We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Antonio Garcia. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Antonio below.

Alright, Antonio thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?

Growing up in Los Angeles, California – my parents put me in an after school program at a recreation center, similar to the YMCA – Shatto Park. This was a lovely place for children to be in a world so loud and often times, dangerous – atleast where I come from.

This was a recreation center unlike any others I had attended, they truly focused on activities that sparked creativity and interest in the performing arts.

It was during the summer 1999 (give or take a year here and there, things are a little foggy during that time period), I had been grouped with a couple other boys to do a performance in front of our parents and peers. We rehearsed, we dressed up, we laughed, we cried (from frustration lol) but finally – we ended up rocking the house as the Backstreet Boys!

Throwing out handmade love letters and roses, dancing in sync with the music, and absolutely breaking hearts in the process.

This was the day I knew I wanted to do this for the rest of my life.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I got into the music industry officially by attending local open mics and what is called “Artist Showcases”, where I met other local musicians, producers, engineers, and prompters. It took a lot of courage to not only perform my songs, but to stick around after performing and talk to complete strangers who had clearly been doing it for longer than I had.

After going back to these open mic nights and seeing a few familiar faces repeatedly, I got connected with a few key players in the scene at the time and although those relationships did not last long, I still gained tremendous value from them. Years went on, and I have honed my craft and become self sufficient in all things music related (mixing, mastering, producing, writing, performing, graphic design, merchandising, etc)

Through the years of needing to do things by myself and without much of a budget, I now am able to monetize the skills I have developed to help other artists and businesses on their journeys.

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

There have been a few books along my journey of life that have helped shape my mentality, here they are:

1) The Alchemist
2) What to Say When You Talk to Yourself
3) 7 Habits of Highly Successful People
4) The Creative Act: A Way of Being
5) 7 Spiritual Laws of Success

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

Buy concert tickets, and merchandise.
Or at the bare minimum, spread the word!
Tell a friend about that band you saw that rocked the house, share the flyer on your social media, etc.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.tnygmusic.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tnygmusic
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tnygmusic

Image Credits

Main photo credit, City Vision Photography