Chase Padgett Evolves His Hit Show ‘6 Guitars’ While Looking Ahead

Orlando: Chase Padgett has a real soft spot for his show “6 Guitars.” He calls it his living love letter to music and always aims to bring something fresh to it.

This year marks the 15th anniversary of the show, and he’s bringing it back to the Pugh Theater at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts. It’s come a long way since its debut at the 2010 Orlando Fringe Festival.

After that sold-out run, Padgett has created other successful shows like “Nashville Hurricane” and even dabbled in videography and entertainment marketing. But “6 Guitars” remains his go-to, performed hundreds of times across North America, including a month-long off-Broadway stint in New York City.

The tickets for his upcoming show sold out so fast that they had to add another performance.

In “6 Guitars,” Padgett plays six different characters, each sharing their love for a specific music genre while showcasing their guitar skills. He brings to life a bluesman, a jazz enthusiast, a rock musician, a classical player, a folk singer, and a country artist.

His knack for creating these memorable characters, along with his impressive guitar skills, has won over both critics and fans. Over the years, he’s tweaked Peter’s storyline to highlight the importance of music education and is even working on adding John Coltrane’s challenging piece “Giant Steps” to the mix.

For the country singer Rupert, he’s weaving in a new storyline about a red guitar that reflects his own life. He’s also incorporating a unique guitar playing style called “chicken pickin’,” which adds a fresh twist to the show.

When performing at larger venues, Padgett is joined by a drummer and bassist, which he finds enhances the experience. He believes music is like a good meal; it’s better when shared.

While the musicians support him during the rock segments, they step back during classical pieces, allowing Padgett to shine.

As “6 Guitars” evolves, so do Padgett’s career aspirations. After spending a lot on videographers for his shows, he decided to take matters into his own hands and started recording his performances.

This has led to more promotional work, all aimed at self-producing his own touring productions. He’s learned that having a solid press kit is crucial for success.

His marketing efforts have paid off, as he sold out a 400-seat theater in Saskatoon, a city he had never visited before. He emphasizes that good video can make theater translate well, contrary to popular belief.

Padgett has also experienced the downside of poor marketing during his off-Broadway run, which left him in debt and feeling down. He wants to help other artists avoid that struggle.

He’s passionate about using his experiences to guide others, so they don’t have to learn the hard way. He feels driven and ready to tackle his goals.

Will he stop performing “6 Guitars” as his new business grows? Maybe, but he still loves it too much to let it go completely.