Trent is the owner of the successful retailer Austin Custom Brass, and I could not think of a better way to start 2022 and tell you to prepare for another difficult year, than by having my friend Trent Austin talk about his success in another avenue in the arts. A common narrative we heard during the beginning of this pandemic was that we would soon experience a glorious roaring twenties in our era. The idea was that as the pandemic ended people around the world would be out everywhere spending money and attending events. But I have to tell you this Gatsby dream is not coming anytime soon. As this year sets in, inflation will continue to rise, and the Federal Reserve will end its pandemic support, and last I checked the Federal Government is still talking of more ways to restrict movement and gathering in increasingly meaningless and surreal ways. I am not here to tell you the situation is hopeless, but I am here to say: look around you, there are other ways to put food on the table without even leaving your industry. Furthermore. I will say this: only you can control your life desires and ambitions, and anyone who would judge your need to put food on your table and pay your rent is not a good friend or mentor. We’re not “all in this together,” it’s time for everyone to analyze what is important to them, and not try to fulfill the desires of the principal trumpet of their local orchestras (unless they are paying your rent).