AMBER DEE • OWNER/CEO
THE ROAD TO SIDE STAGE
If when I started my marketing career over a decade ago you told me that I would own and operate a marketing agency dedicated to helping elevate independent artists, I would have called bullshit.
But yet, here we are.
Side Stage Promotions wasn’t built overnight — it came from years of working behind the scenes, seeing what independent artists truly need to succeed. After starting my marketing career in 2014 and diving full-time into music and tour marketing in 2018, I wound up where creativity, passion, and a little bit of crazy go a long way.
But like I said, I didn’t think I’d end up here.
I’m originally from a tiny town in the middle of nowhere California that no one has ever heard of called Twentynine Palms. I was born on the U.S.M.C. base and lived there till I turned 18 where I ran off to chase those big city dreams of mine.
From there, I really had to hustle. So I worked full-time in the fast food industry while I went to Make-Up Designory in Burbank, CA where I studied full-time to be a beauty and special effects makeup artist for film, TV and print photography.
I worked on my first independent feature film set shortly after finishing school and went straight into the independent film industry full-time. I worked on 25+ full-length independent film productions and print photography shoots during my career and while it was fun, I decided to leave my trade in 2014.
That’s where I started learning marketing, web and graphic design. I was given the opportunity to work for a healthcare marketing firm, whose goal was to empower independent physical, occupational, and pediatric therapists. This is when I developed a solid foundation of technical skills and marketing concepts. I began freelancing in other industries and gained priceless knowledge that would come to aid in the making of Side Stage Promotions.
In 2018, after moving to Texas from Orange County I was referred for a marketing position at an Austin-based artist management company and quickly fell in love with tour marketing and creating music release strategies for independent artists.
Here I had the chance to work with some great talent in the independent country, Texas country and americana scene. Artists like Ward Davis, Bart Crow, Cody Jinks, Charles Wesley Godwin, Sunny Sweeney, Whitey Morgan & The 78s, Alex Williams, Josh Morningstar, and The Steel Woods. I also learned how things worked from an artist, management, and booking agent perspective.
In 2023, I was offered a position on Cody Jinks’ team as his Director of Tour Marketing. I am currently in this role on Team Jinks where I focus on creating and executing social media campaigns, digital advertising, and promo efforts for country music’s most successful independent artist.
Side Stage Promotions was launched in 2023, to create and offer something unique for independent artists. Which is a marketing team that has been in the trenches with artists, management, and agents for years and understands the grind that it takes to cut through the noise.
Side Stage is named for that space just offstage, where the artist’s crew stands—the ones who help make it happen without ever stepping into the spotlight. That’s where you’ll find us. Showing up to support independent artists and just enjoying the view.
With a passion for supporting independent and established artists alike, I hope to continue elevating artists I believe in.
