We were lucky to catch up with Gail Hulser recently and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Gail thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What sort of legacy are you hoping to build. What do you think people will say about you after you are gone, what do you hope to be remembered for?
While STLConcertHub is still relatively new, my goal is to create a lasting welcoming space for all live music videos from around Saint Louis. Music is something I’m always excited to share because it’s been such a bright spot in my life. Sharing my photos, videos, and playlists on STLConcertHub feels like an opportunity to pass along that light music creates with others. The world is an incredibly scary place, especially right now, and instead of giving into that fear I want STLConcertHub to be a place for folks to come and lean into community and connection through music. When I’m filming at concerts I want to represent the view of the average audience member while also showcasing a sort of “feels like I’m there” vibe. But even more than that, I want anyone visiting the STLConcertHub page to feel like we’re friends seeing the show together. In that way, I think I would most like to be remembered as a friend.
Gail, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
My name is Gail Hulser, STLConcertHub on Instagram. My page is dedicated to posting photos and videos of concerts taking place in the city of Saint Louis. Most of the page is concert photo/video content that I’ve shot and edited, but eventually I would like more folks to submit their own videos so it can be a true sort of hub for live music around the city. STLConcertHub features a vast array of artists and genres; from pop sensation Chappell Roan to deathcore band Lorna Shore to masked country star Orville Peck. I personally listen to a little bit of everything, and wanted to start showcasing that on STLConcertHub by sharing playlists. Each month I post a short 5-10 song Spotify playlist of songs I’ve had on repeat. These playlists will also often feature new releases from bands I’ve featured on my page, or a song from an artist that’s visiting town soon so it feels like a natural extension of STLConcertHub. Additionally, I’m hoping to get going on adding some music journalism to the mix this year by interviewing local bands, so stay tuned!
Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?
I mainly asked friends to follow STLConcertHub and have been going on word of mouth from there, it definitely feels like it’s still in the process of building an audience. My advice for anyone just starting out would be to focus on creating quality content, try new things, and post consistently. Even though it may seem like everyone is getting thousands of followers overnight, that’s rarely the case. To get your name out in the digital sphere posting consistently is essential, but it can be tricky to find the balance between consistency and algorithmic spam. Trying out new things on social media can help with a consistent posting pattern while preventing your page from becoming stale. Plus, it’s a great way to authentically engage with your followers and gain insight on their own social media preferences. When we’re genuine and honest online, we tend to form stronger connections because our audience is getting to know us as more than just pixels on a screen; they’re getting to know who we are as people. All this being said, at the end of the day, social media is a learned skill, and I’m by no means an expert, so try things out and find what works for you.
Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?
That’s a great question, I think over time I learned that I needed to be perfect in order to share any of my passions or interests with anyone. It’s become a lesson I’m constantly working on unlearning. My mental health has always been a struggle, and many of my ideas of surrounding perfection come from hurtful things I was told about myself when I was young. But as I’ve gotten older, I’ve realized none of those things are true. Of course I’m not perfect, but neither is anyone else; so instead of chasing perfection I am working on embracing honesty. Something I always emphasize on STLConcertHub is authenticity, so it only feels right that it’s been a major step in unlearning perfectionism. Even now, after around two years, I’ll still find myself not sharing certain shows, events, ideas, etc. because I feel like they just won’t be good enough. But then I think about how cool it is that all my imperfect photos and videos have come together to make something as unique as STLConcertHub and keep going.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stlconcerthub/
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/user/31iqjt4jkslep2oxudiq4427sliy?si=9928fd4b7716465d
Image Credits
Gail Hulser @STLConcertHub