Features

Perspective: Karen Taylor Bass

Karen Taylor Bass
Founding Partner/CEO
TaylorMade Media
Valley Stream NY


Job History
Dunkin Donuts
United Negro College Fund – fundraiser
United Way – Account Exec/fundraiser
Double Xxposure – intern/publicist
EMI Records – Publicist
Elektra Records – Product Manager
Crave Records/SONY Music – Publicist/Artist Development
TaylorMade Media – visionary thinker/hands-on publicist/marketer/event planner/personal coach/author/workshop facilitator/lecturer

What are you currently working on?

With respect to Public Relations, I'm securing national television appearances for Jill Scott to promote her new book--"The Moments, The Minutes, The Hours" (St.Martin's Press). I'm working on her long-term career as it relates to creative marketing as well.

I'm also working on a PR & Mentoring Boot Camp entitled, “As Powerful As You Want To Be” for entrepreneurs and home-based business owners. I've partnered with Chris Cathcart of One Diaspora to present the workshop and we'll be traveling to all the major markets, starting with New York. This Saturday, April 30th, we'll be at Minisink Townhouse in Harlem from 12noon-2:30pm.

I've just added Personal Coaching to my repertoire and am now offering media training (from a publicist's point of view) for recording artists, athletes and executives to capitalize off their 15-minutes-of-fame.

As an author/lecturer, I've been blessed to self-publish “Public Relations For Everyday People: The Workbook Journal" (TaylorMade Books). The book, which is interactive, provides assistance with preparing and planning your success and is available via www.taylormademediapr.com
and www. amazon.com.

Along with my fellow board members, I've just completed work on Blues Babe Foundation's 1st Annual Fundraiser & Silent Auction at Saks 5th Avenue where we raised $60,000 for several initiatives for the Philadelphia, Delaware Valley area. Lastly, TaylorMade Media will present “A Second Chance,” a project designed to mentor inner city youth. Our topics range from “Which Fork, When” (table etiquette) to “I Got My Own Back” (teaching teenage boys martial arts and self-expression as a means to prevent altercations).

What are your day-to-day responsibilities?

I would say communication takes up 100% of my day whether I'm fielding calls and pitching ideas or conducting meetings, planning an event, securing sponsors for our community outreach programs or attending PTA meetings with my son and husband.

What inspires/motivates you?

I'm inspired by life and living out my passion. I understand that life is a gift and I'm taking baby steps every day to actualize and accomplish my goals. Also, seeing the faces of my family standing by my side during the exceptional, good and bad moments keeps me motivated.

How do you balance your personal and professional life?

With a lot of prayer and a great support system from my family, friends and clients. I now realize that life was meant to be L-I-V-E-D one day at a time and not all in one day.

What career achievement are you most proud of?

I'm proud of making a difference in the field of public relations. When it comes to creating campaigns, my reputation has always been synonymous with quality, originality and longevity. TaylorMade Media is known for not being a cookie-cutter agency, which makes me proud.

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

Personal: settling for less
Career: settling for less

I've had to learn to empower myself, create my own opportunities and feel comfortable with saying "no," with conviction.

Guiding principles?

Passion is crucial and critical to living. You must identify what makes you laugh, smile, dance and get out of bed each morning to fully enjoy the pulse of life. Mediocrity is unacceptable.

When’s your birthday? Where’d you grow up? Where’d you go to school?

I was born on March 1st and was raised in Jamaica, West Indies and Queens, New York. I graduated from St. John’s University and am proud to say that my class had the most amazing basketball team--Mark Jackson, Walter Berry, Jayson Williams, Chris Mullin.

Message Karen Taylor Bass and tell her what you think

Regina R. Robertson

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