Michael Mac Millan was born in Sacramento, grew up in Reno, and was part of the hardcore music scene here in the 1980s. After high school, he saved up his money and moved to San Francisco, a city that had always called to him.
Mac Millan has been back in Reno since 2010. He’s studied sound and electronics at Imirage Sound Lab in Sparks and at community college. He’s booked entertainment for Wildflower Village (the West Fourth Street motel-turned-arts-complex that closed in 2016) and Studio on 4th (the East Fourth Street bar and performance venue that was once where the Dead Ringer Analog Bar is now). He does sound for Valhalla Tahoe in South Lake Tahoe, which he called “one of the most magical venues in the world.”
Mac Millan now does double duty as the food hall’s general manager and the booking and entertainment manager at Reno Public Market, 299 E. Plumb Lane, in Reno, where local and touring acts play on Faye’s Stage. Check RPM’s calendar for upcoming performances at www.renopublicmarket.com/community-events.
How did you get the Reno Public Market job?
That’s a great story. I got called to do sound for the RPM’s grand opening, and I brought my equipment down; this was on Jan. 20, 2023. I must’ve done a decent job, as the owners asked me to stay on. The owners asked me to become their music booker and then asked me to be the general manager, and that’s what I do today. I’ve managed businesses for over 20 years, so it’s not out of my wheelhouse. I like to say this is the longest one-day job I’ve ever had. … If they ever find my secret sleeping spot, I’ll probably be trespassed off the property.
What do you take into consideration when you’re programming acts for RPM?
I look for acts that create engaging magic with their audience, and have widespread appeal across all cultures and age groups. Most of the acts I book here are artists I’ve worked with elsewhere.
What does the future hold for the Reno Public Market?
The Reno Public Market concept is the first of its kind in Reno. With any brand-new concept, there are growing pains. We’ve had some transitions of late. We are growing into our identity. There was an original vision, and it has grown from there. Now the community is helping to define us. Our community grows us, and we help grow our community in return. I like to think our future is bright. We fill a niche not found elsewhere. We have a new restaurant coming in called Cuzco, a Peruvian restaurant. I’ve tried this guy’s food, and it’s fantastic. His name is Roberto Caballero. Roberto could have a five-star restaurant anywhere, but he’s going to have it here.
What events do you have coming up?
ABC will be filming a reality show in the food hall in September called What Would You Do? It’s a TV show—they kind of set people up, a kind of honesty test. Like, someone loses a wallet: Do you pick it up and hand it back? Or do you put it in your own pocket and walk away? We don’t have the exact dates yet, but it will be sometime in September.
On Saturday evening, Aug. 24, Drag Wars comes to RPM, featuring games of skill and chance, also jousting. We’re taking over the whole area by the stage; a giant inflatable arena will fill the area in front of the stage. It’s going to be packed. I don’t know the total number of drag kings and queens who are going to be here, but I’ve heard that it’s going to be full. Proceeds will benefit Our Center.