Cristina Nesta

Feature Story: SSC student Nick Porter

           

                                                                                                                 

            “It’s very difficult to decide so young what exactly you want to do for the rest of your life,” said Nick Porter, 22, as he prepares for his graduation from Salem State College this spring with a bachelors degree majoring in communications concentrating in public relations. “I’m particularly nervous to graduate. I have loved my college experience and am afraid of where life is going to take me.”

            Afraid he shouldn’t be. Nick is one of the lucky people in this world who was given a talent and knew exactly what to do with it and where it would take him. Nick started his career at a very young age, possibly without even knowing it. “From the time I was 13 years old in my first band, I was practicing PR as I managed, booked and handled all paperwork and business dealings concerning each band I have been in.”

            While in high school, Nick, along with a friend, got the opportunity to expand his skills for booking and managing and created EyesAreBlind Productions, a company that books national acts to perform in the Boston area and also offers tour booking for mid-level bands and graphic design services. The company has been going strong for five years now and continues to grow.

             Knowing exactly what his strengths were, Nick chose the perfect career path to help him build on them. “I’m a very practical person and wanted to study something that was still based in communications and reaching others,” he says. “I also knew I wanted to do something that would carry me in my professional life past any musical ambitions I might have.” With a love for writing, PR was something Nick could do that entailed every aspect of what interested him and more importantly, what he was good at.      

            Nick also plans to take his current band, The Auburn System, as far as he possibly can. With his guidance and management, not to mention his vocal chords and bass playing, The Auburn System has been able to build a loyal fan base all over the United States. They’ve toured the US several times now and seem to love it more each time. “Traveling for the next few years, playing music is what’s in my future. [The band] has had so much success, I just want to keep building on that and that includes touring, touring and more touring.”

            So while he is nervous to graduate, Nick knows he’s worked hard for what he wants to get out of life. As for being successful, he asks to “hit me up again in five years and I hope I can tell you I’ve been a success.”