Deb Walsh Music/Marketing

Hope to connect with you soon.

Photo by Deb: Providence Waterfire '08

Q:Tell us a little about your musical path.
A: I started playing the piano when I was five. I don't even remember learning to read music - it just came naturally to me. In high school, I sang in coffeehouses and played constantly for other singers. I performed regionally with a 16-voice accapella Madrigal singers' group who went on to win first place in a national competition in Baltimore. At 16 I had a gig as a church organist, which got me out of classes for wedding and funerals. College took me up to Rochester, NY where I studied English and politics at the University of Rochester. I was also fortunate to be able to access the talented vocal teachers at the Eastman School of Music.

Q:How about your business side?
A: Well I worked as a journalist and briefly in TV, so I learned those ropes. Then I worked for years as a writer, publicist and events producer at a national ad agency. That experience working under major pressure on a team helped develop my sense of timing and the importance of relationships - not the least of which is how you build and maintain them. Public relations is an odd creature, in that you are creating persona and trying to shape perception. It can be very rewarding and fun, and it can kill you. Kind of like the music business.

Q:So how does it all come together for you?
A: Well if I can make a living making music and helping other musicians, filmmakers and businesses promote their art and music, I think I'll be happy in my own life.

Q:What are you watching now?
A: I'm watching alot of indie film. Some of my favorite films from the Rhode Island International Film Festival this year were Happy New Year, Swimming Lessons, Between the Folds, Hugo, Leaving Barstow, Model Rules, and Next Floor. I recently watched and loved the documentary, "Man on a Wire."

 
April 23, 2009
Would love to have you visit my new blog, ONE COOL FREE IDEA for music marketing and strategy ideas, as well as interviews and examples of bands/musicians doing great marketing.

LINK
 
January 9, 2009
New Year

I never make New Year's resolutions, as I firmly believe every day is an opportunity to expand your horizons and enrich your life. For me, 2008 was a very good year, filled with new musical pursuits, challenging technical hurdles and alot of networking with many newfound friends and collaborators worldwide. I also had the privilege of working with Berkleemusic to produce several student spotlight pieces for the web - which only served to reinforce my belief in the incredible caliber of people who come to Berklee to study and refine their talents. Hope you all are charging full ahead into 2009.
 
October 20, 2008

 
October 20, 2008
Evolution happens, and I'm feeling elevated by all my classes, classmates and ever-impressive faculty/friends. Spent the day at Berklee on Friday. Met my pals in marketing...hard to articulate how great it is to be working/existing in an industry I love this much.
 
September 24, 2008
It's been a while - and it's been a busy few months. Last week we put the final touches on the marketing plans we've been shaping for 12 weeks in Mike King's fabulous Music Marketing 201 course. If you have any desire to take your music, marketing, and management skills to the peak, get yourself in this class asap. The thinking, strategies and course content is absolutely as current as it gets - even in an industry that is shifting beneath our feet daily. As musicians, we have to be marketers. If you can't or don't want to handle this end of the business, there are alot of folks out there who can really help you take your profile and success to new levels.
 
May 6, 2008
Well we are five weeks in to Orchestration and this first-ever class is just incredible. The people, the content and the professor, Ben Newhouse - a true gentleman and a brilliant composer and musician. Anyone considering the use of strings, brass or any form of orchestration in their work - be it film scores or contemporary music - would benefit from the material being taught here. As the weeks unfold, I'm listening to more film scores - this week's being Dario Marianelli's Atonement. I continue to be blown away by the caliber of work being created by my fellow students. Berklee is an amazing global community.
 
January 11, 2008

 
January 11, 2008
Having just signed off on Mike King's fabulous Future of Music class, my head is reeling with possibilities - how can we help each other promote, share and advance our music? How can I as a longtime PR guru help you brand your band and come up with cool ideas to market your music in the digital age? As a direct result of all this music/marketing braintrust, I'm thinking of launching my own blog so I can share ideas, trends and promotion strategies with you. More to come soon...