Meet LaRae Martinez | Owner pf 52Eightyent Marketing

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

Hi LaRae, maybe we can start at the very start – the idea – how did you come up with the idea for your business?
Prior to starting my business, I worked in Healthcare specifically in Laboratory Science, I loved the science, processes, and creating procedures. I had many friends that were artists and would always come to me for help with contracts, organization, and structure. I did this as a hobby for a few years and then one day I saw an info session exploring business ownership and I went which was so odd as I had never even thought about owning my own business. The person facilitating the info session dropped a gem when he said “Choose your business based on what your community asks of you”. I thought okay let me turn this hobby into something intentional and I launched my business 52Eighty Entertainment in 2015 creating, booking, and marketing 33 events pers year. In 2016 receiving best of westword for an event, I worked with some of Denvers top artists. Covid has changed this business model, while all events came to a halt I had to relook at what my community was calling upon me for and it was digital marketing help. Marketing for my events I became a pro over the years however I took the covid down time and received a BA in Digital Audiences from Arizona State and pivoted to 52Eightyent Marketing “Helping small businesses created a digital footprint.”

What should our readers know about your business?
When I launched my business the plan was to produce, market, and book events in Denver and surrounding areas working with talented artists and small venues. I had taken some random courses, I read many how to books and registered in program like the Ice house entrepreneur program, Business BootCamp RMMFI, to learn as much as could to run my business. I set up a great foundation but I learned the most when I failed then after I failed I was able to set up new processes. I worked with not only small venues but added in public schools, Colorado Law Association, State of Colorado, and Denver University. I ran open mics, comedy shows, fashions shows, Hip Hop events, variety shows, and did all the marketing and promotions. I also found my niche as Denver artists were very cliqued and segregated, many of the POC Artist were not given stage time regularly and began to show up more and more to my open Mic and then I would also book many of those artist on larger events. The gentrification in Denver made it hard and more expensive for independent promoters like myself to access venues. When covid hit my business was completely shut down and I had to go back to the drawing board and reinvent my business model. While trying to decide what my next move would be I had lots of artists and small businesses come to me for help with their marketing and I thought here it is digital marketing. I had been doing all my marketing for the last 5 years but I wanted to be more intentional and I now have a Bachelors degree in Digital Audiences, google ad, google analytic certified as well. As a small business owner I know how hard it is to run your business, work in your business and have no time for marketing. I learned that you have to listen to what your community needs, and you have to be ready to pivot to keep your business viable. I also learned I need to work on my business as much as I work in it to be ready for the ups and downs. This last two years has been hard but all the mistakes and experience has helped me to have the courage reinvent my business to what my community has asked for and what I have a passion for. I want my business to make a difference for solopreneurs, and small businesses that are specialist in their products but not with social media, email, and promoting.

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?
As an 8th generation Denver native, and foodie the first place would be to take them to Mexico City on Larimer St my great grandfather lived in an apartment above the restaurant and we go there often as a child and adult. Mexico City has the best-fried steak tacos in the world and do not forget to add Menudo and a pitcher of red. I would take them to Black Hawk for the beautiful drive along with some casino fun and all-you-can-eat Crab legs. I would take them to eat at some of my other favorites like Lechugas for some mini hots, Carl’s pizza, Wishbone chicken, Yorkshire Fish, and Chips. Some other sites would be Red Rocks, Pikes peak cog railway, Boulder falls, Estes Park, a walk down Larimer square for the lights, and a drive from 6th and colorado blvd to Quebec has to be the most beautiful on a summer evening. Denver has so much to do, so much variety it is amazing but my favorite is to get out of the city and just see all the glory in our mountains so much history.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
When reaching out on how to start up a business, I found Rocky Mountain Microfinance Institue. I enrolled in their 12 week business BootCamp and was partnered with a financial mentor and business mentor and this team helped me set up my business so that I was not only street legal but I had all my processes and projections ready to go. I am also a member of the RMMFI alumni group which has been a huge peer support system. Being an entrepreneur can be a lot of ups and downs uncertainty and loneliness, not many people understand our grind.

Instagram: @52eightyent

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/larae-martinez-9a4b611a

Twitter: @52eightyent

Facebook: @52eightyent

Image Credits
Anthony Camera