We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Carly Howard a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Carly, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Do you think your parents have had a meaningful impact on you and your journey?

From letting me grow rice in my closet to buying me my first video editing software, my parents have been supporters of my journey for as long as I can remember. Any time I had a new interest, they would help cultivate it – with one stipulation -I had to stick to it to see it through – even if it meant crying before every softball game. There was no quitting until some sort of completion had occurred.

My dad was at every dress rehearsal for every show to take professional photos. Before editing video could be done on a phone, he bought me Rainbow Runner, a state of the art video editing software and taught me how to use it. He set me up a classroom in the basement when I wanted to be a teacher and built me a balance beam when I was into gymnastics.

When I wanted to pierce my brother’s ears, they provided the safety pin. (Just kidding, I found that on my own while my mom was in the shower). Just seeing if you’re paying attention.

Besides supporting all of my interests, they taught me an invaluable lesson. Be willing to say, “I’m sorry, I was wrong and I will work on ______” As hard as it is to admit when you have done something wrong, I have found that with practice, it gets a little easier every time. When I find this trait in others, I am drawn to them. The willingness to apologize, move the ego out of the way, and admit “hey, I can do better,” is one of the most attractive traits a human can have.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I have my Bachelor’s degree in psychology and education and I taught first grade for one year before moving to New York City to pursue music and theatre. Halloween 2016 was a major turning point for me as I listened to my 6 year old students talk about what they wanted to be when they grew up. I realized I had never gotten to do the thing I wanted to when I grew up – pursue an artistic career.

The next year, I found myself in NYC, trying to carve a path in musical theatre amongst all of the other eager 20 somethings. It took a few years to find my place in a city where it really does feel like anything is possible. I started a theatre company with my then husband and started writing, producing, performing and playing in multiple bands.

Fast forward ten years, pregnant with my first, and in a whole new relationship altogether, I made the trek back to Colorado to have my baby, precious Theodore. After the postpartum shock wore off and with performing and producing still in my blood, my ex-husband and I started planning to have a theatre company again, but this time out in Denver. The theatre company idea shifted into a venue idea which took shape eventually as a bar, now called Enigma Bazaar (named after a song my brother Garrison wrote, who is now our sound engineer).

Enigma Bazaar is a mystical art bar – home to all kinds of live entertainment – theatre, music, magic, comedy, poetry, dance, tarot, astrology, and anything else you can think of! I spend my time divided between home (with a two year old and seven year old) and at the venue, while still trying to carve time for my own music and artistic pursuits. While it is a perk to be a musician and own my own venue, in all transparency, I often find myself self-conscious about playing there. It seems like the perfect marriage of hobby and work, like someone gave me the greatest gift in the world – yet I still am not entirely sure what to do with it.

As we enter into our second year of being open, I am beginning to find more of a place in the artistic side as well as dialing in the event planning. We have something unique going on every night of the week. In some ways, it feels full circle, as if I am planning my first grade lessons, only now I am planning a night of entertainment for almost every day of the year.

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

The War of Art is a must read for all creatives and entrepreneurs. I go back to it almost every year and find a new relatable nugget.

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

Not cancel each other! Allow for discourse about the hard things without jumping to conclusions and judgements. Everyone’s journey matters, even if you might disagree with them.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.enigmabazaar.com (business), www.unnamedmoons.com (music)
• Instagram: @enigmabazaar, @unnamedmoons
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/enigmabazaar, www.facebook.com/carlymusic
• Yelp: Enigma Bazaar