As a musician, Chris Brooks plays multiple instruments. As general manager and associate publisher of Dig Magazine, he wears multiple hats. And that busy arrangement suits him just fine.
“It keeps me stimulated week in and week out, because I get to use both the right side and the left side of my brain,” he says. “It’s a lot of fun. And I learn stuff every single day that is good for me, because otherwise I would just get bored.”
With his various pursuits, Brooks is in no danger of becoming bored. In addition to overseeing the day-to-day operations of Dig for the past six years, the Baton Rouge native plays in the band Our First Fight and is a board member of Forum 35, serving as co-chair of its annual Art Melt for the past four years.
Brooks oversaw the name change of the magazine from Tiger Weekly to Dig, a rebranding effort intended to expand its scope from LSU to the entire city. The publication focuses on entertainment and other relevant local subjects, catering to a demographic that he calls the “young and affluent class.”
“We feel that we are the voice of that group,” he says.
It is that voice that Brooks aims to amplify through his work with Art Melt. He became involved with the juried art show after attending it one year.
“I couldn’t believe it was happening,” he says, adding that he joined Forum 35 as a result. “It’s given me personally so much gratification to see all those people enjoying that event, and giving the artists opportunities that they otherwise wouldn’t have had.”
When he isn’t overseeing business at Dig or working on Art Melt, Brooks is creating some art of his own. A classically trained musician proficient in piano, guitar, drums and vocals, Brooks’ band recently released its first EP. He considers music his “true passion.”
His passions share an underlying trait: reaching out to a receptive audience.
“One thing that really makes me tick is people,” Brooks says. “I get my pleasure out of seeing others succeed. I want to empower people. … I’m really, really excited to see what the next 15-20 years has in store for Baton Rouge.”
