About

Jill McGuckin:
Jill McGuckin of McGuckin Entertainment PR arrived on the Austin entertainment scene long before the city gained its world-famous musical reputation, one of the original members of the Texas Chapter of The Recording Academy (five terms on its Texas Board of Governors, one term as vice president, two as secretary-treasurer) and appointed by the Mayor in the 1990s to the Austin Music Commission that addressed the city's expanding music/entertainment sector. Before and since, she's been a tireless worker in the Texas and national entertainment scenes — as public relations consultant for bands like Reckless Kelly and T Bird and the Breaks; artists like Kevin Fowler and Kyle Park; record labels including Universal South; service organizations like the groundbreaking Health Alliance for Austin Musicians (since its start in 2005); special events like the celebrated Old Settler's Music Festival and Austin City Limits Music Festival. While earning front-page, magazine and broadcast features for her clients, she's earned "Best Publicist" honors and been named every year to the Austin American-Statesman Out & About 500 list of media stars. She is now considered the go-to girl to hook up musicians, record labels, local and national filmmakers, special event planners, community service program operators, respected visitors to the city, and members of the global media.

Heidi Labensart
Publicist Heidi Labensart has been working with McGuckin Entertainment PR since before her graduation in 2005 from St. Edward’s University in Austin with a bachelor of arts degree in communications. But she’s had a head and heart for music and entertainment since she was a child in Colorado, and teaches students the fiddle, guitar and mandolin.

As an account executive, Labensart consults with clients on their publicity goals — from product releases and tour publicity to developing strategies and techniques in messaging and image development to organizing special events and media tours.

She attends national music conferences and seminars (including Americana Music Association Conference, Folk Alliance Conference and South by Southwest) and spends a lot of time out and about Austin’s entertainment scene attending concerts and release parties and music festivals.

She also represents and manages the Austin alt-folk-progressive acoustic string band MilkDrive and consults with young bands on artist development.

Inside the world of fiddling, she has served on the Board of Directors of the Texas Old-Time Fiddle Association for four years. She is currently planning the inaugural Live Oak Fiddle Camp for May 2011 at TR Ranch in Halletsville, Texas.

Any free time she finds herself with she spends playing music, traveling, and attending concerts by clients and others.

 

Sarah Jacober, administrative assistant

 

SELECT CURRENT & PAST CLIENTS include

Kyle Park, Laurie Lewis, Reed Turner, Kimberly Dunn, Kris Gordon, Elephant Revival, Carolann Ames, Shawn Nelson, Suzanna Choffel, Hudson Moore, Jackie Bristow, John Hartford Stringband, Reckless Kelly, Marshall Ford Swing Band, T Bird and the Breaks, The Ginn Sisters, The Jefferson, Gary P. Nunn, George Ducas, The Belleville Outfit, Two Tons of Steel, Micky and the Motorcars, Kevin Fowler, and The Greencards

• Health Alliance for Austin Musicians (HAAM) — HAAM Benefit Day 2006-2011, Corporate Battle of the Bands 2008-2011
• BMI — Texas biz forums, panels and showcases and special events surrounding annual South By Southwest Film, Interactive & Music Festivals and Media Conference and Austin City Limits Music Festival 2002-2011
• Wilhelmina Brown Management — Texas talent agency launch and special events
• Old Settler's Music Festival 2009-2012
• Texas Swing Festival 2011-2012
• Reckless Kelly's Celebrity Softball Jam 2011-2012
• Texas Music Theater San Marcos
• Blue Rock Artist Ranch and Studio in Wimberley, Texas
• The Bugle Boy listening room in La Grange, Texas
• Conroe Cajun Catfish Festival 2007-2011
• Dr. Kristin Neff's "Self-Compassion: Stop Beating Yourself Up and Leave Insecurity Behind" Texas book launch events
• The Recording Academy Texas Chapter events (Grammy U Summit panelist 2011, Producers & Engineers tour, GRAMMY Awards telecast viewing parties in Texas)
• Gibson Guitar-hosted events — Ray Wylie Hubbard Songwriting Workshop, Austin GuitarTown, Austin Monthly magazine issue launches, Baldwin Piano "Grand Unveiling" Party
• "Clifford's Blues: A Celebration of His Life" City Memorial for bluesman Clifford Antone, 2006; "Keep Austin Young: Celebrating the Life of Danny Roy Young" Benefit Concert at Austin Music Hall, 2008
• Roky Erickson's 6th Annual Psychedelic Ice Cream Social benefiting Health Alliance for Austin Musicians, SXSW 2008