Today we’d like to introduce you to Shane Vernon, Erick Passo, and Mike Mora.
Shane, Erick, and Mike, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
While our story is anything but brief, I’ll try my best. In 2011, we founded Red Rabbit Presents, an Entertainment & Lifestyle brand that has thrived in the Miami Nightlife market since it’s inception. Through Red Rabbit Presents we’ve been able to work with some of the premier hospitality brands in the city, and even the world. Hosting events of all shapes in sizes, we’ve worked at Miami’s biggest nightclubs, along with some of the cities largest hotel brands. Through the entire process, we strived for originality, and focused on not becoming a product of our environment, rather pushing to make our environment a product of us. It was in keeping with this mindset that we decided to make the jump to opening our own brick and mortar location – “Black Market Miami”; a Downtown sports bar built around the black market history of the Magic City in the Eighties. Soon after opening Black Market, we’d expand into our second venue – “AfterMarket”; a speakeasy-style lounge/event space, hidden above Black Market.
Has it been a smooth road?
If there were a smooth road to get to where we’re at today, then I’d be upset about the road we took. Nothing about any of it was smooth, and the struggles still present themselves on a daily basis. If it were a smooth road to walk to being your own boss than everyone would do it. While the struggles have been plentiful, they’ve also been what has shaped who we are as a company, as well as individuals.
We’d love to hear more about your group.
I like to think we’re known for presenting original concepts and ideas to the Miami Nightlife & Entertainment market. Our team is very diverse, with each of us coming to the table with a much different set of skills and abilities. I like to compare us to a Swiss Army knife, because we specialize in making things work, regardless of the situation or circumstances. We can throw a 2,000 person pool party from start to finish, we can market a brand a nightlife venue or restaurant, or we can even take a look at your PNL with a red sharpie and get your costs down. I think that’s what also sets us apart, we never enter into a situation with the mindset of, “this can’t be done,” rather, “how can we get this done?” As far as what we’re most proud of, I’d have to say it’s in the way we carry ourselves, and how we go about handling the obstacles that present themselves on a daily basis. I don’t know many people that would be able to do what we do, with the means at which we make it happen.
How do you define success?
I think the best way to define our vision of success is waking up every morning and not having to answer to anyone. We know a lot of people who may make more money than we do, but they don’t own their time. If passion is applied long enough, money will come, but you have to be willing to take the road less traveled.
Contact Info:
- Website: Red Rabbit Presents – @RedRabbitMiami
Black Market Miami- @BlackMarketMIA // www.BlackMarketMIA.com
AfterMarket – @AfterMarketMIA
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