Women Who Rock Columbus: Lisa
This next kick ass woman highlighted in the series is one of the busiest women I know. She wears many hats starting with owning and running Evermint Music, a business dedicated to supporting independent musicians in the Columbus area. Under the Evermint umbrella she focuses on management, booking, consulting, and sync licensing for artists. She is one of the talent buyers at a local venue and taught Music Entrepreneurship at Capital University until last year.
Allow me to introduce you to Lisa!
Lisa’s presence is well know in the community. If you’ve seen a killer touring band at Natalie’s recently there’s probably a good chance, it’s of her doing. She loves and is a great advocate of the Columbus music scene and does everything she can to show support to many of the talented musicians throughout the local scene. She is also a fierce supporter of women in the music industry. When she’s not working, you can most definitely find her in the crowd of show somewhere in the city.
Let’s dig a little deeper and find more out about Lisa and her role in the Columbus scene.
1. What made you decide that you wanted to get into the music business?
“Piano lessons!”
“My first job in music was at local booking agency Class Acts Entertainment, I started there when I was 16. At the time Class Acts was owned by local musician Vicki Palmer. Vicki was my piano teacher growing up, she started the agency out of her home while I was taking lessons from her. After my lessons I would hang around and help out around the office. I’d ride my bike to the post office with packages and buy stamps, I’d file contracts, I’d put together promotional packages to send to clients (which at that time meant dubbing cassette tapes!!). So technically I’ve been working in the Columbus music industry since I was 11.”
“Vicki was a great mentor (and the best piano teacher!). She gave me so many opportunities and responsibilities as a young woman, she really made me feel like I could do anything. I was at Class Acts for over twenty years booking local artists for hundreds of events a year, some of the most memorable events of my life. I really fell in love with the local music scene there and it built the foundation for my entire career.”
2. Talk about your role in the Columbus music scene.
“Honestly I’m just a really big fan.
But I've worked full time in the Columbus music industry for over 30 years.
I own Evermint Music with Genean Grantham.
I manage a couple of artists - Josh Krajcik, and I co-manage Austin & the Syd Experience with Genean.
I’ve placed music by Columbus musicians in TV shows and commercials.
I taught Music Entrepreneurship at Capital University for 4 years (2020-2024).
I’m one of the talent buyers at Natalie’s Grandview, where I mostly book touring bands.
I have way too many ideas (and domain names) for one person.
But really I’m just a fan and you can find me in the audience at shows all over town every week.”
3. Share a little bit more about Evermint and your mission.
“We book bands for private parties, concert series, festivals. We provide consulting and support services for independent artists, and talent buying and event management services for clients.”
“Evermint is centered on supporting independent musicians in Columbus. Even the musicians in the cover bands that we book for weddings have their own original musical projects on the side.”
“No two music careers are the same and we try to tailor our approach to each individual artist. We match clients with the perfect music for their vision, drawing from over 30 years of relationships with some of the most recognizable artists in the scene and up and coming artists from the next generation of local stars.”
4. Favorite local venue, band, or event to catch?
“The women in the Columbus live music scene rock my world - those are my favorite shows to catch. Consistently the most fun, innovative, melt your f-ing face off shows I have been to have been female fronted artists.”
“I started a playlist that I occasionally update called Columbus Motherlode. It’s over 7 hours of music from women lead projects past and present and it’s a good intro to some of the biggest rock stars in Columbus.”
5. What is your favorite part of being in the Columbus music scene?
“This community. I see so much support among the entire music scene, so much crossover between artists, venues, businesses, everyone is really pulling for each other. We’re each other’s fans - at every show I go to I run into other musicians or music industry friends in the audience just there to support.”
“There’s no one “Columbus sound” - Columbus music is this incredible melting pot of so many styles constantly evolving from a long, rich local music history. There are artists I’ve worked with consistently for over 30 years and artists I’ve just met and am excited to work with now - I’m so inspired by the talent in this city every day. I’ve been to music conferences and festivals and concerts in so many “Music Cities” across the country - Nashville, Austin, Memphis, New Orleans, New York. I always come home thinking they had nothing on Columbus, I really think we’re so lucky here.”
6. What's one thing you'd change or would like to see change about the local scene?
“More support systems for the local independent music industry. There are so many people working to support musicians behind the scenes - record labels, recording studios, producers, agencies, managers, promoters - and the venues especially are struggling right now. In a recession, entertainment is the first thing that gets cut from any budget. We’re likely to see attendance at live shows really dip while expenses rise across the board for local independent venues. Meanwhile (emphasis on mean), federal arts funding disintegrates right before our eyes. I’d like to see a local fund or operational grants designed specifically to support Columbus independent stages. They’re the heartbeat of the music community.”
