We were lucky to catch up with Robin Taylor recently and have shared our conversation below.
Robin , thank you so much for joining us. You are such a positive person and it’s something we really admire and so we wanted to start by asking you where you think your optimism comes from?
I have been told more than once I could be a motivational speaker.. I laugh at that. Yes, when you love what you do you never work a day in yr life, I get it.., I also love comedy so much and that helps a lot…and sometimes it feels like a lot of work, lot’s of 12 to 14 hr days -working, then going to show, then working again. I ate it all up and I loved it all. I’m learning the art of balance now.
If you asked me where my optimism comes from when I was 20 or even 40 I’d say proving myself to a mostly male dominated industry as a strong woman..showing others it can be done w/out sacrifice, without being a d*ck to people, not be afraid to speak out and call them like you see them and corporate rock stills sucks. Keeping your moral compass intact and not letting them suck the life force out of you. Be a Chuck Yeager in a sea of Buzz Aldrins.
Today at an older age, I’d say I’m optimistic that while it’s a weird market out there, the power of good art continues….you can’t keep good art down.. it finds it’s way bubbling up..people find records..a music supervisor puts a Kate Bush song on a Netflix show, anything can happen and that still excites me…How could you NOT be optimistic about that?!
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I book bands and I book comedians on tours big and small. Rock clubs, theaters, tiny diy places, block box rooms, MSG etc. in both Canada, UK, Australia & Mexico for my clients. I started booking in Seattle, WA a loooong time ago before cell phones and the internet. I put shows in various all age rooms and bars. I spent 5 years booking a room called The OK Hotel on the Seattle waterfront. From there I met a bunch of artists and bands (go relationships!) some of whom asked if I could book tours up & down West Coast and up to Canada and back. In 1997, I moved to NYC and starting booking with a small boutique agency, Creative Performance Group. IET was born a year later or so later after I split from CPG and started my own company. I did spend 3 years at ICM because a deal was a deal. I’ve had some great working parters in crime at IET through out the years. It’s not like I’ve done it all by myself although I am a party of one now which I love.
I’ve been back in WASH state for last 4 years now. I feel it’s important to show that an independently woman owned company that’s lasted this long is doable to younger ladies. My focus has always been the need to spread undiscovered music & comedy, (good art), everywhere and to everyone..preferably in an All Ages live show setting. Growing artists from small to large is super thrilling and I cannot deny the energy at a live show is also the best. I love both of those processes equally and no matter what – don’t give up, don’t let anyone suck the life force out.
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?
Heed my advice youngsters, I say to anyone coming into this industry….Learn the job before you get the job..it’s helpful for everyone involved heh heh!
I wasn’t a lawyer that wanted to be a manager or a nepo baby…..just a young dweeb from a town filled with kids whose mom & dad’s worked at Boeing….I played clarinet for 9 years thru school…as soon as I got my drivers license, I drove to all the shows. Thanks to free Bumbershoot fests that I volunteered for & went to every year, diy hall shows, parties and my fake ID that got me into every cover band bar around 4 years prior to being a legal patron.
I knew music was it. I just had to figure out what I wanted to do.
At that time, my option was pretty much just entrench myself like a student in every live show I could go to & learn who does what and get in there and go to work. From the box office person to the sound engineer to the booking agent which I gravitated to after promoting shows for 5 years.
If you knew you only had a decade of life left, how would you spend that decade?
I would love to create a tiny home farm & compound situation with a large stage in the middle of a field and host shows somewhere 🙂 A field of dreams if you will.. That would be dreamy!
I would also like to add – I have hope that the touring industry can become more cognoscente of it’s carbon footprint.
We need more Climate Pledge Arenas but for venues big & small…I thank all the bands that have that ability financially and otherwise and implement green practices on the road. I hope more & more of those bands come out of the woodwork to support global climate issues..and how we can all do our part with electric vehicles & electric buses and try to at least help facilitate small change.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.inlandempiretouring.com
Image Credits
robin taylor / photo credit (also pix on left -Lucia Chang)
