Today we’d like to introduce you to Gary Lamb.
Hi Gary, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
My story starts with a dad who my whole life stressed to me to do what I love for a living instead of in his words “being a slave like I am to a job you hate.” I took those words to heart. At 16, I started a comic book and baseball card store. I’ve basically worked for myself (with the exception of about 18 months) ever since. I moved to Iowa at 22 to start a church. I relocated to Canton at 28 to start another church that grew very quickly and my talent exceeded my character and I imploded in a very big way at 33. Just because I lost everything didn’t mean the bills stopped so I immediately started hustling. I started several different business that provided for my family, but as with most entrepreneurs, I become bored very easily. Every business I built I basically built through large events, promotion, and hustle. About seven years ago, I attended a festival that drew thousands of people and was one of the most boring things I ever attended. In my heart, I knew I could do it better. At the time, I was big into BBQ and I had friends that were big into the craft beer scene so I launched a festival called BBQ and Brews in Canton. It was a huge success. That opened up more doors that opened up more doors that opened up even more doors. For the last seven years, I have been putting on festivals, concerts, farmers markets, food truck nights and even started a wrestling promotion three years ago called Southern Honor Wrestling that has won Georgia Wrestling Promotion of the year all three years of our existence. Promoting and putting on events allows me to stay in one field but every event is like starting a new company so I get to scratch that itch while building something long-term.
As if that wasn’t enough, my wife and I started Revival South Apparel Company in 2021 which is a digital screen printing company for local businesses, musicians, artists and Boutique owners that has taken off in big ways. My wife jokes that I am the “redneck PT Barnum” and it has provided a lifestyle of freedom for my family which I am so grateful for.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I like to joke that I’m an overnight success 20 years in the making. I can’t complain. Imploding at 33 was anything but smooth. I had started the biggest church in our community and then screwed up so bad that I was on the front page of the paper. I chose to stay in the same community to start over because this is where my kids are so you can imagine the haters I have. That being said, 12 years into my second chance I think people see a different person than I was in then. I’m also very opinionated on my views of politics, our country, what we has individuals are becoming and chasing your dreams no matter what so that builds fans and foes. You take the good with the bad.
In regards to the event business, you are the mercy of the weather so we’ve made great money and we have lost great money. COVID shutting everything down a couple of years ago was anything but smooth for those of us in the event business, but we pivoted and thrived during that time. We moved from a few large events a year to lots of smaller events. That is the beauty of being your own boss, you can pivot quickly if needed.
As you know, we’re big fans of Revival Events Group. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
We are a business that believes in creating community through events. We specialize in vendor focused events that highlight the amazing makers, creators, artists, bakers, junkers and purveyors of homemade goods we have here in North Georgia.
What sets us apart is we are able to come into a city draw thousands of people to their city, and it not cost the city a dime. With our network of vendors, food trucks, production crews, and musicians, we have gotten to the point that we can come to a city and provide everything needed for what I like to call a “spectacular spectacle”.
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
Growing up, I was balls the wall. Always in trouble at home, at school, and even work. I always had to be the center of attention, always was running my mouth (which didn’t always end well) and always in some type of mess. I knew early on in life that a 9-5 life would never be in my cards.
Contact Info:
- Email: gary@revivalsouth.com
- Website: www.revivaleventsgroup.com and www.revivalsouth.com
- Instagram: @garylamb @revivalsouth @revivaleventsgroup
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/pastorgarylamb, www.facebook.com/revivaleventsgroup, www.facebook.com/revivalsouth
