Mitzi Murphree
Company culture is a critical component of any successful business, and creating a positive environment starts with the leadership.
This is a concept that seasoned hospitality vet and Brooklyn Bowl Nashville’s general manager, Sara Barnett, knows all too well. From keeping a new venue that was set to open at the height of a global pandemic afloat to growing the space into one of Music City’s favorite live music locales, Barnett has adopted a leadership through service approach every step of the way. The result? A welcoming neighborhood spot for great music, great food and drinks, and great times, where employees and guests alike are treated like family.
Getting Started: I’m originally from Middle Tennessee and have lived in Nashville since 2006. I first started working in the food and beverage industry as a host at Uncle Bud’s Catfish in Murfreesboro around 2000, when I learned that hospitality and service just sort of came natural to me. After that, I worked many different positions in restaurants and bars including Jackson’s Bistro, The Cheesecake Factory, Acme Feed & Seed, and Butchertown Hall. I enjoy troubleshooting problems and finding ways to make sure each department is working together in the most efficient way, but there is also something very rewarding about having a hand in providing an outstanding experience for someone who is just trying to have a good time. Being General Manager at Brooklyn Bowl Nashville is the same, but there are more departments, artists, and employees, and their experiences are just as important as every guest that enters that door. I suppose it helps that I love what I do, but I give my best whether that’s hosting or running a 1,200-capacity music venue. I always knew I wanted a career in music but I’m not very creative and I can’t play any instruments, so this is perfect for me. I tell folks all the time it truly is a dream job.
Pandemic Pivot: Trying to open a new place is stressful enough. You can plan and plan, but there is always going to be something that you didn’t prepare for. Me and my team worked hard for over three months to make sure we were as ready as we could be to open the same day the world ended up shutting down. Once we realized that those two weeks were going to be a lot longer than we all thought, we had to make some tough decisions. For a while, the only Brooklyn Bowl Nashville employees were our talent buyer, box office manager, and me. While they were busy rescheduling or canceling shows I filled in wherever I was needed, but spent most of those days being the accountant, janitor, or a maintenance person for an empty venue. Fortunately, we were able to pivot to livestream shows and even rented out the venue for music videos during that time. This enabled me to bring back our production manager and a few production crew members on a more consistent basis. It’s not like we were bringing in a bunch of revenue doing this, but it was nice to be able to bring music to people in tough times.
Above All Else: Giving exceptional service was and still is my top priority. Nashville is a hospitality town, which makes it that much harder to stand out. Yes, we have great food, a nice beer selection, and high- quality sound and lights, but the staff make the place. We have an amazing staff who care about music and people and who go above and beyond for not just ticket holders, but also the artists and their crews. I try to empower my team. I ask for open communication so that I can see the broad overview of operations, but they are the experts of their departments. I set clear expectations and address any issues as they occur or give positive feedback when it is due. But mainly, I try to treat them with the respect and consideration I would want from a manager. When you take care of your people, they are going to work harder for you.
Favorite Things: I love the music, my team, the guests, having owners that care about music and people. It is a truly fulfilling job. [Guests love] the good vibes. It was really important that we bring the energy that the Williamsburg location is so well known for with a little southern hospitality mixed in. Seeing a show at Brooklyn Bowl Nashville is not just seeing the show, it is the whole experience. You can have dinner with us, bowl a few games before the show, and even catch up with friends on the patio after.
Biggest Hopes: I want [Brooklyn Bowl Nashville] to be a locals’ spot. I want our Germantown neighbors to stop in for dinner. I want families to think of us when they are looking for something to do with their kids on a Saturday morning. I want local artists to want to play here. I want to continue to grow with our music community.