There's no better way to end a week than with a feature and an interview! This is my first feature ever... Maybe I'll consider doing more of these but hey who am I kidding these last few weeks of the year are some of the last free ones that I have!
I'm super excited to introduce Seto McCoy of the McCoy Co.! Enjoy the read! :)
Kim. Tell me a little about yourself. Where are you from? What’s your educational background? What are your general professional and non-professional interests?
Seto. Well I am 23, born and raised in Saint Louis, MO but now I reside in Manhattan. I studied communications in college but I thought I loved hair more! So I went to Paul Mitchell and obtained my license. My favorite professional interest has to be Fashion Week of course. I love everything about it. I would have to say a non professional interest would have to be food. OMG I just can't get enough. Cheesecake is like my kryptonite.
Kim. What does fashion mean to you?
Seto. Fashion is an expression. I believe that it tells a story about the person you are looking at. Whether they are conservative or vintage ready. If you are a fashionable person you have the ability to camouflage. That's my favorite part. Fashion is an attitude. It's a type of drug that boils through my veins that makes me want more. I'm addicted. Lol
Kim. How would you define your city’s fashion?
Seto. Haha my hometown Saint Louis is really slow when it comes to fashion. I mean there are some people that stay ahead then you have the normal average Joe. That person loves Polo and Michael Kors. They are all about the current wave. Then you come to my new city, Manhattan, and you get a little glimpse of everything. The trendsetters, the conservative business groups, the average joes, and everything in between.
Kim. Hmmm... Your hometown sounds like my hometown... Just a little more progressive! Haha
Kim. When did you realize you wanted to become a fashion publicist?
Seto. Let's see. I decided about a year ago when I applied for an internship with Stevie Boi. I literally sent my resume and hoped he would return. About two days later I got an email from his publicist, Rhea Elisia, and I was hired as the Assistant. Ever since then my passion has come from loving the industry and making my clients appealing to the media.
Kim. Where’d you get your start?
Seto. RheaElisia Public Relations. I literally worked from Saint Louis for about 3 months until I could afford to move to NYC. She taught me everything I know. From how to develop sites and invites to how to host a successful event for the clients. I would never forget she made me do pretty much the whole fashion week Fashions Night Out event. I was mortified. But in the end the turn out was amazing and she was like a proud mother. She will forever be dear to me. We talk like everyday.
"Fashion is an attitude."
-Seto
Kim. What prompted you to create the McCoy Co.?
Seto. After my internship was over I needed something a little more. I was obsessed with the idea of having something of my own. I wanted to be the owner of a company. It was a dream for years. When my first client ScarsAreTattoos.com asked my to be their publicist, I literally cried. Only because this company/brand saw something in me. They saw that I was trying to become something bigger than an assistant or a junior publicist. There is nothing wrong with that but when you dream you do nothing but work hard until you reach that level of comfort.
Kim. How does being a fashion publicist differ from being any other kind of publicist?
Seto. Ha. Honestly I have no idea. I really feel like I made that up. Haha but if I could define it, it would be because I generally only represent those in the fashion industry. But since I'm expanding I try not to use that term so much because I wouldn't want to turn a potential client away.
Kim. What’s a typical day like as a publicist?
Seto. Emails. Emails. Emails. Like, its crazy. You have emails for bookings, or people wanting to know my rates, or people wanting me to host/promote their business or event. I swear I would reply to an email then another would come very soon after. I love every second though. I love being available to people. Only because I feel like no one is ever available. OMG like people come on. But besides that I like to keep in contact with my clients daily and see what's going on and ideas I mat have or they may have. I hate not working and becoming irrelevant.
Kim. Nice... So what are your rates?! Haha!
Kim. What do you like best about being a publicist? What do you dislike?
Seto. Just being able to showcase my clients appropriately. Seeing them happy with the outcome of events amongst other things. That's my greatest happiness. Now, I absolutely dislike when I need to be at two places at one time. OMG it is so annoying. This is why I need an assistant. So anyone out there wanting to assistant me email me at
setomccoy@gmail.com and we can talk more about that.
Kim. How would you define your brand?
Seto. McCoy Co. is a brand of many colors. You never know what to expect. Whether it's the amazing and talented jewelry designer Cassie King opening in Texas or Rome or the "The Next Fashion Icon" Jaeden Zoe taking over the fashion or entertainment industry we have it all and we mesh so well... We have everything, I like to call it the one stop shop. Ha. McCoy Co. Baby! It's a brand of happiness and fashion. It's a brand of love and success. It's a brand that is growing and not stopping anytime soon. Its a family.
What are some long term/short term goals for your company?
Long term, I want to be everywhere. I try not to take many new clients because I want to focus on the original crew. They have all of my attention. At this point it's just me, with the help of others of course. So I can't overwhelm myself with too much. Eventually, I want to have two offices in Saint Louis and Manhattan. But for now I'm just focusing on reaching new levels. Fashion Week, I want more shows. Magazines and Blogs, I'd like more features. I want to be the next wave in the coming year. I want everyone to know Seto McCoy.
Who’s been your favorite client? Why?
I know this a cliche answer but I don't have a favorite. They all bring something different to the table. Let's see. Cassie has Cassandra Collections is a jewelry line. She is amazing at what she does. She's been seen on the Kardashian and countless others and now has stores internationally. She stands. Then you have Charles Spears "the blogger" he owns one of the worlds largest tattoo and art blogs, ScarsAreTattoos and LifeBleedsInk. He has a huge following on all social media and has featured some of the greatest artist in the world, including Tiffany Tats of Oxygens Best Ink. He stands. Then you have Langston Jones also a designer and an inspirational one, EyeDenti-Tee Theft. He took childhood and life lessons to create powerful slogans and t-shirt designs like the newer line "I Am My Own Movement." He stands. Last but not least you have "The Next Fashion Icon" Jaeden Zoe. She is breaking boundaries in the fashion and music industries. She started off as a musician and created a huge buzz now she is everywhere in the fashion scene. Jaeden stands. This is why I don't have a favorite, they all have that special something... And they are great at it!
Who would you like to work with in the future? Why?
I would love to work with Kanye West. He is my total inspiration. A man that has done almost everything. When I see myself in this industry years from now I want to be known like Mr. West. I would like to have just a ten minute conversation with him. I probably would just sit there in Awe so give me twenty instead haha.
"McCoy Co...It's a brand that is growing and not stopping anytime soon. Its a family."
-Seto
Got any advice for those seeking to become fashion publicists?
Go for it! There are so many people out there looking for someone to make them look good. That's our job. You have to be humble. If you boast about your accomplishments and the things you've done, people are going to talk. It's nice to be happy about things but move along, move forward, be that person who takes each accomplishment and makes two more. Don't let anyone tell you no or its a dumb idea. We are still innovators and we have ideas too. Just be yourself!
Is there anything else you’d like to add that I haven’t asked?
I'm blessed. I thank God for allowing me the talent to do this. McCoy Co. baby! Lastly, you need to have that one person/mentor that has your back. FaRonda Davis, I love you for being that. Grab her New book at
farondadavis.com.
Where can readers find out more about you and McCoy Co.?
The personal site is being revamped for the new year until then follow me in all social sites:
SetoMcCoy
You can find my clients at:
Cassandracollections.com
Scarsaretattoos.com
Lifebleedsink.com
Facebook: Eyedentitee Theft
Jaedenzoe.com
See you on the red carpet!
