Creative Artists Agency’s David Zedeck and Andrew Simon know first-hand that Disney Channel star Selena Gomez is a talented young woman with a vision. When she wanted to expand her singing career, she formed Selena Gomez & The Scene in 2009 and everything fell into place.
“She probably could have taken the easy way out … and put out a solo record, but [the band] was her idea,” Zedeck told Pollstar. “She was going against conventional wisdom, so to speak, in sharing the spotlight. She had a vision of what her music career should be like.”
Scheduling a tour around Gomez’s busy schedule was challenging but gave the band time to get comfortable.
“In the beginning, she was shooting five days a week, so … we were only able to fill occasional weekends,” Simon told Pollstar. “The other thing David and I did was to really make sure we put her … in a safe environment [where] she could nurture her talent and the band could really grow.”
Gomez, drummer Greg Carman, bassist Joey Clement, guitarist Ethan Roberts and Dane Forrest on keyboards built a fan base playing venues large and small and festivals throughout the U.S. and Canada, delivering a high-energy, family-friendly show.
And families who know Gomez from the Disney Channel’s “Wizards of Waverly Place,” her movies and other projects are part of the band’s sold-out crowds.
“We’re fortunate to [work with] a management team that is cognizant of [ticket prices]. They remember when they took their kids to shows, what sacrifices they made and how long they had to save,” Zedeck said. “We’re able to have a range of ticket prices that are, hopefully, affordable to everyone.”