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

Barrett, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

I would have to say I took a risk, or leap of faith if you will, to be in the current band I’m in; THE DEV. From 2017- Early 2019, I was in another band in the Orlando area. While the band was having some minor success, I was witnessing by actions and words of the other members that the band was at a stand still and wasn’t going anywhere anytime fast.
I had been experiencing these problems for a while at this point but doing how most humans do, I was staying blind to the obvious in hopes that there would be change.
At this time I knew that I had to do something for my career which seemed to be spiraling at this point.
I took to social media and started seeing posts from one of my Facebook friends Matt Starr. You may know Matt as the drummer for Ace Frehely and Mr. Big.
Matt was starting to do mentoring and coaching for musicians feeling “stuck” or hopeless”.
I set up a call and we discussed my career, dreams, plans of action etc.
In doing so, I found the biggest problem I had was just letting go and taking the risk to improve myself and being fearful of what others may say about me.
Jump forward to February 2019.
I decided to take the advice and start networking in my local scene to find other artists with same drive, determination and mindset I had.
I had been friends on social media with our singer Nikollaj for a few months and she was in this brand new band called THE DEV and their first show was happening that February. I pushed all the fear aside and decided to go to the show in hopes I would find like minded artist there being that their style of music was what best suited me.
I go and like what I heard. Thinking that I needed to be in a band like this.
She introduced me to the band and I networked with a few other people there and then went home.
Flash forward to May 2019. The band I was in at the time was playing a local showcase the Orlando House Of Blues (HOB) does for local artists.
we needed one more band to complete the roster for the show and I hit up Nikollaj and asked if THE DEV wanted to play.
Around this time I was completing on the last straw with the band I was in and decided that this specific House Of Blues (HOB) show would be my last show with that band.
I was scared to death because after this show i was going to be on my own again.
At the show, I was filled in on some news by Nikollaj that one of THE DEV’s guitar players had quit just two weeks before the HOB show and they currently had a fill in for the show, but wanted a full time member after the show.
She asked if I knew anyone and I was completely blown away because I was going to be available after this show. I filled her and the rest of the band: Ryan, John and Chris, in on my situation and they asked if I would like to come try out.
I went to two auditions and the rest is history.

By taking the risk of deciding I needed a change, reaching out for help to someone in the industry (Matt Starr), going out to network, making the decision to completely take myself out of a negative situation and taking the risk to go to the auditions, it really was a rebirth of my career that keeps getting better everyday.

Barrett, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My name is Barrett Jones. I started pretty young at wanting to be an entertainer. I always would sing to the tv, act out what I was seeing or try to get people’s attention anyway possible.
I realized and decided early on that I just wasn’t like every other kid I went to school with.
During a third grade assignment I remember we had to state to the class what we wanted to do when we grew up. While all the other answers from my surrounding class were your typical answers: doctor, lawyer, teacher etc. My answer(s) brought the assignment to an uncomfortable halt as I argued with the teacher that a “Singer”, “Monster Truck Driver”, “Actor”, “Professional Baseball Player” were indeed REAL jobs and career paths regardless of what she was trying to tell me.
I mean, I saw with my own eyes there were people doing those things and getting paid. Why couldn’t that be me?
After high school while most everyone went to college, I started working on my craft of song writing and playing guitar.
At this point I made the decision that there is no “Plan B”.
It’s “Get Rich Or Die Trying”.

I’m a guitarist, songwriter, singer, producer, entertainer and performer. (Outside of entertainment, I can also help you in learning, understanding and getting started in Cryptocurrency.)
Asking what I think sets me apart from others is that you may be a better player or singer then me, but you will never out-perform me. ;)
I’m most proud and truly thankful of being able to do what I love to do every day.
Some takeaways potential clients, fans or followers should know is that I may look crazy on stage but I’m super approachable and love meeting new people! Don’t be afraid to say hi!

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

Get out to a live show, buy a T-shirt or another piece of merchandise, become a second voice for the artist in your area by telling as many people that will listen about the artist, be their street team, if possible offer them a place to stay while they are on tour, remember that being an artist is just as much a job or career as anything else.

We’d love to hear your thoughts on NFTs. (Note: this is for education/entertainment purposes only, readers should not construe this as advice)

I really think they are something that can help bring back the physical purchasing of music. They will allow artists to be in complete control of their careers. They are and will be a tool of allowing fans to be completely involved in the direction of an album/song, artwork for merchandise, royalties from music, song writing credits etc.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://linktr.ee/BarrettJonesOfficial
• Instagram: @barrettjones_official

Image Credits
Aaron Berkshire Jake Rage