Meet Shannon Marie Tovey | freelance writer/music promoter

We had the good fortune of connecting with Shannon Marie Tovey and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Shannon Marie, what’s your definition for success?
As a freelance writer/music promotor, I think it’s important to define success beyond making money or achieving fame or even by the number of people who have read a particular article. For me, “success” is when I have written a profile or review and the musicians tell me that it’s captured what their music is all about. It’s also when their fans tell me that I’ve accurately described their experiences and helped them to understand why they felt the way that they did. I also hope that a well-written article will intrigue people who have never heard a particular musician or band to get out and enjoy the fantastic array of live music that we have in the Atlanta area.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I began by blogging about lesser-known bands and musicians hoping to get a few more people out to enjoy and support local live music. I then branched out to do album reviews, interviews, and feature articles. I’m currently working on expanding into writing promotional materials for press kits and venues. I never expected my articles to go viral or that I would one day get to interview Grammy contenders, including one of my heroes, Amy Ray.

This experience has taught me a few things. First, whatever you feel compelled to do just do it, whether you are 100% confident in the beginning or not. Keep pushing and don’t be afraid to ask for what you want, even if it seems crazy and out of reach. If you throw enough spaghetti on the wall, sooner or later a piece will stick. I throw a lot of spaghetti, and I don’t worry much or take it personally when some of it doesn’t stick. I just move on or try again later.

Next, be confident in what you have to offer. Everybody has their own unique experiences and knowledge to bring to a new venture. I know that other people have greater technical knowledge of music than I do, but I have found that having a viewpoint similar to the typical audience member helps me to write things that they can relate to. I also think that my academic background in psychology and story helps me to analyze and synthesize what I experience and to communicate that in ways that resonate with readers. A few times in the past I have tried to venture into levels of expertise that I really didn’t have. Now I’m truer to myself and my readers by focusing on my unique strengths and letting other people do what they do they best. My motto has become: “Focus on what you do best and get better at it.”

Thirdly, always keep learning. Ask questions, read, and listen to people. Some musicians and music fans have amazing insight and knowledge that they have been kind enough to share with me. I also like to watch videos of people like Rick Beato explaining what makes a particular song work. I’m a voracious reader, and, of course, the more live music I experience the better I get at writing about it.

Finally, and most importantly, stay focused on why you began to do your work in the first place. All that other good stuff will come if you work hard and stay true to your purpose and mission.

What I’d like people to know about me and my brand, Layla Promotions, is that I am 100% committed to doing the best job I can to write about and represent people in the music business who are genuine and passionate about what they do. I put the same effort into small projects with lesser-known people whom I really believe in as I do with larger projects and better-known musicians. I won’t stop with a project until I feel like I’ve given it everything I’ve got.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Of course I’d focus on live music. We’d definitely go to Smith’s Olde Bar, Northside Tavern, Blind Willies, Eddie’s Attic, Variety Playhouse, and Cajun Blues in Atlanta as well as some places right outside of Atlanta like Rootstock, Madlife, and Maxwell’s Cigar Bar, I’ve had consistently great music experiences at all those venues, and I appreciate how, in addition to booking better known acts, they give talented musicians who are new on the scene a chance to hone their skills and gain an audience.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Scott Freeman, the editor at ArtsATL, probably does more for publicizing music and the other arts than anyone else I know of. He works tirelessly to review and promote the best of the arts that Atlanta has to offer. He is an excellent writer in his own right and continually offers encouragement and help that make my own writing the best it can be.

Website: https://laylapromotions.squarespace.com/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannon-tovey-ph-d-a84b8523/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064681555122

Image Credits
Jesse Kolb