This week I sat down with Chase Mizzell. Though it took some time to catch up with the Student Body Vice President, talking with him was definitely a treat. Before starting, we compared our times in Charleston where he and I both went to high school, he at Fort Dorchester and I at School of the Arts. Two totally different schools but the same old Charleston. Of course, he was decked in a suit and his trademark bow tie which begged the question, how many does he own? (20, in case you were wondering)
Jumping Right In…
Kiante Chapman: This question I’m about to ask is for you to think about and we’ll get back to it later.
Chase Mizzell: Ok.
KC: You’re on a deserted island, what are three things you would want to have with you?
CM: Oh, that’s hard. Can I have like a device so I can have more than three things?
KC: That’s cheating.
CM: Ok. Well, maybe a boat or a plane.
KC: Both?
CM: No, that’s probably too many transportation things. This is hard.
KC: Well, we’ll come back to it.
CM: Ok.
KC: Typically, how long does it take you to get ready in the mornings?
CM: About 11 minutes.
KC: 11 minutes? That’s it? Well, you’re a guy so I guess that makes sense.
CM: On the way in the shower I turn on the iron and let it warm up while I’m in the shower. Take about six or seven minutes in the shower. I listen to worship music in the mornings so after about two worship songs, that means it’s time to get out. Then I iron my shirt, and putting on everything else only takes about a couple minutes.
KC: What is it about the bow ties you like so much?
CM: Uh, the simple answer is I just started wearing them and liked them. I’ve been asked a few times and when I think about it, I’m trying to think if in my subconscious there is a reason. I guess it has something to do with the fact that it’s professional but it’s still vibrant. It’s still vivacious. Most people in a suit are boring, but I think the bow tie says I can still have a little fun. I’m still friendly.
KC: What kind of bow ties do you prefer?
CM: I don’t really have a preference. You know how your aunts and uncles buy you Christmas and birthday presents and they never know what they want to get you? My family doesn’t do gift cards so you always get nonsense. Just whatever they find in the store. Well now I just tell them to get me a bow tie because, at most, they’re $20. Some people buy a $60 bow tie. I’m not about that. I’m like “let me get a bow tie on sale.”
KC: So would you say your bow tie is the most important part of your outfit?
CM: I don’t know. Guess it might be the one thing people mention the most.
KC: So if you woke up one morning and decided not to put one on, would that matter?
CM: No. I didn’t just the day before yesterday.
KC: Did you get funny looks?
CM: Yeah (laughs) I got questioned on it all day. Probably at least 10-15 people a day. They’d say: “Chase, where’s your bow tie?” (laughs) I’d say: “Maybe tomorrow.”
Sentimental Value
KC: Out of all the things you own, clothes-wise, what is your favorite thing?
CM: Much harder than I expected, that question. Sentimentally I have my grandfather’s military uniform. My grandfather is really important to me. I wouldn’t say that’s my favorite clothes, though. Maybe I’ll just say, outside of my Mic Man uniform, my bright pink pants.
KC: Bright pink pants? (laughs)
CM: Yeah, and I’ve got some blue ones. And I just like them because they throw people off. They’re just like “What? What are you wearing bro?” I usually wear them with flip-flops.
Crowd Pleaser
KC: Ok, since you brought up the Mic Man, How’s that uniform different from what you normally wear. Do you like that it’s so different?
CM: It’s very different because with that role, you’re really taking on a personality. You’re getting behind an idea and embodying this ridiculously passionate cheer master. With, gloves and a cane, it’s a lot different. I never wear sunglasses. I don’t own sunglasses except for the ones that I got to wear to be Mic Man. The shoes are definitely a little bit different. It’s a little more all out there. Everything’s going on at once.
KC: All out?
CM: Yea, all out. Turnt up, if you will.
Welcome to Charleston
KC: Is there one piece of clothing that you don’t have that you would like to have?
CM; I’ve never had any seersucker. That’d be cool. It’s classic.
KC: Very Charleston.
CM: Yep, I’d like to wear a blue and white seersucker jacket with my pink pants (laughs). With flip-flops of course. It’s all about the contrast. It’s a suit, but it’s a bow tie. It’s fancy, but I’ve got long hair. Kind of a juxtaposition of formality and relaxed. If I’m ever out of the normal realm of the campus, I usually don’t have shoes on. During Dance Marathon, I never wore shoes. I don’t like shoes, at all. I’m really a barefoot kind of guy.
But I’m an entrepreneur. I run a tech business on the side – mobile apps and that kind of stuff. My mind is always churning. And I was thinking man, that’s a good company name. I was thinking “barefoot bowties” or “bare feet and bowties.” That would be a heck of a blog name.
KC: I think I just found a title for this. So, back to my first question. You’re on the deserted island.
CM: Three things. Can they be abstract?
KC: Yes.
CM: Okay. One, I’ve got to have people. My passion in life is people. My success on a daily basis, for me, is judged on if I impacted someone’s life. So I need people to love on and get to know and do life with. Number two, maybe musical instruments.
KC: Do you play?
CM: I play the guitar and the djembe. I’m relearning the piano. I knew it when I was a kid. Mainly because I love to worship. I was trying to debate whether I wanted to have a Bible as one of those things. Worshipping is one of my favorite things. It gets me at peace, makes me joyful. Actually, changing the second one. It’s going to be a Bible. I can make instruments out of something on the island.
Number three, the ability to bring more people to the island. I think when people are asked this question they want to get off. I don’t understand why. For me, I love the islands. If I’ve got people and if I’ve got God and worship music, I’m good. I mean, you didn’t say it was a small island. North America is an island, technically.
KC: You found the loophole. But this island is deserted.
CM: It was deserted. Not anymore. We’ve got a party. That way everybody can forget about their jobs and just enjoy life.
1. Hollywood
4. All the iconic idols
3. ‘Soccer’
