
I think that takes you a long way, and I
think it's it's received well. So I think just trying
(08:43):
to be as authentic and genuine as I can rather
than kind of imposing or or being an impostor of
something else. I just want to be as real as
I can. So that's what we try to deliver. And
surround yourself with the same people. That's kind of where
it's kind of where I find my motivation to keep
on keeping on.
Speaker 1 (09:03):
Now, were there any people in your life, you know,
influences that were key to set you on your current path.
Speaker 2 (09:10):
Yeah, so, you know one of my best friends, Edward Holt,
starting back up High Tide Music Festival here in twenty twenty.
You know, he's kind of brought me back into the
music industry, which I got out of for quite a
little bit of time six seven years, so kind of
kind of sparked my motivation to get back into it.
(09:32):
And then you know the people I've met along the way.
You know here there a couple guys from Charlotte and
you know, my team now, they've really kind of set
me in my way where I know we can do
this and I got the right people around me.
Speaker 1 (09:47):
So, now you said you were in the music industry,
So in what aspect.
Speaker 2 (09:51):
My first job? Essentially, I did the same thing in
high school. When I was about sixteen, we started a
companied doing DJed events where we were taking over spaces
or venues in Raleigh, North Carolina, and we were able
to do the same exact thing, so great new experiences.
(10:13):
I myself DJ, so I was I was able to
kind of progress there stage design, uh, sound design, marketing,
the whole thing. So I was able to get through
high school doing doing a lot of similar stuff i'm
doing now.
Speaker 1 (10:29):
Well that's really cool. Now, not to get too much
into your personal business, but this is more for guidance
for you know, aspiring entrepreneurs. Sure did you did you
grow this organically or did you have to go find funding?
Speaker 2 (10:45):
No? This has been uh, this has been all organic. Yeah,
And that was that was my that was my thought
from the start. I wanted people to be there that
wanted to be there. I didn't want to pay for
a bunch of marketing, and I got the right people
around me to where we can pretty much handle everything,
you know, given we don't we all have day jobs
in nine to five, so it's it's difficult. But I
(11:09):
wanted this to become something that people look for and
people want to be at. So I didn't originally take
on any funding for in terms of like, you know,
large scale growth. You know, we did a little bit
of you know, Instagram ads or whatever, but ultimately no,
(11:30):
it's just been word of mouth and building a community.
Speaker 1 (11:33):
Now, do you have any plans to expand outside of Charleston.
Speaker 2 (11:37):
We have essentially right now, we're looking at just other
communities that are doing this outside of Charleston and and
working with them. I think the easiest way to express
this is like an artist's share. So you know, we
bring some artists up from here, there, wherever, and then
they'll bring one of us out there. We'll do a
(11:59):
collab event somewhere else. But ultimately, collaborations are the name
of the game. So as long as we're collaborating with
the right people with the same vision, then you know,
we can kind of work in different cities. But you know,
that's kind of the thing too, is we don't want
to step into another city where something else is going
on and step on someone's toes. Also, we don't have
(12:22):
you know, the draw or the community in those cities.
So this allows us to kind of expand our reach
and at the same time make new friends and continue
to do.
Speaker 1 (12:32):
What we do. Yeah, and have fun. Yeah exactly. Yeah.
And I was thinking, when you know, not only step
on somebody's toes, but sometimes you know, you create something
special and then you try to replicate it, and that's
that specialness gets lost in the in the replication.
Speaker 2 (12:48):
Yeah, exactly, I think that's what drives our our new
concepts and events, is you know, we're trying to do
this all from scratch and bring something completely unique and
new without replicating someone else. I think that's what sets
us apart. And I think you know, offering a wow
(13:09):
factor for everything that we do is what we're known for.
So you know, we'll continue to do that. But if
we get to do the same thing in another city
collaborating with people that are on the same path, then
you know, that's that's kind of how we can do it.
It's collaborations.
Speaker 1 (13:25):
Now, if people want to follow you and find out
about any upcoming events that you have planned, where should
they go?
Speaker 2 (13:31):
Yeah? Right now, we're just operating off of Instagram, so
you can find us. Our tag is we are loose Ends.
You can kind of keep up with us there. If
you hit the link in our bio, it'll take you
two exclusive access sign ups so you can get text messages.
As soon as we have a new event, you guys
would be the first to know and then we'll release
(13:52):
it to the public later. So we kind of give
our community first DIBs on what we do, and it
keeps things keeps things tight. Knit.
Speaker 1 (14:00):
Yeah, that's really cool. And I mean, and look at
how social media has played a role in what you're
able to do now. I mean in the old days,
you know you wanted to throw you know, a party
or a rave, or or you were a band and
wanting people to come to your show or whatever the
case might be. I mean you had to get out
there and hang flyers around town on telephone polls and
(14:20):
pass about it all.
Speaker 2 (14:21):
Yeah. I mean I've been there, done that too.
Speaker 3 (14:24):
I mean that's fun. Yeah, it can be fun, really,
it can be fun. But I mean it just shows
like how greater a reach you have now within that
goes back to the technology with you know, with social
media and these platforms that are out there, just how
powerful they can be if you use them in the
right manner.
Speaker 2 (14:43):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (14:43):
Absolutely, So give your handle one more time on Instagram.
Speaker 2 (14:47):
It's we are Loose Ends.
Speaker 1 (14:50):
Ben Austin, Founder and CEO of Loose Ends Entertainment. I
appreciate you taking the time to talk to us today
and thanks for coming by and good luck.
Speaker 2 (14:59):
Absolutely, thank you, thank you so much. We really appreciate
it and hope to see you out there.
Speaker 1 (15:02):
You've been listening to iHeart Radio CEOs you should know,
heard every Tuesday and Saturday morning right here on this
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