We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Sherry and Darryl Wade. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Sherry and Darryl below.
Sherry and Darryl, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. I’m sure there have been days where the challenges of being an artist or creative force you to think about what it would be like to just have a regular job. When’s the last time you felt that way? Did you have any insights from the experience?
Darryl is the true creative in our twosome — he’s the one who writes the scripts and holds the vision for what he wants the shows to be — and he suffers the ups and downs that most creatives suffer. He wonders often whether he’d be happier in a steady office or retail job with regular hours. (I think the answer is no, although being forced to interact with others early in the day would have some advantages for sure.) I worked “regular jobs” for 20 years and feel seriously lucky to have had this “unregular” gig for the past 12. I LOVE it.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
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.
We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?
A lesson I learned — probably from my very hard-working farmer parents — was self reliance. Doubling down and pushing through and doing as much as possible on my own — this was the way to a successful life. My model started crumbling after a while, and the pandemic completely pulled it apart. We made it through because of government programs (“handouts”) and the generosity of others. I’ve realized my dependence on our actors and staff, our landlord and vendors, my partner, our community and guests, and I’ve actually become more peaceful and less driven, and able to be more generous with what I’ve come to realize isn’t entirely mine. It all sounds SO fake and idealistic, and yes, hard work is important to any successful endeavor, but being open to other people and seeing and accepting their gifts — right there may be my number one life lesson.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
I’m going to tell this from Darryl’s perspective, since this article is about both of us! I happen to know — extremely well — that one of his greatest joys is talking to our guests after a show and hearing how much they enjoyed the evening. Sometimes they tell him that being at the theatre meant more to them than he could imagine — they were going through a hard time, such as a relative’s death or a personal illness — and the laughter and comraderie of the evening was such a release from that pain. Writing is often hard and lonely work, and performing is a personal risk, but knowing he is bringing joy and making a difference — that keeps Darryl going.
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