We recently connected with Curtis Crump and have shared our conversation below.
Curtis, looking forward to hearing all of your stories 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?
It’s a blessing to say that I make my living full-time as a musician, but it takes a lot for me to keep it that way. I’ve always done only music after graduating college, but it was a big jump for cost-of-living when I moved from Wisconsin to California. I’m just fortunate that I learned a lot of musical skills and people skills to quickly navigate the scene in LA through the reshuffle of the industry due to COVID. I went from moving here in 2020 only having a few connections in the scene to now playing throughout the greater LA area often, running my own groups, producing for different local artists, playing in corporate bands, and even performing and touring around the world. I believe it was God’s timing for sure that allowed my situation to unfold exactly as it did, but if I were to try & recreate the success, I would only say to be as prepared as possible for any opportunity vaguely related to your goals so you can seize the moment & keep moving forward.
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 am a saxophonist and keyboardist primarily, having a bachelor’s degree in Jazz Studies at UW-Parkside in Kenosha, WI. I grew up in church playing music, so I learned piano/keyboards from there, but during & after college, I started playing more keys & that really started the momentum in my musical career. I’m a performing instrumentalist first, but I love composing and arranging as well. I produce as well, now more than ever before in my musical career, because it’s just the natural progression of collaborating musically with other artists.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
The most rewarding aspect of being a creative for me is being able to touch someone’s life with my art. Whether the effect is big or small, or even if it’s my idea or someone’s else’s art/vision, there’s nothing like seeing someone react to something that started as just a thought or a feeling. As a composer and producer, I love to come up with the elaborate ways to tell a story without words, just by sounds, instrumentation and expression. It’s like setting the mood & atmosphere in this auditory room & I get to take you there with my music. As a performer, whether it’s playing with a cover band or even with a large artist in some arena or concert hall, I get to help tell someone else’s story & still be myself & express what that means to me. Sometimes the stories aren’t that deep, sometimes the goal is to just have a good time. No matter the situation, I love being a part of the effect that music can have on a person and/or a crowd. It’s a beautiful thing.
Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?
I think non-creatives look at goals & career paths as more of a ‘linear’ path than creatives do. There are so many times creatives have to figure out how to get past blocks, or learn new skills to stay active & relevant, & even reinvent ourselves & almost start the process over. & I think for most people that seems like a sign to give up, but it’s those moments that define us and really are the true windows of opportunity for beauty & greatness to show up and shine. & the journey is most of the fun anyways!
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @curtiscrumpmusic
- Facebook: Curtis Crump Music
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/album/1coYhWvFxLgnTj1FElCDyK?si=ALKO2N0ZT-6JZ0EYB6GeXQ
Image Credits
Photos by Mario Orlando, Profile Photo by Bryan Berrios