Tell us a little about yourself and your experience.
I started in the music industry on the performance side of things about 16 years ago. After a few tours and putting out an EP and a few singles I ended up getting a job working at a coliseum in the box office as a ticket seller from there I quickly worked my way up to become the booking manager before taking a position as a promoter with another company. After a few years promoting live events I wanted to get back into the music side of things and I started to manage a couple of artists which led to me starting Cardigan Records. I have been doing Cardigan now for 3 years and we have grown from having just two artist to 10 artists and more to be announced soon. Along the way I also helped organize a hip hop festival in Durham, NC for a couple of years and Cardigan launching a concert promotions branch of the company this year. I would like to think that I have a well rounded back ground.
What drove you to choose your career path?
As you can see from my experience I have been in the entertainment industry for many years now. In a lot of ways I think my career path just happened organically based on my interests. I think what drives me is wanting to be a part of something that can create emotions in people and hopefully inspire them in some way.
How did you go about getting your job? What kind of education and experience did you need?
I studied Mass Communication with an emphasis on Public Relations in college as well as Philosophy. I use both of those disciplines on a daily basis. As far as getting into my current job I think it is just about the willingness to learn and take advantage of the opportunities that I have been presented. If you work hard then you can create these opportunities.
What do you actually spend the majority of your time doing?
I wish I could say I spend the majority of my time listening to music but a good amount of my time is spent budgeting and negotiating some type of deal.
What misconceptions do people often have about your job?
I think the biggest misconception is people think I spend the majority of my day listening to music… lol
What are your average work hours?
That’s a tough question because it really varies. I feel like I’m always working because I’m always thinking about work. If I had to estimate I would say about 60 to sometimes 80 hours a week.
What personal tips and shortcuts have made your job easier?
I’ve learned there are no real shortcuts to anything of meaning. I think that I would say the biggest tip though would be staying organized. There are a lot of moving parts to the job and dealing with multiple people. Staying organized helps maintain a level of sanity.
What do you do differently from your coworkers or peers in the same profession?
I’m not really sure what I do differently than my peers. I try and take time each day to just think. No distractions just focus on what I need/want to do to grow the business and how I plan on facilitating those plans.
Do you have any advice for people who need to enlist your services?
Pretty simple really… be professional, be organized and be passionate about what you do.
What's the worst part of the job and how do you deal with it?
The worst part of the job is when I have to be critical of an artist and the art they are creating. At the end of the day it is a business and if they music doesn’t sell than we don’t eat.
What's the most enjoyable part of the job?
The most enjoyable part is the relationships that I’ve developed.
What kind of money can one expect to make at your job?
haha… I can give you a range. Starting out you might not make anything really but you could potentially make millions.
How do you move up in your field?
Be willing to put in long hours and not be afraid to think outside the box.
What advice would you give to those aspiring to join your profession?
My advice translates to anything profession really but you must be willing to take risks and be resilient.