We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Gina Corso. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Gina below.
Alright, Gina thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Earning a full time living from one’s creative career can be incredibly difficult. Have you been able to do so and if so, can you share some of the key parts of your journey and any important advice or lessons that might help creatives who haven’t been able to yet?
In my late 20s, I found myself teaching full time at a privately owned music school, which had serious growth and financial limitations. After belabouring my options, I resigned from teaching at the school and hit the pavement on my own marketing campaign. I literally walked door to door with 5000 flyers in South Jersey and presented free pop/rock improvisational music workshops at every school that would have me. I also promoted private events on every platform available. With a relentless amount of perseverance, one private client turned into 30 and my private music studio had become known amongst the local community.
Private gigs also began booking on the regular, which quickly developed into performances with national artists including Billy Joel, Michael Buble, Cage The Elephant, Lindsey Stirling, and Idina Menzel. From Madison Square Garden in New York City to The Dolby Theater in Hollywood, my performance resume brought me into America’s most legendary venues performing with globally renowned artists.
Subsequently, I received five endorsements from leading companies in the world of professional musicians – Fishman, D’Addario, Sennheiser, Steinway & Sons, and Westone and also recorded on 2019’s Best Rock Grammy Award Winning album, “Social Cues” by Cage The Elephant!
On the east coast, I now have two exclusive residencies with live performances on the regular at luxury hotels – The Reeds at Shelter Haven (Stone Harbor, NJ) and Riverhouse at Odettes (New Hope, PA). What began with door-to-door flyers has since developed into an interesting and unpredictable success story.
Knowing what I know now, I would say this to anyone getting started on the pavement…. Always continue to develop your craft and learn from those that inspire you. Maintain a community platform to stay connected and grounded. When you feel knocked down or you step left instead of right, remind yourself that no success story comes without failed moments along the way. Perseverance is pivotal. Get comfortable with the uncomfortable.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers?
I am a Jersey Girl at heart, but originally from Syracuse, NY. I’ve always played music as a hobby. Up until age 15, I took private lessons with several different instructors and played in local youth orchestras as well as school bands. Violin was definitely my favorite instrument to play, though I experimented with many – clarinet, flute, saxophone, and piano. As a child, it never occurred to me that my life would turn into one of a freelance violinist.
I think it is important to acknowledge my Mom & Dad’s role in facilitating and nurturing my relationship with music. They ALWAYS supported my creative hobbies. From purchasing instruments, music and gear to transporting to lessons, rehearsals & concerts to tolerating the years of trials and tribulations with the growing musician…. their role in my success goes without saying.
As owner of Jersey Gina Entertainment, I provide live performances nationally for private and corporate affairs as well as violin, piano, and viola lessons to students of all ages and abilities. I engage students in a variety of groundbreaking methods. My teaching process is in demand because I immediately incorporate improvisation lessons along with note-reading and ear training exercises, which bridges the gap between what my students hear on the radio and what they hear at their music lessons.
My brand, Jersey Gina, is a clean, elegant & sophisticated brand. I have always marketed myself – from social media content to website development (www.jerseygina.com) – part of the success of my brand is deeply rooted in how it has been packaged over the years. I have had a lot of fun with brand development…. From photo shoots to video shoots – it’s been a journey.
Sharing stages with famous artists is of course the most obvious point of excitement that folks typically ask about. But for me, the most interesting story lies within a project that still has not been released – Your Generation in Concert. Producer and song-writer, Steve Trudell, asked me to write orchestrations for his original material, material that when I heard, I LOVED. Without having notation software and never having done this before, I got right to it and began writing. Collaborating with him was just awesome – he knew what he wanted and he was involved extensively in the creative process. There was a bit of back and forth – sometimes 4 or 5 versions of an arrangement were written before the final draft was approved for recording. He would have me listen to some of the greatest arrangers from Paul Buckmaster to Paul Riser to David Van De Pitt to inspire my arrangements. After about a year, we went to Nashville to record. This experience was like no other… truly an opportunity of a lifetime. Stay tuned. www.yourgenerationinconcert.
How did you build your audience on social media?
Social media is still developing for my brand. I find that content is very meaningful. My first photoshoot was in my early 20s in a friend’s back yard! LOL. I have connected with several photographers and also a stylist that has elevated my photo/video content to a level that I am proud to share. Also, online associations with companies/brands/people and tagging has been a wonderful way to connect with those with similar interests. Organic visibility has meant everything for my own business — and this has become part of my daily grind.
Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?
Creating your own brand and maintaining a full time business in the arts is a job that I work at around the clock. Holidays and days off rarely exist. I am accessible 24 hours a day and respond quickly to all communications. This has been a challenge because my personal life has become my business… which has really settled in a very unbalanced way. Those in my personal life have been more than understanding about the struggle to balance professional/personal time, but I have found that time management is a constant challenge. Daily exercise has been integral in organizing thoughts and maintaining emotional health.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.jerseygina.com
- Instagram: @jerseyginaviolinist
- Facebook: Jersey Gina Entertainment
- Youtube: Jersey Gina
Image Credits
Marc Nader