“Reader: Go catch a local show at a local venue soon. If you need suggestions, hit me up.”
7. What do you feel is the biggest overall struggle for females in the industry?
“Recognition in a male dominated, good ol’ bro, expensive and nepotistic industry.
But honestly the women that I’ve worked with in the Columbus music industry over my career are the MVPs who inspire me, light me up and keep me moving forward - here are a few from a very long list.
Tammy W. (vocalist, booking agent) - Tammy is my longest music industry friendship - she’s been an agent at Class Acts for over 32 years now. Instrumental is an understatement here - I learned so much working alongside Tammy about how to balance the grueling work that is the live music industry with the unparalleled joy that is the live music industry. And she sings like an angel.
Genean G. (vocalist, co-owner Evermint Music) - Couldn’t ask for a cooler business partner - Genean knows everyone. Watching her build connections and community is magic. She keeps my mania in check, talking me down from starting Yet Another Thing on top of too many other things already.
April K. (current plant rock star, former talent buyer, band manager, tour manager) - I started hearing April’s name around the original music scene about a decade ago and reached out to get to know her - our first coffee date lasted HOURS and she’s been one of my forever people ever since. 100% self made, April built a very cool music career for herself from scratch in Columbus. Our coffee dates still last hours.
Natalie J. (co-owner Natalie’s Grandview) - So lucky to have such a community driven and fiercely supportive literal Boss in Natalie. I’ve really leveled up working alongside the hard working, hard rocking team at Natalie’s - some of the best in the business.
Paige V. (singer-songwriter, musician, manager Rambling House Music) Paige IS Rambling House to me. She has taken such great care to make RH a magical, musical gem for artists and audiences. She’s passionate and has the biggest heart and she’s a hell of a drummer.
Maddy C. (musician, singer songwriter, recording engineer, producer) - Maddy works behind the keys, behind the mic, behind the sound board at live shows and behind the mixer in the recording studio. Born into the Columbus music community, she gives back with her heart and soul.
Kara J. (former WWCD maven, Natalie’s Marketing Manager) Probably the biggest rock star I know that isn’t a musician. Kara’s a part of everything cool.
Paisha Thomas (vocalist, singer-songwriter, activist, founder of Say it Loud Columbus) So many Columbus activists I know are also musicians and Paisha’s is one of the most powerful voices, continually fighting for peace and lifting up others. Paisha inspires me to do more for the community.
Maggie Brennan (WCBE music director and DJ) - On air champion of local music, Maggie’s been a cheerfully supportive voice at WCBE for over 30 years. Huge allies of the local music community through programming and promotion, WCBE just lost 10% of its operating budget in the sickening slaughter of federal arts funding. Donate today.
Jess L. (photographer, band manager, journalist, promoter) From building a fiery female lineup for the International Women’s Day concert, Rock the Bus, to creating the very Women Who Rock Columbus series that you’re reading - Jess actively seeks out ways to support women in the industry. “
8. Any advice/words of wisdom for other women trying to make it in the business?
“Get out into the community, meet and collaborate with other women as often as possible - you’ll really start finding your people and path. You are unique in your skill set, personality, connections, passions. This is not a competition and there’s room for everyone.”
“See you at the show! ✨”
Lisa is such a force in supporting women in music, especially here in the 614. As you read, even when she is being highlighted she throws props to other women in the community kicking ass and taking names. She shocked myself with that wonderful shoutout and it was so touching to read as I was editing this piece.
I feel incredibly lucky to have experienced and worked with Lisa in my “music life” and I think anyone who works with her or knows her will tell you the same.
She’s a rock star in her own right, she supports all local artist, talent, industry people and industry wannabe people, more than anyone I know. She loves this Columbus music scene so much I think it’s actually in her blood.
I credit her as the reason I’m still here and doing things in the industry. I was on the brink of walking away last year, but I had a meeting with Lisa, and she gave me a new direction and purpose when I found myself lost, ready to quit, and without any hope and for that, I am eternally grateful.
Thank you Lisa, for not only taking time out of your busy, busy, life to be a part of this series but for also having a great impact on the local scene.
If you’d like to check out what Lisa (and Genean) are doing at Evermint Music you can do so here:
https://www.evermintmusic.com/
https://www.instagram.com/evermintmusic/
Or if want to see the upcoming line up at Natalie’s you can click here:
https://nataliesgrandview.com/
https://www.instagram.com/nataliesgrandview/
That will do it for this edition of WWRC, thanks for reading, and until next time:
Peace, Love, and Who Run The World, Girls!