We recently connected with Nick Gossert and have shared our conversation below.
Nick, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.
The most meaningful part of an artist, even a wrestling promoter, is understanding that all art is political and social. Creating a show with LGBTQ+ stars front and center is a reminder that everyone has a hero in the ring that they can look up to. When the women’s belt is held by a woman who is trans, it sends a very strong social and political message of empowerment; just like when women’s matches are presented in equal number and of equal importance on the card. It is a joy to give people who may never have watched wrestling someone to cheer for.
Nick, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
My name is Nick Gossert, and I am the promoter and booker for Lucha Libre & Laughs, which is a pro wrestling and stand up comedy variety show at the Oriental Theater in Denver, Colorado. The shows feature six wrestling matches, three stand up comedians, and a rotating cast of hilarious comics providing live comedy commentary on the wrestling.
I am intensely proud of giving the audience the very best of local, national, and international stars at every show. It is something special when you know that your show is discussed from London to Tokyo.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
This is a two part answer. Part one is selfish, the other is socially connecting. I love looking at my show and seeing it sell 550 tickets days before showtime. My ego thrives on people lamenting on social media that they didn’t get tickets on time.
But on the other hand, I deeply love the end of the night after a show; standing in the back of the theater and watching the audience slowly filter out. I love seeing them smiling, talking about what they just witnessed. I love when they recognize me and tell me how meaningful the show is to them.
Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
Bigger and better at every turn. It’s hard to say every single time that “this will be the best show ever!”, but I do. It’s either the biggest stars in wrestling (Minoru Suzuki, Dalton Castle, Shotzi Blackheart, Keith Lee) only appearing at LLL when they were/are in Colorado, or making the most explosive matches possible from start to finish once the show begins. We’re approaching our tenth anniversary show in June, and I have not once even considered coasting on past success.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @lucha.libre.laughs
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/LuchaLibreLaughs
- Twitter: @LuchaLibreLaugh
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/luchalibrelaughs
Image Credits
Photos by Geoff Decker at Hidden Vision Photography