We were lucky to catch up with Matt Phillips recently and have shared our conversation below.

Matt, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What do you think matters most in terms of achieving success?

Success requires an abundance of skills and traits. There are a few I think stand out more than others. Dedication above all else is the most important. It has the biggest trickle down effect. You’r going to fail. However, you’r going to learn along the way. You can’t give up. Dedication. In the same sense, it’s easy to be dedicated to something you love to do, as opposed to a good job that makes a lot of money that doesn’t full-fill you. If you enjoy something, you’r going to do it all the time. It will be inevitable that you get good at what you are doing.

The next one, hunger. How hungry are you to learn more? How hungry are you to become great at your craft? Does failing make you want to quit, or does it make you hungry to get better?

Lastly, especially in my field of work. I cannot emphasize this enough, unreasonable hospitality. There is a book called “Unreasonable Hospitality” by Will Guidara that I think every business owner should read. When clients ask for something specific, just give it to them. If they want microphones on their drums in a small venue, just do it. If the vocalist insists on having two monitor wedges up front in addition to in-ears, just do it. The more hospitable we are, the more likely we are to get repeat clients. People may not remember the concert or the recording session we did years ago, but people will always remember how you made them feel.

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

I own and operate a live sound production company, and I also have a recording studio where I record records. For live sound, I provide all the speakers, microphones, lighting, and mix the bands that hire me.

I been playing guitar since I was about 15. I used to be in bands playing originals before I moved to Florida for other opportunities. My father owned his own business doing live sound, but I was never really interested in doing that ironically.

I went to Full Sail university for recording arts. I graduated salutatorian of my class. My son was about to be born a few months after I graduated so I could not take the free internships that were available, I had to get money and now. So I got a job working in ministry at a church. After years of saving up I got myself a little home studio and started making money. More often than not, I ended up getting more calls to do live sound running someone else’s rig. I fell more in love with that since its more instant gratification than doing a record that gets released months or longer after the project is done.

What sets me apart from other’s is I love what I do. When you love what you do nothing can stop you but yourself.

I like to say I make my clients feel comfortable when they are on stage. That they can preform to the best of their abilities having clear monitors, confidence that I can fix any issues that may arise quickly so they can continue to be in their flow state and preform. I am not afraid of taking risks, and I am not afraid of turning it up. People can tolerate loud music when it’s good. Not when it’s bad. Thats my goal is for you to ask me to make it louder.

What’s been the best source of new clients for you?

Believe it or not the best source of new clients for me is word of mouth. Most of the people who make music for a living or are in the music scene talk to each other. If I do a good job for a client, they tell other people. Especially if I have potential clients in the audience that know anything about what I do, they are listening to my work. They don’t even have to talk to me. They can see and hear my work first hand, and that is above all else the best showcase of what you can offer to clients.

Does your business have multiple or supplementary revenue streams (like a ATM machine at a barbershop, etc)?

In additional to live sound and studio recording I also offer consulting and I freelance A/V/L technician services. I can help assist you tweak your P.A. System, fix your churches audio live streaming, or a venues lighting and video. The more skills you can possess, the more you can branch out to other revenue streams and other opportunities.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/levelheadedaudio/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/levelheadedaudio
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-phillips-387a6581/

Image Credits

Matthew Phillips