The Modern Musician Show with Colin Thomson

011: The Musician Entrepreneur with Ryan Guth of Find Your Forte

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Recognized for his energetic and fun approach to ensemble direction, Ryan Guth is the owner of VoiceWorks, a performing arts school for young singers, actors, and [strangely enough] handbell musicians. In addition to running the company, he directs two of VoiceWorks’ high school ensembles: Viridis, a classical choral ensemble, and Impulse Handbell Ensemble. Groups under Ryan’s direction have been featured on radio stations throughout the US and Canada, in the Huffington Post Online, PBS, the Today Show, and on professional stages around the US. Impulse Handbell Ensemble, his most sought-after performing group, was recently featured on the cover of “Overtones” magazine, the official publication of The Handbell Musicians of America. They also played the opening concert at the 2014 Handbell Musicians of America National Seminar in Atlanta, GA. Ryan is a sought-after clinician in the world of handbells and music entrepreneurship. As a baritone, Ryan often sings as a soloist in choral-orchestral oratorio concerts. Last year he performed as a soloist in Britten's Rejoice in the Lamb at Princeton University Chapel under conductor Ryan Brandau, in Handel's Israel in Egypt with the Westminster Chamber Choir under Joe Miller, and in Bach's Cantata 131 Aus der Tiefen. Formerly, Ryan was the choral director at Marlboro Memorial Middle School, where he served for nine years. Ryan hosts the Find Your Forte podcast, an interview show with the world’s leading choral directors.

 

Key Take Aways:
  • Understand what your gut sounds like. Listen to it. Trust it
  • Understand that people will try to sabotage you when you strike out on your own. Expect it, and be ready for it
  • Entrepreneurial skills are more important now than they ever have been - especially for musicians
  • Getting out of established norms, such as the big corporations, opens up a bunch of new opportunities to you
  • When you don't have a guaranteed income, you're scared enough to make things work
  • Don't neglect to pay yourself what you are worth
  • Working backwards from where you know you need to be is a powerful tool for accomplishing your goals
  • Understand when you're providing a premium service, and make sure that your price reflects that
  • Pricing effects how seriously you and the service you provide is taken

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    Learn more about Ryan Guth: RyanGuth.com

    Make the most of your online strategy, with what Ryan has specifically for Modern Musician listeners: RyanGuth.com/modern

     

     

    Featured Artist: David Tramm

    Website: DavidTramm.com

    Soundcloud

     

    If you would like to be considered for featured artist, email music submissions [email protected]

     

     

    Shownotes: modernmusician.co/011

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    The Modern Musician Show with Colin ThomsonBy Colin Thomson interviews musicians and entertainers like Bryan Callen and Bobby Owsinski , to get advice on what musicians should be doing today. Tim Ferriss, Seth Godin, and Justin Timberlake should also come on the show, as well as Taylor Swift, Justin