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: Anything else you want to tell us about Oasis or your career? I am blessed and want to keep this going for a long time. Understanding my limits and sleeping whenever I can LOL. Hunter Vance: The bar is the center of my career, though I am still making club appearances around the country and doing video shoots. : How do you balance owning a bar and having a successful career? That’s why the rainbow is in the center of the OASIS logo, we are all a different color and that is what makes us strong. Lastly I have to remember that the world is ever growing and changing, and there are many who may not look like me or talk like me but are just like me. Recognize that I will make mistakes and say the wrong thing but that I can learn and grow from it.
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But also come to terms that the haters will hate and there is nothing I can do about it. Remember that the enemies of our community are still out there, so it makes no sense in attacking each other. But I would share the advice I have to tell myself. Hunter Vance: That’s a tough one, I am not sure if I should be serving advice to our community. What advice would you have to our LGBTQ community in Sarasota? It’s always good to have a set of eyes that sees things from a different perspective.
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We are also working with some individuals who have a vast amount of experience and talent working with nightclubs around the country but more importantly they are leaders in the fight for LGBTQ+ civil rights. I am so appreciative of all of the emails, texts and comments from people sharing their ideas and though we can’t do all of them, they help us in making OASIS the best LGBTQ+ venue in Sarasota. We are working on some new parties and events that I know people are going to enjoy. Hunter Vance: Well for starters, I learned A LOT from working at the Barrel, so we are working on creating a space that everyone can enjoy. : What will make oasis stand out in our LGBTQ community? We recognize that we are not a multi-leveled megaclub, with 24K gold pouring from our drafts, but we are committed to be a part of OUR community. Whether it be for area Pride celebrations, AIDS service organizations or LGBTQ arts and cultural festivals, we want to be a part as best we can. Likewise we are looking forward to expanding our support to the community. This will allow us to think of new and different events, we are already planning some surprises. Hunter Vance: One of the first things that comes to mind is having a larger space. : What are you most excited about with your new venture? It’s not just a watering hole, it's a place to relax, to dance, to just have fun. We all need that place where we can go and find relief from the hustle and bustle of life. Hunter Vance: When you picture an oasis, you think of a fertile place in a desert, where water is found. Call me crazy, but I owe so much to my community for being their for me when no one else was. We gave the community a great space to be out and proud and I wanted to continue that tradition and so I decided to open OASIS. "It’s damn exhausting and if you are not careful it can drain you and rob you of the enjoyment of owning a business." You always want to end on a high note and I feel we did. It was one of the toughest decisions I have had to make, but I respect why they wanted to take a break. Hunter Vance: "As I mentioned on my announcement on Facebook, we (the owners of Barrel 87) decided to sell the business. : "So tell us what happened to Barrel 87?" While we enjoyed cocktails and asked him questions Hunter was managing the bar, helping his staff, having flyers designed for upcoming events, and scheduling travel for upcoming appearances! Here's what Hunter had to say: We sat down with Hunter, one of the hardest working men in our community. Favorite Non-profit Organization: ALSO Youthįavorite LGBT Annual Event: Sarasota Pride, Incįavorite LGBT Community Leader/Activist: Shannon M Fortnerįavorite LGBT Owned Businesses: Purple Rhino Lodgeįavorite Performing Arts Venue: Van Wezel Performing Arts Hallįavorite Local Actor/ Actress: Brian Craftįavorite Apartment Community: ARCOS Apartmentsįavorite Church: MCC Church of the Trinityįavorite Salon: SALON FORTY ONE On Palm Avenueįavorite Beauty Spa: The Laser Lounge Spa of Sarasotaįavorite Restaurant: Tsunami Sushi & Hibachiįavorite Bar: Oasis - Sarasota's Premier LGBT + Venueįavorite LGBT Club: Oasis - Sarasota's Premier LGBT + Venueįavorite Drag Queen Bingo: Beneva Fruitville's Bingo Bonanzaįavorite Interior Designer/ Company: Beginning to End Interiorsįavorite Drag Personality: Beneva Fruitvilleįavorite Adult Novelty Store: Giggles Sarasotaįavorite Social Media Personality: Joey PanekĢ018 's OUT ICON AWARD: Shannon M Fortner