We had the good fortune of connecting with Robert Kowal and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Robert, how do you think about risk?
You fail at everything you do not try. I was on one path in life which was extremely convention al at one point. I had a cathartic experience that changed my perspective and put me on a far more esoteric path. Once I started following my heart and betting on myself, my life unfolded in a beautiful way. That doesn’t mean it was ever ever easy, and I certainly failed and fell many times. But when you bet on yourself and fail at least you gave yourself that most precious gift, agency.

As a concert promoter for 20+ years I grew accustom to the huge financial risks that that profession entailed. It was high-stakes gambling on music and it certainly wasn’t for the feint of heart. I took my biggest hits on my most beloved acts, James Brown and Aretha Franklin. Heartbreaking, lifeshaking financial hits. But that is part of betting on yourself and your passion.

In the past 5-10 years as I have become a husband and father of two I have had to reign in my risk-taking since the consequences now befall my loved ones as well. I also wanted to be responsible to my found-family, my coworkers at HUSHconcerts, who depend on my good judgement for their livelihood as well. So this is a big part of us transforming our business towards more of a bespoke production service vendor & headphone rental operation. I still get my wild hairs (Ghost Palace 2023) and still work with my legendary friends (Rebirth Brass Band, DJ Icey for instance) but the bread and butter is a lot less risky.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
HUSHconcerts is our name and headphones are our game. Since I was America’s first Silent Disco DJ at (2005 at Bonnaroo) I have been obsessed with using new ways to create events, typically using wireless headphones but additionally through drive ins, art-driven immersion etc. Today HUSHconcerts is best known as a silent disco vendor (Coachella, Electric Forest, Bottlerock for instance) and a silent conference innovator (with brands like Google, Oracle, Walmart and Gartner).

Our basic mission is to help you when someone says ‘you can’t do that there…’. Call us up and we will show you how.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
This is tough for me. I lived in New Orleans and Austin in the 90’s. So much has changed. I spent 25 years in San Francisco and left in 2022 as… (sigh) again so much had changed.

NOW I live in Falmouth, Ma on the south part of Cape Cod. It’s nowhere near as exciting but pretty satisfying for me. Here’s a lowdown.

Among the things we would be certain to do:
• Thursday night dollar oysters at Coonamessett Inn. Just incredible East Coast oysters at a price anyone can stomach. Also some killer wings.
• Friday: Walk of Bike the ‘Shining Sea’ Bikepath from near my housei n East Falmouth, all the way to the end in Woods Hole. This was my mom’s favorite place in the world and there isn’t really a more beautiful path you can walk in the USA. We would then…
• Hop on the Ferry to Martha’s Vineyard. Bike or bus across the island to Menemsha. get some seafood at the fish market and kick it on the beach for sunset. Maybe surfcast for Blues off the pier as well. We’d then catch the late Ferry back to sleep.
• Back in Falmouth for Saturday the weekend I’d take you to our secret spot in the marshes of Waquoit Bay where I’d teach you how to rake Quohogs and Cherrystones. We’d enjoy a swim in the tide, a walk over the dunes to South Cape Beach then head back to my house where we’d enjoy the clams. I like to grill them on my firepit or make chowder but my kids love Clam Pasta with garlic & parsley and white wine. Its about the best thing ever.
• Then we would kick it by my fire pit for some drinks and maybe a song or two.
• Sunday I’d take you to another local gem called Woodneck beach which fronts the ocean but has a big salt marsh behind. You can explore the marsh with kids for crabs and such, or swim the ocean. The best is to ride the tide out to sea between. It’s like a ‘Lazy River’ but 100% natural and often not so ‘lazy’.

That’s MY Cape Cod.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I’d like to shout out the City of New Orleans where I spent my most formative years. In that time I found my mind and soul primarily due to the following:

Dr. Kenneth W. Harl of Tulane University. Dr Harl was my academic advisor and one of the most renowned history professors in the United States. When you look up ‘The Great Courses’ it’s HIS lectures on Ancient Near East. He was the first teacher to really believe in me and recognize my weird perspective and encourage me to tap into it and express it through writing. It was through his inspiration that I found myself as a thoughtful human being.

Rebirth Brass Band – As a very conventional nerdy northeastern whiteboy, moving to New Orleans was a huge culture shock. Finding Rebirth and their inclusive dancefloor was a revelation. I LEARNED to dance at the Maple Leaf during Rebirth shows in the 90’s (which is why I still dance so weird… who else ‘second lines’ at an EDM club?). Rebirth’s music helped me bridge the gap between a classical music upbringing and the funk that would become my life as a DJ, promoter and producer.

Website: www.hushconcerts.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/hushconcerts

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robbie-kowal-1969076/

Twitter: @moporobbie

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/robbiekowal

Other: www.soundcloud.com/mopo for my live DJ sets throughout the years.

Image Credits
Credit all photos Courtesy of MamaLayla LLC

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