TEM19: Ron Davis, Canadian jazz pianist, on the dangers of being fungible,why sales is such a huge part of what musicians do and how he is the prototypical example of a portfolio musician

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TEM19: Ron Davis, Canadian jazz pianist, on the dangers of being fungible,why sales is such a huge part of what musicians do and how he is the prototypical example of a portfolio musician

Ron Davis is one of the preeminent jazz musicians in Canada who is known for his innovative collaborations and forward thinking. He is a performer, writer, arranger and teacher who has taken a fascinating route to get to where he is today.

He began his professional career by becoming a lawyer. He then got his PhD in French and became an Assistant Professor at the University of Toronto. Then incredibly, after 10 years of not playing a note, picked music back up and became one of the most successful jazz musicians in all of Canada.

On Today’s Episode of The Entrepreneurial Musician:

  • The courage it took for him to get out of his well-paid and steady "cul-de-sac" of a job to become a full-time musician again

  • How he is the prototypical example of a portfolio musician

  • Why sales is such a huge part of what musicians do

  • What drives the innovative collaborations that comprise his project Symphronica

  • The dangers of being fungible

Links:

 Books Referenced:


You can help offset the ongoing costs of producing the show by making a small donation at http://www.pedalnotemedia.com/support-the-entrepreneurial-musician. Your support is greatly appreciated!

Produced by Austin Boyer and Buddy Deshler of FredBrass

TEM18: Are you on a cul de sac? (TEM Short)

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TEM18: Are you on a cul de sac? (TEM Short)

Here is my reaction to my interview with former Boston Brass and current Pedal Note Media partner Lance LaDuke. The most striking thing about Lance's career to me is that he has had the courage to bail on three different high profile jobs when he realized that they were personal cul de sacs.

That is easier said than done and Lance is a great example of making things happen in your career rather than waiting for things to get better.

Link:

Books Referenced:


You can help offset the ongoing costs of producing the show by making a small donation at http://www.pedalnotemedia.com/support-the-entrepreneurial-musician. Your support is greatly appreciated!

Produced by Austin Boyer and Buddy Deshler of FredBrass

TEM17: Lance LaDuke of Pedal Note Media

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TEM17: Lance LaDuke of Pedal Note Media

Lance is not only one of my best friends but one of the sharpest business minds I've ever encountered in the music business.

This guy has quit the US Air Force Band. He has quit the River City Brass Band. He has quit the Boston Brass. Every time he quit was because he figured out he was on what Seth Godin calls a cul de sac and he had the courage to do something about it.

This is a fascinating interview about having the courage to pull the trigger, making things happen rather than sitting back and waiting for it to come to you, and how his family environment growing up led to him being so good on the mic.

This interview is all over the map and yet is completely cohesive. If you don't know Lance you will quickly figure out why I wanted to start a company with him after we both got out of Boston Brass.

Lance's entrepreneurial endeavors have led him to a career in consulting, performance, media, and academia. He does a little of everything and amazingly does it all well.

There is so much actionable advice in this episode you'll want to take notes!

Topics Include:

  • How the point of differentiation that won him the Boston Brass gig was his business expertise and vision and not anything musical

  • The importance of being yourself and speaking your mind in interviews

  • His approach to programming and how every aspect of it is intentional and considers a number of factors

  • How Lance and I used the Business Model Canvas to create Pedal Note Media

Links:

Books Referenced:


You can help offset the ongoing costs of producing the show by making a small donation at http://www.pedalnotemedia.com/support-the-entrepreneurial-musician. Your support is greatly appreciated!

Produced by Austin Boyer and Buddy Deshler of FredBrass

TEM16: Become irreplaceable (TEM Short)

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TEM16: Become irreplaceable (TEM Short)

Here are my reflections on my interview with Mike Nickens from Episode 15 and how he went above and beyond his job description to make himself irreplaceable.

I also share a business lesson that my father taught me almost 30 years ago that are some of the wisest words I've ever heard on the subject. He was an electrical engineer but this lesson applies just as much to the music business as it does to engineering.

Links:

You can help offset the ongoing costs of producing the show by making a small donation at http://www.pedalnotemedia.com/support-the-entrepreneurial-musician. Your support is greatly appreciated!

Produced by Austin Boyer and Buddy Deshler of FredBrass

TEM15: Mike Nickens of the Green Machine

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TEM15: Mike Nickens of the Green Machine

Mike Nickens (aka Doc Nix) is my colleague at George Mason University and the director of the university's pep band, the "Green Machine". He created a tenured position for himself which is basically unheard of in this day and age. In short, he made himself irreplaceable.

