Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Mason Staub. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Mason, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’ve love to hear an interesting investment story – what was one of the best or worst investments you’ve made? (Note, these responses are only intended as entertainment and shouldn’t be construed as investment advice)

The best and the worst investment I’ve ever had is the one in myself. It is the best investment because it is empowering. I am driven to constantly be better and that comes from a belief and confidence in myself, which comes from investing in myself. Whether it is time, money or energy spent for the pursuit, I firmly believe that I need to invest in myself and that may potentially lead to a feeling of fulfillment. That goal keeps me going, for good or bad. It is the worst investment because there are times that it takes a negative toll. Having a constant drive or need to do something can be exhausting at times for other people and even myself. There are many times that I’m not so confident in myself and I’m questioning that belief in myself, which tends to lead me to self-destructive decisions and excessive distractions. Because I invest in myself, I am extremely harsh and critical on myself and sometimes, even other individuals. I continue to push myself and that push sometimes takes me over the edge.
Regardless of best or worst investment, these experiences have shaped my ideas as well as my life. I can choose to watch life from a screen, blame everyone in the world and victimize myself, distract myself from myself, or fit in a mold and conform to expectations, but I don’t. I just keep going.

Mason, 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?

I got into the music industry officially in 2018 after graduating from college and releasing the first single “Palm Trees and Mahi” for my independent band Free Mace. Prior to that, I was performing, producing and releasing music for several years but until that point, it wasn’t anything official. College helped me learn the music business and the industry and it provided the tools and realities of being successful with this career path. Even with that education, there has been an incredible amount that I have learned from experience after that, the need to constantly evolve being one of the most important things. I handle all aspects of the recording process, booking, licenses and contracts, merchandising, websites and social media, music video storyboarding, etc. I haven’t always been the best at asking for help, so I have become versatile in multiple aspects of the industry in order to keep reaching for continued success. I have slowly gotten better with asking for help when I need it, but I still somewhat enjoy the extra push that drives me to keep growing.

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

I believe that society can do a lot to support and unify all creatives, but it doesn’t by choice because the governing powers truly do not care about the individuals, just themselves. We can start by eliminating the Rockefeller education system that we’ve been using for a hundred years which keeps the youth just smart enough to maybe be successful, and uneducated enough to not strive or excel. Updating our academics to involve more independent life skills such as finance (credit, mortgages, loans, etc.), trade classes (carpentry, culinary, mechanics, etc.), and arts (illustration, music, poetry, etc.). That would be a great start. We can continue to create this creative ecosystem by providing more opportunities for all creatives, not just the ones that have the most influence upon the industries. It can be anything from hosting open mics for musicians to open comedy and poetry to open painting and drawing, these are ways for not only individuals to have a platform to grow and network, but also provides businesses opportunities to have outreach within their communities.
My final point would be the elimination of ego. We are flawed in the fact that we are driven by self-interest and self-preservation. When it comes to being a creative among creatives, there should be a sense of humility, not competition. Regardless of medium, we all are doing the same thing just a bit differently. Within that, we can support each other’s craft, journey, and skill even if it does not reflect our own. That is how we move forward as creatives.

Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?

There are many books that have significantly impacted my life. I would start with one of the most significant and that is Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki and Sharon Lechter. This book has completely reoriented my mind when it comes to business and finance and I recommend it to every aspiring or current entrepreneur. My next recommendation that has had significance on my career is All You Need to Know About the Music Business by Donald S. Passman. This book was one of my college textbooks that we never used in class. It took some time to read it, but it is incredibly informative and innovative for musicians that want to understand more of the business and potentially do it themselves. My final recommendation and the book that has the most significant impact on my philosophy would be the Tao Te Ching by Lao-Tzu. This book has transformed my way of thinking as well as the principles that I adhere my life to.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://linktr.ee/free_mace
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/free_mace
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FreeMaceMusic
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5uJicPXdPBVo4IIdnU3xxA
• Other: https://linktr.ee/based.mace

Image Credits
Denver Torruella Photography, Free Mace, F2MS