Features

Perspective: Jerry L. Barrow

Jerry L. Barrow
Editor-In-Chief
Scratch Magazine
NYC

Job history
The first time I got paid for work was as a math tutor. I was self employed charging people by the hour to explain everything from improper fractions to quadratic equations. It’s why I can actually understand Canibus
After that I got an office job at the New York Theological Seminary where my mom worked.
Then in college I had all kinds of work-study jobs; Dispatcher, librarian and Student Center Manager. I was still tutoring, but on a volunteer basis.
After college I taught first grade at St. Philip’s Academy in Newark, NJ. I would freelance write during the holiday breaks.
After a year of teaching I turned to writing fulltime and got an internship at Beat Down magazine.
My next paying gig was at Lynne Palmer Recruiting Agency as an Admin Assist. I learned all about how much people actually got paid in publishing there.
After Lynne Palmer I went back to school for my Masters and got my first paid writing clip at The Source, a Mic Check on Eminem, after writing for free with Trace and Beatdown.
I did a short stint at Gray Advertising as an Account Coordinator before being hired at Volume.com as an Assistant Editor.
After Volume folded I kept freelancing and eventually got my next office job at Black Beat as an Assistant Editor.
From Black Beat I joined The Source as an Associate Music Editor. In three years I got promoted to Music Editor, Features Editor and then Deputy Editor.
Now I am the Editor-In-Chief of Scratch Magazine.

What are you currently working on? Your day-to-day responsibilities?

I am currently working on our 8th Issue of Scratch. It’s our Big Business Issue talking about producer contracts, independent artists going to the majors and how making beats can lead to executive positions. My main responsibility is picking the covers, but I also assign and edit a lot of sections in the book. I just started a column called HYDROSONICS for “unsigned” producers without credits yet, pre-Boiling Point. So I’ve been going through a lot of submissions for that as well.

What inspires/motivates you?

My mail. I open all of it because you never know what’s in it. The next Dr. Dre might be sending me beats.

What are your biggest challenges or the downsides of what you do?

The biggest challenge is that we’re bi-monthly and there are so many deserving producers that we can fill our pages with. So its a balancing act to get the new hot cat but also cover the vets.

How do you balance your personal and professional life?

I make sure I’m home to tuck my son in if nothing else. Even if I have to hit a industry function after he goes to sleep, I make sure I’m home for dinner.

What career achievement are you most proud of?

Definitely, becoming The Editor-In-Chief of Scratch.

What was your biggest personal/career mistake and what did you learn from the experience?

Editorially I’ve made a lot of little mistakes, and each one keeps me on my toes. I know that five people can read the same page and something can still slip through. There is no such thing as being too thorough. I also regret that I stopped making beats while I was at The Source. But I’m about to fix that.

Was there ever a time when you thought you might not succeed in what you’re doing? Please explain.

I’ve always believed in my abilities as a writer, but I questioned whether I would keep covering Hip-Hop because the music stopped inspiring me for a while. After I interviewed Nas, L.A. Reid and Mos Def I was like, what’s next? Jay-Z is retired. Thankfully, along came Scratch. I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of talkin/writing about beats and music.

Guiding principles?

Luck is just preparation meeting opportunity.
Don’t make promises but look people in the eye.

Birthday? Where you grew up? Where you went to school?

My birday is July 18. Cancer in the house. I was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY, with a short stay in Cambria Heights, Queens as a kid. I live in Rosedale, Queens now with my wife and son. I went to Regis H.S. in Manhattan, Wesleyan University for my BA and Pace University for my M.S. in Publishing.

Message Jerry L. Barrow and tell him what you think

By Ray Tamarra on 8/15/2005[read on] [17 comments]

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