The Greenville Story of Braxton Wilson

A concert planner, an entrepreneur

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Name: Braxton Wilson

How long have you been in Greenville? I was born and raised here in Greenville, SC. 

Most interesting fact about yourself: I am a very planned oriented guy. By this, I know what I am likely going to do from a minute-by-minute standpoint if I plan something. Yes, it is very strange and I understand that it could stress most people out but it gives me peace of mind knowing from a mental standpoint of what I, or we, are going to do and how we are going to do it. Instead of most people “figuring it out as we go”, I like being on a schedule and knowing what is next. 

Tell me about yourself. What is your background? My parents split at a young age but it is awesome to know that the two of them are still my biggest supporters. I have a full-blood brother that is younger than me by fifteen months and a fourteen-year-old half-sister///twelve year old brother.

Even though they divorced, if there was any big life event, they would sit next to one another [children’s events]. Even though a divorce, they were very amicable and would see each other for our family. I am very blessed that they are still good friends to this day, it is awesome and has made growing up with divorced parents much easier. I also enjoy the fact that I have a half-family, we have a lot in common. My brother loves Call of Duty and playing online, to my half-sister that loves the greatest and latest technology and is more of a social girl. 

I played basketball my freshman and sophomore year at JL Mann high school. After my sophomore year, I had a hip injury that I tried to put on the backburner. Putting this injury on the backburner made it worse and I ended up having to have surgery on my labrum years later. It ended my high school sports career but I don’t believe there would have been any college sports after.

After my labrum injury, I became more involved with my peers and the social scene. I was always the planner: from proms, dinner outings, events, to the guy that knew what was going on in the area. A lot of these people are still my good friends.

My Mom works for Apartments.com/Costar; she handles marketing and publishing online for the entire Upstate area. From verbiage, pictures to anything marketing related in the Upstate area on the Apartments.com site.

My Dad did not go to college, he went to Wrenn High School but he’s always been this entrepreneurial guy; he worked his tail off at a young age. On a given weekend in his teenage years, my Dad would go into virtually all the Ryan’s within the Upstate and clean the floors, a deep clean. Now, thirty years later, he has multiple of his own businesses, ‘Michael & Company Interiors and Carpet One.’

It was really cool to see my Dad have this vision to become an employer of others and have the success that he had while building an empire in the flooring industry.

In college, I started planning events at Clemson. I planned various events, such as national and regional artists, even local friends playing. So I created a social media page that received a good following which allowed me to meet influential people. I did all of my bookings while I was in college, booking artists like LANco, Jon Langston, Waka Flocka, Kane Brown, John Michael Montgomery among many others.

Being able to do what I love for a career makes my daily schedule and routine amazing. My Dad always taught me something growing up: money should not determine what you do. Be happy with what you do. If you can see yourself doing something for a lifetime, then identify how to make money from it. 

What are your hobbies? I love going out-of-town and traveling. In particular, I love going to local towns, renting Airbnb’s to tiny houses with my girlfriend, then hanging out at local brewing, wineries, or exploring what the town has to offer. I especially love going to dog places that are dog-friendly as I have a Golden Doodle. I also play in a local intramural league called Greenville Sports League, which offers a variety of sports year-round. You name it, I am down. I love being social. 

What are you reading/watching? I am going to admit, my girlfriend got me hooked on, ‘One Tree Hill.’ For my readings, I am reading, ‘The Power of Broke,’ by Daymond John.

What is the phrase that you try to live by? ‘In order to succeed, you must fail.’ Basically, do not discourage yourself. Do not knock yourself down or out, always get back up and learn from your mistakes.

Who do you work for? I started a company called, Palmetto Entertainment and Events.

The first event: LANco, a Sophomore year event at Clemson and it was a three-thousand-person pool party at The Pier within Clemson. It was interesting, the Pier reached out to me to host this event, which I obviously loved, and I was all for it. There were national recording artists: LANco & Ben G with a local Clemson band that started the day off. It was great and I also feel lucky because nobody got hurt and everybody had a wonderful time. 

Though I didn’t know the legalities behind everything, which now I do, I was nervous obviously. This was a big deal, it was three-thousand people. The Pier was counting on me to make this successful. I mean honestly, they cut me a check in my name and said, ‘Braxton, we are going to put this up to you. You need to make this party successful.’ The only thing I might regret is not having enough porta-potties, I didn’t quite know 3,000 would show up.

I was able to bring in national sponsors, water slides, ice luges, a mechanical bull, you name it. But I had to make it come together, I don’t think I slept 48-hours prior to the event. It was nerve-wracking, obviously, but so worth it. It is what I do now for a living, it is my image and brand. With that, I must enjoy doing a good job.

I currently do artist relations, marketing, and pretty much everything, A-Z, from a concert standpoint. I also have a New Year’s Eve Event which is my second year at Westfield Greenville, Reedy River Grand Ball. It is very elegant, very boutique, and an all-inclusive event. It was actually named Third Best NYE event in South Carolina last year and Top NYE Event in the Upstate. 

I am also a commercial real estate broker with C Dan Joyner Commercial, handling tenant representation, listings, and leases. 

How would you describe Greenville? It is a young-professional city that has many opportunities. It is one of the most destined places and continues to grow into a place where people want to have a family and live here long term. 

How would Greenville describe Braxton? Ha – I am hoping that I could say the event or the funny guy. Sure, people might not think that I have a job but I love what I do. And that is the point, right? 

Your favorite morning hangout spot? Bex, it’s an awesome place on Main St with the best coffee and bagels. 

Your favorite evening hangout spot? Hall’s, cannot beat the happy hour deals.