Hidden Gems: Meet Jackie Dusza of Jackie Dusza – Writing and Digital Marketing Services

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jackie Dusza

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 got my foot in the door in the music industry once I moved to LA. I’ve always been a big fan of heavy metal, especially death metal, so working on music video sets as a production assistant was a no brainer for me. Eventually I learned to work with artists and experienced the more creative side of the industry. Before long I was lucky enough to do some PR assistant work for one of the best in the biz – Heidi Robinson Fitzgerald (Slayer, Anthrax, Pierce The Veil). From there I continued to work production assistant jobs on music video and documentary sets for artists like Slayer, Death Angel, Testament, Ministry, Carnifex, Possessed, Wednesday 13, and more. After some time passed, because of my experience and my English degree I landed a job at Nuclear Blast Records; at the time – the biggest independent heavy metal record label in the world. I began in the digital marketing department and experienced the landscape of marketing artists on social media for the first time. I also found myself utilizing my writing skills a LOT more than I had anticipated. After a few years, I felt like all of my different experiences had already pushed me much further than the company was willing to, and with some other major changes occurring at the company, I decided it was time to go out on my own, make better money, and work for myself. It was a risk, and like any business owner will tell you, I was petrified at first, but a couple bands from the label requested my services immediately. Between the loyal and trusting artists who appreciated me and my work, and then word of mouth – my client list began to grow. Now, almost 3 years later (this November will be 3 years), I’ve maintained my own digital marketing and writing services business, and am proud to say I’ve collected a roster of about 15 clients (currently). I work with heavy metal artists / bands, music producers, a horror literature publishing company, record labels, a sensational headphone company, and more. At this point in my journey, I’m about at my capacity and ready to grow. I’d love to be able to get involved with an internship program, or hire on an assistant who is not just willing to learn about the industry, but who is indeed social media savvy.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Anyone will tell you that landing a job in the music industry is not easy, especially for a woman. It’s a dream job, it’s a man’s world, there’s a lot of nepotism, and the hours are not kind. You have to want it, you have to chase it, you have to live, eat, and breathe it. Working with artists also requires a completely different mindset and understanding than almost any other job; it’s an acquired taste and not everyone possesses the skill sets, if I’m being honest. These things are learned over time. While things are getting better now, there was also a huge glass ceiling at Nuclear Blast Records at the time, and I simply couldn’t break through it. I watched the men around me getting promotions and moving up in the world, but for all my incredible work, and for all the raises I was promised that never happened – I was left feeling defeated and with very little to motivate me. It was then that I decided I needed to start a journey that was completely my own. Luckily, the company management changed drastically after I left, but for me – everything I experienced, all the challenges, all the frustrations, all the pain – it led to me pushing through, forging my own path, and coming out even stronger on the other side.

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I run a company that provides writing, digital marketing, and social media management services, specifically for heavy metal / alternative musical artists / bands, but I do work within other facets of the music / creative industries as well. My approach is wholly organic and I pride myself on finding ways to help each individual entity grow and flourish in the social media space. Consistency and content – those two things are key! My approach is very personal and I tailor my services to exactly what each client needs. My experience working in the industry as a whole, and then at a record label for over 4 years sharpened not just my skills but shaped my ability to wear many hats that allow me to provide sound advice not just in the social media realm, but when it comes to marketing and creativity as a whole. I would say the thing I am most proud of is not just going out on my own and finding success, but having maintained the relationship I have with my clients. Most of my clients are like family to some degree, and the honesty and loyalty we show one another is more than I could ask for.

Do you any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
My entire childhood was beautiful. I was lucky enough to grow up in what my brother and I sometimes refer to as a kid’s paradise. We had 12 acres of land that butted up against a corn field, and then Lake Ontario after that. We had a huge creek, lots of hundred year old trees, tons of wildlife, berries, apples, gardens. We were very outdoorsy, camped a lot, lit a lot of fires, swam in the creek and hiked all day long, fished, climbed trees… and I also credit a lot of who I am – to that. I love being outside, I love nature, I love the skies, the sea, the woods. Ironically, my job is now in front of a computer, but I feel like the freedom of childhood allowed me to become a better person in general, and to tap into the creative fountain that I currently rely on. If I had to choose one memory, it would probably be either walking through the creek barefoot, or reading a book in my room at night listening to the crickets and peepers in the creek.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://www.jackiedusza.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lilith_kafka/