Topics Covered:

  • How a tenured position was created for him by the dean

  • How networking helped him create a community around the Green Machine

  • The thought process behind his image and branding as the group's leader

  • The benefits of systemizing goals

  • Maintaining relationships in business and in friendship

Links:

Books Referenced:

You can help offset the ongoing costs of producing the show by making a small donation at http://www.pedalnotemedia.com/support-the-entrepreneurial-musician. Your support is greatly appreciated!

Produced by Austin Boyer and Buddy Deshler of FredBrass

TEM14: Let them tell you no

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TEM14: Let them tell you no

The Entrepreneurial Musician is now posting weekly! 

I will still be posting an interview every other week but the following week will now feature a very short episode with me discussing one of the topics the previous guest touched on. 

In this week’s episode, I am reflecting on my interview with Alan Baylock from Episode 13. Alan emphasized not shying away from opportunities because you might not feel ready or qualified but in reality, that is not something for you to decide. “Let THEM tell you no.”

Links:

TEM13: Alan Baylock of The One O'Clock Lab Band

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TEM13: Alan Baylock of The One O'Clock Lab Band

Alan Baylock has had a wildly successful career as a composer, arranger, educator and bandleader. He is approaching his twentieth year as the chief arranger of the Airmen of Note before he takes over as the newly appointed leader of The One O'Clock Lab Band at North Texas.

Alan talks about how his attempts to become the next Maynard Ferguson and writing salsa charts turned into teaching gigs at both of the colleges he attended while simultaneously working with the nation's best jazz ensembles.

Topics Covered:

  • Life as a composer, educator and arranger

  • Forming his own big band

  • Keys to auditioning and interviewing well

  • How musicians should price themselves for different services

  • The music publication process

Books:  

Website:

TEM12: Always say yes (TEM Short)

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TEM12: Always say yes (TEM Short)

This TEM Short features thoughts about my conversation with composer Jim Stephenson in Episode 11.

What struck me most about Jim's interview was how many times in his career he has said something to the effect of "Yes, I can do that." And some of those times were when he in fact had no experience at all doing what he was volunteering for.

The word yes is a powerful word.

Show notes for all episodes of TEM including links to all books and websites referenced can be found at:

http://www.andrewhitz.com/shownotes

Links:

Jim Stephenson: Episode 11

You can help offset the ongoing costs of producing the show by making a small donation at http://www.pedalnotemedia.com/support-the-entrepreneurial-musician. Your support is greatly appreciated!"

Produced by Austin Boyer and Buddy Deshler of FredBrass

TEM11: Jim Stephenson, composer and head of Stephenson Music

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TEM11: Jim Stephenson, composer and head of Stephenson Music

Jim Stephenson is a full-time composer and arranger based out of Chicago. His story is a fascinating one.

Jim was a trumpet player in the Naples Philharmonic before he began to arrange and compose. His writing career eventually took off to the point that he quit his steady job with the orchestra to focus on it full-time. Who does that? People as driven as Jim, that's who.

His career path is reminder after reminder that you never quite know which direction you are about to head in in the music business.

Topics Include:

  • How his first ever arrangement was for a professional brass quintet and that he volunteered in spite of having no experience whatsoever

  • How he backed into becoming a composer by trying to write an intentionally bad piece to fulfill a very creative assignment and failed since it ended up being good

  • How excited he was initially about being a published composer

  • The advantages and disadvantages of self-publishing

  • The value of humility in a sustainable career

Website:

You can help offset the ongoing costs of producing the show by making a small donation at http://www.pedalnotemedia.com/support-the-entrepreneurial-musician. Your support is greatly appreciated!

Produced by Austin Boyer and Buddy Deshler of FredBrass

TEM10: Jonathan Kuuskoski, Director of Entrepreneurship and Community Programs at Mizzou

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TEM10: Jonathan Kuuskoski, Director of Entrepreneurship and Community Programs at Mizzou

Jonathan Kuuskoski is the Director of Entrepreneurship and Community Programs at the University of Missouri and is one of the brightest people I have ever spoken.

This conversation is packed full of information. I found myself pausing it a lot on my relisten to process everything he was saying.

