Meet Colleen Lippert | Celebrity Publicist and Owner of Anchor Publicity

We had the good fortune of connecting with Colleen Lippert and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Colleen, have there been any changes in how you think about work-life balance?
I used to work 24/7. I’d sleep with my phone next to my pillow and I’d check my email several times throughout the night. I learned quickly that this was the direct path to burning out. I’m getting better at setting boundaries – closing at 6pm, not taking work calls on weekends, etc.

I have a running joke with my clients – “unless you’ve just been nominated for a Grammy, you’re bleeding or you need bail money, it can wait until the morning.” As much as I love my job, I do need to have some uninterrupted time with family and friends.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
After graduating from Marist College with my B.A. in Communications & Public Relations, I moved to Nashville, Tennessee in 2015. Unfortunately, it wasn’t long before I experienced a #MeToo moment while on a business trip for what I thought was my dream job. I unexpectedly quit and found myself looking at “Help Wanted” ads on the plane ride back to town. I applied to a few other PR firms, but I was still feeling a little lost until someone suggested opening my own business. I wasn’t sure I was ready to do that, but I took the risk and Anchor Publicity was born.

As a publicist, it’s my job to help musicians get their songs out into the world. I write press releases and professional biographies, manage social media accounts, create Electronic Press Kits (EPK), facilitate interviews with reporters and bloggers, book TV appearances, direct meet & greets at live shows, plan events, keep track of analytics, etc. I specialize in crisis management and no two days are the same.

Every now and then, I have the opportunity to walk red carpets with clients and attend awards shows or parties. The glitz and glamour of it all is always enchanting and fun, but only accounts for 1% of the job.

I’m really proud that I have been able to build my business from the ground up. I never took out loans or borrowed money from anyone. I don’t know whether I was ambitious or stubborn in the beginning, but I wanted to do everything myself.

At Anchor Publicity, I also work with clients to figure out their budgets. I never want someone to have to decide whether to pay their rent or release their music. This industry is hard enough as it is and honesty goes a long way.

I have made genuine connections with artists, reporters, executives, songwriters and even fans that I get to meet on the road with clients. I also won “Best Publicist” at the 2022 “Yeppies” and was nominated for “PR Company of the Year” at the 2022 Josie Music Awards. I feel very lucky and and try not to take that for granted.

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.
I’m a big history buff, so I always like bringing friends to President Andrew Jackson’s home – The Hermitage. It’s so beautiful and just an interesting place to visit.

For music lovers, there’s the Country Music Hall of Fame, Ryman Auditorium and Grand Ole Opry. At least one of those is always a “must-see.” And you can’t come to Nashville without visiting Broadway. The locals here tend to fuss over it, but there’s no doubt that some of the best artists perform on that strip.

One of my favorite restaurants to eat at is The Pfunky Griddle. It’s a little bungalow house where you make your own food. For breakfast, you can make French toast, eggs and pancakes with as many toppings as you could ever imagine. For lunch, they have soups and grilled cheese. For all of my fellow gluten-free/vegan friends, The Sunflower Bakehouse has the best cupcakes! I highly recommend the strawberry one.

Nashville also is known for its unique murals all over the city. These are great places to stop and take photos. The House of Blues in Berry Hill has one of Dolly Parton painted on the fence – iconic! The Gaylord Opryland Hotel is also a beautiful spot for pictures.

Animal lovers always like going the Nashville Zoo. You can go right up to the kangaroos and pet them, they have monkeys and giraffes and more.

Finally, one of my favorite places to go, especially on a rainy day, is Parnassus Books in Green Hills. It’s a dog-friendly bookstore and there are 5 or 6 office dogs that “work” there every day. I never want to leave when I’m there!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
With a lot of encouragement from family and friends, I opened Anchor Publicity in 2016. I’ve worked with over 150 different artists to date and it’s been one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. I wouldn’t have had the confidence had it not been for my wonderful support system.

Website: http://anchorpublicity.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anchorpublicity/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/colleenlippert/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/PublicityAnchor