We were lucky to catch up with Joe Milton recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Joe, thanks for joining us 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?
In 10th grade, I was hired to teach harmonica in a music store, eventually ending up with 40+ students and studio opportunities, as well as learning guitar. I became the lead singer in the main high school rock band, mostly because no one else auditioned. Went to U of North Texas, formerly North Texas State U which was perhaps the #1 rated music school in the world. It just happened to be in state and 30 miles from where I lived. Being one of the few in state/in country students, the competition propelled me to new heights. Joined a band out of college, and ended up on the road for 10 years writing and performing. Finally ended up in LA. I have only worked in the music business which has been good. I think all of my experiences trained me to be successful in various aspects of the trade.

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
After following the path I described previously, I ended up in LA for 25 years as a singer/songwriter, band leader, and producer. I worked on several major tv shows, including Desperate Housewives, providing songs, and had songs in quite a few movies. I now own and operate JOMUSIK, where I do all manner of recording and/or song production. I consult for songwriters, and have many lyricist clients for whom I usually provide melody, write the music, and do the recording, whether it be a demo or a full blown track. I am known as a “finisher”-I can always get over whatever hurdles are holding a song back, and I can do a record ready track for a very reasonable price.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?
People need to realize that the work artists do is worth compensation. The lower payments get and the more free music people demand, the less good work there will be eventually. If you cut band from high school, there will eventually not be any cello players or trumpet players that are worth listening to.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?
When I moved back to Dallas in June 2007, it was the week the marked crashed-sub prime, etc. We were lucky to complete the sale of our house in LA. I had sent out packages and talked to a number of agents, studios, production companies, etc. in May before the move, and was assured I could work as much as I wanted to both live and in the studio. When I reached out at the end of June, all the gigs had dried up, people at places I had talked to were losing their jobs-I mean there was nothing out there. So I had to kind of reinvent-starting pitching as a solo act, trying to meet songwriters and artists to promote the studio, and met a childrens choir teacher from a church in Garland who lived and was on the school board in the town where I live. From that came Open Heart Musicals-we write and produce Christian childrens musicals. We just finished our 5th, and have done 2 books along the way. From that, I have produced several outside musicals, and ste studio business is very good as well. It takes a while to grow a business in a strange town, but I consider myself very lucky, and have done hundreds of tunes since returning to my home town for what were family reasons.

Contact Info:

• Website: jomusik.com, joemilton.com, openheartmusicals.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JoMusik-Recording-Studio-137613172921790/?pnref=lhc
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCY4zNkVm3fQbSnJb4JJ6HiQ
• Other: https://soundcloud.com/jo-musik, https://soundcloud.com/joe-milton-3, https://www.reverbnation.com/joemilton?profile_view_source=profile_box