John Reese, Craig Duswalt Form ‘DAMN!’ Artist Management Company, Launch Mentorship-Focused SoCal Conference

Seasoned music industry veterans John Reese and Craig Duswalt have formed their own Disrupt Artist Management Network (DAMN!) and launched a two-day industry conference focused on mentorship and networking, with goals to redefine artist management and event production.

“We are thrilled to launch Disrupt Artist Management Network with such talented and inspiring bands,” Duswalt said in the announcement . “Our mission is to elevate artist management with a holistic, artist-focused approach. These artists represent the bold, innovative spirit we aim to amplify.”

The first three artists signed by the company, each in the rock or metal vein, are Los Angeles-based Thredge, Florida metal band Chained Saint, and LA-based rock band Of That Nature.

Along with the artist signings, DAMN! has announced “Breaking Into The Music Industry,” a two-day event May 2-3 in Indio, California, designed to connect and educate aspiring artists, entrepreneurs, students and industry professionals. Driven by the participation of experienced mentors in many aspects of the entertainment business, the event is to include notable concert industry figured like Live Nation’s Rich Best, musician Matt Sorum, 5B Artists + Media’s Cory Brennan, CAA’s Ryan Harlacher and Kasey McKee, producer and musician John Feldman as well as execs and entrepreneurs in the worlds of beverages, makeup, media public relations and more.

Duswalt, a noted author and speaker, is known for his work with bands like Guns N’ Roses and Air Supply and extensive marketing experience .

Reese, also with history with GNR as tour manager, brings a wealth of event production experience and, through his Synergy Global Enterprises company produced dozens of concerts, music festivals and developed, produced or co-produced a host of popular artist-branded events and experiences, including the Ohana Festival in Dana Point, California.  SGE filed for bankruptcy in 2019, after becoming one of the largest independent music festival promoters in the country, selling up to 2 million tickets in a year.

Reese said the response to conference has been positive all around. 

“I’ve had lots of people already asking, ‘When’s the next one? We want to be on this,” said Reese. “For me, this is my final chapter, man. To have had the opportunity to create all these friendships and relationships throughout those years, I’m honored that everybody said yes to participating.” 

Reese said the goal for both DAMN! and the industry conference event is to help bring up the next generations of entrepreneurs and executives, in a business where networking is everything and many are eager to share their wisdom and experience.

“In music, the most important part of it all was seeing bands like Avenged Sevenfold and Five Finger Death Punch and Slipknot, the bands that I worked with and gave them festival gigs and helped scale them, that’s what brought the most enjoyment,” said Reese.

Reese and some business partners are looking into producing a new event in Dana Point, and he’s hopeful to incorporate conference attendees, such as with internships and other hands-on experience opportunities.

“ I’m just super excited and I can’t wait,” Reese said. “The venue’s amazing, and now I just gotta sell it out! I’m back to getting the posters out and reaching consumers. It’s a brand new thing and we gotta educate people.”