Today we’d like to introduce you to Taylor Donaldson.
Hi Taylor, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Hello! I am a theatre nerd, donut lover, tea enthusiast, and CEO of Taylord Marketing & Management, LCC. I started studying theatre in 2009 at Southeastern Oklahoma State University. While it wasn’t my initial plan, it was something I fell into and felt very passionate about. I was a Theatre Management and Promotions major and became the Promotions Manager for the Art, Communication, and Theatre Department. That’s where I received hands-on experience and was in charge of a team of 3-5 other students. We made sure all of the events and activities were planned and marketed efficiently. That’s where my love and passion for theatre and management came from.
I moved to DFW in 2014 and started working at Six Flags Over Texas as a spot light operator and stage manager for the shows. After my first year, I became a DJ/Emcee and was hired a year later as the supervisor over Six Flags Radio. This gave me the opportunity to select all of the music for both Six Flags Over Texas and Hurricane Harbor and to record radio ads that played at all of the parks across the country.
Since 2017, I have worked for various theatres as a stage manager and marketing assistant. I also worked as a virtual assistant for a voice instructor. One day the voice instructor posted on social media about how I was helping her in her business and a close friend commented, #EveryoneNeedsATaylor. The support was overwhelming and it became apparent that there was a need for some type of theatre consulting/admin/marketing business. In 2019, with the help of close friends and family, Taylord Marketing & Management was founded. My goal is to “Taylor” my skills to help theatres and theatre-makers so they can #GetTaylord.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
There have been many obstacles and challenges in such a short time. Since I don’t have a degree in business or accounting, I’ve had to teach myself how to run a business. I found an amazing group of designers and badass CEOs in an online community who inspired me and taught me so much about being a small business owner. Between that group and my sister, who has a degree in accounting, I have gained so much knowledge and I’m still constantly messaging them for advice and support.
One of the biggest challenges has been the “intermission” that theatres have been in. Without productions happening, the need for my services lowered. That forced me to broaden my reach and see who else needed help. I started offering other online services like logo design, branding, and even TikTok courses. I’ve continued working with people in the Arts and Entertainment industry but also with my friends in the LGBTQIA+ community.
Even though I’ve been working from home for a few years now, another challenge amidst the pandemic was balancing my mental health. After talking with other solopreneurs, I realized that I wasn’t alone. I started having “tea time” with friends and colleagues to virtually catch up and talk about what we were going through. That inspired me to start Tea Time with Taylor, a podcast for creatives discussing mental health. Having that community and conversation has been very beneficial!
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Taylord Marketing & Management is more than a marketing company. This is a one-stop-shop for creatives. Whether you’re a freelance voice teacher, a dance fitness instructor, or even a vegan baker with a background in theatre, I want to help. I offer a business plan questionnaire to help map everything out. I sit down with each of my clients for two hours and ask questions to make sure I know exactly what they want from the very beginning, I specialize in graphic design but also offer other services like web design, event planning, public relations, social media management, print/radio/video ads, and much more.
I think what sets me apart from others, is my background in theatre. Yes, there are other marketing and design firms but selling a house and selling a show are two different things. Most theatres are doing it themselves which can be time-consuming. When they are ready to make that leap and hire someone to handle their marketing for them, they need a person who has a background in theatre and understands their needs.
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
I think the key to success is to never stop learning. The world is continuously evolving and the moment that you decide to stop doing your research and learning more about your craft is when you lose. I think most of my success comes from my passion for learning new things. There are many ways to achieve a certain goal and I am always curious how others do things. I want to make sure I am doing things in the most efficient way. This means, learning how others do what I do and see what works. I also believe in helping others and giving back. I want to give people the skills they need to succeed. Whether that means offering a free mini-course or free social media templates, I want to help them any way I can. I succeed when others succeed.
Contact Info:
- Email: info@taylordmm.com
- Website: taylordmm.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/taylorrayd
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/TaylordMM
- Other: www.instagram.com/taylordmarketing
