The Art of Music Promotion: From Street Teams to Event Curation W/ Will Gibbons

Respecting Perspectives

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Behind every great musical event and artist success story stands someone who's mastered the delicate balance between passion and practicality. In this revealing conversation, Baltimore-based event curator and artist manager Will Gibbons opens up about his journey from construction worker to music industry maven.
Will's brainchild, "Party for a Purpose," emerged during the pandemic as a way to blend art, music, and charitable causes in non-traditional spaces. With refreshing honesty, he shares both his triumphs and stumbles—from successful fundraisers that found a community member a kidney donor to financial challenges that taught hard lessons about event economics. "People always love to have a good time for a good cause," Will explains, capturing the essence of his mission.
The discussion ventures into the nuts and bolts of music promotion, from street teams and grassroots marketing to the never-ending quest for sponsors. Will offers rare insight into what he calls the industry's "labor of love" dynamic: "You're spending twice as much time than somebody else on that same amount of money, but that time slips away because you're doing something you love."
As Uncle Kunkel's One Gram Band's manager, Will reveals what makes the artist-manager relationship work: matching energy and staying realistic while dreaming big. His advice for maintaining balance resonates whether you're an artist, promoter, or fan: "Just because your calendar says you're open doesn't mean you're open."
From geodesic domes at festivals to recording sessions at the Watermelon Room, Will's stories illuminate the creativity, community, and calculated risks that make Baltimore's music scene thrive. For anyone passionate about creating meaningful experiences through art and music, this conversation offers both practical wisdom and inspiring possibilities.

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Chapters

1. Will Gibbons: Background and Introduction (00:00:00)

2. Street Teams and Grassroots Marketing (00:08:54)

3. Party for a Purpose Origin Story (00:16:10)

4. Event Sponsorship and Challenges (00:27:47)

5. Artist Management and Band Development (00:36:17)

6. Work-Life Balance in the Music Industry (00:51:06)

7. Rapid Fire Questions with Will (01:03:15)

8. Closing Thoughts and Contacts (01:15:29)