Rob Chidester – People to Watch 2015

Late last year, Rob Chidester did exactly what he promised. The Capital City native built concerts and musical series out of his own backyard. He ignored the rampant cynicism of the “band town” atmosphere and started from scratch at venues like Red Dragon Listening Room. Whenever the concerts got too big, he took them to other venues. He built his very own stage out of the side bar at Chelsea’s Café, making it a regular destination for those Baton Rougeans seeking local culture.

By the end of November, he had to turn away 75 guests for his Drop the Needle concert at Hartley/Vey Theatres, where local musicians played The Beatles’ The White Album from front to back. And that was after expanding to the Shaw Center venue to make more room for crowds. It was a good problem to have, and it makes Chidester more optimistic about the future of music in Baton Rouge.

“There is a groundswell of culture and art that I’ve never seen before in this town,” he says. “Baton Rouge is poised to become that next major art scene. We’re right on the edge of being that next Austin, Seattle or Chapel Hill.”

Chidester is just the man to lead the creative renaissance. He has the chutzpah and patience to collaborate with the city’s wealth of talent, as shown with Drop the Needle and other series like Songwriters in the Round, Capital City Rewind with The Rakers and Parlour Themes. In each of those, he rounds up a group of local musicians, treating a musical show like theater, which is his formal background.

Most importantly, he’s comfortable being the man behind the talent that’s entertaining the city.

“I see the town blossoming into something that’s a lot different than what we were used to,” he says. “We just have to keep finding the ways to take those passionate and emotional people who want to get on the stage, and give them a stage so they can share their talents with other people.”

Best piece of advice
“Done beats perfect every time.”