An Interview With Chad Silverstein
What are your strengths? What do you do better than everyone else? This is a great place to start. Too many people try to blend in when they are born to stand out.
In today’s digital-first world, personal branding has emerged as a cornerstone of professional success and influence. Behind many of the most recognized actors and personalities stands a strategic partnership with skilled publicists who craft and convey their stories, values, and visions to the world. I had the pleasure of interviewing Andy Gatenby.
Andy Gatenby is a Publicist, Actor, and Entrepreneur. He is driven to shake up the industry and prides himself on shining a light on working-class actors, assisting them in building their branding and helping them become the best versions of themselves.
Thank you for joining us. To start, could you share your “origin story” with our readers? How did you begin your journey, and what challenges did you face in the early days?
Actor Publicist was started from frustration with the lack of media opportunities available to working-class actors. Originally, I started it to assist myself and close friends with interviews and press opportunities. This quickly grew, and Actor Publicist was born. We now have one of the most searched websites for Actor Publicists in the world, and I’ve become a master at building brands and assisting in taking actors to the next level. Like any new venture, adversity is around every corner. Resileince is the key to success.
Can you share a transformative moment or campaign in your career where you significantly altered the personal brand of an actor, and what was the impact of that change?
Absolutley, It happens all of the time. We always start with the end destination in mind, too many people try to achieve great things in life, but they don’t start with an end destination or final goal. We assist in goal setting and this changes everything. As soon as you lock in where you want to be, then you can create an action plan to get there. If you don’t know where you want to be, how are you supposed to get there? This is key to developing personal branding.
How do you navigate the balance between an actors authentic self and the public persona you craft for them in their branding strategy?
You have to be real. We work on bringing out the best possible version of each individual, creating an authentic brand that people resonate with. We work to their strengths and help amplify them to the world.
What are the most common misconceptions actors have about personal branding, and how do you address these in your work?
Acting is a business; you either become good at both the business and the acting or prepare to be left behind. In such a competitive industry, you have to think outside the box and stand out, apply your strengths, and let the world know what you do best.
In a crisis situation, what steps do you take to protect or rehabilitate the personal brand of an actor?
This is a difficult question. Of course, it would depend on the severity of the crisis situation. We have a plan of action to deal with these occasions, whoever they are. They have to be tailored to the individual, and no two action plans will be the same.
Could you list and briefly explain “5 Things You Need to Know to Shape a Personal Brand” based on your experiences and insights? If you can, please share a story or example for each.
1 . What are your strengths? What do you do better than everyone else? This is a great place to start. Too many people try to blend in when they are born to stand out.
2 . What is your USP, unique selling point? As soon as you lock this down, everything changes.
3 . Why? Find your why. Why are you doing what you’re doing? This is important, and everybody needs a powerful why.
4 . Where is your final destination? As soon as we know where you want to be, we can help you create an action plan to get there.
5 . What do you want? Knowing what you want to achieve is fundamental to creating a successful campaign.
Looking forward, how do you see the role of technology and social media evolving in the way publicists shape and manage the personal brands of actors?
I think it’s going to assist massively, and there has never been a better time to live with the technology everybody has at their fingertips.
How can our readers follow your work?
You can follow us on Instagram @actorpublicist
and check out our website, www.actorpublicist.com
Thank you for offering such valuable insights into the power of personal branding. We wish you continued success in all of your work.
About the Interviewer: Chad Silverstein is a seasoned entrepreneur and Thought Leader with over 25 years of business experience. He has founded, operated, and exited multiple companies and now builds into a handful of high impact CEOs. Chad has launched multiple online communities, including a recent leadership development platform, and also serves as a strategic advisor for Authority Magazine’s thought-leader incubator program.
To learn more and connect with Chad visit: chadsilverstein.io
The Power of Personal Branding: Andy Gatenby On How Publicists Shape Actors Influence was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.