Meet John Gotty | Brand marketing and promotion

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

Hi John, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
Risks are part of the process. When starting something new or rolling out a new idea, we can never know exactly how it will end. And that’s okay – maybe even the most exciting aspect. I’m a believer in taking calculated risks. Study whatever it is you’re about to enter into, have a plan, but accept there will be variables and hurdles. Figure it out as you go. Risks are scary and I’m not immune to the fear they create. I just try not to let those fears stop me from doing whatever it is I want to do. I give myself those self-talks as a reminder that I’ve been in lots of scary situations and survived.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I came up during the early “rap blog era” of the mid-2000s, which required being a multi-hyphenate before the word became a thing. There was no blueprint or support system so I had to learn how to do a bit of everything – writer, editor, manager, photographer, social media manager, copywriter, etc. You name it, I did it, to varying degrees of success. It wasn’t easy. The learning curve for something like photography was huge to overcome. But, I studied, found mentors, practiced, etc. Through all of it, you either gain confidence and realize whatever it is isn’t nearly as frightening as you imagined or…you quickly realize you need to hire someone. BUT, at least you know exactly what it is you’re looking for in a candidate because you know a bit about what the role requires.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I’m at a disadvantage here because I don’t do a ton of hanging out besides at gyms (we’re a basketball family). Eat – Nashville’s current claim to fame besides country music is hot chicken. When people ask, I usually say go with the original – Prince’s Hot Chicken – before trying any others. Slim & Husky’s Pizza is another highly recommended option. Visit – The National Museum of African American Music opened recently. I haven’t had a chance to visit yet but I’ve worked with the group behind via a few different panels and such the last couple of years. They’re adding something new to the fabric of the city. I really hope the space grows into a national landmark for studying what Black people have contributed to the landscape using music as the medium.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
A lot of people poured into me, so it’s tough to single out specific person. I owe my family a bulk of the credit for always having my back. My best friend JM brought out what I consider to be some of the best parts of me when it comes to creativity, confidence, and such. We met when we were in eighth grade and he was definitely the yin to my yang. We shared a lot of unconditional support and pushed each other to tap into unexplored parts of ourselves. He went away on an extended government-sponsored vacation and I always say that’s when I had to start living for the both of us. I took on a lot of his extrovert characteristics, which ultimately changed the course of my life.

Website: https://www.johngotty.com/

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JohnGotty

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/johngotty17

Other: https://stillcrew.com/

Image Credits
John “CakeMaster” Martinez