262 Five is a full-service event production and entertainment company that specializes in custom live experiences and brand marketing activations
It’s the mission of 262 Five to not only provide a memorable experience for event attendees and activation participants but to also provide the absolute best experience for the client.
In 1997, co-founders Brinson Strickland and Kyle Gustie were working together on the same national tour, Strickland as Tour Manager and Gustie as Director of Tours and Events for GMR Marketing. They quickly bonded over being "that guy" - the ones who are always able to get things done, no matter what. Whether an artist needed something in an unknown city, a sponsor wanted to throw a last minute party for 200 people, a crew member needed a last-minute piece of equipment, Strickland and Gustie (or Kyle and Brinson) were the guys to get it done. The two spent years on and off the road earning the trust of their colleagues and partners, leading to long-lasting relationships which led to 262 Five's official beginning in 2003.
With over 65 combined years of experience, Brinson and Kyle have the knowledge, relationships, and resources to make any event a huge success. Gustie and Strickland's broad backgrounds in sponsorship activations, artist management, tour management, and event production provide them with the tools necessary to produce events of any size, book talent, and secure third party sponsorships.
Brinson Strickland
Brinson has played many roles in the music and entertainment business over his 25 year career, including that of Artist, musician, tour manager, artist manager, event producer, film/television producer and talent buyer. Beginning as a musician in Texas, Brinson moved to Nashville in 1995, spending the next 6 years touring the world as guitar player and tour manager for country music star Bryan White. In 2001, Brinson left the road life behind and became a partner in artist management company JAG Management, managing acts such as Brad Paisley and Josh Turner. In 2003, he partnered with Kyle Gustie and formed 262 Five, Ltd.
262 Five’s first initiative was as a producer on the NBC TV show Nashville Star, producing and managing the live tours for 3 seasons. 262 Five continued to grow with brand initiatives and events with partners such as Netflix, Nokia, Warner Home Video, The Ginn Company, Advance Auto Parts, AOL/Time Wariner and AARP to name a few. In addition, Brinson oversaw 262 Five’s artist management partnership with McGhee Entertainment (KISS, Darius Rucker, Axl Rose, ToTo, CeCe Winans) and now runs Collective Artist Management, the Artist Management division of 262 Five, Ltd. In his capacity as President of Collective Artist Management, Brinson oversees the careers of music artists Clint Black, Sara Evans, Corey Smith, Edwin McCain and Steve Wariner.
Brinson lives in Nashville with his wonderful wife and 2 phenomenal children.
Kyle Gustie
Kyle Gustie's experience is colorful and varied with all roads leading to his partnership in 262 Five, Ltd. A graduate of DePauw University, Kyle worked briefly for G.E. Capital in commercial equipment financing before successfully following his true passion of music and event management into the entertainment business. He managed one of Chicago's most successful club bands, Dick Holliday and the Bamboo Gang, securing a sponsorship with Miller Brewing Company and transforming the band into a national touring act that played from Minneapolis to Cancun, and from L.A. to the Virgin Islands.
Kyle then spent 10 years managing all major events and corporate sponsored tours for one of the nation's largest marketing companies, GMR Marketing. Clients included Miller Brewing Company, Kraft Foods, Nokia Mobile Phones, Microsoft, Airwalk, Philip Morris, and Coleman. Major corporate-sponsored music tours included Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, Stone Temple Pilots, Garbage, Nelly, Alan Jackson, Clint Black, Brooks & Dunn, Vince Gill, Magic Johnson, Bob Newhart, Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, George Strait, Dixie Chicks, O-Town, and Metallica. The AXE House Party, Degree Gel Party in Hell (Cayman Islands), Super Bowls XXVIII-XXXV, George Strait Country Music Festival, 1996 Summer Olympics, and the Icehouse Truck Drop are among the corporate-sponsored events produced by Gustie.
In 2003, he joined Brinson Strickland to form 262 Five, Ltd. With 262 Five, Kyle has produced everything from a Chris Isaak performance on the 17th fairway of a country club to a mutli-million dollar LPGA concert weekend to a Wizard Of Oz screening in Central Park with Jennifer Hudson, Julianne Hough, and Questlove & the Roots.
