On The Hook with Matt Wilson

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Drawing on the concepts presented in Matt's book, Hooks: Lessons on Performance, Business, and Life from a Working Musician, Cliff & Susan Prowse join Matt to discuss

• the impact of AI and automation on the music industry and artists, 
• the increasing value of live performance-based careers,
• the importance of identifying where to invest time and resources as a performer, and 
• the necessity of discernment and building a trusted team.

Cliff & Susan Prowse, founders of Big Red Dog Productions, the Rainy Ray e-commerce store, the Yadaloo Music & Arts Festival, and the Entertainer’s Academy. Cliff & Susan are full-time working musicians, producers, songwriters, promoters, and performance coaches. https://susanerwin.com/

Matt Wilson gained national exposure as the "Piano Man" in the First National Tour of Billy Joel and Twyla Tharp's Tony-award-winning musical Movin' Out. In 2005, the Texas State Senate honored Matt with a resolution for his achievements in Fine Arts, and he was accepted to the 2016 - 2018 Texas Commission on the Arts Touring Roster. Matt continues to tour with his band, headlining numerous public, private, and social events. 

In 2021, Matt released his first book, Hooks: Lessons on Performance, Business, and Life from a Working Musican. 

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• choosing the right environment to spark and capture inspiration,
• coping with criticism and expectations in high-exposure performance opportunities,
• gaining strength through improvement, perseverance, and creativity,
• realizing one's authentic aspirations and pursuing a new path, and
• finding meaning and balance that transcends the public persona.  

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Drawing on the concepts presented in Matt's book, Hooks: Lessons on Performance, Business, and Life from a Working Musician, Phil Pritchett joins Matt to discuss the expectations and realities of the working musician. 

Topics include

• stories from the studio and the stage, 
• how to approach and evaluate performance,
• reassessing career goals, and
• focusing on meaning and being grateful.

Phil Pritchett is a Texas-based rock and roll singer-songwriter, entertainer, and producer.

www.philpritchett.com.

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Season 2, Episode 3 - Geoff Smith, Katie Pinder Brown, and Ken Gustafson join Matt to talk about the longstanding tradition of the piano bar. Topics include

• the allure and accessibility of the show, 
• multiple strategies for an ideal performance,
• balancing entertainment and musicality,
• and how a piano bar show can affect an audience.

Guests

Geoff Smith is a prolific American music producer and performer. His work includes custom music creation for all forms of media and live- musical performance. Geoff's most recent projects include producing the new Cast Recording for the Musical KINGDOM COME and touring with the Wallflowers on bass guitar.

Geoff grew up in Franklin in a musical family and studied music at Boston Conservatory and Berklee College of Music in the early 90s. While in college, Geoff began working for Opryland/Gaylord as a theme park performer in their Nashville and San Antonio, Texas parks. 

While in Texas, Geoff joined Howl At The Moon Dueling Pianos in 1995 and became the founding Entertainment Director for Crazy Pianos in Rotterdam, Holland, in 1997. While living in Europe, Geoff studied songwriting and studio production at Paul McCartney's Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts. 

Upon returning to the States, Geoff Smith became one of the original founding members of The Big Bang Dueling Piano Bar management team in 2001 (www.thebigbangbar.com). He co-founded Rock and Roll Pianos, a live event music company (www.rockandrollpianos.com). 

Geoff is a session musician and educator in Nashville and has been the touring bassist for the Wallflowers in 2018 and 2019. Other artists Geoff has played with include Will Lee, Phil Keaggy, Gabe Dixion, Sugar and the Hi-Lows, and Jim Messina. Geoff teaches grammar school music at Franklin Classical School. 

He is also a partner and the producer of www.ringtonefeeder.com - an innovative ringtone service. Geoff Smith has been an active supporter and composer for the Songs of Love Foundation since 2006. 

Geoff has had TV and commercial placement for his music (heard on the Voice, American Pickers, MTV Awards, and various ads for companies such as Blackberry and GoDaddy.) 

Geoff has produced the Original Cast Recording of the musical KINGDOM COME by well-known CCM and Soul Musician and his father, Moose Smith. 

Awards include:

Winner of the Big Gig Jingle Contest for the Nashville MTA 2008 Winner of the 2007 Carolina Beach Music Award For Best Duo and 

Collaboration for the song "Rhythm" with the Impressions.

