The Performing Arts School Entrepreneur

In this episode of the Performing Arts School Entrepreneur Podcast, host David Martin talks with Mike Lowden, founder of Loud & Clear Music School and Nine Muses Digital, about his journey from a gigging guitarist with a $700 buy-in to leading a two-location school with more than 800 students.

Mike shares the key lessons that shaped his growth and leadership: 🎸 How he taught himself business by reading 52 books in 52 weeks 📈 Mastering the two fundamentals — inflow and outflow — to drive predictable growth 👩‍🏫 Building stability by paying teachers hourly instead of per lesson 💬 Why "knowing your numbers" is the most creative thing you can do as a business owner 🧠 How systems, mindset, and focus helped him grow from side-hustle to thriving company

Whether you're teaching 30 students or managing multiple locations, this episode is packed with practical strategies for building a school that's both profitable and purpose-driven.

👉 Learn more about how Opus1 helps music schools simplify growth: opus1.io

✨ Explore all the episodes of the Performing Arts School Entrepreneur Podcast—packed with stories, strategies, and inspiration from leaders across the industry.

In this episode of the Performing Arts School Entrepreneur podcast, host David Martin talks with Michael Hemsworth, founder of New Song School of Music, about his journey from teaching three students in his living room to building a multi-location school with hundreds of students, a performance hall, and even a "Music Bus."

Michael shares hard-won lessons every music school owner can use:

• Scaling without losing your culture

• Why resilient systems matter more than hustle

• Building a strong team through values and radical candor

• The power of parent education in retention

• Why he transitioned to Opus1 to streamline operations and free up time for teaching

Whether you're just starting out or scaling past your first few hundred students, this conversation will inspire you to think bigger about what's possible when passion meets the right tools.

👉 Learn more about how Opus1 helps music schools simplify growth: opus1.io

✨ Explore all the episodes of the Performing Arts School Entrepreneur podcast now available—packed with stories, strategies, and inspiration from leaders across the industry.

In this episode of the Performing Arts School Entrepreneur Podcast, hosts Sam and Rory talk with Ulf Geist, drummer-turned-entrepreneur and owner of four thriving music academies across Los Angeles.

Ulf shares his journey from touring musician to multi-location school owner — and the lessons he's learned about steady growth, team culture, and leading with purpose: 🎵 Scaling from 120 to 1,500+ students without losing quality 🏫 When (and how) to know your school is ready to expand 💡 Building repeatable systems before you add locations 👥 Hiring from within and developing regional leaders 📈 Why he views multiple locations as diversification — not just expansion ⚙️ How Opus1 made multi-site management, self-booking, and growth possible

Whether you're thinking about opening your second location or simply refining your systems, Ulf's story shows what's possible when you pair passion with process.

👉 Learn more about how Opus1 helps music schools simplify growth: opus1.io

✨ Explore all the episodes of the Performing Arts School Entrepreneur Podcast, packed with stories, strategies, and inspiration from leaders across the industry.

In this episode of the Performing Arts School Entrepreneur Podcast, host Sam and Rory talk with Justin & Jenna, co-founders of Kid Row Music School (LA)—touring musicians turned school owners who've grown from a handful of students to ~400 across multiple neighborhoods, while also running a rehearsal facility that doubles as a proving ground for young bands.

Justin & Jenna share playbooks music school owners can use right away:

• Design a day-one win: Reframe the "trial" as a drop-in and get students playing music they love in the first lesson.

• Make bands the engine: Multi-instrument rotation, two-instructor rooms, and show prep that builds stage presence and community.

• Brand that sells itself: Invest in great creative, merch people actually wear, and let word-of-mouth do the heavy lifting.

• Train for the classroom you have: Safety rules, parent communication scripts, and clear lesson recaps/practice plans.

• Build systems, then scale: Delegation, smart sub coverage for touring instructors, and using Opus1 to streamline scheduling, self-booking, lesson notes, and growth.

If you want your school to feel modern, magnetic, and community-powered, this conversation shows how brand, programming, and operations can work together to create momentum.

👉 Learn more about how Opus1 helps music schools simplify growth: opus1.io

✨Explore all the episodes of the Performing Arts School Entrepreneur podcast—packed with stories, strategies, and inspiration from leaders across the industry.

In this episode of the Performing Arts School Entrepreneur Podcast, host Sam (Opus Music Studio; CEO of Opus1) and Rory talk with Laura Porter, owner and director of Bloom School of Music & Dance and co-founder of LessonMate, about practical strategies to not just survive—but thrive—during the summer months.

Laura shares what she's learned about designing summer programs that fill, keep teachers engaged, and strengthen retention year-round: 🎵 Structuring summer camps that feed your regular enrollment 📅 Creating "summer hold" policies that protect your revenue 💬 Training teachers to lead proactive, retention-driving conversations 🎟️ Converting better with paid (not free) trials ⚙️ Using tools like Opus1 and LessonMate to connect scheduling, billing, makeups, and self-booking

Whether you're planning your next camp season or looking to stabilize your summer cash flow, this conversation is packed with actionable insights to make your operations smoother and your programs stronger.

👉 Learn more about how Opus1 helps performing arts schools simplify growth and manage every season with confidence: opus1.io

✨ Explore all the episodes of the Performing Arts School Entrepreneur Podcast now available—packed with stories, strategies, and inspiration from leaders across the industry.