Sam Kassirer is a musician, producer, and the founder of The Great North Sound Society, a residential recording studio in rural Maine. In this episode, he talks about his path from gigging pianist to touring with Josh Ritter and building a creative retreat where bands can record together under one roof. Sam shares practical insights about balancing art and money, including how he structures rates, handles the realities of freelance income, and maintains sustainability over time. He also reflects on the lessons learned from years of touring and recording, and how those experiences continue to shape his approach to music and life.

Sam's question for Tim: Could you define or describe the term investing without using the word money?

Key takeaways:

1. Sam describes his early path studying music, playing keys, and taking on “general business” (wedding/cover) gigs before moving toward touring and studio work.
2. A long-running collaboration with Josh Ritter became a central pillar of his career, including extensive touring and recording with Josh and The Royal City Band.
3. Sam founded and operates The Great North Sound Society, a residential recording studio in a farmhouse in Maine. 
4. He shares his thoughts on how to charge for his own time, as well as what to pay the musicians he hires to play on records.
5. Sam shares practical money habits—like small, automatic daily transfers into savings—as a way to build great financial health. 

Links
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Great North Sound Society
Josh Ritter's website

Magic Mugzz, Sam's Instagram account of mugs he sells for charity