Features

Perspective: Erika Elliott

Erika Elliott
Talent Buyer
City Parks Foundation/Central Park SummerStage
NYC

Job history
My first job was at a Penguins Yogurt on Larchmont in LA while in HS.
Then I worked on Melrose in retail at a store called Ophelias.
In college, I did telemarketing for Alumni donations to the campus, I worked at Express, and as a driver for disabled students.
I moved to NYC and worked as an intern at Loud while working at Product in Soho doing retails sales.
I then worked at William Morris Agency for Super Agent Cara Lewis.
I then moved to RCA where I worked for several people in the artist development dept., then moved into the corporate partnership/development dept. and finally the on-line dept.
I then went to S.O.B's as the Director of Urban Music/Talent Buyer for three years.
And now I'm the Talent Buyer for City Parks Foundation/Central Park SummerStage.

What are you currently working on? Your day-to-day responsibilities?

I just finished booking the 2004 summer season for Central Park SummerStage, and City Parks Concerts (where I program 30 free shows in city parks in all of the 5 boroughs). Daily, I'm dealing with show details, marketing/promo of upcoming dates, reviewing copy and advertising for the dates. I'm also on-site for all shows to pay the artists and see that the show runs smoothly.

What inspires/motivates you?

I love a challenge and I love music. I enjoy presenting music and artists that I like to people. That's what motivates me.

How do you balance your personal and professional life?

I don't, I integrate my personal with my professional and include my boyfriend, family and friends into what I'm doing. I rarely go out on the weekends (although I work in the park all day!). I like to lay low on weekend evenings. I have a tradition of cooking and watching HBO with my boyfriend and sister on Sundays.

What career achievement are you most proud of?

I'm proud of working at Loud on historic projects like Big Pun's first album. Raising the bar at SOBs and taking the legacy from a place that supported urban music to "The" place to see urban music. Presenting shows like Kanye West's NY debut, Pete Rock & CL Smooth's reunion show in '03, Common when he and Erykah did a few duets, Talib Kweli w/Mos Def, Common, Mad Skillz, Pharoch Monche, and Kanye West; KRS-One Cipher w/Fat Joe, Jeru, Kool Keith, Diamond D; The Summer Stage show I did with SOBs: Boot Camp Click, Amel Larriuex, The Roots w/Cody ChesnuTT. Creating the brand SOULCITY which became NYC's home for up and coming soul music.

What was your biggest personal/career mistake and what did you learn from the experience?

My biggest mistake was not getting things in writing! I was promised that I'd be included in projects I facilitated and compensated for work done on spec but without it in writing, I learned you can not trust anyone at their word even if you work for them.

Guiding principles?

Being fair and honest.

Birthday? Where you grew up? Where you went to school?

My birthday is April 19, 1974. I grew up in Los Angeles CA and attended 32nd Street JHS, Fairfax HS, UCSC.

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