Dig That Gig

With the first Dig that Gig interview under the ol’ RVA belt buckle, let’s now turn our attention to the next subject – Chad Brown – in a continued attempt to explore the wild and wacky side of employment in River City.

Brown, a recent Mass Communications graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University, is known for snatching up the best entertainment tickets around and then jet-setting across the country for hand delivery. As the owner of Plus1Tickets.com, Brown has a knack for locating everything from hard to come by sports to Broadway tickets, and everything in between. When not showing off his entrepreneurial chops (or burning up the local karaoke scene), Brown gives back to Richmond through grassroots initiatives such as the recent "Save the Byrd" fundraiser he helped organize.

Let’s dig into the Chad Brown story to see what makes the creative class in RVA really tick.

So, tell us about your gig – why is it so darn great?

I sell premium tickets to sold out sporting events, concerts, and theatre all across the country. I can take care of tickets to everything from a sold out concert at the National to the Super Bowl or World Series. Essentially, my job is to make sure people have a ticket to that once in a lifetime event that they'd never be able to see otherwise.

And how did you land such a handy dandy job?

To some extent my career began as an accident — I couldn't always attend the concerts I had bought tickets for. So, I started selling those tickets on eBay. Over the seven years I've been doing this, it has slowly snowballed into more of a lifestyle, than a job.

Take us through a day in the life of someone in your position?

The great thing about my job is that no two days are the same; it's always something different. There are days I sit in front of a computer processing orders and taking phone calls all day. There are also days in which I fly to the site of the World Series, meet my customers and make sure they get into the game without any hassle. And then still, there are days that I have to force myself to watch American Idol so I can gauge how popular the corresponding tour is going to be.

What are some of the perks you enjoy that are associated with your gig?

The obvious perks are the experiences that come along with the job. I have access to tickets to just about anything I could possibly want to see in any city across the country. And believe it or not, sitting front row to see an act like Bruce Springsteen is an extremely impressive first date.

Tell us about a time that you asked yourself – seriously, am I really getting paid for this?

The first time I had a "this is really my job" moment was during the Hannah Montana tour of 2007 — the tour you probably heard about on the news because tickets on the secondary market cost buyers thousands of dollars. I traveled to several of the shows to pick up tickets and meet customers, all of which were parents taking their children, mostly screaming 11-year-old girls. When I physically delivered their tickets, about half of the parents I met either teared up or literally bawled in front of me out of sheer joy that they were able to let their kids experience something like this. It was at that moment that I realized that I get paid to make sure people enjoy themselves. Here's the thing, a concert, for the most part, is a once in a lifetime experience. To be able to walk up to a total stranger and give them the key to something they've been wanting for quite some time, is more reward than most people get to feel.

What advice would you give the average Richmonder looking to escape their cubical in favor of working a gig like yours?

If you're tired of the cubical, it's time to get creative. Find a product or service that has a substantial need or want by a group of people. Thinking outside of the box is key because chances are; everything inside the box has already been perfected. Also, if that product or service is something you love, you will clearly have a much easier time making a sale.

Do you dig this gig enough to recommend it to others, and if so — what would you tell Richmond.com readers about taking on a job like yours?

Don't get me wrong, I certainly dig my gig. However, people hear about what I do and want to quit their job on the spot. On the surface, my job combines two of the things people desire most in a line of work: money and glamour. Unfortunately, the jobs that seem glamorous are normally the most stressful. This one is no different. I don't get to leave my problems at the office; work follows me everywhere. So before you let your jaw drop at the fact that I have box seats to the new Yankee stadium, remember that they come at a steep price: I never really get a vacation.

Paul Spicer is a Richmond-based freelance writer and marketing consultant. He has reviewed everything from small batch bourbon to how to dance with your dog. His columns have explored business life in Richmond and entrepreneurship. When not writing, Paul works with local and national businesses to build community around their brand. You can most often find Paul at Ellwood’s Café or on Twitter @paulspicer.