We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Gina Smith a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, so we’re so thrilled to have Gina with us today – welcome and maybe we can jump right into it with a question about one of your qualities that we most admire. How did you develop your work ethic? Where do you think you get it from?
Work ethic… now there’s something the media doesn’t talk much about these days. Today it’s all about instant success, cutting corners and doing whatever it takes to get those social media followers and supreme fame. I grew up without the luxury of the internet or mobile phones – and discovered early that if I wanted to achieve any meaningful advancement, I needed to grow steadily, boldly and with integrity. So I watched and learned; from mentors, from competitors, from family, from clients and from those in a position I wanted to be in. I took in those traits that I felt were an advantage to my growth, discarded those practices I didn’t believe in and stepped out to forge the best me. I believe in getting the job done; in fact I always want my projects completed with the utmost excellence, but not at the expense of someone else. You can absolutely do life and work in the entertainment industry with integrity. You just have to make it a priority and part of your everyday journey.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
My boutique agency, GLS Entertainment Services, was born out of a lifetime of experience and adventures…
I always knew I wanted to work in Hollywood, probably since the age of five. When most teenagers were out at parties or sporting events, I was home writing TV scripts on a manual typewriter. I even bought a TV for my bedroom with funds from my first job so I could watch the Academy Awards with no interruptions. Needless to say, I was bound and determined to get to LA and push my foot in the door.
I landed my first industry job at MGM Studios – back when the dinosaurs roamed Wilshire Blvd. and before Al Gore discovered the internet. From there it was off to RPMC, a travel promotion agency where I oversaw a variety of promotions and events including working with Budweiser 2-years in a row backstage at the Reading Festival in London; coordinating 60 live radio broadcasts during the Atlanta Olympics (yep, I was there for the bombing) and wrangling 100 contest winners to appear as extras on The X-Files in Vancouver, BC.
The GLS journey has been a great adventure: from various radio promotions; to research for an X-Files feature film special, (I got my first on-screen credit); promotion and sponsorship efforts on a few indy films; publicity for local theatre productions; joining Liz Shaw-Stabler at the Center for Lupus Care to work on a lupus documentary; coordinating a wrap-party / convention event for the television show, Highlander, which boasted 18 cast members including the Who’s Roger Daltry, 5,000+ attendees, three days worth of event programming, and a concert by Daltry and cast member Jim Byrnes; and my all-time favorite project: MTV’s Fly2K – where I traveled from LA to Lapland Finland, to Rome, to Paris and lastly to London to prep events for the lucky program contest winners traveling a day behind on a private plane.
In 2010, I joined forces with my friend and client, audiobook narrator Scott Brick, to grow his production company and enhance his brand. Together we launched a workshop series focusing on the Business of Audiobooks with events held in LA and NY (and coming soon, London) as well as teamed up with author Michael C. Grumley for my first ComiCon programming panel. Fun times.
Most recently, I started designing websites (16 and counting!) and managing additional audiobook narrators. Honestly the leap into bigger waters was a game changer. So much that I had to update the company name to GLS Entertainment Services, and I haven’t looked back. Who knows what arena I’ll dip my toe into next.
Now if I could just find some time to travel… London is calling and I HAVE to answer.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Hmmm… three skills….
I’d say Event Planning is my true super-power. From workshops to corporate retreats, small gatherings, weddings or a birthday party for 200 of your closest friends, GLS will design and execute the most amazing event you can imagine. Working closely with the client to realize their vision, all the while managing even the smallest of details, and staying within the target budget.
Next up I’d say Marketing Campaigns – I just have this unique ability to look at a product promotion and/or launch and build an exciting and hopefully, successful venture. Starting from the website, social media ads, print collateral and on-site presence, GLS strives to create a cohesive and extraordinary thread that runs through all elements of the the campaign, and draw the consumer in to participate.
Finally Website Design… at long last I’m able to pour my design skills into a variety of websites, thanks to the Wix platform. From the simple to the complex, GLS attempts to provide the client with an engaging site that is complementary to both brand and vision, that surpasses all expectations, and represents the product in the best possible light.
And my best advice for growing your skills and/or business would be to stay persistent and let those negative comments bounce off. Everyone has an opinion these days and most are not constructive or worth pondering. If you want to hone a particular skill find a mentor, take a class, whatever it takes. Right now I’m using Babbel to expand my French skills (Bon Jour!) and learning how to create and post instructional videos – friends keep insisting that if only I could master The TickTock, the possibilities would be endless… 
As we end our chat, is there a book you can leave people with that’s been meaningful to you and your development?
Dream Big by Bob Goff literally changed my life. The author explains his personal quest to Dream Big by not only thinking out of the box, but sometimes destroying the box and starting from scratch. I felt so energized by the notion to discard the unnecessary things in life to make room for new adventures. You don’t get to experience big moments in life without taking risks, so I have made Dream Big my new daily mantra and strive to do so in both work and everyday life.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.glsentertainment.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gsmithgls/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gina.smith456/
https://www.facebook.com/GLSentertainmentsvcs (new and growing) - Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gina-smith-b532347/
