Tell us a little about yourself and your experience.
I’m a husband, entrepreneur, musician, songwriter, Label president, and artist manager. I have had 10 years of mostly underground touring and independent record releases with the music that i either create myself or with others and have made a living more or less with royalties and constant touring of the United States and abroad.
What drove you to choose your career path?
My Family has always been musical. My grandfather was a lounge singer and would alwaystake us camping in the summer time where we would sing songs around the camp fire. My Uncle Wes used to make custom guitars, and gave me an acoustic for my 13th birthday. My parents were very religious when i was growing up and i would play guitar and learn christian songs from the worship leaders at church. My cousins that were a little older than me, started a hardcore band and would play shows all the time. I really wanted to be in their band, so i practiced as much as i could. Their band broke up, i started my first one and the rest kind of snowballed from there.
How did you go about getting your job? What kind of education and experience did you need?
I didn’t. Everything i have accomplished so far has been from a high school diploma and a an extreme drive to do what i felt and still feel i was meant to do. I have fought for every fan, listened to every mentor in the business, and experienced everything hands on and just went for it. I’ve made many mistakes along the way and have never forgotten those hard lessons.
What do you actually spend the majority of your time doing?
I spend most of my time networking, brainstorming new ideas, and coordinating those ideas with my team to make them a reality. I also try to set aside time for writing, although inspiration mostly comes at random unexpected times of the day or more so, the night.
What misconceptions do people often have about your job?
Touring is not as glamorous as people think it is. It is fun to be playing music around the country and whatnot, but it’s nothing close to the fantasized, Motley Crue best selling novel of an experience that most people associate with touring. its more like boot camp for up and coming artists that haven’t “made it” to the sold out every night, three buses one for each Green Day member level and probably never will be. But that’s ay ok in my book. If touring and playing music was easy, everyone would do it.
What are your average work hours?
I never stop. I never clock out. That’s what separates people serious about they’re career and people who aren’t in my opinion. when i’m working, i’m also working. Supplemental income is key in this day and age, and when one thing is slow, it’s time focus on the other.
What personal tips and shortcuts have made your job easier?
There are no shortcuts in the music industry, but the biggest tip i can give and have learned a great deal from is simply that failing is necessary. Learn from your mistakes and never forget it.
What do you do differently from your coworkers or peers in the same profession?
I'm not exactly sure, to be honest. I try to not concern myself with others in a sense that i just try to worry about myself and my team. I think everyone in this business that’s doing it right has they’re own code and what works for them. There’s no one way or path.
Do you have any advice for people who need to enlist your services?
Have a killer recording and an even better live show. If you have that, the suits will come to you.
What's the worst part of the job and how do you deal with it?
The worst part is trying to remember everything that’s going on with each artist and staying up with it. I’m constantly keeping notes in my phone or my journal. Writing things down actually helps me remember mentally what needs to be done.
What's the most enjoyable part of the job?
The music. Other than my beautiful, amazing wife, the music is what i live for. I love getting to hear new mixes of un released material before the masses hear it.
What kind of money can one expect to make at your job?
Don’t worry about the money. If you are, you’re in the absolute wrong business in my opinion. On the upside, money has a way of accumulating if you’re not concerned with it. True inspiration when writing songs and whatnot, only happen when you feel true emotion. Organic creativity is the real money maker.
How do you move up in your field?
not sure. work hard? kick ass at kicking ass?
What advice would you give to those aspiring to join your profession?
have fun and don’t do it for the wrong reasons!
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