Leo Bennett’s Funk Fest: A Star-Studded Concert With a Purpose

For over 10 years, Leo Bennett, CEO and founder of Variety Entertainment, has produced the Funk Fest Tour concert series in cities across the nation, including, Charlotte, N.C., Miami, FL, and Tampa, FL, to name a few. Attracting between 12,000 and 18,000 people in each market, the event has featured chart-topping entertainers such as Erykah Badu, Outkast, LL Cool J, and Jill Scott.

But beyond creating a space for different musical genres to share the same stage, what truly sets the Funk Fest Tour apart from other concerts is its focus on partying with a purpose. Named one of the best outdoor music festivals in Charlotte, NC., the event has garnered support from beverage giant Pepsi and community partner Lifting as We Climb.

[Related: Mega-Stars Light Up Miami for 2016 Funk Fest]

During the 2014 festival, both entities pledged up to $50,000 in scholarships to students in tour markets and provided 40 students with career immersion experiences. Plus, community investments occurred in Birmingham, AL, through a partnership with the City of Birmingham’s Department of Recreation and in Columbia, S.C., in partnership with Benedict College.

But if putting on a star-studded event that entertains and makes a difference in communities across the country isn’t enough, by day Bennett works as a pharmacist.

Hot on the heels of the upcoming Funk Fest Tour, happening in Miami, Florida, on New Year’s day, BlackEnterprise.com caught up with Bennett to talk about his vision for producing a concert with purpose and a special package for Black Enterprise readers.

BlackEnterprise.com: Tell us a bit about your background.
Bennett: I’m originally from Mobile, Alabama, which is also the birthplace of Funk Fest. I am a proud graduate of Florida A&M University’s College of Pharmacy, which I attended on a golf scholarship.

Tell us about the ‘a-ha’ moment that inspired you to create the Funk Fest Tour?
I attended a music festival many years ago and remembered thinking that it would have been great to see artists from different musical genres all on the same show. At that time, and sometimes even now, a show may be labeled an R&B show or a hip-hop show or a neo-soul show. I wanted to create a concert that brought all of those types of music together to give attendees a diverse musical journey. I decided to call it Funk Fest because the “Funk” genre merges different types of music together to create a unique sound, and that is what we try to do at every show.

Describe your target audience.
Our shows appeal to a large

segment within the African American community. Our show is designed for a mom in her 50s to come out to enjoy the sounds of Charlie Wilson, but her daughter, who may be in her late 20s will also be able to see T-Pain, and then their dad gets to enjoy an act like Luke and the 2 Live Crew — all in the same night. It’s really a family affair, or an outing that can be part of something like a family reunion and everyone will enjoy themselves.

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Thinking back over 10 years ago, did you ever think the festival would be around this long? 
I’m still amazed at how we’ve been able to grow the festival over the years, and it lets me know that there really is a place for live music and entertainment among African Americans. My vision is still the same now that it was when we first started, except as we’ve grown, keeping the festival accessible to all became important to me. Some music properties like ours have grown and the cost of tickets has grown with them. We want Funk Fest to remain inclusive, so we offer ticket prices that are affordable, but we also offer a premium VIP experience for those who want that too.

What’s the biggest challenge you’ve faced and how have you overcome it?
The biggest challenge has been welcoming corporate sponsors and being mindful of their needs without compromising our brand. We create an environment that feels like a backyard BBQ with thousands of your closest family and friends, and some sponsors have been interested in refining and changing that to make it feel or seem more sophisticated. We’ve been able to forge a great relationship with Pepsi, who is currently our presenting sponsor, because they were more interested in integrating into what we’ve built and enhancing it, instead of changing it, and it’s been a win for both of us.

What are your top accomplishments?
Having an amazing wife and two wonderful, accomplished children is my biggest accomplishment. I’m also very proud that we returned to my hometown and the birthplace of Funk Fest, Mobile, AL, in 2015 after being gone for several years. 10,000 people came out and supported the event like we’d never left.

You’ve produced this event for 10 years while working a full-time job. What are the qualities that have enabled you to succeed?
Faith has been the driving force behind my success. Every decision that I make has been grounded in faith and the belief that God

has my back and wants me to be successful. Next on the list would be the wisdom and humility to hire the right people. I’ve learned over the years that I don’t know everything and I can’t do everything — nor do I want to. No one can succeed alone, and having hard working, innovative people around me has been a major part of growing the brand.

What are your daily habits for success?

• Prayer: I start and end my day giving thanks for my blessings and asking for guidance.
• Setting Daily Goals: I identify at least three things I’d like to accomplish during each day. Sometimes these goals aren’t just business related. They may include spending time with family, exploring something new, or other things that are important to me.
• Exercise: Many entrepreneurs don’t work out regularly because of our demanding schedules. Exercising daily helps me focus, gives me an opportunity to think and ensures that I have some balance between my health and my career.

Black Enterprise is offering Funk Fest attendees an exclusive package, including two preferred seats to the concert, two tickets to the Funk Fest New Year’s Eve Party with an open bar, two Funk Fest tour shirts, and more. Visit FunkFestTour.com for more information.