Tell us a little about yourself and your experience.

My name is Parker Shaffer, I’m 25 years old, and I work at The Foundry Concert Club Bar and Grill. Being a 300 capacity venue that also has a full service kitchen gives us a lot of different opportunities most other venues don’t have. If we are not having a show then we open our kitchen on Tuesdays and Wednesdays for a discount taco night and a discount wing night, giving us a good opportunity to raise awareness of the events we’re hosting and meeting new people in our community. I’ve been involved with The Foundry in many different aspects for a little over two years now.

I hold two positions in management currently at The Foundry, Bar Managing and Booking Managing.

Bar managing leaves me responsible for orders throughout the venue for things such as alcohol, food, supplies, as well as scheduling staff with the other manager, Cheryl Bergenstein, based on our attendance for any given night. I work closely with the other management and the owner, Lisa Covelli, to ensure everyone has a pleasant experience when they visit the venue whether it be on a bar night (Taco Tuesday, Wing Wednesday) or if they’re attending a concert.

Managing our booking department I work non-stop with my partner, Bill Zakovec, to schedule events at The Foundry. We focus on bringing Artists on local, regional and national levels to Lakewood on a consistent basis and give them a platform to build their following so that they may grow as well. We also work consistently with other venues and promotion companies in the area such as The Agora and BravoArtist to give them a space for their events.

What drove you to choose your career path?

I’ve always had a background in customer service. I ended up at The Foundry by pure happenstance. I started a small clothing line a couple of years ago with a group of my friends and we hosted an event here before I had developed a relationship with anyone who was already involved with The Foundry. I came in and worked for myself in a concert setting for a night and knew I was hooked. I’ve also had a background in music since I was about 18. I’ve played bass and guitar in different local bands that have played at pretty much every venue in the Northeast Ohio area and I’ve always loved the setting of being at a concert where people go to meet new people and discover new music.

How did you go about getting your job? What kind of experience did you need?

A little over two years ago I hosted an event at The Foundry and got to know the staff and management. I spoke to them about my previous experience and they just so happened to be looking for another bartender. I was hired on to bartend on Wednesdays and occasionally for shows. I still maintained my day job working in Hudson, Ohio and then coming to Lakewood at night because I was so hooked on the bar culture and the vibe.

After a while of bartending and networking in the Lakewood area I got to know the booking staff at the time and I started doing some show flyers and promotions for their events. They then asked me to come on staff and learn the talent buying and production aspects for concerts and events. I spent a couple months working on my own events and networking with different promotion companies from the area to help us fill our calendar monthly.

After a short time I was given the opportunity to manage the bar and manage booking and take on a bigger role at the venue through hosting my own events successfully and making improvements to the venue and bar. I left my day job and started working here full time.

What do you actually spend the majority of your time doing?

I spend a lot of my time just being an ordinary joe. Yeah, my work schedule is crazy and you never know what you’re going to get when you walk through the front door on a day to day basis but I’m just a normal guy. I like to go out and meet new people. Meeting new people, especially in this industry, can lead to many different paths to opportunity and success. I truly enjoy getting to know people, especially like-minded entrepreneurs that I can learn and grow from.

What misconceptions do people often have about your job?

There’s two big misconceptions for me personally.

The younger crowd thinks that the life is glamorous and that you get to be buddy buddy with their idols. I’m not saying that I haven’t been given the opportunity to meet and develop relationships with a lot of people I respect but when it comes down to it we’re all working. The band is here working, I’m here working and as much as I’d love to just hang out with people who write music I love there’s just not enough hours in the day.

The majority of the older crowd thinks this is just a part time gig and it's not a career path. Most of them don't understand how many different people are put into place to make sure that we can operate efficiently and can’t fathom that sometimes I don’t get home from work until 4:30am because they’re already in bed preparing for their 9-5.

What are your average work hours?

I wish I had average work hours. I couldn’t give you an average even if I crunched the numbers. I would say I’m here on a slow week (1-2 Concerts) about 45 hours a week and on a busy week (3-4 Concerts) any where between 60-80 hours. A lot has to be put into place to make sure that we’re prepared for the events that we host and The Foundry is very adamant about treating our artists as best we can so they’re encouraged to keep creating.

What personal tips and shortcuts have made your job easier?

There is always a better way to do your job, you just have to figure it out and always progress. Apart from that I’ve found a lot of knowledge and opportunity in getting to know and listening to other people from the area who have been doing this for longer than I have. Knowledge is power.

What do you do differently from your coworkers or peers in the same profession?

A lot of the venues in the area operate the same way that we do. We’re not a staff, we’re a family. You have to celebrate life with the people around you. You have to have fun or you’ll go crazy. Foundry Pro-Tip: Lisa (Owner) makes us have dance parties when we lock up after an exhausting or stressful night.

What's the worst part of the job and how do you deal with it?

The worst part of my job is actually me. Hahaha. I always want more. I have a huge issue celebrating success and always looking at the future and what I can do better or what we as a venue can do better. I have this “Stay Hungry” mentality that drives me to want that best out of myself and the people around me.

What's the most enjoyable part of the job?

The most enjoyable part of my job is definitely looking around the middle of a concert and seeing people from all different paths of life connected through music and art. We’re creating moments that friends and families will remember forever. Also being a part of such a great community and working with the people I do from other businesses that I am now proud to call my friends. I don’t think any of us have been this optimistic of where our music scene is headed in a very long time. Creating a thriving music community with people I care about is very special to me and something I’ll remember forever.

How do you move up in your field?

Always want to be a better version of yourself. Network and invest your time in others and their goals, learn what they already know and work as a time to achieve success. No goal is too small and no goal is too big but you can't do it alone. You have to have the right team backing you up.

What advice would you give to those aspiring to join your profession?

Get out into the community and network. Find what entices you about the live music industry and find an opportunity. You’ll find what you’re meant for.

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www.foundryconcertclub.com