Who are you and what do you do?

The name's Steve Gorson and I'm a music manager working in every aspect of artists services! Part of this includes building online followings on music distribution channels and social media platforms to establish and maintain an online presence. I also help artists book live shows and work out the logistics of the recording process and associated marketing campaigns. Basically, I do it all but write the music (and I can help with that too)!

The number one mistake I see almost every artist make at some point in their careers is treating their job like hobby. I've come across too many truly talented musicians or producers who just aren't willing to do the necessary work to "make it." They just wanna play music all day! Which I totally get; I want to do the same thing! But I know that success in the music industry requires far more than that; you need to put in the hours.

What makes you different from others in the field and what should readers who are interested in your services do next?

I'm a hybrid and bridge between a stereotypical "suit" and a "creative" within the industry. I work the business side such as creating marketing campaigns, scheduling studio sessions, and booking shows, but I also work on producing creative content i.e. helping direct photo and video shoots and providing input on the music itself. If you want to know more, feel free to shoot me an email! gorson@bc.edu

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Are you a superfan of anyone? How did you become a superfan? Do you remember how you become a fan and what turned you into super fan? Have you ever thought about why you´re such a fan?

KANYE WEST!!! I know, I know, he's crazy, but a crazy genius! There hasn't been a single song I haven't at LEAST liked since I first listened to The College Dropout back in high school, and he's heavily influenced my perspective on how to push musical limits. He's easily one of the most creative and versatile artists out right now.

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What was the biggest mistake you made when you started making music and what would be the number one tip you could give to a newcomer musician?

The biggest mistake I've made is not getting serious about the music industry sooner, I wish I started years ago! But hey, no point in wishing for what could've been. And to any newcomers, it's never too late! But if you're going to get serious, you better be ready to give it everything you have.

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How do you get gigs? Can you share any tips?

It's all about making connections, and if you're starting out that means not being afraid to blindly reach out to people! You never know what someone will say on the other end of the phone, in an email reply, or whatever other means you use. But it's chiefly important to act professional, prepared, and persistent, don't hit up venue owners or promoters with sloppy emails, don't call them during dinner time, etc.

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Do you have good promotion tips for other musicians?

You have to be LOUD!!! The greatest guitar player of all time is currently sitting in his basement fooling around on his frets, and he will never reach traditional success in the industry because no one knows he exists. If you know you're great and you create great music, then let everybody in on it! You can't be afraid to put yourself out there, and this applies in a literal sense when it comes to social media.

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Do you have insights on how to grow your audience on soundcloud that you want to share with our audience?

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What has been your biggest challenge right now? Have you been able to overcome that challenge? If so, how?

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How do you personally discover new music?

I pay attention to what the biggest publications as well as smaller blogs push on the online, they usually have a pretty solid pulse on what's next. But I also just love surfing Soundcloud and Youtube, or listening to random Spotify playlists. And naturally, my friends and I are always exchanging new music!

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Once you discovered new music, do you tell others about the new music/artist you discovered? If yes, how exactly?

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What is your number one tip to improve your music production or songwriting skills?

Unfortunately, and I hate to say this, but 90% of the difference between a high quality banger and a low quality song is the money invested in the equipment. If you're using Garageband with no mixing or mastering tools and a really poor sounding mic, chances are your music won't blow up. Now, this isn't always the case of course, but if you look at almost any song on the Billboard Hot 100 or Spotify's Top 50, they weren't created without a significant investment in the equipment used.

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What is your best tip for those who struggle with finishing their tracks?

I've had this problem with my own personal projects, so this is highly relatable for me. My advice is this: lay down the bare minimum of each full track to the song first, don't get caught up in perfection, and don't get too detailed in the editing process. Fiddling with the reverb on one of your hi-hats for an hour isn't gonna make a significant difference to the average listener. And don't get discouraged! It's better to release something you wish you could spend more time on (but don't necessarily need to) then never releasing it at all.

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We meet again in one year. What has changed?

Three of my artists, a singer/songwriter, a rapper, and a future bass/EDM producer, will each release their own 4-6 song EP's, collaborating frequently with one another on each project. We will rollout a marketing campaign for each artist one a time, naturally including the others in the process. As soon as one release is fully complete, we will immediately move onto the next. This will include teasing studio sessions, track lists, singles, merchandise, and visual content for each auditory component. Meanwhile, my artists will continue to play combined and separate live events, building on the following we already have leading up to each release.

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Enter your questions to the artist in the facebook comment section below.
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