We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Lannie Battistini. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Lannie below.

Lannie , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Looking back, do you think you started your business at the right time? Do you wish you had started sooner or later

I was a dream-chasing Freelancer Producer Arranger and Composer, living my musical passion right from my home recording studio after graduating from the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston. Life was good, and my love for music kept me going strong and I was thriving.

In 2005, a big change came when my wife, who had a successful career of her own, decided to join forces with me. We saw an opportunity to create something truly special together, and that’s when the idea of Hands In Motion Music Productions and Marketing was born. It was a bold move for us, as we were in our late forties / early fifties, but we felt a deep calling to start anew.

We left our beautiful homeland of Puerto Rico and set our sights on the Tampa Bay Area in the USA. It wasn’t an easy decision, but we knew we had to do it. Our parents were getting older, and we wanted to be closer to them while also seeking broader opportunities.

Honestly, we had been toying with the idea of moving since 1999, but something held us back. We were comfortable in our little bubble of success, and we didn’t want to disrupt that. However, life had other plans for us, and we had some wakeup calls. The health of our parents became a concern, and we knew it was time to take that leap of faith.

So, with a mixture of excitement and nervousness, we sold our belongings, except for my beloved studio, and packed our lives into just 25 boxes. In June 2006, we opened our first storefront music company, and I can’t even begin to tell you how exhilarating it felt not having my studio inside my home anymore!

This journey began pretty smoothly for a couple of years, going well as a new business. All of sudden it seemed, we were faced with grandfather of all challenges that could have easily knocked us down- the economic downturn in 2008-2009 that hit us Nationwide and hit small businesses especially hard. In our minds and hearts – giving up was never an option. So, we anchored down, persevered, got creative, and found new ways to thrive. It took us a few years to get back the momentum, but by a miracle we never closed our doors.

Fast Forward to 2020, Another hit – the unexpected blow of the Covid Pandemic in 2020. It was like a tidal wave crashing over our Land and in the world.

We refused to let adversity drown us. We pivoted our business, going online 100% to adapt to the changing times. It was tough, especially when we had to ensure we could still provide the same services and especially jobs for our wonderful staff. Yet, another miracle happened, we kept our doors open and kept pushing forward and we are still here to tell the story. Now, in 2023, we’re still standing tall, though we sometimes feel the ripples in our community, we keep growing, keep adding services, and keep reinventing ourselves. One of our latest achievements in the past 17 years was officially opening our Hands In Motion School of Music, which has brought new life, opportunities, open doors and servicing our community, which has always been very important to us.

Through it all, we’ve learned the power of Love, which is the force behind what we do, and the importance of never giving up on your dreams. The road may be bumpy at times, but when you have a passion that drives you and a business partner by your side – that is relentless, you can conquer anything that comes your way when you believe!

You know, looking back, I can’t help but wonder how things might have turned out if we had taken the leap five years earlier. It’s natural to think about what could have been, but I don’t dwell on it too much because life has its own way of unfolding.

One thing’s for sure, starting earlier would have given us more time to build our business and lay a more solid foundation. We could have been more economically established, making us better prepared for the unexpected challenges that hit us hard during the 2008 economic downturn.

But then again, who could have predicted how life would unfold? We can’t change the past, and frankly only referring to that past as experience and how we can do better. Essentially, we focus on the present and what we can do now. One of the most important lessons I’ve learned is to trust those inner feelings that tell us, “Do this now.” Taking action when that gut feeling strikes can lead us down amazing paths, even if we start a bit later than we initially imagined.

So, while we can’t change the past, we can shape our future. Embracing the present and making the most of every opportunity is what keeps us moving forward with hope and determination. And who knows, maybe those extra years of experience and growth have made us stronger and better equipped to face whatever comes our way. Life’s full of surprises, and sometimes, the best adventures begin when we least expect them.

Lannie , 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?

As a Recording Artist/Producer/Composer, I was born, Landin K. Battistini in beautiful San Juan, Puerto Rico. My roots are a blend of cultures – my dad is a 3rd generation Spanish-Italian, and my mom is American-Italian from New Jersey.
You could say my love for music started blooming at the tender age of 5. My grandma gifted me a small piano, and I found myself playing melodies I heard on the radio and TV, just by ear. From that moment on, music became my ultimate passion, and the piano became my constant companion. I couldn’t stop exploring other instruments with keys, like the church organ and my neighbor’s accordion.
Growing up in a home filled with diverse music, from opera classics to pop tunes, I felt an intense connection to my instrument. Even without any formal music training, my talent was noticed by the age of 14, and my mom began booking me and my band for private events all over Puerto Rico at hotels and event venues. That was a thrilling time!