You can find out more about Geoff can be found at his website: www.thegeoffsmith.com

Katie Pinder Brown is an accomplished, versatile singer and piano entertainer based in Orlando whose dynamic voice, charismatic presence, and impressive repertoire have dazzled and delighted international audiences. Katie adeptly tackles various genres, from musical theatre and jazz to pop/top 40, from classical to rock 'n' roll. She has made a name for herself in Florida and beyond as a vocal chameleon, a human jukebox, and a musical Jill-of-all-trades. So far, her career has brought her to 25 US states, 18 countries, and four continents, and her goal is to rock all seven before she retires. She hopes her newly created Carole King tribute show Natural Woman will take her all the way. 

As a dueling piano player, she facilitates an extraordinary range of song requests with aplomb and expertly collaborates with countless partners instantaneously on her travels. She also founded her Certified Women-Owned production company Piano Party, which is emerging as an industry leader in world-class pi

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Drawing on the concepts presented in Matt's book, Hooks: Lessons on Performance, Business, and Life from a Working Musician, Stuart Malina  joins Matt to discuss

• his role in creating Movin' Out and a reflection on the show 20 years later,
• multiple strategies for masterful performance,
• utilizing and discerning opinions,
• and maintaining a balanced perspective professionally and personally.

In a wide variety of concerts, from masterworks and grand opera to pops, Stuart Malina's ease on the podium, engaging personality, and insightful interpretations have thrilled audiences and helped break down the barriers between performer and listener.

This year marks Stuart's 22nd season as Music Director and conductor of the Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra. In June 2022, he was named Music Director of the Greenwich Symphony Orchestra in Greenwich, CT, where he will begin conducting concerts in September of 2023. Throughout his career, he has conducted and directed multiple orchestras around the world. His Carnegie Hall debut was in 2007, where he conducted the New York Pops in an all-Gershwin tribute, including Rhapsody in Blue, which he conducted from the keyboard.

He's also an accomplished pianist; Stuart has impressive credits as a soloist and chamber musician. He has performed concertos in Harrisburg, Greensboro, Charleston, New York, and Chautauqua, most often conducting from the keyboard. As a composer and arranger, he has created dozens of orchestral works, ranging from entire pops shows to works for symphony orchestra. His most recent composition, Common Fanfare for an Uncommon Orchestra, received its world premiere by the Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra in September 2017.

Stuart's activities also extend to Broadway. In 2003, he won the Tony award for orchestration with Billy Joel for the musical Movin' Out. He acted in Terrence McNally's Tony Award-winning play Master Class, opposite Zoe Caldwell and Audra MacDonald, at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC. He has also served as associate conductor of the national touring company of West Side Story and as conductor of the Charleston production of Porgy and Bess. 

In May 2020, Stuart received an honorary doctorate from Lebanon Valley College. He has received the Joanne Rogers Award for contribution to the artistic life of Pennsylvania, the Jump Street Spectrum Award, the Lebanon Valley College's 2012 Founders Day, the Award for Distinguished Service to the Arts from Theater Harrisburg, and Leadership Harrisburg's Platinum Award for Servant Leadership.

Stuart holds degrees from Harvard University, the Yale School of Music, and the Curtis Institute of Music, where he studied conducting with Otto-Werner Mueller. He studied piano with Drora and Baruch Arnon and with Keiko Sato.
 
 He resides in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, with his wife, Marty. They are the proud parents of two children, Sara and Zev.  Stuartmalina.com

Matt Wilson gained national exposure as the "Piano Man" in the First National Tour of the Billy Joel and Twyla Tharp's Tony-award-winning musical Movin' Out. In 2005, the Texas State Senate honored Matt with a resolution for his achievements in Fine Arts, and he was accepted to the 2016 - 2018 Texas Commission on the Arts Touring Roster. Matt continues to tour with his band, headlining numerous public, private, and social events of all sizes. 

In 2021, Matt released his first book, Hooks: Lessons on Performance, Business, and Life from a Working Musician, available on Amazon and iBooks.

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Drawing on the concepts presented in Matt’s book, Hooks: Lessons on Performance, Business, and Life from a Working Musician, Ross Shafer joins Matt to discuss

• Identifying and aligning skills for reinventing yourself professionally.
• Finding meaning within the mundane and how to reframe your day-to-day endeavors.
• How to draw confidence from what sets you apart.
• A few performance tips for the stage.
• Recreating success after failure or when taking on a new endeavor.

