Meet Sally Custer — Music Business Maven
A Portland Paramount Experience
by Ken Thompson — July 2021
Sally Custer was born in Toledo, Ohio, and moved to Portland in 1976 to work with Lifespring, a human potential company. She completed her college career at Marylhurst University, earning a Bachelors’s Degree in Human Communications.
In 1978 Sally landed a job at the Paramount as a Production Assistant, working with the bands and doing what every music fan dreams of, hanging out backstage.
“At the Paramount, Freeman Hatfield, stage manager, helped set the course of my career and life, and I am forever grateful.”
Using her natural and earned promotion skills, Sally then entered a career as a sought-after Event Promoter.
In 1990 she became a partner with Showman, Inc and was instrumental in creating musical experiences at the Rose Garden Concerts, the Aladdin Theater, and many other notable venues.
In 2001 she joined Lupin Communications and became a prominent player in managing events, fundraising, and sponsorship relations.
Sally recently collaborated with Sheila Hamilton and actor auGi Garred to produce a Wellness video called “Chasing Chaos,” which features Storm Large. Together, they explore mental health from the concept of “luvity,” which Sally says “is about telling tough stories with love and levity.”
Sally holds music, animals, the Earth, and justice as inspiration in all endeavors.
Currently, she’s up North on Vashon Island, a ferry ride from Seattle, scouting for property and contemplating her Next Big Adventure.
“Chasing Chaos” w/ Storm Large : (https://youtu.be/39ZS80AGXy8).
1. Name three of the best concerts you saw at the Paramount.
Most of the time, I was working when I was there. But I have to admit, a group of girlfriends from our dorm came up our freshman year from Oregon State to see Sha Na Na in the early ’70s. The first time I set foot in the place. And then, the owners at the time, in the late ’70s, took us all (the Portland crew) by bus to see Red Skelton at the Seattle Paramount. That was amazing. Those were my bookends, and in the middle — snippets of greatness every night I worked.
2. About those shows, what was most meaningful to you?
Working with the crew. Learning the music industry from the ground floor (I answered phones). Watching the promoters like Dave Leiken, John, and especially Ivy Bauer, one of the few female concert promoters globally, weave their magic with the shows. Then John Bauer Concerts/Media One hired me to be PA at their bigger shows. A dream come true. Then they hired me to PM at their smaller ones (The Civic — Dolly Parton). And the rest is history — a lifetime of meaning and deep relationships. It’s the best industry in the world — for all its quirks.
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3. What’s your favorite story about the Paramount?
How do we narrow that down? Probably one of the nights, a small crew of us were assigned to watch the pre-breakout doors by the fire department. We were “security.” I was posted to one of the top balcony doors by Doug Fish, who was in charge of security and front of the house. It was Frank Zappa. During Suicide Chump, a guy jumped off the balcony and landed in the aisle below. No one was hurt. LSD was involved. And also how John Bauer would count the cash settlement at the end of the night with a bowie knife.
4. What did you do before or after the show? How about Pre or Post Concert hangouts? Any favorite spots.
First, the front-of-house crew went to the Virginia Café where Bill Dickey was the manager at the time, during the shows. Chivas Rocks with a twist. Then we went back to work, where I went back to answering phones. Worried parents mainly at that time of night. I was pretty relaxed by then. For after, we always wound up at the end of the night at Cassidy’s. After the Fish Grotto’s (Flesh Ghetto, so named by Shirley Harrington, owner of the I-5 Diner Girls — the catering company at the Portland Paramount) waitress would walk around saying, “Suck ’em up!” The Brasserie for the live jazz and great bartender. Embers and Flossies for dancing. Also, 2601 Vaughn for an upscale after-show experience and a great bartender. Of course, there was always Quality Pie and the Hotcake House too.
5. What are some of your favorite Portland Hangouts you’re looking forward to visiting again?
The Aladdin, the Revolution Hall, Wonder Ballroom, Doug Fir, Roseland (I want to hear some live music!!)
6. Who are some of your favorite Portland Musical Artists?
There are so many. Where do I even start? Johnny and the Distractions and that era of music is my heart.
7. Have you met any famous people? Would you please tell us your story?
Much of my career has been working in the music industry. So yes, I have been honored to have worked with and met famous people.
I have had a couple of “super fan” experiences where I couldn’t talk. One was with Daryl Hall at Saratoga Springs Amphitheater. I was visiting an ex-boyfriend who had a couple of days off from touring with the Scorpions. I checked into the hotel and heard some music wafting across the grounds. Hall and Oates was sound checking, and it happened that Portland notable, Ed Wannebo, was production managing. I called backstage and wandered over to my waiting backstage pass. It was great seeing Ed and meeting his crew. I happened to be standing outside the production office when Daryl and John walked by after soundcheck. Daryl looked me in the eye and just said, “Hello,” with that Daryl Hall glint in his eye. My knees went weak, and I couldn’t answer. Super Fan.
The second time was Jackson Browne. We were promoting him at the Washington Park Rose Garden Amphitheater, and a client of ours, Transition Projects, wanted a guitar autographed for their annual auction. Jackson had intense internal security (that’s another story), and I was surprised they got it approved! With me bringing the guitar to Jackson. I walked into his ‘dressing room’ — an RV on the road behind the stage — and couldn’t talk. He was very warm, asking me what Transition Projects did for our community. I couldn’t remember, and I had no idea, but I got some weird sentence out. I was a Super Fan. I still have an autographed poster the crew got from him at a show years later in Spokane, professing his love for me — some stories never die, and I have the feeling it would be the same today. With both of them.
8. Please tell us something most people don’t know about you.
I was on the concert committee at UC Santa Barbara in the mid-’70s. We produced Bob Dylan, Rod Stewart, Fleetwood Mac, Leo Kottke, to name a few.
9. Would you like to nominate someone to do a What’s Your Paramount Experience interview?
Doug Fish
