An Inspired Chat with Chad Shearer of Old Fourth Ward

Chad Shearer shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.

Hi Chad, thank you for taking the time to reflect back on your journey with us. I think our readers are in for a real treat. There is so much we can all learn from each other and so thank you again for opening up with us. Let’s get into it: What do you think is misunderstood about your business? 
That PR is not the glamorous career path, portrayed on TV and in film by characters like Samantha Jones or Oliva Pope. While there are certainly perks and experiences that you would not usually have in other professions, the role of a publicist is an intense and incredibly stressful one. Press is never guaranteed, but if you fail to achieve it, your job won’t be either.

Another misconception is that PR is solely about chasing (and landing) that story. Publicists wear many hats and fill numerous roles for their clients – everything from crisis manager to therapist; the job is a constant pivot.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Chad David Shearer, and I am the co-founder, with the company’s namesake, of Caren West PR, which was established twenty years ago as a lifestyle and entertainment public relations house. The foundation behind CWPR was, at its inception, that of a dual agency with one side handling public relations and the other handling creative services. With our growth, we have narrowed our focus to offering design services only to clients who are already under our umbrella on the PR end of things.

Outside of running the business, my day-to-day function at CWPR is managing our music festival vertical, which includes several large-format festivals across the country. Currently, we have events in Georgia, Arizona, New Mexico, New York, Hawaii, Texas, and Nevada.

Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
Without a question, that would have to be Caren, who instilled in me a confidence I never knew existed. She was already a media fixture in our home base of Atlanta, with a column in the Sunday Paper, a weekly radio segment on 99X, and a constant in the pages of magazines and on TV, before I really got to know her.

If I am being honest, I was out of my league, but I took my shot and pitched her on the idea of CWPR. And through the early stages of the company, she built my confidence, as well as the public perception of who I was. I commanded attention through association until I began to believe what she was telling me and what we were accomplishing to step forward into that brave new world.

I still struggle to work a room like she does, and I question myself at times, but I owe much of who I am to her.

Do you remember a time someone truly listened to you?
Many years ago, I was helping my Dad get our above-ground pool ready for the summer – basically handing him tools when he asked for them, while he tinkered with the filter. It was just the two of us, and I asked him what he thought I would do when I grew up. He stopped what he was doing, looked me in the eye, and, with little hesitation, said, “I think you are going to be on Saturday Night Live or in some sort of entertainment field.”

At the time, my reaction was one of nervous laughter, but I also thought it would be super cool to be one of the ‘not ready for prime time players.’ Since then, I have come to realize that my Dad was not that far off. As a publicist, I am constantly telling a story for my clients, all of whom entertain, whether it be 20,000 people at one of Relentless Beats’ marquee events or a celebratory dinner at TWO urban licks. So, I am entertaining to an extent, and for my Dad to be able to tap into that during my adolescent years means that he’s always been listening to me.

I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. Whose ideas do you rely on most that aren’t your own?
As a small company, CWPR constantly looks to our team for fresh and inventive ideas. At this late stage in my career, if I’ve considered it, I don’t necessarily think it will be our best look. It could be great, but I would rather hear feedback- or even better, new ideas from my team. I am not naive enough to think that just because I have done this longer, it’s automatically better. Instead, I encourage the team to come up with ideas that will resonate with the demos we are trying to communicate.

I do have a habit of taking these fresh and wonderful ideas and Frankensteining them into something entirely different from where they started. But that is part of being on a team; we all contribute.

Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. If you knew you had 10 years left, what would you stop doing immediately?
Working, or at least working as intensely as I do. There are times when I’m sure many publicists reach a point where they feel like all they are doing is giving, and that will only stop when there’s nothing left on the carcass. It is a tough line to walk, especially when you love what you do, but it also leaves you feeling robbed of moments that should be much more important.

If I had ten years left or could go back ten years, I would create more time for things outside of work. I wouldn’t take that call while hiking with my son or discuss anything other than work with Caren or my family. I do some fun stuff at my job, but let’s talk about you. What is going on in your life- I want to be a part of it.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.carenwestpr.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carenwestpr/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chadavid/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/carenwestpr/

Image Credits
Jacob Tyler Dunn
Chad David Shearer