At 19, I had the incredible opportunity to attend the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston, where I pursued a B.A. in Arranging and Compositions, along with piano performance and a minor in Film Scoring. Later on, I expanded my studies at Full Sail University in Orlando, focusing on music production in the digital age.
Embracing my heritage, I developed a unique style, blending jazz improvisations with Latin rhythms and sprinkling in other genres. Initially known as a performing Pop/Jazz artist, I eventually gained recognition as an accomplished arranger, composer, and producer among my peers.

Los Angeles was my home for a while, where I had the pleasure of collaborating with Kenny Passarelli, Elton John’s renowned bassist, and becoming part of the production team at Acid Jazz Records. In 1994, I was also fortunate to become one of the composers for the label. The journey led me to open my own studio, LKB Music, in Miami, Florida. For a decade, from 1985 to 1995, I dedicated my time to producing independent recording artists, songwriting, and creating original jingles for major advertising agencies.
Between 1998 and 2000, I embarked on an unforgettable world tour with the iconic Latin pop artist Olga Tañon, and our collaboration resulted in a Grammy Award for “Best Merengue Album” in 2000, as well as a Latin Grammy Award winner in 2001 for the album “Viva Olga, Olga Viva.” It was truly a dream come true, and the album went Platinum in 2001.

In 2005, I felt the need to reinvent myself and set up Hands In Motion Music Productions & Marketing, a wonderful venture that encompasses an independent music label, a recording studio, a music school, and a full-service production services and marketing agency. I take great pride in overseeing the Production department and the music school and serving as the master producer at the recording studio. Coaching and nurturing emerging artists is incredibly rewarding for me, and over the years, I’ve had the honor of working with 100’s of independent recording artists, leaving a part of my soul in each collaboration.

My lovely wife and co-owner/Marketing Director, Neysa Rodriguez-Battistini, has been by my side throughout this incredible journey. Together, we made Brandon, Florida our home base for our business, and we cherish every moment of it.

Recently, in 2019, I was thrilled to receive my first Latin Grammy® Award as a producer for the album “Buenos Diaz” by The Lucky Band (Lucky Diaz). I’ve also earned four Silver Medals from the Global Music Awards (GMAs) for my work as a composer/arranger, and my album “Moving On” was recognized as one of the GMAs Top 10 Instrumental Albums of 2019. It was such a fantastic feeling!
In 2023, I embarked on a new phase of my musical journey as an artist-in-residence with several universities and colleges. Working closely with advanced music students, offering mentorship, guidance, and specialized instruction, as well as collaborating on projects involving my original arrangements and compositions, brings me immense joy and fulfillment.

Even with a busy production schedule, I make it a point to return to the stage whenever possible. Performing reconnects me with my roots as a musician and allows me to connect with my amazing fans. On top of that, I still enjoy teaching master piano classes and providing vocal coaching to aspiring musicians and many who dream of pursuing careers in music and performance.
My journey has been full of exciting twists and turns, and every moment has been a learning experience. The love for music, and that inner peace that it brings me that was sparked in me at the age of 5 continues to guide me, and I’m always excited to see what the future holds. The world of music is vast and ever evolving, and I’m ready to embrace what God has for me with open arms.

As an Entrepreneur
Hands In Motion Music company came about when I wrote the Song, ‘Hands In Motion’ (referring to my hands on my piano) back in my Berklee years even before I graduated. I dreamed about having a Music company that offered “All things Music” and I would name it, Hands In Motion Music. See previous story of how we got started in my current business when asked if I would have started sooner.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

In order to thrive in a competitive market and build and maintain an impeccable reputation, we’ve learned some valuable lessons along the way.

For starters, My wife, Neysa and I cultivated the culture we wanted our company to be known for. We especially emphasized the importance of keeping the integrity and reputation of our company intact, and we fostered this mindset in our employees as well. Today, as a close-knit village that we are, we make sure to always navigate this integrity into our day-to-day operations. Our entire team is on the same page when it comes to this core value, and it’s one of the reasons they were chosen to work with us – they have the same professional work ethics as we do.

Our reputation has literally made us thrive through referrals apart from all our marketing strategies and reviews, we’ve learned some valuable lessons along the way.

These are principles we stand by in order to have survived in business within our community for 17 years.

