Jason Hausman carries an EMMY in one hand … and a Falcon on the other

He once was lost. But, now, he helps others find their voice.

How’s this for a resume? Jason Hausman is a husband, father, EMMY-winning composer and sound designer, singer, songwriter, guitarist, drummer, lover of old cars and motorcycles, pack animal, master falconer … and a madman hiding in plain sight. (Whew! … but true.)

How do we sufficiently capture the full picture of award-winning producer and composer, Jason Hausman? We can’t. But, Matt Olin and Tim Miner make a good run at it. With laughs — and a few almost-tears — they jump into the history of Charlotte’s music scene, Jason’s thoughts on fatherhood and what he enjoys most about working with Charlotte’s young and talented musicians on today’s batch of The Biscuit Podcast.

So, about that vote …

We have a simple mantra at The Biscuit — Charlotte. Is. Creative. We believe it so much, it’s the name of the non-profit that produces The Biscuit.

Creativity’s not just about the performing arts or about the class we took between math and science in grade school. It’s not the province of the young or something that should be left behind as we grow up and get a “real” job. For many of us, it’s how we put food on the table. Creativity doesn’t exist for creativity’s sake.

Creativity expressed through art, culture and innovation has the power to gather people together, create connections, promote understanding and drive opportunity. The disciplines and skills learned through a creative life make businesses stronger, push them forward and lift the fortunes of all who live here. Creative expression has the power to make sure we see each other.

Creativity is not something we add on top of life like a garnish if we have something extra left over. It’s a vital ingredient for any great city. It makes a place desirable for those wanting to move there. It makes a community magnetic, drawing people in and keeping them engaged. Think of the strongest cities in America. They’ve figured this out. And, they’ve found innovative ways to make sure creativity thrives and is accessible to everyone.

They’ve thrown the gauntlet. Charlotte doesn’t walk away from challenges. Let’s pick it up.

Some people were upset Wednesday morning.
Some were happy.
That doesn’t make them enemies.

We’re probably preaching to the choir here. If you’re reading this, we’re willing to bet you agree with everything we’ve just said about creativity, arts and culture. Where we may not agree completely is how to best support it through the allocation of dollars, attention and intention. The good news is we have lots of room to work together here. There are no “one-size-fits-all” measures.

And, that gets us to November 5.

This Tuesday, the referendum on the quarter-cent sales tax increase to benefit arts, parks and education was voted down. We endorsed the ballot measure because we advocate supporting the arts and creativity in every way possible.

If you voted for the tax, you were probably upset Wednesday morning. If you voted against it, we suspect that, although you’re glad the vote went your way, you’re probably still concerned about how arts and culture will survive in the Queen City. (If you didn’t vote either way, we seriously need to talk.)

We’re at a point in our country where too many people believe that if someone doesn’t agree with our way of seeing the world, they’re wrong. We’re falling into a trap that says if we can’t see eye to eye 100%, we just shouldn’t look at one another at all. That’s immature hogwash.

We believe that many people who didn’t vote in favor of the tax weren’t questioning the necessity for creativity, but that they were left with questions about how the money would be used or that they had a fundamental problem with increased taxation. That doesn’t make them wrong.

It’s not a reason to move apart. It’s a call to come together. It’s an invitation to ask: How can we work together to find a solution that works? If you only listen to people who agree with you, what’s the point of talking to anyone? The people who don’t agree with you may have just the perspective you’ve needed to fine-tune your idea and make it work. Unchallenged ideas break as easily as untempered steel.

We can promise you this: Charlotte Is Creative is running toward the people who didn’t support the tax, not away from them. We need to better understand how they propose supporting arts and culture (not to mention parks and education). We need them to test our resolve and help us make our ideas better. They know something we don’t. They see the world differently than we do. We’re excited to move past the elevator pitch of why we were “opposed” to each other and dig into where we have common ground … because it’s there, waiting to be discovered.

Roll Up Your Sleeves

We need to get back to work on the next idea and, probably, lots more after that. Our diverse city’s current funding mechanisms and distribution systems must evolve to better serve the entire community. We need paths to sustainability that are equitable, viable, understandable and accountable. Creative organizations MUST become passionate about (and adept at) developing true, sustainable support for their work. Ultimately, it is how long-term fiscal health is created for such organizations.

Charlotte’s creative fuel must originate and generate from inside the community. We must double down on supporting each other, celebrating each other, mentoring each other, collaborating with each other, standing for each other’s greatness, calling each other out on our BS and becoming deeply vested in each other’s long-term success as creatives in every corner of the city.

And, all of us (we’re looking in a mirror here, too) need to do a better job of measuring and communicating about the massive impact the creative community makes on life in Charlotte every day.

Let us be clear: It means the creative community has to learn to manifest our importance to the business community — the biggest corporations and audacious start-up entrepreneurs alike — especially when it comes to attracting and retaining talent and investment and bringing fresh ideas to their organizations.

Bank Town and Funky Town are becoming besties. That’s just how it’s gonna’ be.

Tuesday wasn’t doomsday.

So, Tuesday wasn’t doomsday. It was another day in the creative life of Charlotte.
Welcome to Thursday. Charlotte is still creative.
Tomorrow is Friday. And, creativity will be stronger than it is today … if we work together.

The vote changed none of that. It just means we have to get … well … more creative about how we sustain our arts, culture and innovation and put them to work in every corner of life here with every resident. Can you imagine what our future will look like when we commit to further fusing our collective talents and passions? We have only just begun.

Welcome to the new era of unbridled creativity, unleashed.

Matt Olin & Tim Miner
Co-Founders – Charlotte Is Creative
Co-Publishers – The Biscuit

“Let the beauty of what you love, be what you do.” We found these gorgeous words a patron left behind on the chalk wall at The Pauline Tea-Bar Apothecary, a quiet oasis nestled into the Camp Greene community just a short drive from Uptown. You’ll find comfortable nooks to read or meditate or just slow down and engage in conversation. The Pauline offers Charlotteans a respite. Shut off the cell phone. Leave it all behind for a while. Indulge in a steaming pot of herbal tea or a fresh-baked temptation. If you need a minute to catch your breath and listen to your own thoughts — and we all do — here you go.

This Queen City exploration is powered by OrthoCarolina.

Don’t go around hungry, y’all. If you missed the last batch of The Biscuit, don’t worry. We’ve kept it warm for you. It features four-year-old’s giving Matt the business and creative job openings. Click here to dig in, y’all.

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