Topics Covered:

  • How becoming a successful artist is contingent on creating a community that is based on reciprocal value

  • How he was able to take a year to create his current position at Mizzou based on the specific needs of the community and the pre-existing assets of the school

  • On the current state of academia particularly in relation to the arts

  • The importance of getting into the Build->Measure->Learn feedback loop as quickly as possible

  • The power of huge, audacious goals

Links:

jonathankuuskoski.com

Books Referenced:

You can help make future episodes of TEM possible by visiting our Patreon page. Thanks for listening!

Produced by Austin Boyer of FredBrass

TEM9: David Vining of Mountain Peak Music

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TEM9: David Vining of Mountain Peak Music

David Vining is the founder of publishing company Mountain Peak Music and a highly sought after teacher and performer.

He has faced many obstacles in his career, including overcoming distonia, which gives him a unique perspective on the music business and life in general.

Topics Covered:

  • Finding a core customer base

  • The advantages of "drilling down" to cater to a specific niche

  • Not assuming different customer bases have the same needs

  • How his battle with dystonia taught him to not always approach problems in a linear and traditional manner

  • Creating an environmnet where people can create their own improvement rather than follow step-by-step instructions

  • How critical communication skills are to all entrepreneurs

Links:

Books:

Want to help "keep the lights on" and make future episodes of TEM possible? Please visit our Patreon page to see how you can help! https://www.patreon.com/tempodcast

Produced by Austin Boyer of FredBrass

TEM8: Thoughts on networking (TEM Short)

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TEM8: Thoughts on networking (TEM Short)

The Entrepreneurial Musician is now posting weekly!

I will still be posting an interview every other week but the following week will now feature a very short episode with me discussing one of the topics the previous guest touched on.

For this week's episode, I am reflecting on Jeff Conner's comments on networking from Episode 7. Many musicians are good are networking but not a lot of them are great at networking so this is an opportunity for any of us to get a leg up on the competition.

Links:

Books:

Want to help "keep the lights on" and make future episodes of TEM possible? Please visit our Patreon page to see how you can help: 

https://www.patreon.com/tempodcast

Produced by Austin Boyer and Buddy Deshler of FredBrass

TEM7: Jeff Conner of Boston Brass

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TEM7: Jeff Conner of Boston Brass

Jeff Conner has performed in over 30 countries on 4 continents with his brass quintet, Boston Brass. Jeff talks about how they went from a college group playing small gigs around the Boston area to an internationally touring, full-time ensemble.

Topics Covered:

  • How he got a powerful Boston businessman to financially support Boston Brass

  • The importance of having mentors that inspire you

  • Perseverance being a key to success

  • Not being afraid of the word no

  • Networking being a longterm process

  • Why developing your own brand is essential

  • The book he wrote with John Laverty, The Porfolio Musician, in which they detail the careers of over 40 different musicians

Links:

Books:

Want to help "keep the lights on" and make future episodes of TEM possible? Please visit our Patreon page to see how you can help: 

https://www.patreon.com/tempodcast

Produced by Austin Boyer and Buddy Deshler of FredBrass

TEM6: Brian Pertl, Dean of the Lawrence Conservatory of Music

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TEM6: Brian Pertl, Dean of the Lawrence Conservatory of Music

Brian is the Dean of the Lawrence Conservatory of Music and a former ethnomusicologist for Microsoft. He is the perfect meld of artist and businessman which makes him a very forward-thinking dean.

His passion for combining artistic expression with entrepreneurial skills has him on the cutting edge of what a music education should look like at the collegiate level today.

Topics Covered:

  • How a $50 gig playing the didgeridoo led to his full-time employment for 16 years at Microsoft which led to him becoming a dean

  • Always saying yes when asked if you are capable of something

  • The importance of pivoting in one's career

  • How giving people autonomy over projects can unleash creativity

  • The value of questioning traditions within music

  • Being ready to seize an opportunity

Books:

Links:

Want to help "keep the lights on" and make future episodes of TEM possible? Please visit our Patreon page to see how you can help: 

https://www.patreon.com/tempodcast

Produced by Austin Boyer and Buddy Deshler of FredBrass

TEM5: Jeff Nelsen of Fearless Performance

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TEM5: Jeff Nelsen of Fearless Performance

Jeff Nelsen is the founder of Fearless Performance, former horn player for the Canadian Brass, and Professor of Horn at Indiana University's Jacobs School of Music.

He discusses his time with Canadian Brass, how he won four orchestral auditions, and how he started Fearless Performance, a method for mastering the mental process of performance.

