We were lucky to catch up with Allana Southerland recently and have shared our conversation below.
Allana, appreciate you joining us today. Have you been able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen? Was it like that from day one? If not, what were some of the major steps and milestones and do you think you could have sped up the process somehow knowing what you know now?
You go to your parents and say Mom, Dad, I want to be a musician. The look on their face would probably be like…why right? There are astronauts, chemists, brain surgeons, architects, and many other jobs that we think of to provide a great financial future. I am different. I followed my passion, my heart, and my love to create, play, and record music. My extended family is very musical and they play instruments in church. My immediate family plays no instruments at all. I realized at the age of 12 that music would be a part of my life. But how would I make money and a great living from music? I started in Middle and High school by going to a school that specialized in the arts. I then went on to graduate from College with a Jazz Studies degree. I felt like I had won the lottery and every popular music group would call me to tour with them and I would make a living that way. Well, that didn’t happen. I had to pivot and created my business “Allana’s Studios”, where I taught music to all ages and levels. I then went on to get a Master’s Degree in Education and teach music at an Elementary school. Live performances like weddings, corporate events, and festivals fill our schedule but are not consistent enough for a stable income. You must learn to use your gifts in many ways and be very creative to ensure that you can follow your passion but also pay your bills. There have been many struggles but also so many extraordinary moments in this musical journey. I would not trade it for anything! Go after your passion and make a paycheck that is meaningful, satisfying, and makes you happy. I am happy to announce I have been accepted into the Doctoral program for Elementary Education.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I started playing clarinet in Middle school and loved it. I then added saxophone, piano, and flute to the mix. I went to Douglas Anderson School of the Arts for High School and knew that I had a passion for music. I graduated from the University of North Florida with a Bachelor’s degree in Jazz studies. I started a band called Tre Jazz, then The Fusion Band, and now we are called Party in a Box Band. We perform for corporate and private events all over the United States. We provide live entertainment and DJ services. I am the leader of the band. I also added teaching so that generations to come can benefits from learning music. I am proud that we have sustained since 2004 and are still getting called for performances every day! I am also proud to also have a Masters Degree in Education. We are unique and have a lot of experience. We play jazz, R&B, pop, soul, gospel, and Top 100 hits.
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
As an African American Woman, I want to show my children and the people that I connect with that you can do what you have a passion and love for and make it work for you financially. It has not been an easy entrepreneurial journey, but it is worth it. A lot of people are in careers that they don’t like and I am blessed to enjoy my work every day.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
Being your own boss and owning your own time is the most rewarding thing about being an artist. I enjoy making my own schedule, booking as many or as few shows as I want, and the ability to spend time with my family whenever I want. I am blessed to have the gift of music and hope that cultivating it will provide even more opportunities to share my music with the world.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.partyinaboxband.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/partyinaboxband
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/partyinaboxband.com
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allana-southerland-prince-45641114/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/partyinaboxband
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZ7AHYpKh_yXPBThx3if_uQ
Image Credits
Rakim 2022