We were lucky to catch up with Chad Michael Snavely recently and have shared our conversation below.

Chad Michael, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Let’s jump to the end – what do you want to be remembered for?

I want to be remembered as someone who loved his people well, enjoyed his life, and worked hard as a creator and business owner. I love to work, create, and build things, and I spent most of my twenties and thirties burning both ends of the candle, hustling, grinding, investing in everyone and everything around me, and trying to always get to that next thing. But now, in my forties — and I realize this goes against every entrepreneurial and business trope — I want my work to serve as a means to give me the life I want to live, with the people I want to live it with and to be able to enjoy the non-working elements of it.

So, one day, I hope people will admire my work and how I’ve treated my collaborators and employees. Ultimately, I hope people will remember me as someone who wasn’t overly consumed by his work or business but rather enjoyed the full scope of his life.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I grew up surrounded by music and sound. My grandma played the piano and encouraged me to take lessons. My grandpa had an old guitar and amp in his attic and taught me my first few chords. And my dad managed a radio network, so I grew up around microphones, speakers, and various audio gear. In high school, I started my own radio show, and in college, I began to work as a producer, editor, and sound designer. Later, I attended a music production conservatory where I decided I wanted to spend my working hours in a studio. I spent over 15 years working with various media companies in all forms of audio and video production, and then, in 2016, I started my own audio company.

My company, Sound On // Sound Off, connects the world of great sound (through my studio, Sound On Studios) with mindfulness, meditation, and sound therapy (through our Sound Off Collective). My studio produces beautiful sound for our clients through podcasts, commercials, trailers, and short films, and our Collective teaches people how to minimize the noise in their lives so they can better connect to themselves and the world around them.

My studio comprises a boutique team of audio storytellers with over twenty years of experience in creating unmistakable sound. I’ve found that many brands waste time and money trying to get their audio right. So we help them make a great-sounding product so that their message is clear, connects with people, and grows their influence. We don’t want you to add to the noise—we want you to be worth listening to. While most clients hire us to help launch, edit, and mix podcasts, we also create and mix beautiful sound for trailers, commercials, short films, and guided meditations. On the podcast front, I’m proud to say we’ve worked with over 100 clients worldwide and helped them publish nearly 5,000 episodes, which have been downloaded over 100 million times. I feel a sense of responsibility to give the mic to those who have world-changing messages, and I consider it a true honor that we’re able to amplify those voices and help make the world a better, more inclusive place.

When I’m not making sound, I’m actively consuming it, typically through a vinyl record, podcast, or audiobook. However, I always strive to be mindful of sound’s role in our daily lives, both personally and professionally.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

In the spring of 2015, with a new daughter, I decided to leave the career I had built in Orlando to move to Nashville and start working with a media startup and podcast network. That alone was a hell of a pivot. But then, in the fall of 2016, I went to work on a Tuesday and learned the startup company would shut down on Friday. While I could have gone out and found another job, I decided this was my chance to swing for the fences. I bet on myself and went for the ultimate pivot: starting my own company. I spent a weekend building a website, started texting my network, bought a few pieces of gear, and, within a week, had my first clients lined up. It was a huge risk, especially as a husband and father of a two-year-old. I had no guarantees it would work and nothing concrete to fall back on. But I trusted my gut and took the most significant risk of my life. Looking back, I consider it the best professional decision I ever made.

Where do you think you get most of your clients from?

For me, word of mouth has consistently been the best source for finding new clients. You just can’t beat the stamp of approval that comes from a trusted source vouching for you and your work. I’ve been fortunate to have some great people in my corner, and they’ve really helped me expand my network and find work that I may not have been able to on my own. All that being said, though, I am finally, after 8 years — trying to figure out an actual marketing strategy for finding and acquiring new clients. I continue to play the social media game because it keeps me connected and has introduced me to some clients over the years, but it’s my least favorite way of talking about myself and showcasing my work. So, if anyone reading is excellent at developing and implementing marketing strategies for studios and media companies, hit me up! I’d love to talk.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://soundonsoundoff.com
• Instagram: http://instagram.com/chadmichaelsnavely
• Facebook: http://facebook.com/chadmichaelsnavely
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chadmichael/
• Other: https://www.chadmichael.com

Image Credits

Collin Fatke