We recently connected with Jason Smith and have shared our conversation below.
Jason, looking forward to hearing all of your stories 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?
The ability to bet on yourself takes a lot of courage! Since the age of 6 years old I have loved the art of making music, but I had to pay some serious dues in order to make a full-time living doing music. I started tinkering with keyboards as a child playing primarily by ear, I would try to play every tv sitcom theme or anything I heard on the radio. As I grew older I played saxophone in the school band, but piano was always my first love. Things got really serious when I joined the military in 1997 and auditioned for the US Army Band. I really begin to see how much knowledge I has missed out on in my younger years. I barely passed the audition and had to do some serious catching up if I was going to remain in the unit. I received training in music theory and performance and was eventually stationed in Heidelberg Germany. Being able to travel to over 20 countries performing music was the best experience of my life. When I returned to US after leaving the military I spent a decade playing gigs, teaching private students, and also being a music director in several churches. During the COVID -19 crisis work was scarce for live musicians and I wanted to go in a different direction, which meant I had to learn a new skill. I enrolled in Liberty University’s Commercial Music Production Program which prepares you for tv, film and commercial production. Since then I have had the privilege of producing music for many tv and radio commercials for some big name brands. This has been the part of my career that has been the most rewarding and I consider myself very blessed to be able to make a full-time living from music!
Jason, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
I produce the musical content that is used in tv, radio and internet advertising. I get to travel to many studios around the country and it’s an awesome job. I put in many hours of music production, writing, and editing for these commercials. My diverse background really prepared me for this job. To be successful you have to network and use all the tools available in today’s music world. I cannot tell you how many job opportunities that came my way because of my Youtube or Facebook page. You can have the best product on the market but if no one can find you it means nothing. To make it in the competitive music market you also must be disciplined. You have to make yourself practice and constantly learn new things. The biggest handicap I see in many musicians and singers is that they are stuck on one or two genres, and they do not have the ability to perform many different styles of music. In the music production world that is a valuable skill. The military really diversified me musically because I would have to play the Beatles, 1940’s jazz, rock, r&b, country, etc. At the time I hated it, but I am glad I went through the process.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
Coming from a small town in North GA many people were not use to musicians plying in different environments, especially outside of the church. I was often criticized because I chose to do secular music when I first started gigging with jazz and r&b bands. There was a weekend where I played with a blues band, jazz band, r&b band, and then for a church choir on Sunday morning. I always knew that I was too eclectic to play only one style of music. I had to have the courage to maintain and uphold my musical identity even when it was not popular, You have to believe in yourself and see the dream even when those around you cant. Now there are several musicians in my city who are trying to create multiple music identities and it is tolerated more by the general public.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
When you share your music with people you are sharing your story! I put all of my emotions into my music and I always will. I have so many people tell me that when I perform live that they really feel what I am doing musically. When you passion translates through your instrument it can break down barriers and really connect you with your audience!
Contact Info:
- Website: jsmusicpro.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JSM4Real/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/jumpmonk77