We recently connected with Joanna Seiber and have shared our conversation below.

Joanna , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. 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?

The ability to earn a full time living as a professional musician is a feat many professionals struggle with at the start of their careers. Many musicians in the industry have to work other jobs outside of the music field in order to make ends meet and often feel burnt out as a result.

At the start of my career, I saw several paths I could take as a musician. I could teach at a music studio, perform in a local symphony, become a full-time performer at a theme park, or work as a professor at a college. It felt rather daunting to figure out what path I should end up on.

However, as a little girl, I would watch my dad, a prominent business owner, create different revenues of income in order to take care of his family well. I noticed how his reputation as an honest businessman affected the community around us and how he used his innovative skills to grow a small business into a larger enterprise.

Since studying my father’s career and taking to heart each bit of advice he has given, I chose to study how I could grow a small music career into something that could help our family build generational wealth one day and allow my husband and I to focus on raising our family. To create such a legacy in the music industry seemed almost impossible, but I knew there had to be a way.

After hours of study, I found building an entertainment agency could be the answer I was looking for. When operating an entertainment agency, there is a lot of ground work that must be built right off the start, but once it succeeds, a lot of the work can be done through email, social media sites, and phone/video calls with clients. I found this would enable me to pursue something I love to do in the music industry while devoting time to our family at home.

I also improved what I had to offer in my own wedding and performance packages, so that I could charge more for harp performances. Raising prices would enable me to accept fewer bookings, but put more effort into each booking I did take.

Looking back, I am beyond grateful that I could find ways to earn a full-time living from my creative work so I could use the gift God has given me in the gift of music, and still be there to spend needed time with my family.

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

When I was a little girl, I sat at my sister’s feet listening to her play the harp. At that time, I knew what my future ambitions would be – performing and making beautiful music on the harp. I even remember telling those around me that I wanted to play in Carnegie Hall someday.

As a 25-year-old in the music industry, God has blessed my career with some of the most notable performances that I could have dreamt of as a little girl. In the summer of 2023, I gave my Carnegie Hall debut on the stage of the Stern Auditorium featuring Dove-award winning artists Travis Cottrell and Selah. Since then, my music has been featured at the Dollywood Theme Parks, major television shows, luxury wedding venues, and universities such as East Tennessee State University, Carson Newman University, and University of Tennessee.

Not only have I experienced wonderful performances on the harp, but I have worked with countless creatives in the music industry to help launch their careers. In the fall of 2024, Joanna Seiber Entertainment was created in Knoxville, TN. Joanna Seiber Entertainment is an agency with over 200 musicians on its current roster and employs them throughout the South creating music for corporate events, shows, weddings, and concerts. Our brand focuses on creating excellent work, while sharing the gift of music and creating jobs for talented individuals across creative platforms.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

In my early college years, I found a verse in the Scriptures that encouraged me to find my purpose in life. Psalm 27:4 says, “One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in his temple”. During that time in school studying music, I faced many questions in life such as: Where do I go next? Why do I want to pursue a music career? What is the purpose of all this?. Then one day, I read Psalm 27:4 and it resonated with me that my purpose was not to fulfill my own selfish desires and ambitions, but rather to glorify God in every aspect of my life. With the glory of God in view, that then became my one desire – to make Him known and to be a light in dark places.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

For creatives working in their respective industry, many find participating in the arts can be the most rewarding job. Although creatives pour countless hours into honing their craft, oftentimes, the reward of sharing their gift with their community is so inspiring in comparison to the rewards of other jobs.

For me personally, I thoroughly enjoy sharing the gift of music with my community. Whenever I perform, I love seeing the smiles on the faces of those listening as the music provides a calming, beautiful atmosphere. Sometimes, little children will come up to the stage after I perform and tell me they want to make beautiful music when they grow up too and that truly makes my day every time.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://joannaseiber.com
• Instagram: https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.instagram.com/knoxvilleharpist/%3Fhl%3Den&ved=2ahUKEwirtrHj7dSJAxXgRjABHQerC60QFnoECAoQAQ&usg=AOvVaw3z-rxDzFMIOUKuNFNqUUvw
• Facebook: https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.facebook.com/bloominginsong/&ved=2ahUKEwirtrHj7dSJAxXgRjABHQerC60QFnoECFkQAQ&usg=AOvVaw2kdndP2m_bwdbJNYsEgpOr
• Youtube: https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.youtube.com/c/JoannaSeiber/videos&ved=2ahUKEwirtrHj7dSJAxXgRjABHQerC60QFnoECCEQAQ&usg=AOvVaw3iKRU3Oo49P2zYO71gU89g

Image Credits

Caleb Baldwin Photography
Jordan Grimes Photography
Diana Marie Photography