We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Donald McDaniel a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Donald , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. I’m sure there have been days where the challenges of being an artist or creative force you to think about what it would be like to just have a regular job. When’s the last time you felt that way? Did you have any insights from the experience?

I am very happy as an Artist. I cannot be imagine life without music. Music is definitely my passion and fuels my drive.

However, I have faced the harsh reality that I personally cannot earn a living as a musician. I am striving for that. I did earn as living as a music educator for nine years.

In pursuing my path to be a business man by day and a musician at night I take inspiration from the great American composer Charles Ives.

Charles Ives was a great America Composer of classical music. He was advantGard for his day He knew his music would not be a great commercial success. Although, he did win a Pulitzer Prize for his third symphony.

Charles Ives sold insurance by day and would compose at night. He was a very successful insurance salesman.. The company bhe founded became the Prudential Life Insurance company.

That is the model that I am following.

Donald , 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?

I have a diverse background. My first career was as a middle school and high school band director. I taught in the Duncanville, Tx ISD for nine years. I hold under graduate and graduate degrees in music education.

Music has always been my passion since first picking up a cornet at nine years old that my dad ordered from as Sears Catalog. When I graduated from high school I accepted a scholarship to study music education at Dallas Baptist University. By that time I was playing trombone.

When my wife and I started a family I recognized that I needed more income. My wife wanted to be at home to raise our children. I should say that my wife, Cathy, is a brilliant educator in special education but she wanted to devote this time to our daughter Laura and son John.

I then earned a Master of Professional Accounting from the University of Texas at Arlington. I have now been in finance and accounting for over 34 years. I began my accounting career with the firm Weaver in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area. I earned my CPA license in 1988. I worked in Public accounting for over seven years. I have worked in Industry for over 27 years That includes working as Dell, Inc. for 10 years.

I am also a Certified Valuation Analyst. I have done a lot of work in the merger and acquisitions space. I have primarily worked on the buy side evaluating targets for acquisition.

Currently I am a senior financial consultant for Cbiz-ARC. I assist clients with complex accounting issues including mergers and acquisitions.

However I have continued to be a performing musician. In college I spent a season as the principal trombone with the Irving Symphony. I have been a studio musician working with Word Records. For 10 years I was a voting member of the Recording Academy (the Grammy Awards).

I have been on the boards of arts organization. This includes being on the
BOD and treasurer for the Austin Chamber Music Center. I have balso been on the BOD for the Austin Symphony Band.

Currently I am a performing member with the Austin Symphonic Band. I am also the band manager and trombonist with the Austin, Tx based RnB band Honey Made..

I think what sets me apart is living in the two worlds of accounting and finance and the music industry. I think in many ways these are complimentary.

In accounting I draw on my education, credentials and broad experience to add assist clients with complex accounting issues. I think that is is why I am in demand as a consultant.

In music I draw on my experience as a performer but also my experience as an accountant to help manage Honey Made.

There is so much to do in managing a band There is booking shows, planning for recording, arranging for studio time, getting the mixing and mastering done.

Then there is releasing the music on Tune Core or CDBaby. I have been working with John Ryan as executive producer for a radio promotion of Honey Made’s single Upstairs. In the past I have worked Steve Berlin of Los Lobos to produce our album Brand new.

There is so much to do in managing a band. The promotion is nonstop. There is so much to do but writing, performing be a and recording great music is the start. However, it is still a business and must be managed as one. Too many musicians do not understand or have the skill set to do it properly.

Honey Made is being successful. We played out SXSW on 2022. We have VA single that ha played on 25 AAA radio
outlet’s in the last year and played to sold out shows. We were just named the Best live Band in Austin by Austin Fit Magazine.

Honey Made can be found on all streaming platforms and on social media at honeymadeatx.

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

Musicians need to have their work valued. The digital age has brought about great opportunity but too many under value the work of the artist. The public not only needs to support musicians with their adoration bur also their money.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

For me I am driven by that connection with the listening audience. Honey Made wants to entertain people from all walks. We think music can be a unifier in this divisive world We want to find a larger audience for our music.

Contact Info:

• Website: Https;/www.honeymade.com
• Instagram: Https://www.instagram.com/honeymadeatx/
• Facebook: Https://www.facebook.com/Honeymadeatx/
• Linkedin: Https://www.LinkedIn.com/donaldmcdaniel/
• Twitter: Https://www.twitter.com/Honeymadeatx/
• Youtube: Https://www.YouTube.com/honeymadeatx

Image Credits
Louis Nieves