Meet Nicole Cacciavillano | Owner of The Black Box and Sub.mission

We had the good fortune of connecting with Nicole Cacciavillano and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Nicole, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
After producing events in Denver for 10 years, I quickly realized that owning my own venue was the way forward. Sub.mission’s dedication to underground music and the community it fosters has attracted fans for nearly a decade. I saw The Black Box as a unique opportunity to unite the community under one roof in a venue dedicated to Denver’s underground music scene.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
In 2007, Nicole founded Sub.mission: a dubstep crew in Denver, CO motivated by “the potential for moving people through sound, not hype.” As the CEO of the event company, Nicole is responsible for over a decade of iconic dubstep and bass music events, including Electronic Tuesdays – Colorado’s longest running electronic music weekly.

In 2012, Nicole created the Sub.mission Agency as a way to share Denver’s passion for the underground sound with the rest of the country. The independent agency paves an avenue for newcomers and niche artists to share their sounds with new and diverse audiences. At the head of the agency, Nicole can be credited for dubstep’s growing momentum across America.

Nicole achieved a long-term dream-turned-goal of operating her own venue when The Black Box opened in November 2016. The 500-capacity sound system club is a powerful manifestation of Nicole’s vision of moving people through sound, not hype. Her commitment to independent music and the community it fosters is at the heart of the venue’s day-to-day operations. Despite the sensibilities of the music industry, her honest approach is working: in the short time its been open, The Black Box has received multiple awards and international notoriety.

Nicole’s approach to running The Black Box, Sub.mission, and the Sub.mission Agency is defined by authenticity – a rare quality in the hostile music industry. Her success with each endeavor sheds optimistic light on the future of the disrupted music industry. Through her relentless devotion to the sounds that move her personally, Nicole continues to prove the transformational power of genuine music to positively impact the world, and pave a path to relevance for independent artists. As we move deeper into the digital era, Nicole will be regarded as a pioneer of the “new music industry,” where recognition is rewarded based on sound – not hype.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Upon arrival, we would go directly to The Black Box. Of course, Id have to show them my pride and joy! Afterwards, we would probable catch up over tacos and margs on the Los Chingones rooftop. We would spend the next day on scooting around Rino Art District checking out all the walls while stopping in some of Denver’s best breweries such as Ratio, TRVE and Station26. It wouldn’t be a trip to Denver without checking out the Botanical garden and Art Museums. When we got tired of city life, we would head up to the mountains and take a tour of the many hot springs Colorado has to offer as well as spend time in the towns relaxing and enjoying the local establishments.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Since its inception in 2007, Sub.mission has always been a labor of love. The company’s success is largely attributed to its passionate, loyal fans. We have a profoundly personal connection to the community and the passion it fosters. This intimate relationship with the fan base is the spine of The Black Box’s success.

Website: www.blackboxdenver.co

Instagram: www.instagram.com/theblackbox5280

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicole-cacciavillano/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/theblackbox5280

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheBlackBox5280