In addition, Ross shares some cool stories from his years in comedy and television. 

Ross Shafer is a six-time Emmy Award-winning TV broadcaster & comedian and has hosted talk and game shows on NBC, ABC, FOX, MGM, and USA Network. He is the author of ten business books on growth, motivation, customer experience, and accountability. A writer/producer of 14 Human Resource films. Ross has served as the keynote speaker for over 2,500 events worldwide and is a national Speaker Assn. Hall of Fame recipient. https://rossshafer.com

Matt Wilson gained national exposure as the “Piano Man” in the First National Tour of the Billy Joel and Twyla Tharp’s Tony-award-winning musical Movin’ Out. In 2005, the Texas State Senate honored Matt with a resolution for his achievements in Fine Arts, and he was accepted to the 2016 - 2018 Texas Commission on the Arts Touring Roster. Matt continues to tour with his band, headlining numerous public, private, and social events. 

In 2021, Matt released his first book, Hooks: Lessons on Performance, Business, and Life from a Working Musician, available on Amazon and iBooks.

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Drawing on the concepts presented in Matt’s book, Hooks: Lessons on Performance, Business, and Life from a Working Musician, Dan Holmes joins Matt to discuss

• specific tips for building and maintaining an online presence,
• the role specificity plays in your brand, and
• the importance of finding joy in what you are selling.

Dan Holmes is a professional musician, songwriter, entertainer, and founder of Allrequestpiano.com. Dan and his partner, Heather Ray, perform over 200 shows a year as All Request Piano. Through Dan’s management, allrequestpiano.com maintains an online presence that generates tangible and profitable returns. Dan is a respected musician and performer in the Central Texas area and beyond—Danholmesgroup.com

Matt Wilson gained national exposure as the Piano Man in the First National Tour of the Billy Joel and Twyla Tharp’s Tony-award-winning musical Movin’ Out. In 2005, the Texas State Senate honored Matt with a resolution for his achievements in Fine Arts, and he was accepted to the 2016 - 2018 Texas Commission on the Arts Touring Roster. Matt continues to tour with his band, headlining numerous public, private, and social events of all sizes. 

In 2021, Matt released his first book, Hooks: Lessons on Performance, Business, and Life from a Working Musician, available on Amazon and iBooks.

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Drawing on the concepts presented in Matt’s book, Hooks: Lessons on Performance, Business, and Life from a Working Musician, Tim Levy joins Matt to discuss

• the importance of personal and professional reinvention and how to do it,
• why you should seek to find meaningful and challenging endeavors, and 
• the pitfalls of becoming attached to the future and what it means to choose a wide or narrow gaze.

Tim Levy is an author, speaker, marketing and business consultant, film and TV producer, and performer. His Australian-based company Tim Levy and Associates consults companies worldwide on marketing, content, and online strategies. Tim also formed Resonant Blue Studios, a new production company focused on short and feature film production targeting meaningful stories that bring a little light and laughter into the world. Timlevy.net

Matt Wilson gained national exposure as the “Piano Man” in the First National Tour of the Billy Joel and Twyla Tharp’s Tony-award-winning musical Movin’ Out. In 2005, the Texas State Senate honored Matt with a resolution for his achievements in Fine Arts, and he was accepted to the 2016 - 2018 Texas Commission on the Arts Touring Roster. Matt continues to tour with his band, headlining numerous public, private, and social events of all sizes. 

In 2021, Matt released his first book, Hooks: Lessons on Performance, Business, and Life from a Working Musician, available on Amazon and iBooks.

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Drawing on the concepts presented in Matt’s book, Hooks: Lessons on Performance, Business, and Life from a Working Musician, the Reverend Merrill Wade joins Matt to discuss

• tactful delivery and the art of remaining composed during a performance or presentation,
• finding faith in the ability to build confidence,
• how to discern and manage anxious environments and communication, and
• the necessity and benefits of sincere compliments.