He is one of the most uplifting people I've ever met and that is reflected in Fearless Performance.  In this interview, he discusses selling yourself as a musician (which he prefers to refer to as sharing), how to get the best out of yourself on stage, and most importantly how he took the idea for this program and made it a product in the form of seminars, lectures, and books.

As with Dr. Tim in the last episode, this will leave you fired up and ready to follow through on any ideas you have kicking around in your head!

Links:

Want to help "keep the lights on" and make future episodes of TEM possible? Please visit our Patreon page to see how you can help: 

https://www.patreon.com/tempodcast

Produced by Austin Boyer and Buddy Deshler of FredBrass

TEM4: Dr. Tim Lautzenheiser

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TEM4: Dr. Tim Lautzenheiser

Dr. Tim Lautzenheiser discusses the many different phases of his career: college band director, motivational speaker, and entrepreneur.  He touches on communication and persistence as cornerstones for success whether you are starting a business or maintaining a job. He also shares what he feels is the secret to all success.

He talks about the business skills needed to be a successful band director and specifically those needed to be a new band director.  He also talks about how he gets his clients to market for him.  He doesn't pay a penny in marketing and yet would be booked 365 days a year if he so chose!

Dr. Tim has a passion for music, for education, and for people that is genuine and empowering.  He has inspired countless people - young and old alike - to change themselves and change the world.

If this conversation doesn't get you fired up not much will!

Want to help "keep the lights on" and make future episodes of TEM possible? Please visit our Patreon page to see how you can help: 

https://www.patreon.com/tempodcast

Produced by Austin Boyer and Buddy Deshler of FredBrass

TEM3: Alarm Will Sound's Gavin Chuck & Michael Clayville

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TEM3: Alarm Will Sound's Gavin Chuck & Michael Clayville

Alarm Will Sound's Gavin Chuck and Michael Clayville discuss all aspects of the group's cutting edge programming and business model.  They cover everything from their innovative partnerships to how they successfully navigate the music business as a performer-led ensemble.

They also share how they did the almost impossible: they took a college group and turned it into a money-making professional ensemble.  They are both passionate about the arts and share how that passion pervades every decision the ensemble makes.

Want to help "keep the lights on" and make future episodes of TEM possible? Please visit our Patreon page to see how you can help: 

https://www.patreon.com/tempodcast

Produced by Austin Boyer and Buddy Deshler of FredBrass

TEM2: Patrick Sheridan

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TEM2: Patrick Sheridan

For the second episode of The Entrepreneurial Musician, I am joined by Patrick Sheridan: performer, conductor, writer, creator of the Breathing Gym, and much more.  Patrick talks about how he left a dream job for a tuba player, "The President's Own" Marine Band, to get an MBA at the University of Michigan.

Patrick talks about how and Sam Pilafian decided to launch the Breathing Gym line of products and goes into detail about how they have marketed it.  He also goes into detail about the many different facets of his career today and how they came to be.

Finally, he shares with us some books and speakers who have inspired him as an entrepreneur through the years.

Want to help "keep the lights on" and make future episodes of TEM possible? Please visit our Patreon page to see how you can help: 

https://www.patreon.com/tempodcast

Produced by Austin Boyer and Buddy Deshler of FredBrass

TEM1: Ranaan Meyer of Time for Three on advice for young musicians, the importance of a strong support network and founding time for three

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TEM1: Ranaan Meyer of Time for Three on advice for young musicians, the importance of a strong support network and founding time for three

Ranaan Meyer is the bass player for Time For Three, a teacher, and the founder of the Time For Three Foundation.

What You'll Learn:

  • How Time for Three started almost by accident and how the got (more like created) their big break

  • The business model Time for Three uses that continues to see them thrive

  • What's next for the group

  • The advice Ranaan has for young musicians trying to make a name for themselves in the business today

  • The importance of having a strong support network (Ranaan leans on his heavily)

  • The three words that are written in block leaders daily at the top of his To-Do list

  • How he and his colleague Zach DePue took advantage of a power outage while playing with the Philadelphia Orchestra and proceeded to wow the crowd, amaze the rest of the orchestra and how it helped propel them to stardom

  • The nonprofit he runs and his other entrepreneurial ventures he runs including two bass camps and his career as a soloist

Show notes for all episodes of TEM including topics discussed, links to all books and websites referenced can be found at:

http://www.andrewhitz.com/shownotes

Want to help "keep the lights on" and make future episodes of TEM possible? Please visit our Patreon page to see how you can help: 

https://www.patreon.com/tempodcast

Produced by Austin Boyer and Buddy Deshler of FredBrass