Today we’d like to introduce you to Adam Kirr.
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?
Have always been interested in music. From an internship in college at Def Jam to working for Scott Weiland’s record label after college, I got a good sense of the business side of the industry early in my career. Eventually took marketing jobs in non-music related fields for much of the 2010’s and on the side co-produced the Charm City Bluegrass Festival. We had some success with the festival brand and made a lot of industry connections, eventually launching my own marketing company in 2017 to focus mostly on music-related projects and clients. Currently, I serve as the COO of a nonprofit dedicated to funding and supporting the arts, mostly within music related projects, and on the side make content about Baltimore and my life via my Instagram and TikTok accounts (@charmcityadam).
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Getting started in music can be hard, especially if you don’t have any connections. Right out of college, I got my label job with Scott Weiland after hitting Craigslist hard for jobs in Los Angeles and sending emails to executives almost nonstop. The pay was low, not enough to live in Los Angeles, so I blew through savings fast, got family help, and eventually had to get a job that actually fully paid my bills, which was working as a front desk agent at a upscale boutique hotel. Also, from 2010 to 2015 I didn’t work in music at all. I was working at regular 9-5 in marketing for good pay and really trying to find my way in a world where you need to financially support yourself but also do things that you enjoy. Eventually, met my Charm City Bluegrass business partner at one of these marketing jobs and we built the brand together for years on the side. Eventually, we got some local and industry recognition and I was able to leverage those connections into consulting work. My current employer was a client of mine that I went full-time with because there was so much work to be done with just them and it allowed me to fully support myself without the chaos of having to worry about contract extensions and finding and retaining clients.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
For my full-time job, I’m the COO of a nonprofit that focuses on supporting creative projects and organizations, largely within music. As a smaller nonprofit, I wear a lot of hats from overseeing our finances, marketing, staff, and strategic planning. On the side, I create content via @charmcityadam. I like to think I’ve cultivated a good balance between my right and left brain but I’m definitely more a creative at heart and my social channels allow me to express that creative and observational side. I’m most proud of building a life that truly works for me. I’m very content with my day to day, I enjoy a good amount of freedom to balance work and life, and I’ve been grateful for incredible opportunities to present live music to both the local Baltimore audience and areas around the US. I love living in Baltimore. We’re so underrated in terms of the quality of life we can enjoy at relative affordability compared to other cities with lots of culture, businesses, and things to do. Plus, Baltimore has largely maintained its close-knit neighborhoods, which is fantastic with building connections with neighbors and cultivating a true community.
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
Growing up, I was very hyperactive. Couldn’t sit still in school and had trouble focusing on lessons. I could blame ADHD, but honestly I just think our school curriculum is broken. Let kids play more and construct learning and lessons at an early childhood age around play.
As I got older, I settled down and learned to do ok in school through high school and middle school. I was in a rock band in High School and have always loved music, nature, and thinking deeply and spiritually about all aspects of life. I was lucky enough to travel a lot with my family and even independently, which certainty expanded my world view.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @charmcityadam
- TikTok: @charmcityadam
