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Running a business is an art. It's just as artistic to me to figure out how to connect with our audience as it is to create a show. Which is why it's so much fun for me to do it all together.

Let me introduce creator and founder Nick. A. Olivero, the mind behind the immersive theater production "The Speakeasy." Nick founded Boxcar Theater in 2005 and has since produced over 60 productions. He has a background as a scenic designer which naturally led to producing productions in non-traditional settings such as a moving bus, private living rooms, furniture stores and other unique places.

These non-traditional settings led to a vision of creating a production now called, “The Speakeasy,” that takes you to the Prohibition Era of 1923. The Speakeasy is not like any other theater you may have seen in the past. This is a “choose your own adventure” type of theater experience. You are lead by 35+ characters in the roaring 1920s; a time when alcohol was illegal and America was pushing its boundaries.

When you buy your tickets, you choose where you would like to start the night. You can select the Casino, the Bar or the Cabaret. The day before you head to the show, you will receive an email sharing the secret place to meet and what the individual will be wearing who will give you the password to get into The Speakeasy. Get dressed up in your best 1920's outfit and head to that secret location to meet that particular individual. Right from the get-go as you enter The Speakeasy you are taken back to a time where life was unique and traditions of America were being pushed. You will meet bootleggers, gangsters, floppers and other exciting characters as you walk from room to room and see scenes played out throughout the entire venue. At times you also may find yourself getting involved in the story as you follow your favorite characters, all while enjoying a wonderfully crafted cocktail from the bar.

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You have to start somewhere. You do it because you love doing it. I would do shows with eight people in the house. 

You will learn in this podcast that Nick is naturally creative, passionate about what he does, grateful to be doing what he loves to do and one who is never out of ideas. I loved his statements, “running a business is like art,” and “entrepreneurship and being a creative work in tandem with each other.” Nick believes, as a fellow artist, all work can go stale just like a business product or service can go stale. So as an artist and business person you need to be able to respond to the market. Always evolve. In his case, he needs to know who his general audience is that watches The Speakeasy and be flexible to shift his original stories that will best connect to his audience, so they have a great night out.

The Speakeasy experience is indeed an enjoyable night out. It's an experience where at the end you say to yourself, "How was this even created?" Well, let me introduce you to the mind behind the creation to The Speakeasy... Nick A. Olivero.

 Enjoy the podcast and keep creating.

In this episode, here are Some Questions I ask & what You will learn:

Who Nick is. (1:17)

What is The Speakeasy? (2:35)

My experience at The Speakeasy (5:17)

We talk hats and about Goorin Brothers. (6:00)

How did the vision of The Speakeasy come about? (7:00)

How it started in 2005. (7:33)

How he went from a vision to using social media to test the interest. (9:52)

What has been Nick's biggest challenge? (12:26)

Nick's perception versus what his customers are there to watch. (15:54)

How does being an entrepreneur and a creative work in tandem?  (18:30)

Running a business is an art. (19:09)

A birthday cake surprise at The Speakeasy. (19:40)

What is your next step? (20:08)

Idea: Themed Retail and Entertainment (20:44)

What are the other offshoot businesses you have? (22:25)

We talk virtual reality. (23:00)

What do you do to get your mind right? (24:40)

What are your other activities? (28:40)

It's very rare for people to get to do the thing that they like to do. (29:50)

You have to start somewhere. (30:02)

Talks about San Francisco as a theater town (30:27)

Nick is... (32:37)

Hot to get tickets for The Speakeasy (33:35)

How to get a hold of Nick? (34:20)

Editor’s Note: This story was shared through a Scotch Parlor podcast. Photography was done by Peter Liu & Rick Scotch in San Francisco, CA.