 (The Reverend) Merrill Wade is a recently retired Episcopal priest living in Austin, Texas. Raised on Air Force bases in Florida, Morocco, and Kansas, his family settled in Fort Worth, Texas in the mid-1960s. Merrill graduated from the University of Texas in 1976. He worked in the oil and gas industry for the next nine years, the last six years as a petroleum land manager in Jackson, Mississippi. In 1986 he made a career change, and after having attended and graduated from General Theological Seminary in New York City, he was ordained an Episcopal minister in 1989. Merrill served three congregations in Mississippi (Vicksburg, Long Beach, and Meridian) over the next 13 years. In 2002 he and his wife Crystal and their two young children were called to Austin, Texas, where Merrill served as the Rector of St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church for 17 years, retiring in the Fall of 2019. A music lover, Merrill and St. Matthew’s launched a singer-songwriter series in Austin called the Soul of a Musician Series in 2013. The Soul Series affectionately focused on the heart and soul of the musicians seeking to honor their creativity and vocation. Merrill has spoken on music issues at the South by Southwest Music Conference four times and, on occasion, is interviewed on local “sports talk” radio as an informed live music curator. Merrill is excited about offering his 31 years of non-profit leadership experience in the South and Southwest in support of the staff and board of This is Noteworthy. 

Matt Wilson gained national exposure as the “Piano Man” in the First National Tour of the Billy Joel and Twyla Tharp’s Tony-award-winning musical Movin’ Out. In 2005, the Texas State Senate honored Matt with a resolution for his achievements in Fine Arts, and he was accepted to the 2016 - 2018 Texas Commission on the Arts Touring Roster. Matt continues to tour with his band, headlining numerous public, private, and social events of all sizes. 

In 2021, Matt released his first book, Hooks: Lessons on Performance, Business, and Life from a Working Musician, available on Amazon and iBooks.

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Drawing on the concepts presented in Matt's book, Hooks: Lessons on Performance, Business, and Life from a Working Musician, Debbie joins Matt to discuss

• the 4-part sequence to learning, 
• identifying Learned Helplessness and Imposter Syndrome, 
• how to identify and allocate your most valuable resources,
• identifying and managing Frustration Tolerance,
• strategies for managing difficult team members, bandmates, and associates, and 
• how and when to establish professional and personal boundaries. 

A licensed mental health counselor and organizational psychologist with extensive field experience, Debbie has advised individual and corporate clients across all industries and established herself as a speaker, instructor, and author since founding her company, Thoughts In Order, in 1997. In 2012 she moved to Austin, Texas, and sharpened her focus to the music industry, digging into the systems that drive every aspect of a music career, including booking, touring, production, marketing and promotion, recording and distribution, copyright and royalties, and the wellbeing and protection of artists and their creative gifts. Her past and current project portfolio range from large-scale conference and festival production to one-on-one consultation and coaching of music creators and industry professionals. Her educational background includes an MS in mental health counseling, MA in industrial/organizational psychology, and BFA in journalism.​

​Debbie's latest book, The Organized Musician, helps independent artists around the world to get their act together and live their dream of a career in music. Well-received as the basis of her South by Southwest presentation "Time Management for Musicians," The Organized Musician has become a workbook, touchstone, and traveling companion for artists throughout the U.S. and beyond. Her next book, Modern Music Patronage, will teach music fans how to give substantive support to the artists they love in the post-pandemic age of independent music. 

Debbie has offered books and courses for her organizing and productivity-industry peers for over twenty years as an educator. She is the author of books including Newbie Pitfalls and Ethical Pitfalls for Professional Organizers; the developer and instructor of "Fundamental Organizing and Productivity Principles," a flagship course of the National Association of Productivity and Organizing Professionals, as well as other courses in the NAPO curriculum; and a frequent conference presenter. Debbie is also honored to be a curator of the Austin Public Library's Electric Lady Bird streaming music catalog, a South By Southwest Music Conference Advisory Board member, and a Professional Member of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences.

Matt Wilson gained national exposure as the "Piano Man" in the First National Tour of the Billy Joel and Twyla Tharp's Tony-award-winning musical Movin' Out. In 2005, the Texas State Senate honored Matt with a resolution for his achievements in Fine Arts, and he was accepted to the 2016 - 2018 Texas Commission on the Arts Touring Roster. Matt continues to tour with his band, headlining numerous public, private, and social events of all sizes. 

In 2021, Matt released his first book, Hooks: Lessons on Performance, Business, and Life from a Working Musician, available on Amazon and iBooks. 

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