Today we’d like to introduce you to Tony Carr.
Tony, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I’ve always been passionate about music. I grew up in Greensboro, NC and was involved in the marching band at James B. Dudley High School, where I played trumpet and mellophone. I continued to march in college at North Carolina Central University and played marching French horn. When I was younger, my uncle, Tyson and I would produce beats using a keyboard that we shared. In college, I developed an interest in writing and recording after meeting a rapper by the name of Jstone during one of my summer breaks. We recorded a song together and I learned that I really enjoyed the creative process of writing and recording, but being a rapper was never one of my long-term goals.
In 2011, I graduated college with a degree in Psychology. The following year, I realized through social media that a lot of my friends from college were talented rappers, singers, and musicians. At this point, I developed the idea that I wanted to start my own independent record label. This idea was placed on hold while I continued my education and moved from North Carolina to California, and eventually made my way here to Texas in 2018. During this time, the idea had further developed to starting a management company catered to managing performing artists, songwriters, producers, and directors.
The very first artist I started managing was my fraternity brother and friend, Drozart. I initially went to him for advice about the music industry because he had exposure to it as a keyboardist playing for a few notable hip-hop artists. I told him that I was interested in becoming an artist manager and he responded by saying that he was interested in releasing a project and I should start by managing his career as an independent artist and producer. I agreed and we released his first project one month later. This allowed me to learn and gain valuable experience through trial and error. In the following months, I was able to add three additional artists to the roster: OG Byrd, Nojo Wallace, and Milli Metoyer.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. Starting out, I struggled with a lot of internal challenges like fear of rejection, fear of not being able to get into the industry because I didn’t know anyone, or because I didn’t have everything figured out. I also wasn’t sure If I was ready to start my own business or where I would start. I have a quote that I pinned to my bulletin board by the novelist Paulo Coelho. It’s the one that says, “Be brave. Take risks. Nothing can substitute experience.” I read this quote one day, and I haven’t turned back since. I realized that if I wanted to achieve my goals, I had to get out of my own way and position myself for success. This meant going to venues alone and where no one in the room knew my name but using my networking skills to build relationships with artists, creatives, and other entrepreneurs in the area. It also meant, being resourceful and finding ways to figure out the information I needed to start my business and to learn my new role and responsibilities. I’ve learned a lot through searching the internet and reading articles and books, but the most important lessons I’ve learned have been through the different real life on-the-job experiences.
Please tell us about Grit Management.
Grit Management is an entertainment company that focuses on managing the careers of artists, songwriters, producers, and directors. We develop career strategies and provide management services in the areas of marketing and publicity, performance bookings and tours, single, album, and other product releases, music publishing, schedules and funding. We strive to create a culture that values service, collaboration, creativity, impact, and growth.
Since starting Grit Management, I have to say that I’m proud of all the artists I manage that have placed their trust in me to manage their careers. Each of them are dedicated and committed to perfecting their craft and becoming the best version of themselves. That’s one of the best things to see as a manager. Some artists think that talent is all you need to be successful, but what you also need is the drive, and a willingness to put forth the effort it takes to achieve your goals in the face of adversity. That’s what it means to have “Grit” and why I chose Grit Management as the name for my company.
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
My favorite memory from childhood would have to be taking trips “down-home” to see my relatives near the coast of North Carolina. This usually involved long car rides with my mom or grandparents and then spending time on my great grandfather’s farm with my cousins eating some good southern cooking. The car rides were fun just because we always listened to great music. Family is important to me and they’re the reason why I’m able to persevere and overcome any challenges that may arise in my life.
Contact Info:
- Email: gritmgt@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gritmgt/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gritmgt/
- Other: https://www.instagram.com/toneone007/
Suggest a story: VoyageDallas is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
