Name: Jackie Augustus
Age: 20
College Name/Major: Arizona State University/Mass Communication and Media Studies
Job Title: Associate Marketing Manager, Digital, at SB Projects
Website: scooterbraun.com
Twitter Handle: @JackieAugustus
What does your current job entail? Is there such a thing as a typical day?
Jackie Augustus: As the Associate Digital Marketing Manager at SB Projects, it’s my responsibility to oversee all social media and digital strategy across our 18 artists. This ranges from coordinating social posts with the artists, to creating and executing digital activations, to advising on digital rollout for a single, album or tour. There’s no such thing as a typical day in this position… or industry, rather. My job varies day to day. Some days I get brought into a tech pitch, some days I’m helping strategize around a potential TV show. That’s what I love about it.
What is the best part of your job?
JA: I love that it’s unpredictable. I’m the type of person who gets bored easily if I’m doing the same thing every day. This job, on the other hand, is constantly changing and evolving. Sure, for the most part I have the same projects overall that I’m focused on, but in each project we’re constantly moving from single promo, to album release, to tour, and then from out of nowhere I’ll get thrown a fun TV or tech project to help with on the side. It keeps me on my toes.
What was your first entry-level job in your field and how did you get it?
JA: This is actually my first full-time job in the field. Prior to this, I worked as an independent contractor part-time for a music marketing company running a few social media accounts for them remotely while I was completing my freshman year of college at Hawaii Pacific University. Oddly enough, I got the job because one of the company’s owners reached out to me via direct message on a Justin Bieber fan account (@BieberArmy) that I own.
What is one thing you wish you knew about your industry when you first started out that you know now?
JA: As a fan, you never really get to see the behind-the-scenes work that goes into an artist. It’s definitely been interesting for me to learn the ins and outs of this industry by just living it every day and learning from the incredible people I have the opportunity to work with here at SB Projects on a daily basis. One thing you don’t necessarily see as an outsider to the industry is all of the hard work and preparation that goes into building a new artist. They don’t just pop out of nowhere and become famous with a hit song on the radio. It takes time, sometimes years, and there’s a lot of strategic planning that goes into it.
Who is one person who changed your professional life for the better?
JA: This guy named Scooter Braun… ever heard of him? I started a fan account for Justin Bieber with my best friend back in 2009 (I was 14) when Justin Bieber was quickly ramping up. Scooter would send us exclusives to post and invite us to events, which helped grow our Twitter account to over one million followers.
It was in 2012, when I was cheerleading at Hawaii Pacific University and completing my freshman year of college, that Scooter offered me a job after I graduated college. Unfortunately, our cheer team got cut and I had plans to move to Nashville to finish school and find a job there. When I told Scooter I was moving, he offered me a full-time position in Los Angeles and told me I could take the job now and finish school in the process. A week later, I drove from Pennsylvania to California to start working for SB Projects and have been here for the past two and a half years.
What words of wisdom do you find most valuable?
JA: My favorite quote that Scooter says all the time is, “It’s better to ask for forgiveness than permission.” Another favorite value of the company that I live by is, “Do cool sh*t.” We like to push the limits over here.
What is one mistake you made along the way and what did you learn from it?
JA: For the first year and a half that I worked here, I didn’t let my phone leave my side. I woke up in the middle of the night for any text or email that came through. I was so worried that I needed to respond right away that I never really made time to have a personal life. I’ve since learned that it’s important to find a healthy balance between your professional and personal life… and that it’s okay to sleep!
What has been the most surreal moment of your career thus far?
JA: Sometimes I don’t even believe that my job is real… and that I’m only 20 years old. The whole thing is pretty surreal. One of my favorite moments thus far though has to be the release of Ariana Grande’s debut album this past year. It was the first major debut album release I was heavily involved in, so it was like Christmas morning on release day to finally see it come to life after months and months of marketing and preparation.
What advice would you give to a 20-something with similar aspirations?
JA: Know that you’re never too young to accomplish your dreams. If you’re passionate about something and believe in it, go for it. Don’t take no for an answer. Prove you’re more than capable even when some may doubt you.