Today we’d like to introduce you to Josh Glasson.
Hi Josh, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
The now current outdoor stage was originally built for the intention of an outdoor covered woodworking area. During Covid restrictions in late 2020 when everything was shut down, there were several musicians who happened see me building the structure on separate occasions.. Each of them suggested that the stage and property would be perfect for live music. Since I didn’t know how long Covid restrictions would last I agreed to use the covered woodworking area also as a stage for live music. In addition to being significantly affected by Covid, our neighborhood also experienced two deaths. One was an overdose and the other a domestic murder. The majority decided that gathering outside for live music would be a safe and fun way to connect with our community and also support musicians who were unable to perform indoors at the time. After applying for and earning several grants, we held our first music festival on Oct 3, 2021. Originally the plan was to host one event every four months. The first event was so fun and successful that we hosted a second music festival the next month in December. The venue now hosts an average of five concerts per month. After Covid restrictions were dropped and several concerts were canceled due to rain, I decided to turn the basement/wood working shop into a furnished dive bar. We also built an adjacent covered deck with viewing windows into the basement to increase audience capacity for the indoor shows. I had no idea how much of an impact the year round venue would have on the community nor how much musicians would genuinely enjoy performing here. It’s a community project that I ended up falling in love with and have become incredibly passionate about. The fact that the volunteers and myself don’t profit from any donations or cover charges from the concerts and that all funds are given to the musicians, shows just how much people genuinely enjoy the live music experience that has been created here.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It has not been a smooth road by any means. After earning grant money the first two and a half years, it’s become more difficult since the venue isn’t an official business or a non profit entity. Another obstacle is due to the fact that Huron Stage is in a residential neighborhood. There was a learning curve for establishing which genres would be acceptable on the outdoor stage since music is in earshot of surrounding neighbors. The consensus was that singer songwriter, folk, jazz, classical, and bluegrass would be acceptable outdoors and that louder genres such as hard rock, metal, and rap would take place indoors regardless of weather. Our last and most difficult challenge was being forced to ban and trespass a trio of people, two of them former volunteers here, for repeated incidents of unwelcome, inappropriate, and aggressive behavior towards other concert guests, volunteers, musicians, and even myself. I decided to get a security camera system because the behavior became unbearable to everyone and some people stopped attending concerts because of them. The decision payed off one concert because a musician who had already performed an opening set reported that two of them got in a fight over the third person which ended in wine being thrown at each other. The camera footage verified the testimony and along with a history of complaints, there was just cause to ban them for good. Since then, the venue has been able to reclaim its original vibe and atmosphere in which the audience is fully engaged and focused on the musicians.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Carpenter/Arborist/Driver/Huron Stage Music Venue Founder & Director
The two things I’m most known for is my hiking feats including through hiking the Appalachian Trail and creating/managing Huron Stage Music Venue. I’m equally proud of both since they are what I’m most passionate about. I would say my mentality and work ethic is what separates me from others.
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
I was very shy around others and struggled academically early on in life. My interests were video games and sports. I eventually found a love for running and improved enough in the classroom to earn a track and cross country scholarship.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://Instagram.com/huronstagemusicvenue/
- Facebook: Huron Stage Music Venue
- Youtube: @Huron_Stage_Music_Venue
- Other: Google Maps > Huron Stage Music Venue
