Today we’d like to introduce you to Courtney Goforth
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I moved to Austin with a Journalism Degree and about $50 in my bank account. I started as a shot girl on Sixth Street until my roommate magically stumbled upon a Tweet that Do512 was hiring writing interns. I applied, met the Editor, and convinced him to give me a chance despite me being an Oklahoma Sooner. I started by writing show previews and interviewing bands, writing various articles about Bloody Marys and the sort, and eventually worked my way up to Content Manager, Brand and Marketing Manager and eventually started booking the talent for media sessions and venue shows. I started an interview series with my coworker called ‘Strange Inquiry’ where we asked bands different/weird questions other than boilerplate crap you can find online, which I truly loved doing. I left Do512 after six of the gnarliest years of my twenties where I DID so much and became the Marketing Manager of Heard Presents. I promoted the shows at The Parish and Empire Control Room & Garage and booked some local gigs and SXSW showcases. In 2019, I landed the Marketing Director role at my dream venue Hotel Vegas, along with Barracuda (RIP, Barry’s 4ever) and Kinda Tropical. Eventually, the partners opened Chess Club and Tweedy’s and I added those spots to my belt. I get to have a lot of fun, alongside a lot of hard work!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Is there ever a smooth road?! Working in the service and entertainment industry is a lot of convincing family members that you have talents that are being paid for while also picking up side gigs taking photos at your friend’s baby shower, doing trade deals with your hairstylist and thrifting your whole wardrobe to afford your lifestyle. Throw in a global pandemic, outrageous rent prices and evil billionaires moving to our city, it’s easy to feel like a fraud and difficult to not write nihilistic captions when we’ve got a new juicy burger to promote! The challenge is maintaining authenticity in what we are promoting. No matter how trash everything seems, people still want to have fun, eat good food and enjoy great music. I try to promote events and experiences from a relatable perspective.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
As the Marketing Director, a lot of people refer to me as “the Instagram girl” or “the girl from the emails”. Some days, I truly wish it was that simple, but it’s so much more dynamic than doom-scrolling one platform trying to figure out what people 10 years younger than me think is cool. (There is also a lot of that.) For each show or event we throw, I orchestrate all of the promotion (digital, print) and coordinate with the talent. This includes capturing and creating content for all social platforms, making and commissioning graphics, updating websites, creating ads, buying radio/newspaper spots, etc. I also work with bar staff to put together cocktail & specialty menus and signage; collaborate for new merch designs, photobooth ideas, giveaways, anything fun to make an event more special. I also still book shows occasionally when I have an extra latte and decide I don’t have enough to do.
I’m probably most proud that I’ve found some extra creative outlets to clear the fog this past year. I’ve started DJing with Texas Emo Club as “the Paramore DJ” and finding my fellow emos doing Paramore-focused or alt-girl themed nights. I’ve been hosting trivia nights at Hotel Vegas where I get to indulge in all of my obsessions such as Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Twin Peaks, True Blood, and more cult-like television fanfare to come. I’m also taking on bigger responsibilities with some of my favorite artists in town and helping them with social media, book tours and dial-in branding. Magic Rockers of Texas call me their Manager now, so I guess I am!
I’ve been working in this industry writing, booking, marketing, entertaining for almost 15 years and although there’s always going to be a bout of burnout, I am still confident that this is the world my true heart’s desire was born. I will always work with artists in some capacity, and I will probably never have a job my mom understands.
The crisis has affected us all in different ways. How has it affected you and any important lessons or epiphanies you can share with us?
Don’t give interviews to Rolling Stone Magazine about a Global Pandemic that you know nothing about. We’re all doing our best!
Pricing:
- $10-15 to see a local show is a totally fair price. Support live music!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://texashotelvegas.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/babybacon
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hotelvegas/events
- Twitter: https://x.com/HotelVegasATX
- Other: https://linktr.ee/babybacon
Image Credits
Roger Ho
Darrin Commerford
Jade Skye Hammer
