Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to James Howard. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
James, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. How did you find your key vendor or vendors? Maybe you can share the backstory and share some context and the relevant details to help us understand why you chose them, why they chose you, etc.
When I had the first idea for opening up the record & guitar repair shop it was really after talking to some past coworkers of mine at Sam Ash Music Stores (RIP). Through the grapevine of conversations I learned they were going to be announcing their final weeks and closing. I struck a conversation with Austin Michaels the luthier at the New Haven location and we were excited to collaborate when Sam Ash closed. After I knew we were going to be in business it was as easy as reaching out to some of Sam Ash’s past vendors and explaining how we’re trying to keep a local music shop alive in the area. I’m excited I kept my relationships with Ernie Ball, Dunlop, D’Addario, Mogami, Focal, & many others. I’m also excited for the new relationships and adventures to come!
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
One of the main reasons I got into this industry is that I love music. I love being a part of it in every possible way. When I was in College for Business Administration I would constantly feel drawn to my passion for music much more than your average sales/finance roles. It was the shows, recording, and creative process that really roped me in. After switching my major to Audio Engineering and Music Business, I spent years honing my craft through colleagues of mine’s studios and friends. I interned and partnered with a small studio in CT called Sage Sound Studios where the Owner Nathan and I reconstructed and built the studio from the ground up. A few years later it was time for me to start my own journey as an owner. I partnered with my brother Nick, and co-worker Zach to start Black Barrel Records; Record Label/Recording Studio. We’ve worked on so many projects and helped so many artists since our conception in 2021. Whether it was recording/engineering a song or record, record label services, or hosting touring bands we’ve loved and continue to work in this realm. I think putting the artists first in what we do is definitely what sets us apart from other similar businesses. I think the most exciting thing everyone reading should know is that our Guitar Repair & Record shop we just opened in 2024, and our studio/label HQ are adjacent to each other in the same building, so don’t be afraid to stop by and say hey!
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
A big lesson I had to unlearn from my previous job in a studio was that sometimes hourly commercial studio work is lucrative but it’s a means to an end. It’s definitely better to work with artists or clients in a full spectrum of attention and focus.
How do you keep in touch with clients and foster brand loyalty?
I am a firm believer of personal outreach and the power of networking. There’s nothing better in my opinion. In general, and when you’re an artist especially, and you receive these hollow emails or messages from a business it doesn’t feel like they care about what you do or who you are. This isn’t the initial feeling you want to create with someone you’re seeking to create a relationship or work with.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.blackbarrelrecords.co
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blackbarrelrecords/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/blackbarrelrecs
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@blackbarrelrecords
Image Credits
Chantel Malin