Barbara Collin, Agent, Manager & Promoter

GJ: How long have you been promoting women in music? BC: I have been promoting women in music since I began in the booking business about 35 plus years ago. At that time, I represented the Akiyoshi Tabackin Big Band with the great Toshiko Akiyoshi, Grammy Award winning pianist, composer, arranger and bandleader. I also worked with the Brazilian singer, Flora Purim (Flora Purim & Airto) around that time. I went on to work in a management company, as well as early on independently managing a female musician, and worked several booking agencies before I started my own company. GJ: What was the 1st event you booked and where? BC: The very first event I booked was probably with the jazz bassist, David Friesen in a music club. The first event I booked for Toshiko Akiyoshi and the Big Band was a university engagement in the Midwest. GJ: Who are the most famous artists you have represented? BC: Jay Leno, Nancy Wilson, Phoebe Snow, Oscar Brown Jr., Freddie Hubbard, Sheila E., among others. GJ: What has been your most challenging moment? BC: There have been so many challenging moments over the years. One that comes to mind is when I was in Chile with an All-Star Latin jazz band. One member wasn’t feeling well but performed on the festival and was immediately taken after the show to a hospital. He suffered a heart attack. Because of language challenges we had a hard time locating him in the hospital. We were to leave the next evening for the U.S. And he wanted to see his U.S. doctor. At first he couldn’t get released from the hospital as he didn’t have cash and they wouldn’t take U.S. credit cards. That was nerve wracking for everyone! In the end, we worked it out for him to leave the country, but it was quite a challenge. I always tell my students or people who take my workshops about the challenges that can arise on the road, especially internationally. GJ: How many women have you worked with? BC: I can’t count them all. I have hired many female musicians to work with my artists and also have booked countless vocalists and instrumentalists over my career. GJ: Do you have a different approach when working with women? BC: No, not really. I do find that women are overall more detail oriented, and ask more questions. Some women musicians are more guarded, as they have had more challenges in terms of garnering respect in the industry, being taken seriously , getting equal pay, etc. GJ: Do you have a mentor or mentee? BC: I had John Levy. He passed away a few years ago. He was a Personal Manager to Nancy Wilson, Joe Williams and Shirley Horn at the time. When I started in the industry there were no or very few female agent/promoters. I was a mentee to my assistant of 10 years and also to many female singers and musicians over the years. I like to try to inspire musicians in their careers, especially women musicians. GJ: What is your educational background, and did you take any courses to become an agent and promoter? BC: I have a Bachelor’s degree in Interdisciplinary Creative Arts (music, art, film). I did not take any courses to become an agent/ promoter. There were none that I was aware of then. I learned “on the job”, sink or swim! I was an instructor in the music business department of the Musician’s Institute in Hollywood for over 15 years, teaching “Agents & Bookings”. I am glad they have classes for that now for young people. GJ: Do you have a business or corporation? BC: I have a business. GJ: What is the largest budget you have worked with? BC: Maybe round $200,000. GJ: Tell me about your team. BC: Right now, I am looking for the right assistant. In the past I have kept it small - a couple assistants, an intern, a PR person I work with. GJ: Do you play an instrument? BC: I played flute many years ago. I wanted to be a jazz flautist however there were no female role models at that time and I also did not want to put in all that practice time!