Meet Carter Holland | Event producer, talent buyer, and gatherer of humans

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

Hi Carter, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I have always had a knack for bringing people together, and connecting different groups of friends with one another. Music has also always played a large role in my life, and before too long these two elements collided and music became the central focus of the events and gatherings I was organizing.

It really started with my friend Dwight and I choosing one show a month where we would get a big group of homies and bring them out to see an artist they usually knew little to nothing about. These outings were always well-received and soon gave way to us hosting parties in our backyard where our friends would DJ and perform. I began throwing other shows including a boat party and a mini festival at an old rock quarry and right when I started to really dive in COVID hit.

During the COVID lockdown I had a lot of time to reflect on how much these events and live music in general meant to me, and I began mulling over the idea of legitimizing what I was doing before the pandemic via my own company. I thought the environment at the time was perfect to start organizing something new and fresh, and after much mental back and forth (and at the behest of those around me) I launched Para Presents in May of 2021!

What should our readers know about your business?
Para Presents is an event production company I started about two years ago that focuses on bringing the best artists in underground dance music to Washington DC and beyond. We’ve grown from parties in my backyard, to events at 1000 capacity venues in a relatively short time, and its still so surreal to me how far we’ve come.

I believe we’ve gotten to this point due in large part to the community that’s been built around us, and how they continue to come out and support us every step of the way. Its not easy to find success within a niche market like the one we operate in, but I also think that the niche aspect is what has solidified our audience and makes them so connected to what we do. We embolden this subculture through the artists we book and the experiences we create, allowing likeminded people to come together and be part of a thriving dance music microcosm.

No matter how far we’ve come, I think what makes me most excited is that I really feel as if this is just the very start of the Para journey. I know I have so much left to learn and to accomplish, and that a lot of growth is in our future.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I wouldn’t be here without the consistent affirmation, support, and love provided to me by my friends and girlfriend. They’ve shown out for me time and time again and were instrumental in me taking a leap of faith in starting Para Presents. They continue to give me the confidence to keep doing what I love, and believe in me and my vision even when I may lack the same conviction. I’ve had the help and mentorship of many in the actual operation behind Para, who were essential in me learning the industry and keeping things moving throughout this journey. Also have to mention that I would not be where I am at without the partnership I have with my friends at The Gradient Perspective and Closed Sessions, who I have been throwing shows with these last two years. I’ve brought a few people onto the Para team and they’re instrumental in keeping things running smoothly and assisting in everything behind the scenes from social media to day of show operations.

Always support your homies y’all, I absolutely love that this series aims to shine a light on that ethos!

Website: para-presents.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/para.presents/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ParaPresents

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PARApresents