Tell us a little about yourself and your experience.

Oh hey! I'm Leigh Greaney. I'm the Vice President of Good Cop PR, a music publicity company in NYC. It's been a dream come true. I get to work with my guru: Perry Serpa, who's been in the industry for almost 30 years and worked with some of my favorite artists/bands, like David Byrne, Sonic Youth and Sparklehorse (just to name a few). 

I specialize in indie rock, garage rock, art rock (ok, lots of rock), experimental pop, post-punk and anything that makes me feel something in my head, my heart or my gut. If I'm not a fan of the music, it's really difficult for me to pitch it effectively. Good work comes from passion and integrity. When I reach out to an artist or get referrals, that's the first thing I look for: talent and a marketable story. I've been lucky to work with some absolutely incredible artists in my time as a publicist - many of whom I sought out personally. That A&R side of the job really lights me up.

What drove you to choose your career path?

I converted to the "darkside" of PR after learning that my dream job of being a music journalist wasn't going to pay my bills quite like I imagined. For a while, I was bartending and freelance writing. Then, my boyfriend said to me one day, "Leigh, you're publicist." So, I got a job in an art gallery doing PR and also curating for the gallery. About a year later, my boyfriend rephrased: "Leigh, you're a MUSIC publicist." It's annoying as hell, but he's usually right. He was this time, for sure. 

How did you go about getting your job? What kind of education and experience did you need?

I was working at the art gallery, which was on Broadway in downtown Manhattan when I found the job post to work at Effective Immediately PR (also located on Broadway). I printed my resume and walked about 200 addresses down the street. I mentioned by obsession with music, my two degrees in writing, my knowledge of press and also that I worked only a few blocks north and that I would be happy to stop by daily during my lunch break until a position opened up. I was hired on the spot. I guess being relentless is a good quality when it comes to PR.

What do you actually spend the majority of your time doing?

I spend a lot of time listening to music. It's important to know what is going on and what journalists like. I don't want to be so involved with my artists that I lose track of what is trending - that's something I think newer publicists really need to get. It's not only about the music being good: it's about having an audience for it. While I'm listening to music and reading blogs (aka stalking journalists), I'm also pitching my face off. 

What misconceptions do people often have about your job?

I say "publicist" and people hear "publisher" - so, that's fun. When I say "people," I mean my entire family and all my friends. Nobody knows what the hell I do. They just know I'm always working. 

What are your average work hours?

This job isn't a 10am to 6pm career. Those are just my office hours. I'm checking my email, getting on calls, writing proposals, putting out fires, managing my team and going to shows all the time. It's a lifestyle and I'm an octopus with two hands, which is very frustrating sometimes. 

What personal tips and shortcuts have made your job easier?

Boomerang saved my life. If the makers of that amazing Chrome extension are reading this, please know that my love for you is eternal and that you complete me. 

If you haven't heard of Boomerang, check it out. It sends emails at a specific time that you choose (so when you're pitching different time zones or pitching late at night, it's the best - hit send and then don't think about it again... it arrives right on time). It also literally can "boomerang" messages back to your inbox if you don't get a response in a time frame that you set. This is key for remembering to follow up on important emails. 

Also, FileMaker is a God send. 

In terms of general advice: learn to ask for help. There's no award for never sleeping, working constantly and hating your life. Delegation and management will make you a more effective team, which in turn means happy clients. 

The best advice I ever got was: "It's PR, not the ER" (shout out to Chelsea for that nugget of wisdom). 

What do you do differently from your coworkers or peers in the same profession?

I don't complain constantly. I love what I do. This job isn't for everyone. If you don't like going out to shows or talking to people, but you really love music, try a job in social media or advertising. You don't have to be an extrovert, but you do have to go out and be in the scene. I feel like I got a reputation for being great with "networking," but to me, that's just doing my job.  

Do you have any advice for people who need to enlist your services?

Pay me, don't play me? I get a lot of artists/bands who think I should work for free or at a major discount because I like the music and because they don't have the money for a campaign. I need to pay my team (and myself) for our time. I get a lot of people who enlist my services and expect insider info, full campaign planning, etc and then ghost once they see the price tag. Some publicists charge for consultations. I don't. I genuinely want to enlighten new bands and artists who have never had PR (or who have had poor experiences in PR) so that they can see the opportunity that I'm offering. It just grinds my gears when my services aren't treated like services. It's a job. It's a TON of work. I wish people understood that getting press doesn't mean sending a quick email and BOOM! It's research, dedication to following up, helping artists find their story, furthering their brand and essentially creating a sub-culture that's uniquely theirs. 

What's the worst part of the job and how do you deal with it?

I work all the time. I need to find more time for myself, my family and my friends. I've dealt with it by making my work life and personal life merge. I invite my friends out to shows, I send bands I'm working with to my family to start a conversation, etc. Since this is truly a lifestyle, I have to own that. 

What's the most enjoyable part of the job?

I could write a small novel about that, but the Reader's Digest version is: I open doors for emerging artists, I give the gift of music to people and I can't see myself doing anything else. Music is my heart. 

What kind of money can one expect to make at your job?

Don't be a publicist if you want to get rich. Let's leave it at that.

How do you move up in your field?

Work your ass off and get awesome results. Show - don't tell - people how good you are at your job. The proof is the press reports. If you kill it, you'll get referrals and promotions. Having a good attitude and being a team player helps, too. 

What advice would you give to those aspiring to join your profession? 

Be your word. Stay impeccably organized. Get creative. Ask for help. Push your limits, but know when you need to rest your brain and your body. 

Only promote music you love. If you HAVE to promote music you don't love, find something to get excited about. Press can tell when you're not being authentic. It shows in the work. 

Make friends in the music industry! We're a pretty small group. Professionalism is all well and great, but don't forget to be a person with people. 

Most importantly: protect your reputation. It's all you have in this industry.