Today we’d like to introduce you to Shirley Kennedy.
Shirley, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My story began with writing for an entertainment outlet, and through those writings, I got close to a couple of the kids on American Idol season 5, especially Ellliott Yamin, who included my name in the liner notes of his debut. After that, I was hooked and had to find my way into the music industry. I started out by building a PR firm, but as I began to take on independent bands, they needed bookings to generate press. My sister started out with me handling the bookings, but I now do everything myself. Doing both means I help fewer artists. I have two on my roster: Dusty Bo (Louisville, KY) and TRUETT (Atlanta, GA).
There are so many talented independent artists out there who just need to be heard. That’s what I do. I’ve been working with Dusty for a little over a year and recently began working with TRUETT. I handle bookings for both, but I also handle tour press for Dusty. My most fervent desire is to see Dusty achieve the level of success that he deserves. He’s been playing guitar since 7, and he had a brush with fame while fronting an alt-rock band in LA. He came back home to start a solo project, and he has been doing quite well with it. He also plays and travels as a trio. I’ve had great success getting him on television in some major markets (Atlanta, Nashville, and Chicago), and they LOVE him. He’s making his third appearance on “Today in Nashville” on April 24, and he’s here in Atlanta on April 22 at Vinyl with TRUETT.
In addition to my work in music, I’m senior litigation paralegal at Lamar Law Office, and I am a political analyst with Palmer Report, which I’ve been doing for four years now.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has been anything but smooth! It’s tough trying to get people to take a chance on indie artists. The venues want and need to make money, and it’s my job to convince them that they can do that with my artists. It’s a LOT of work, and I sometimes don’t take the time I need for me, but I figure that will work itself out as it has in the past.
Working in legal has always been a challenge. It wasn’t until I went to Lamar Law Office that someone saw my potential and took a chance on me to do things outside of just legal work. I now supervise a junior paralegal and serve as the right-hand woman to our Director of Litigation, so I have lots of administrative duties in addition to my legal work. It can be stressful but is very enjoyable and rewarding.
None of my roads are easy; I’m just very determined when it comes to some things, and I do what I need to do to make things happen.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
No one knows how it feels when I’m successful in getting opportunities for my guys. They are so grateful, and that makes me work just that much harder. I’ve secured some things for Dusty that even surprised me, including recently receiving word that his band was selected to open for a much bigger band called Texas Hill, and I have a theater in PA that periodically reaches out for him for opening slots, so we’re getting there.
I’m extremely proud of the things I have accomplished for my guys, but I couldn’t do what I do without their talents. If people didn’t want them, I couldn’t push them, so there’s definitely a lot of teamwork involved. I think what sets me apart the most is that if I believe in someone or something, I’m going to go after it with everything I have. That determination does make things happen, even things we would never have expected.
How do you define success?
At the top of my list of success is happiness. Am I happy with who I am and what I’m doing? The answer is “yes.” Many define success as wealth, fame, etc., but I look beyond material things. If I have enough to live and I’m happy, I’m successful. If I’m able to make a positive impact on someone else’s dreams, I’m successful. I’ve never wanted fame, though I do want fame for my artists. The closer they get to that, the more successful I feel.
I also feel that success means giving back and helping others, including animals. I’m a huge animal lover and recently adopted my third dog from a shelter. I can tell she’s grateful to be out of that cage! I also donate to several charities, and if I had the time, I would volunteer some of it to those causes. In the end, I feel extremely successful because I care. That is so lacking in the world today, and we need more of it.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.sjkpublicrelations.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shirlzk58/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shirlzkennedy
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shirleykennedy/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/sjkprllc
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIDB-qZmQc7C1eRaunjz1hg
- Other: https://www.facebook.com/opusbookingagency
Image Credits
Shirley Kennedy
