We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Zach Gordon. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Zach below.
Zach, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Owning a business isn’t always glamorous and so most business owners we’ve connected with have shared that on tough days they sometimes wonder what it would have been like to have just had a regular job instead of all the responsibility of running a business. Have you ever felt that way?
Being a business owner, especially in the entertainment industry, is one of the most rewarding yet frustrating experiences one can have. I come from a line of entrepreneurs, including my dad who is the certified definition of a hustler and self made man. When it comes to working a regular job, my dad always encouraged me to go my own route. He would tell me that not everyone was meant to be a business owner, but I was. He would tell me that there was no one else who was as made for it than me, and always told me to BYOB, Be Your Own Boss. I’m a recent college graduate and currently still a student in law school, but after college I got to see most of my friends get hired by other people and work in their respected industries. Absolutely no disrespect to them and what they do, but hearing about their day to day and having to listen to a higher up, it just simply isn’t for me. Everyone goes their own routes and I’m sure a handful of them will find their way to the top, but getting a regular job just wasn’t for me. Being an artist manager, it’s hard to get a gig with a firm unless you had credentials. I wanted experience, I didn’t want to wait until after school to start, so I started BagTalk Talent Co. LLC in 2021 and haven’t looked back.
Zach, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
My name is Zach Gordon and I am the Ceo of BagTalk Talent Co. LLC, a talent agency that was started in 2021 to assist artists, producers, athletes, and other creatives/ entertainers achieve their goals. I currently represent Atlanta based artist KFamouz, former New York Yankee Ron Blomberg, and a pair of brothers who are defensive stars at Tennessee State University, James and Josh Green. There are a few things that set me apart from other managers and agents, and especially in the music industry, is my education. There are very few artist managers that have education in the industry (I studied music business at Belmont University in Nashville) and especially have law backgrounds. As for the athletes, I definitely lack the education (thats why I’m in law school). However, what I lack in formal contract and law education, I make up for in ambition, care for my clients, and most importantly my understanding of my client’s needs. I’m super proud of what I have accomplished up to this point. The people I have met, the rooms I have been in, and the wins that my company and clients have seen, they are beyond rare for someone under the age of 23 to have. I work with baseball’s first ever Designated Hitter, I’ve met industry executives, artists, and more that many wouldn’t feel comfortable in front of. Those meetings, studio sessions, and other experiences don’t just happen by chance; I put myself in the position to win and I can honestly say I belong in those rooms.
How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?
I built my reputation by being authentic. People can smell bullshit from a mile away, especially people that have been in the industry much longer than I have. I found a way to relate with certain people, whether it is based off past experiences, mutual connections, or just asking questions, you gotta find a way to make sure they remember you in a positive way. It takes time, but if you show your people skills, professionalism, and ability to work with anyone, your reputation will grow organically.
Any thoughts, advice, or strategies you can share for fostering brand loyalty?
I am my brand, so brand loyalty is loyalty to me. However, I don’t think any percent of my job is about client loyalty, but the other way around. I stay loyal to my clients by making sure I stay attentive and get the job done. As for my clients that aren’t signed to my agency (those who use my promotional services for playlisting, PR, show acquisition, etc.) is just to reach out. If I have a client who I know is going to release or about to release, it takes 30 seconds to send a text and them that you’re excited to hear the music and would love to help any way I can, and that just goes into being genuine and authentic. For my athletes, showing loyalty is a beyond important part of the relationship. With James and Josh Green, I reach out as much as I can to tell them how excited I am for their season. I ask questions about their training camp experiences, certain highlights, plays, and other parts of their game on the field. It’s all about building and maintaining relationships with your team, and with that, people will stay loyal to you.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.bagtalktalentcompany.com
- Instagram: @bagtalkzach , @bagtalktalentco
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zachary-gordon-9a86711ba/
Image Credits
BagTalkZach, BagTalk Talent Co. LLC, KFamouz, James and Josh Green