We recently connected with Brian Jarvis and have shared our conversation below.

Brian, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

In 2012, I created a band/concept. The Midnight City. I saw the rise of DJ culture in Charleston. I was seeing the same 4 piece bands with one lead singer, playing the same sets. I was seeing the attention span of the crowds for live music shortening. I wanted to create a band that had not one lead singer, but three. Three sonically/stylistically different people that could harmonize together and cover anything and everything. A LIVE dj essentially. I wanted to compete, even BEAT out the competition in the music scene market of Charleston.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I’ve been playing music for 23 years. I’ve been a full time musician in Charleston for 15 years. I toured the country with different bands over the years. 12 years ago I start The Midnight City. 12 years later, we’re still here. We’ve won best local band and best cover band in Charleston 5 years in a row. We’ve sold out venues in Charleston multiple times and have played events for numerous A-list celebrities and athletes. I’m most proud of that!

Have you ever had to pivot?

I was working in church between 2007-201o. I was also playing gigs on the weekends around town. I was unhappy with my church job and the pastor didn’t want me to do both. I felt I could be in both worlds, but they didn’t agree. So I took a leap of faith and left the job. Music and performing is all I’ve ever know. But the gigs didn’t immediately pick up, so I started hustling any and every way I could. I installed security cameras, worked in landscaping, taught guitar lessons. I would work all day and then would play bar gigs solo or with bands 5 nights a week.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

I’m going to tweak this question slightly. I’m going to focus on the words “built your audience”, because at the end of the day, success is only possible from/by the people supporting you. Social media isn’t real. You’re biggest “marketing tool” is the relationships you build with the people you connect with IN PERSON. Face to face interactions. The early years and still to this day, our biggest focus at shows and events is connecting with the people who support us. Endless gratitude and thankfulness that they take the time to support our dreams. Remembering faces (names if we can). Thanking each of them for coming. Reposting our stories or videos. Engaging on your content. Bringing their friends and family to our shows. All of it! You want your “customers/clients/fans” to feel like you’re best friends! Because friendship creates loyalty. It makes your dreams and passions, their dreams and passions. We all want to see our friends and family members succeed right? So by making the connections more personal, they are invested more.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.themidnightcityband.com
• Instagram: themidnightcityband
• Facebook: themidnightcityband
• Youtube: themidnightcityband

Image Credits
James Hahn Photography