Today we’d like to introduce you to Isaac Domingue.
Isaac, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I guess my story is one that started where I was most familiar. In my comfort zone, if that’s event possible. I went from working in finance, tech startups, universities, to managing one of the oldest and largest LGBTQ nightclubs in the country. That alone is a story. What I really want to share is what I’ve learned from spending almost four years in the industry, what I’m still learning. And what this crazy industry has instilled in me that will never ever go away.
While I know most people reading this have what I would call normal jobs, I hope that my story might help you see things in a new light, or at least see your normal light with a little more color. My department closed suddenly at the university I was working at. I worked in a department of three people closely connected with the university President, so when I was let go, it was a surprise. Long story short, I took this opportunity to move to the mountains and start fresh. I had just finished my MBA and thought naively that with my credentials, I’d find a job without a blink.
Three months later, I was still jobless and having panic attacks almost daily while lying on the yoga mat at the gym. I started applying to any job I could find and now had started to apply to bars. Of which I had zero experience. I fought to get an interview at a bar and finally got called back for an interview. I had no idea what I was interviewing for but went in because I could not stand the idea of staring at my laptop for another second. When leaving for the interview, I jokingly said to my friend I was staying with at the time, “wouldn’t it be crazy if they asked me to be the manager?” Well, after a couple in-person interviews, that’s exactly what happened. My mind was blown. I lied on my resume. I’d never even been to Tracks. Now I was the manager!
I’ll take this one step back and say this. The hiring manager wasn’t an idiot. In fact, what he taught me is exactly what I’m about to teach you. That while things come in different shapes and sizes, there’s something you can’t teach, and that’s passion. What I had a passion for is taking something I had never done and throwing every ounce of energy at accomplishing my goal until I did. And I do that with a servant mentality, a love for the people I work with, and a mindset that EVERYONE has something to teach me. While I’d never worked a nightclub before, I was pretty good at running other people’s businesses. This was a business. And this, I knew I could do and do well. How? IDK. But I would sure as hell figure it out.
From the second I was hired, I wanted my boss’s job. While it didn’t happen when I wanted, I’m sure as hell glad it didn’t. I spent the next three years learning his every move. Learning what he was good at, what he wasn’t the best at, and how I could take an incredible community and establishment to the next level. I expected to leave when I found a job that paid better. Expected that I’d move on before I reached the “next level.” And here I am, deeper in the trenches than ever before, almost at my four-year mark.
Has it been a smooth road?
Struggle, struggle, struggle, is the game. You don’t gain credibility and respect, knowledge, or experience, by simply riding the waves to the sand. You have to get smashed against the rocks a couple times. Swallow a little water. It’s then that you learn how to float. It’s the “learning how to float” period though that gives you your reputation. Your opportunities. Your success. And you’ll sure as hell respect yourself a lot more when looking back when you’ve seen all you’ve accomplished or fought through.
We’d love to hear more about your work.
I’m so proud to be writing this as Tracks celebrates its 40th year in Denver. In my short time in the family, we’ve been named “Best LGBTQ Venue of the Year,” hosted countless celebrities, continued to boast one of the best sound and lighting systems in the industry, and have stayed true to our vision and purpose without wavering. Over the last 40 years, the club has weathered the HIV epidemic, the downturns in economies, and even the fear of violence in our communities. It’s called a number of states home and while the environments Tracks has witnessed have changed over the years for both good and bad, it has always provided a place for EVERYONE to enjoy one of the wildest, craziest, most fun parties on the planet. It’s been a refuge for homeless teens. It’s been a safe place for people looking for acceptance, not once, until COVID-19, has it closed its doors.
Last year, our founder, our champion, our leader, an incomparable advocate for human rights passed away. While Marty isn’t with us, his vision and our purpose have never been stronger and continues to set us apart. We will weather this challenging time like we weathered the rest and we will continue to be a beacon for people looking to be themselves without judgement or fear. Whether you’re in heels, a baseball cap, or in a hotdog suit, you will receive love as it is meant to be. Without fear of rejection. Without conditions. You. Are. You.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
That’s a really great question. I think Denver has something very very unique. Even more unique than places that pride themselves on being progressive and accepting such as NYC or Seattle. While we may not have the scene with the most LGBTQ spaces in the country, we have a city that in my experience, is one of the more accepting places to be in this community. Many people simply don’t care if you’re gay or trans. Many people (I won’t blanket this across everyone because there is still much work to be done along the lines of acceptance of the LGBTQ community) feel safe to go to a bar that wouldn’t label themselves as LGBTQ establishment. LGBTQ individuals have a good number of places around town that not only support our community but also host drag shows and participate in Denver Pride.
Additionally, Denver is spoiled. We have a high-quality entertainment pool here. I feel so incredibly grateful to be such a part of a community that has high-quality drag performances, high-quality parties, solid communities built around our LGBTQ family. That all being said, while I support people looking to join the industry, it’s not easy. There’s a tight-knit group of bars/clubs and they’ve been in the scene for a while. I don’t think it’s impossible to start a new LGBTQ venue in Denver, but I think the return would be higher in a community with less of an established scene. Just my thoughts!
Contact Info:
- Address: 3500 Walnut St. Denver, CO 80205
- Website: www.tracksdenver.com
- Phone: (303) 863-7326
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: Tracks_Denver
- Facebook: Tracksdenver
- Twitter: Tracks_denver
Image Credit:
Brian Degenfelder
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