Extol Magazine Celebrating Southern Indiana is a local publication that covers stories about businesses people places or events throughout the cities of New Albany Jeffersonville Clarksville Sellersburg and Louisville KY
Issue link: https://extol.epubxp.com/i/497401
BARNSTABLE BROWN GALA May 1 • Spring Drive in Louisville Tis year, Tricia Barnstable Brown and Priscilla Barnstable will host the 27th annual Barnstable Brown Gala at Tricia's home in Louisville on May 1. Te sisters, who frst became famous as the Wrigley's Doublemint Twins, along with their mother, Wilma "Willie" Barnstable, work tirelessly year-round on what has become the major fundraiser for the Barnstable Brown Kentucky Diabetes and Obesity Center located in Lexington, Ky. Since 2008, the Barnstable Brown Foundation has donated $10.5 million to the center. Chris Hughes New Albany resident Family: Wife Sarah, son Austin, 14, daughter Ali, 13, Toy Australian Shepherds Marley and Scooter, and a bearded dragon named Drover. Mentor: "We've kind of written our book as we come along … but we discover new mentors every year." Brent Rogers Sellersburg resident Family: Wife Kim, son Jonathan, 8, daughter Sally, 4, and a hound named Petey, 13. Mentor: "Chris and I both grew up working in family businesses. I know a lot of my work ethic and my personal panache comes from my dad. A lot of that has served me well." Sounds Unlimited Productions 502.693.6089 or 502.523.1333 www.supdjs.com 'Roadhouse Blues.' At one point, Fallon is just killing it on stage. He's killing it," Rogers said. "Fallon is singing with his eyes closed and all of a sudden, Kid Rock comes up on stage, takes a guitar and starts playing. Jimmy Fallon doesn't know he's there on stage, and in the middle of the song he's singing, (Fallon) looks over and says, 'Holy s---! It's Kid Rock.' Of course the place goes crazy. … After the song is over, Jimmy Fallon jumps of the side of the stage, and we never see him again." Tat particular side of the stage had about an 8-foot drop, Hughes said, so they sent security over to make sure he was OK, but he was nowhere to be found. "Monday morning, in (Te Courier-Journal), we fnd out that Jimmy Fallon left with a group of people, went down to a fraternity at (the University of Louisville) and partied all night with them. Tat was one memorable scenario we will not soon forget. So, we feel like we had a pretty big hand in making Jimmy Fallon who he was," Rogers said, winking as he laughed. "It was so Barnstable," Hughes said. "It's fun to see stars get starstruck like (Fallon) did." Te party is "a jam session" without a scheduled lineup, Rogers said. And it's up to the 12 to 15 members of the SUP crew to keep it fowing, from the red carpet entrances to the lighting to the performances that go on until the wee hours. "At any one time – and for as much as I love my role in this party, it can be a tad stressful – because we could have Boyz II Men and Kid Rock and Miranda Lambert and they all want to sing next, and it's up to us to fgure it out," Rogers said. But it's not only celebrity guests who get the all-star treatment. "Te girls (Tricia and her sister Priscilla) are so amazing and accommodating to everyone who comes through, and I don't just mean the celebrities," Rogers said. "Anyone who's got a ticket, they're appreciative of this. And again, it's in this woman's house. It's not at a convention center. Te level of cool at this, you want to talk about old Hollywood, I mean here you are showing up in a limousine and walking into someone's house and they're having a party in someone's backyard. It's pretty phenomenal." Tough many people and organizations try, Hughes said, "you can't match what this (gala) is." "And we're just grateful to be a part of it," Rogers said. "Our job has evolved to whatever the (Barnstable) twins need, we will do it. Te team of people, from the caterers to the tent companies to the guys like us to Tricia and (Priscilla's) team of people, it's truly amazing. Everyone has the same goal and that is we want to get through this night with no complications and give the twins the best party they could have." 'We Sleep Well' But, eventually, all parties must come to an end, which Hughes and Rogers after Barnstable Brown Gala is over. After all, it's then time to direct their focus toward the next event – or events, depending on how many they're producing on a given day – and continuing to grow their business, which they bought in 1997. Teir clientele vary from soon-to-be newlyweds and retirees to nonproft organizations and major corporations, and they're continually expanding and increasing the technology and services they ofer for events large and small. "Our growth has been organic," said Rogers. "It's been slow and sure and trying to do the right thing, which sometimes means making less money, but I know at the end of the day we both sleep well." 29