Not many people can describe their jobs as including “lots of creative, fun stuff,” but Ben Worley — known to most as Bean Summer — explains his work as being just that.
Worley is the Atlanta field marketing manager for Pabst Blue Ribbon Brewing Company.
He also has a production company called NEB Productions. His job allows for him to be involved in the planning of countless creative events in Atlanta, as well as other cities — last year, he was involved with events in Miami, San Francisco and New York.
Originally from Texas, Worley is now a staple in the local entertainment scene. Before he was a representative for Pabst, he used to book for and manage Lenny’s Bar. Worley has been an important participant in Atlanta’s music and art scene for almost a decade.
“Since 2000, I was a talent buyer, book[ing] agent, sound guy,” said Worley, who has booked formerly budding musicians like Girl Talk and Deerhunter.
In order to significantly alter a local music scene, Worley said, “You have to be extremely unattached to anything…it’s gotta be a full-time, 120 percent dedication.”
But he admitted that “the scene changes when people get older…I think a lot of the places that we kind of grew up with like Lenny’s and Eyedrum all sort of just closed a week ago and it’s hard to know what it’s going to be like in the future.”
In highlights of 2010 he included events like the Little Five Points Halloween Parade, the Ponce de Leon Roller Rink Party and the Deerhunter and Black Lips show at Eyedrum.
Worley is quick to dismiss anyone who thinks that Atlanta is boring.
“Atlanta is what we make it,” he said. Worley explained that Atlanta is unique from other cities like Miami and Los Angeles because there is always something to do that doesn’t cost much money.
For 2011, he predicts an exciting year for Atlanta. Worley is specifically anticipating the 10-year anniversary of a local label called Die Slaughterhaus, as well as various local events and festivals. As far as Atlanta’s music scene goes, Worley is hopeful for the future.
“Hopefully some new kids will be stepping up and creating new cool alternative spaces in their own way and changing the scene again…the torch will be passed I’m sure,” he said.
