Hook and Ladder raising funds for 10th birthday

The Hook & Ladder Theater located in the historic Firehouse #21 at 3010 Minnehaha Ave makes dreams come true, according to Jesse Brodd, marketing director and talent buyer.
He and Chris Mozena started the Firehouse Performing Arts Center (FPAC), the nonprofit which operates the Hook & Ladder, 10 years ago. Mozena is the executive director of the nonprofit.
Brodd works with a team of people at Nobool Presents, a company that helps book rooms at the old firehouse. He has a background in design and marketing and has worked with numerous music venues, including Music in the Zoo. Brodd helped build the Harriet Brewing music venue.
Mozena has been involved in nearly every facet of the music and entertainment industries, from independent record promoter and national radio programming conference coordinator, to record label owner, club GM and arts curator
Brodd said the Hook & Ladder offers everything from space for LGBT girl scouts gathering to a Tom Petty tribute to a dance performance to a game night
“Historically we have had so much demand for stage time for artists, musical events, book readings, poetry and fashion. We are having a magician come in who is the owner-operator of the longest-running magic store in the country. And we host 20-30 fundraisers annually for nonprofits,” Mozena said. “And here we are, reaching out to the community for our own fundraiser as we approach our 10th year.”
Beginning Sept. 23, the Hook & Ladder is hosting fund-raising events for the next 60 days, culminating in the Give to the Max fundraiser set in November.
“We’re having the fundraisers in response to having limited funding over the past 18 months,” Mozena said. “Our costs have gone up dramatically over the last two or three years.
“It has been kind of the perfect storm,” he continued. “We have lost a number of restaurants and gathering places. We have been down about 18-20 percent from our award-winning summer series. The short-term crunch has brought us to our largest fund-raising effort in our history. We want to stabilize and preserve the Hook for another 10 years.”
According to Brodd, some fundraisers are being set up for the fall that will be free to the public.
“We’ll charge $5 or $10 for a wristband to drink,” he said. “Every event is a fundraiser for FPAC. You can buy a ticket and a beverage.” He said a number of people don’t go out and drink alcohol that much, but other beverages are available.
Brodd said the biggest challenge for him over the past 10 years was keeping a nonprofit going during COVID. “We took on the role of streaming live bands,” he observed.
Another big challenge for Brodd has been to get folks to come out and listen to local music. They want to go to stadiums and listen to the bands they know. “People are enamored with the glitz and glamour of the (well-known) bands. The local bands don’t have the publicists and the things the music industry has,” he remarked. “We want the local bands to get that exposure and revenue, so we create a lot of venues for them.”
He added that the hours of operation at the Hook are slim, so that also makes a difference.
Brodd said his greatest reward from the work comes from helping and being there for the local music scene, supporting musicians and artists on a regular basis. He enjoys seeing how much difference that can make in performers’ lives.
“This community has always been there for us,” Mozena added. “This is the first time that we have really needed the community support. We want to continue delivering at the same level that has been expected of us.”
Mozena said the Hook has not only provided performance space for artists, but has also been a safe place for everyone. He said that five years ago he had seen people from in-state and out-of-state terrorize the community. He said they had been through COVID and the George Floyd tragedy. “It’s just been one gut punch after another, and we’re ready for some joy,” Mozena said.
He said the Hook pivoted during COVID-19 to present Under the Canopy outdoor concerts. “It was an opportunity to be gathered in community while sitting six feet away from each other,” he said. “Then the spaces became closer, and the masks came down, and we could hug again.”
Mozena said he wanted to acknowledge all the volunteer help that keeps FPAC going. “Volunteers have been the basis of our organization,” he said.
“If everyone who came to the Hook gave $20, it would be enough for us to operate the next 10 years,” Brodd said. “But even $5 or $10 will be a big help.”
He noted that so many artists had performed over the years, and so much had been accomplished. He said one area is dedicated to music and cannabis. There are also rentals available for weddings and other special events. There are political fundraisers, podcasts and broadcasts.
“When we started we did five shows a month; now it’s 30,” he said. “It’s critical that the community supports what we are doing.”
For further information on events at the Hook & Ladder, go to thehookmpls.com.