Bob Bradley shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Good morning Bob, we’re so happy to have you here with us and we’d love to explore your story and how you think about life and legacy and so much more. So let’s start with a question we often ask: What’s more important to you—intelligence, energy, or integrity?
Integrity is most important to me. Being straightforward with my clients, media contacts, and friends and family is the only way to operate. I believe that if you approach people with honesty and empathy, you’ll avoid situations you might regret in the long run.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Bob Bradley, and I’ve been an independent publicist for over a decade, working across a variety of industries. While much of my experience is rooted in entertainment, I’ve also collaborated with dozens of restaurants, food brands, and high-profile personalities.
I came into publicity somewhat by chance. As a former touring musician, I made the leap to the other side of the desk in 2007, working for record labels in a “New Media” role — essentially online publicity at a time when traditional PR (print and TV) still dominated.
Being a publicist is a niche craft within the marketing world. While the profession now overlaps with influencer marketing, SEO, and copywriting, the core of great publicity remains the same: relationship-building, empathy, and prioritizing the best interests of both clients and media contacts. It’s about being part salesperson, part storyteller, and part strategist. Along the way, you build genuine friendships and find creative ways to deliver results in an industry that changes almost daily.
Recently, I’ve been working with a mix of music clients, a major restaurant concept in Southern California, a renowned tattoo artist, and a popular hotel and resort in Orange County.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What part of you has served its purpose and must now be released?
Growing up, I was obsessed with music — not just the sound, but the power of performance and the branding behind an artist or musician. I understood early on how important presentation was to any creative endeavor: album artwork, live shows, music videos, even fashion. I can remember being under 10 years old, turning the coffee table in my living room into a stage and imagining myself performing for a crowd.
That childhood fascination eventually became a career in my early 20s, when I traveled the world and played hundreds of live shows with my rock band. Those years built my confidence, exposed me to people from all walks of life, and gave me the opportunity to work closely with artist managers, record label executives, concert bookers, and other industry professionals.
When that chapter of my life felt complete, I knew it had served its purpose and it was time to move on. Now, I play music for fun on weekends, which keeps me creatively fulfilled and connected to the clients I work with.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
My career took a major hit in 2020 when the pandemic struck. Within a week, I lost more than half of my publicity clients as companies slashed marketing budgets overnight, unsure if they would even survive. Some of those clients were restaurants — and we all know the challenges they faced during that time.
It felt like the rug had been pulled out from under me, and I questioned whether this career was still the right path. I seriously considered other professions and came close to walking away from publicity entirely.
But one thing I’ve learned is that things do get better. If you put yourself out there, maintain a strong reputation, and bring valuable experience to the table, you can always climb back in the saddle — as they say — and keep moving forward.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? Is the public version of you the real you?
Absolutely — I’d have a hard time operating any other way. I find it odd when professionals come across as “robotic,” knowing they’re probably a completely different person once 5 p.m. hits. While I understand that certain industries demand strict public-facing professionalism, I prefer doing business with people who balance professionalism with genuine personality.
That’s the approach I bring to every situation or meeting — and fair warning, it often includes dad jokes. Lots of dad jokes.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: What do you think people will most misunderstand about your legacy?
I think a lot of people assume those who freelance or work from home have it easy, being able to play Xbox 24-7 or hit the gym 3 hours a day. It’s quite the opposite, and the irony is that people like myself who work remote or for themselves put in more hours than the average 9-5pm worker. Especially during the initial years of my career, those 50+ hour weeks helped build things up to where they are today. I think some people may assume that I had it easy owning my own business, but believe me there are many days where I envy those who are able to “turn off” once 5pm hits.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.bradleypublicity.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bradleypublicity
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bobbradleyoc/
Image Credits
Brad Alexander