First and foremost, we realized that delivering exceptional quality is non-negotiable. It starts with a deep passion for what we do, and that passion is reflected in the quality of excellence we execute when providing our services and products. Cutting corners is NEVER acceptable in our book. We take immense pride in going above and beyond for our customers, ensuring that each interaction leaves a positive impact.

To achieve this, we’ve always put our customers at the heart of everything we do. Their needs and concerns are our top priority, and we’re committed to providing personalized solutions that address their unique requirements. This is key…”Building strong relationships with our customers” has been one of the cornerstones of our success. Trust and loyalty are earned through genuine care and dedication to their satisfaction.

Consistency has been a game-changer for us. We’ve learned that staying true to our promises and consistently delivering on our commitments builds a sense of reliability and dependability. Important to never try to bite more than one can chew when accepting projects if, for example, we are short-staffed or if we suspect we could not meet deadlines promised because we take on way too much. When all is said and done, our customers know that they can count on us to keep our word no matter what.

In this rapidly changing world, we’ve embraced innovation as a way to stay ahead of the curve. We’re constantly looking for new technologies and trends that can enhance our offerings and elevate our customer experience.

Effective communication has been another crucial aspect we take serious. We’ve come to understand the power of clear and transparent communication in fostering trust with our customers. Keeping them informed about updates has made them feel valued and involved in our business.

Building a strong brand identity has been instrumental in setting us apart from the competition. Our brand reflects our values, mission, and unique selling points, and it has become a beacon of trust for our customers.

Positive reviews and testimonials have played a significant role in boosting our reputation. The support and appreciation from satisfied customers have helped us gain credibility and attract new clients through word-of-mouth referrals.

Networking and forming partnerships with like-minded individuals and businesses have opened new doors for us. Collaborating with others has expanded our reach and credibility, and we’ve discovered the power of supporting and uplifting one another.

Professionalism and integrity have been our guiding principles throughout our journey. We firmly believe in doing business ethically, and that has earned us the respect and trust of our customers and peers.

In our pursuit of excellence, we’ve embraced continuous improvement. Seeking feedback, learning from mistakes, and constantly looking for ways to enhance our offerings have become part of our growth mindset.

Thriving in this competitive market and building an impeccable reputation is really a labor of love, and it’s a journey that never truly ends. It’s about staying true to our passion, always putting our customers first, and consistently striving to be the best version of ourselves. Through hard work, dedication, and a commitment to excellence, we’ve found ourselves on a path of success and fulfillment that we’re excited to continue walking.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

When the Covid pandemic hit, it was a life-changing moment for us. Facing the order to close down our small business, we knew we had to act fast and get creative. Within just 24 hours, we pivoted our entire operation and went viral. We reached out by phone/email to each and every one of our music students, clients, staff members, and affiliates. It was an all-hands-on-deck effort, with our staff working tirelessly to ensure a smooth transition via platforms like zoom, Skype, and FaceTime. Our determination paid off as we began adapting swiftly to this challenge. I remember like yesterday, It was an exhausting 18-hour day, but we knew we had to make it feel like business as usual for everyone. The response was so positive and overwhelming at the same time, and we were able to retain the majority of our clients, recording artists, music students, and marketing clients. Only a few dropped out.

The loyalty we received from our clients was truly heartwarming. We had built strong relationships with them over the months and years, leading up to that time by fostering trust and maintaining a solid reputation within our community. We believe it was this trust that kept them by our side during those challenging times.

We were very blessed, in Florida, we were able to open up before many other parts of the nation. When the doors reopened, the influx of business was almost overwhelming and hardly could keep up with the demand, and we were humbled by the support from both existing, returning clients and community neighbors.

Counting our blessings every day, we’re reminded of the resilience and determination (a lot of praying!) that brought us through those trying times. It was a testament to the strength of our team, the loyalty of our clients, and the trust we had built over the years. We emerged stronger and more grateful than ever, ready to face whatever challenges may come our way with the same unwavering spirit.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.handsinmotionmusic.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/handsinmotionmusic/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HandsInMotionMusicProductions/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJBmGbX86IWJYUzR76TMrnQ
• Other: Lannie Battistini – Recording Artist / Pianist / Producer/ Composer /Arranger https://www.lanniebattistini.com/ https://www.instagram.com/lannie.battistini/ Tik-Tok – @lanniemasterpiece Hands In Motion Music School https://www.himmusicschool.com/

Image Credits
Neysa R. Battistini Hands In Motion Music, Inc Lannie Battistini