Meet Wes Brustad | Author, Speaker

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

Hi Wes, how do you think about risk?
I have never thought too much about the risk of anything I have done in life. I focus on meeting a challenge with strategy, planned actions, and a commitment to success. If I thought too much about the risks, I would probably never do anything. Every decision–personal or professional–comes with a certain amount of risk. Throughout my career, I noted the risks but if the goal was worthy, I invariably plunged ahead. This has come with some failures, but many more successes.

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.
I was very fortunate to be able to make my living in the arts as a creative artist (actor, director, writer) and producer/administrator. Because both sides of my brain function equally well, I have enjoyed success on the stage and as an adept executive who enables art to happen. Whether it was while working as the CEO of State Arts Councils, theaters, or performing arts centers, I made hundreds of artistic decisions each year coupled with structuring the business to support, nurture, market, and logistically enable dance, theater, music, film, and the spoken word. It was always a struggle to take an idea and give it life. It was usually a question of trust. The artists had to trust my judgment; the management had to trust I would not financially drain the bank; the audiences had to trust that what I put on stage or on bookshelves was worthy of their time. When you violate that trust by taking the easy way out, you lose badly. Sometimes it cannot be regained.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
At my stage in life, I prefer long conversations over a martini on my back patio with my friends so I can focus on them. I would take them to a few Greek, Italian, and beach restaurants like Yanni’s Bar and Grill in Poway, Villa Capri Trattoria and Wine Bar in Poway, and Jake’s in Del Mar. Since no one can make a gin martini I like besides myself, we would do all the drinking at home. Unless a visiting friend loves beer. Then we would be off to Stone Brewery in Escondido or Ballast Point in San Diego. We are fortunate to have 40 some wineries in our area so if my friends want to sample wines, we have choices. My favorites are Ramona Ranch Winery, Grant James, and Turtle Rock.

If my friends wish to see things, I would take them to the San Diego Zoo’s Safari Park and to Balboa Park which boasts 25+ museums. If it’s theater they like, we have many choices. I favor the La Jolla Playhouse or Cygnet Theater located in Old Town San Diego.

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?
Howard Blair, the Headmaster of the private school I attended grades 3 =5 in Japan, instilled in me the value of discipline to whatever endeavor I was doing. Since those early years, I fully realize and accept the discipline it will take to see something through to success. If you fail to stick to it, it will not happen.

Otto Brustad, my father, instilled in me an awareness and faith in God Almighty without whom I would not be here today. Faith that God is always with me gives me confidence and strength when undertaking any task whether it be writing a novel or producing a major theatrical musical.

Donald Streibig, my first boss in the arts at the Ohio Arts Council, showed me that while art is inspirationally driven by one’s imagination, it also requires form and attention to the business nuts and bolts of the muse.

Website: wesbrustad.com

Image Credits
Josh Svare