Conversations with Rachel Hunt

Today we’d like to introduce you to Rachel Hunt.

Hi Rachel, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I went to Case Western Reserve University using the best coupon I’ve ever received with pretty much one goal outside of graduating on time- to be a DJ on their college radio station, WRUW-FM 91.1 Cleveland. In 2011, I had an opportunity to take over “Live From Cleveland,” the radio show that I’d been an assistant programmer on two years before with my friend Nick. I was 20 years old and booking a different band every week, to play a 45-minute set on-air. I served as PR Director while a student, and then in 2012 when I graduated, I took on the role of Promotions Director, a volunteer position able to be fulfilled by a community member or recent graduate.

Around 2015, I got an email from Grog Shop asking me if I wanted to come in and talk about working for them. They were aware of my show on WRUW, that I was helping book shows at a number of different venues around town, and I’d also started DJing at other concert clubs. They wanted to see if I could help them fill out their calendar. After talking to Kathy, John, and Brittany, I think they realized that I could do a lot more than just booking, so I started working two days a week in the office writing social media posts, press releases, reaching out to promotional partners, and hanging up flyers all over the city.

In 2020, the pandemic effectively shutdown every type of job I’d ever had- music venues, hospitality, retail. I took my goverment-funded sabbatical, but started to panic when the New Year rolled around that I’d be kicked off of unemployment before the independent live event industry could bounce back. I started working at a boutique marketing firm in Cleveland and was there for a year and a half before I was summoned back to service at Grog Shop by Kathy Blackman, our owner, as well as my own rock n’ roll spirit and a competitive offer for a full-time position. I am an industry-lifer and I can’t imagine where I’d be without the music. I’m still co-host and the main booker for “Live From Cleveland” almost 15 years later.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I think most of my twenties were a struggle: juggling multiple jobs to make the equivalent of full-time, learning with a lot of trial and error to say “no” to doing labor for free and often getting taken advantage of as a freelance worker. Even though 2020 was a scary time for my industry, I hope that we all learned something from it- I know I did. I learned the value of my time and how to ask for what I deserve. I also got to refocus on what is important to me careerwise and reaffirm that the marketing skills I’d spent the last 4-5 years on the job learning were universal and could be applied to pretty much any other business or non-profit; I’d just been using them for a 400-capacity, independent venue.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am the Marketing Director at Grog Shop a 32-year old, 400-capacity, independent music venue located on Coventry Road in Cleveland Heights. Recently someone wrote a really nice summary of my work life and I am going to copy and paste that here:

“Rachel Hunt is a dynamic force in Cleveland’s music scene, seamlessly blending roles as a radio DJ, event promoter, and marketing professional. With over a decade of experience, she has cultivated a vibrant presence in the city’s cultural landscape. As Marketing Director at the Grog Shop, one of Cleveland’s premier music venues, Rachel orchestrates a diverse array of events, showcasing both emerging and established artists. Her keen eye for talent and deep understanding of audience engagement have been instrumental in the venue’s continued success. Beyond her work at the Grog Shop, Rachel is a passionate radio DJ at WRUW-FM 91.1, where she hosts shows like “Live from Cleveland” and “Guilty Pleasures,” spotlighting local musicians and fostering community connections through music.”

I am really good at digital marketing for performing artists, venue management, and event coordination. I am most proud that I am able to work with the National Independent Venue Foundation, Baldwin Wallace University, and one-on-one with local and national bands and their management to teach others how to also be successful at doing what I do.

What sets me apart from others is the sheer number of special events that I am a part of. I don’t stop moving but I will get back to your emails in a timely manner. I’m a networker by nature and I’m always willing to help connect the dots for Cleveland creatives to find one another.

Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
There are so many great independent venues and college radio stations in the Greater Cleveland area and I encourage you to check out all of them!

College stations: WRUW-FM, WCSB-FM, WBWC-FM, WJCU-FM, WOBC-FM
Independent venues: Grog Shop, Beachland Ballroom, Happy Dog, No Class, Little Rose Tavern, The Foundry Concert Club, Mercury Music Lounge, The Winchester, Music Box, Mahall’s, The Treelawn… I am sure there are ones I’m forgetting and plenty that are no longer with us (RIP Pat’s In The Flats) but those are a few of my favorites. Many are women-owned and I’ve booked shows at all of ’em.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://grogshop.gs/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thegrogshop
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/grogshop/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grog-shop-cle/
• Twitter: https://x.com/thegrogshop
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/grog-shop-cleveland