Steve Bergerson and his 1960’s band, The Mystics, were just inducted into the new South Dakota Rock ’n Roll Hall of Fame.
Steve started playing drums when rock and roll was taking hold in the late ‘50s. Self-taught, he quickly transitioned from playing on Butternut® coffee cans and lids to assembling a group of junior high friends and performing in dance halls throughout South Dakota. In college, he joined The Mystics, who were well-known throughout the entire Midwest, and who toured with the Everly Brothers, Jerry Lee Lewis and other legendary performers.
After moving to Minneapolis, Steve played in hot spot night clubs, booked bands and then became an on-call drummer, where he performed on short notice with groups he didn’t know, but who knew of his spontaneity and intuitiveness, and improvisational and collaborative abilities.
An early adman with a major ad agency, he created the Twin Cities’ first advertising law practice in 1974. While many lawyers don’t understand the creative mind or process, Steve has a strong affinity for both. In fact, he calls himself “a creative in a suit”. His years as a drummer and adman taught him to trust his intuition and to not be afraid of risk, how to lead and listen carefully to others and the importance of empathy and collaboration, lessons which he brought with him to the practice of law.
Steve’s creative background gives him a unique understanding of his clients, who appreciate his passion, insights, energy and ‘can do’ attitude. He’s in his element when dealing with the creative clients he serves and the subjectivity, ambiguity, nuance and risks of advertising and trademark law.