We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Burgess Chase. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Burgess below.
Alright, Burgess thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. The first dollar you earn is always exciting – it’s like the start of a new chapter and so we’d love to hear about the first time you sold or generated revenue from your creative work?
The very first time I ever got paid for my creativity was when I booked my older brother, Bryce Williams, for his first U.S. tour as a recording, touring artist. Beforehand, I was only able to get him on open mics and a few frat shows here and there, then I finally landed him a big gig to open for a major artist and after the show, a talent buyer contacted me about getting him on the road and touring with a number of different mainstream artists. From there, I lined up the dates and shows and got Bryce and the rest of the team to agree to the select dates, after that, it was pretty much a done deal. The label cut the check and onto the road we went, it really opened my eyes and made me aware of my capabilities. At the time, I was only 19 years old, so I never had imagined that I would be able to handle the level of business at hand, but nonetheless, I stepped up and got it done. Errors were made, mistakes took place, and a lot of arguments occured, but I was determined to be the best that I could be, sky was the limit! It still is.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers?
I’m 25 years old and was born and raised on the southwest side of Houston, Texas. I’ve been involved in the entertainment industry for over 7 years now, being first introduced by my older brother, Bryce Williams, a now international hip hop artist that’s toured all over the world almost. Being his booking and tour manager to eventually taking the stage with him as his designated hype man, I got quite the experience from seeing the business side of things to the creativity it takes to hold thousands of people’s attention all at once. I’ve taken everything I’ve learned and cultivated my own skills and expertises, running my own entertainment company, BW Productions, housing my biannual music & art festival, The Break Out, my own radio playlist, Heat of the Day on Apple Music & Spotify, and my marketing & promotional team, Legendary Square, hosting events at popular venues like X-Rated Thursdays at Mr X Nightclub Experience and Zodiac Fridays at Zodiac Nightclub; past venues we’ve worked with have been The Garden in Midtown, Outside Bar & Restaurant, Belle Station, Castle Lounge, & Vault Nightclub. I also help manage other artists that’s in my network like Saga//Entity, Tommy Knoxs, & Esco Llaiya, all based in Houston, Texas as well.
Is there a mission driving your creative journey?
I never liked the term goal or mission because when you complete a mission or reach a goal, there’s a means to an end. I don’t think any creative sees whatever they’re doing is going to come to an end or would want it too; that’s why I prefer the term “purpose”. What’s the purpose or what’s your purpose? Why are you doing what it is that you’re doing? My purpose is to create happiness and spread joy; that’s been the base premise of anything that I do and will be until I can’t do it anymore. I pray that day never comes.
Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?
The passion. Most people are misunderstood because of their passion for something and that most is usually creatives in my opinion. Always being seen as doing the most or taking something too serious or it could be even taken as not doing enough and not caring. Passion can be not giving up on something until you’re the last one still trying or knowing what’s not for you and confident enough to not entertain certain matters. It’s all a process and people outside the process need to trust the process as well, not just the creatives in the process. It’s always funny because nine times out of ten, whenever that person is done “creating”, most people that were outside the process say, “oh I get it now” or “I would of never thought you would of came up with this”. Well of course you didn’t, you’re not the creative in the process, it’s not your passion, you don’t see what they see and you have to learn to respect that. That’s what makes THEM the creative!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/BurgessChase
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theburgesswilliams/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theburgesswilliams
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/burgess-williams-282441134/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/theburgessw/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkztUzM-J-tfU-Xmw0e0SWg
Image Credits
Dorian Fernandez: @dorianaims J’Mari Wyatt: @jmari.wyatt Eli Smackz: @elismackz_ Sadie @sadviewhtx Marcos: @worldpaz249