We were lucky to catch up with Charles Brooks recently and have shared our conversation below.

Charles , appreciate you joining us today. Earning a full time living from one’s creative career can be incredibly difficult. Have you been able to do so and if so, can you share some of the key parts of your journey and any important advice or lessons that might help creatives who haven’t been able to yet?

In the beginning for any artist it is difficult to convince anyone to pay for the art you create, so you have to make a little go a long way. You have to go out to shows and be seen in the community helping or teaching. Social media helps with this however with the skepticism around reality on the internet recently one still needs that reputation to back up the digital portfolio. Many who do not support the arts but want something creative to accent an event will not want you unless you are proven in your field, even then they will still try and low ball you on the fee that you require to provide said service. Sometimes that comes from your network but mainly it comes from the reputation you have in the industry. One has to cultivate a professional persona, a network, and have an ever evolving skill set to be competitive. One of the most important skill sets is being able to recognize a moment in which you know your skills are needed and convincing someone they need you. I have multiple degrees from noted institutions and that carries a lot of weight in certain circles. I also have been professional on the road since the age of 14 which gave me real world experience. There is no short cut to success, it takes time, tenacity, compassion, love and ultimately a ton of hard work.

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

I started drumming at age 5, my father was a band director so there was always something to play. I began playing in his bands moving around the group to the section my father thought needed the most support. When I was old enough and had the necessary skills my father allowed me to join his working band. We toured throughout TN, KY and southern IN playing songs from the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s. Not only was I the drummer I had to sing back up vocals as well. I held that down until I got to college and became too busy to rehearse and focus on school so my father and I decided that I should go my own way. So I did, I began to play in a local funk band, started my own groups and freelanced as a drum set player. During my undergraduate career I participated in the college jazz band. The director carried two of everyone in case of illness or injury. The other drummer and I got along well, we were already best friends and divided the tunes evenly. Eventually we both got tired of sitting while the other played. So I gravitated to the vibraphone (keyboard percussion instrument often heard in Jazz). I was already classically trained I had the skill set I just needed the chance to exercise it in a different capacity so picked up the guitar or piano sheets and started playing. Over some time the whole rhythm section would meet me in the Jazz lab to learn tunes. At some point the bassist looks at me and says “we know more tunes than my working band, why aren’t we gigging?” Finding a place to allow a college Jazz combo to hold down an entire night was unheard of in Bowling Green, KY but we did it. The joint that hired us first was a place called Gary’s, it was owned by a local couple Patty and Gary who viciously supported local live music. Our first show was triumph, mainly because nothing like us existed in this geographic region and because we were pretty good for youngsters. After that word spread and we would be employed all over town until I moved to start my masters degree. I went to Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, TN. They had a great music school and thriving Jazz department. I studied jazz, composition, music history/theory and advanced my four mallet skill set playing in every available ensemble offered. After APSU I matriculated to Louisiana State University. The climate in LA is gig rich and if you can navigate the soft skills of business you can be majorly successful. By the time I graduated my network was very large and extended throughout the South because of my relationship with LSU. At this point me and two others started a working Jazz trio getting gigs and shows when and where ever we could. We all three also had our own groups that played professionally so someone could hire us to do large events, get major league entertainment at a discount and we all made more money because we all had multiple skill sets that meant less personnel on stage. We held that scenario down for almost 25 years until I was offered a job out of state at a great institution and had to take it. Even still I consider myself a problem solver for my clients, if I can’t do it I know someone who can and if not I’ll find them and vet them for myself before dropping any names. We provided any style of music performance required for the event in question. The ability to do these things set us apart from others around us that might look lie us on paper but just simply aren’t in real life, we were lucky to find each other. Through all of this my life was riddled with adversity. You name it, medical, financial, family, automotive, personal, friends emotional issues it was all there. Through all of that I am writing the answer to this question now. This is what I am most proud of, my perseverance. I can honestly say that many of the things I suffered through and still battle to this day would sideline most. I credit my overall success to this.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

Our politicians have to do more than stand on gesture during election time. Meaning that the politicians who preach education reform and funding very quickly forget this once installed to their office. Our country is cutting the hearts out of its’ inhabitants one school music/art program at a time. We are also allowing politicians to distort music history by supporting the new diversity laws that prohibit a teacher from educating their class properly. Once the compassion and understanding are gone from the world it will truly be lost. We need to reform our election system to hold politicians accountable for the promises they make, more education means a smarter civilization, this way future generations will understand how important art is to the human experience. What can society do? Wisen up, art teaches us how to be better people for ourselves, our families and our peers if we pay attention. Without art the world will be a cold ruthless hell scape and until we begin to funnel money in that direction this is the direction in which we are headed. I do not think I will be around to witness it at its fullest extent, but what I see now hurts and I cannot imagine a world where this gets worse.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

The most rewarding thing for me is the look on someone’s face when the music hits just right, and I know whatever gave them the Blues that day is gone. Helping people and stopping needless suffering through music.

Contact Info:

• Website: Thecharlesbrooks.com
• Instagram: @cbreezington
• Facebook: Charles Brooks, D.M.A.
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-charles-brooks-3104857a?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app
• Twitter: @cbdma
• Youtube: Mfcharlieb73
• Yelp: M

Image Credits
Bio pick by Racheal Neal photography