Green Ambassador Spotlight: Sheldon Cooper
Most people don’t find their calling early in life. For Sheldon Cooper, though, he discovered his life’s work through an unlikely medium – partying.
From throwing cave bonfires in the remote Nevada desert to hosting one of the largest annual cannabis events in Las Vegas, Sheldon Cooper has made a name for himself through his profound understanding of nightlife and entertainment.
Today, his companies host over 1,000 events nationally, and his business empire is valued at over $320 million. Throughout his journey of curating events, his mission has remained the same: connect people in meaningful ways that change their lives.
Best known for his event, the Las Vegas Cannabis Awards Music Festival, Sheldon continues to bring fresh ideas to the cannabis space and uplift the individuals that make up the industry.
Caves to Conferences
Sheldon’s tales as a teenager are ones you’d expect to hear in a movie. From warehouse ragers to dangerous stunts, he’s always had an adventurous spirit, to say the least. Rather than water himself down, as most would, he decided to use his cravings for the unordinary as his best asset.
His first foray into event planning started with the bonfires he and his friends would throw in the desert surrounding Las Vegas. “I used to go there in the day and prepare for the night. It was really the first time I experienced stage planning,” said Cooper.
Despite his love for partying, Sheldon was not the stereotypical “party kid” – in fact, he excelled in school. He started taking business classes in high school, which eventually led him to earn his business degree from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
His affinity towards nightlife never faded, though.
“When I went to college, there were no parties,” said Sheldon. “I thought to myself, ‘Where are all the college parties I saw on TV?’” ‘
Eventually, he decided to take matters into his own hands.
All Access USA
Throughout college, Sheldon hosted huge parties in penthouses across the Las Vegas strip, and slowly, he started to build a reputation for himself.
However, it wasn’t until 2013, when he graduated from UNLV, that he really started to gain notoriety through his brand All Access USA.
That same year in October, he visited Beauty Bar, a retro bar in the heart of Downtown Las Vegas, and showed them a calendar of his upcoming events. He had the entirety of the following year planned out, with flyers made, DJs booked, and logistics sorted out.
“They told me they’ve never seen anyone do that,” said Sheldon. “They liked my ambition and persistence, so they decided to give me a shot.”
From the very first event, they knew they had booked something special. By the time the third show came around, they offered Sheldon a two-year residency, which he turned into All Access Las Vegas Presents: Trap Life.
“As a kid, I thought I finally did it. I get paid to party,” said Sheldon. “Security was on my side, not trying to shut us down!”
Learning the Ropes
Even though he felt on top of the world, Sheldon’s career was just getting started. During this time, he was simultaneously working at Encore Beach Club, and it was here that he really learned the ropes of nightlife and entertainment.
“I got to learn how to do everything on a 5-star, platinum scale,” said Sheldon. Through his position, he gained a deep understanding of the insides and outs of world-renowned clubs. “It started opening my mind to the small attention to detail.”
Using this time to his advantage, he focused his efforts on connecting with the staff and building lasting relationships. As these connections grew, so did his calling for All Access Las Vegas.
“Eventually, I resigned. I knew I had to do this full-time,” said Sheldon. “ If I didn’t put my life into it, nobody else would.”
Never doing anything halfway, he sold his house and invested all his money into his company. With that capital, he was able to throw his first-ever Las Vegas Cannabis Awards at the Hard Rock.
The show was an instant hit and even sold out.
Realizing its potential, he’s now taken it on the road to states like California, Arizona, and Oklahoma. “Even if I lose, I don’t mind because we’re making history and changing lives.”
Las Vegas Cannabis Awards Music Festival
Guided by the same ethos that led him to throw parties in high school and college, Sheldon designed the Las Vegas Cannabis Awards Music Festival as a way to connect and celebrate people.
He knew he wanted to throw a festival with these principles: free entries, free voting, and free brand sponsorships.
“I didn’t care about the money, I wanted to focus on the people,” said Sheldon.
Today, his awards show features nearly 150 categories that celebrate the professionals and brands in the cannabis industry. Its most recent iteration was at Area 15 and welcomed thousands of attendees.
Today, All Access USA is valued at $320 million dollars altogether, and Sheldon has no plans of stopping in the near future.
“Imagine an all-inclusive cannabis award where your hotel stay, food, and show were covered in your accommodations,” he said.
For now, the group’s next plans are in Oklahoma, the first time they will be hosting an event for the whole state and their first time utilizing a 3-story tall venue.
Get your tickets to the Oklahoma Cannabis Awards Music Festival here. You can also follow All Access USA on Instagram to stay up to date on their latest events.
Green Cannabis Co. is a proud sponsor of the Las Vegas Cannabis Awards Music Festival.
Want to connect more with the Las Vegas cannabis industry? Check out our other Green Ambassador Spotlight posts.
