We had the good fortune of connecting with Gil Costello and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Gil, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
Honestly, this career path was the only path for me in life. I don’t think I would have pursued any career outside of music, and I’m grateful to have found my way into a career path in such an illusive industry. It’s not for the faint of heart! Those who succeed in music are those who have unwavering determination. For me – there was no other career path that made sense. I think I’ve known that since I was a young kid.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I started as a door guy at the Basement East in late 2017. I knew from my first shift that this was where I wanted to stay. My first shift was loading in with the prestigious band New Found Glory! I couldn’t believe I was setting up their drums with their drummer, their bass amp with their basssist, etc. I spent a few years paying dues and doing laborious work. In time, there was an opportunity to book the “OG” Basement. I applied and had to interview along with roughly 15-20 other candidates, I was not necessarily a shoe-in. Since then I have started booking some at Basement East as well. I think the thing that brought me to this point in my career was resilience. Being able to shake off negative experiences & keep moving forward. That is paramount for anyone pursuing a career in music.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Definitely taking them to Monell’s for breakfast. Then Dino’s for a late night bite. And of course hitting up both The Basement & Basement East for a show!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
The entire team at both The Basement & Basement East, for sure. We all rely on each other to keep this ship afloat. And there isn’t a more dedicated group of individuals in the world. They work super hard behind the scenes to make sure EVERYONE – the musicians, the audience, and each other – have the best concert experience possible. It takes a village! And our village is mighty!!

Website: www.thebasementnashville.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/thebasementnash

Twitter: www.twitter.com/thebasementnash

Facebook: www.facebook.com/thebasementnash

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutTennessee is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.