We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Joe Hoffman. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Joe below.

Joe, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?

Currently, I work as the talent buyer and social media manager at Woods Boss Brewing & The Lodge at Woods Boss.

Having gone to school for Accounting, I had to learn the ins and outs of the music industry almost entirely on my own, with the help of a couple of mentors, of course. I gained a lot of experience in social media and writing while running a website 8 years ago and learned a lot about the events side of the music industry working in hospitality for a promoter in Buffalo and later on for an artist management team for several bands based in Denver. Working for Blackspy Marketing on the side has allowed me further experience on the tour marketing side of things as well.

You need to be quick thinking and able to adapt to changes at any moment to survive in the music industry but I also think compassion is important when working with just about anyone, in any industry.

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

I started working in the music industry in upstate NY at the end of 2015. Initially handling the writing and editing for a dance music-oriented website called Dance and Rave, I also worked in artist hospitality for a local talent buyer. Eventually, I took control of the website for several years, using the platform to interview artists touring the area in addition to events and festivals throughout the East Coast.

My girlfriend and I moved to Denver, CO, from Buffalo, NY, in January of 2018. I joined the Blackspy Marketing team as a street team ambassador a few weeks later, hanging posters around town, before being offered a paid marketing role early that summer. October of that year I was hired by Bear Orange to work on the management team for bands and artists such as Hot Buttered Rum, Kyle Hollingsworth (The String Cheese Incident), Bill Nershi (The String Cheese Incident), Euforquestra, and more, where I worked for two years.

It was during this time I started bartending at Woods Boss Brewing in downtown Denver for extra cash. Once the owners decided to open an event space next door, I was brought on to not only handle the talent buying, social media, marketing, and more for our new venue, The Lodge, but also took over the same roles on the brewery side of things as well. Since then, I’ve had artists such as Tim Carbone (Railroad Earth), Elliott Peck (Midnight North), Jon Wayne and the Pain, Marcus Rezak, Jason Hann (SCI), Graham Good and the Painters, Morsel, Andy Frasco, and many more grace the stage at our intimate, 100 capacity venue.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

Buy pre-sale tickets. Buy merch. Buy CDs, vinyl, whatever. Show your favorite artists you care (music industry or otherwise) directly with your dollars and support so they can continue doing what they do. It is incredibly hard to make it financially, for almost anybody in the arts/entertainment industries, so these things are imperative.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

Providing a space for people to come, enjoy music, let loose, and have a good time while escaping the stresses of everyday life is what really brings me joy working in this role.

Contact Info:

• Website: woodsbossbrewing.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thelodgeatwoodsboss/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thelodgeatwoodsboss