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

Mike, appreciate you joining us today. We love asking folks what they would do differently if they were starting today – how they would speed up the process, etc. We’d love to hear how you would set everything up if you were to start from step 1 today

In my case, this is pretty easy. I started playing guitar when I was two years old and knew then that music was what I was destined for with my life. I went to Berklee College of Music and earned degrees in both Music Business Management and Guitar Performance. The education was invaluable, but in some ways it instilled an overbearing sense of caution and risk aversion that was ultimately counterproductive to my entrepreneurial goals. Being a musician IS crazy, after all!

I moved to LA after school because “that’s where the music scene was” and got a job – any job- in music, just to say I was earning a steady paycheck working in the industry and applying my very expensive degree. I was still gigging (guitar and DJ gigs), insofar as it didn’t conflict with my day job. I became stagnant and didn’t have the courage to take the plunge to full time self-employment.

It took me going through a pretty serious accident in 2018 and the fear that I would never be able to play guitar again to throw caution to the wind, quit my day job and follow my dreams without distraction, sink or swim. I was finally able to start touring, playing bigger and better shows and get my life back on track. I took a life and business coaching class shortly thereafter, and that was a game-changer. Proper record keeping and tracking metrics kept me more accountable and moving forward towards my goals in a measurable way.

A year ago, I moved to Nashville, and my business exploded. The opportunities for me here are far more abundant than in LA and I am much happier. If I would have done things differently, I would have avoided any kind of day job and skipped LA right to Nashville. I would have taken that coaching class and trusted in myself much sooner. It sounds a bit cliche, but after my injury, I learned first-hand that life is too short not to do what you love today, because you may not have the opportunity tomorrow.

Mike, 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 am a musician (guitarist, bandleader and singer and songwriter) DJ / MC, photographer and videographer and the founder of KindelKreative.

I spend my summers on tour and my winters playing on Broadway in Nashville or in the studio tracking guitars for original artists. I write and play with my own rock band, TopJaw, and I’m hired by artists throughout the year to play everything from small songwriting showcases to arenas sharing bills with national acts. 2023 included Luke Bryan, Hardy and a dozen others and 2024 already has me out with Hardy again, Jelly Roll, Hank Jr, Brantley Gilbert, and more.

I also DJ private events (weddings, birthday parties, divorce parties, etc..), festivals and nightclubs. I was a lot more active when I lived in LA, but I still accept gigs occasionally.

The media side of my life came about as a result of Covid. When the pandemic hit, all the gigs got canceled and I was stuck at home with YouTube, a cheap camera and Instagram. I followed a few accounts that I thought were so cool and creative. They would edit their photos to make stuff glow or edit in portals to other worlds – whatever they could imagine! I thought making surreal images would be a fun way to be trapped in the house so I purchased Photoshop, pulled up YouTube and dove in. Today, most of my work is more traditional, but I believe I’m popular among musicians because aside from being a musician myself, my work still has elements of surrealism and the final products are more dynamic than your typical headshot. I think the artistic element appeals to creatives. I’m often hired for composited cover art, promo photos, music videos, live concert filming and video trailers. I’m proof that all you need is determination and access to the internet.

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

I have two books that were recommended to me from my business coach that have absolutely shaped my career and outlook on life in general. The first is a quick read called “The Go-Giver” by Bob Burg. It’s a story about a guy that learns to shifts his focus from closing as many deals as he can to creating the most amount of value for his clients that he can. It makes him much more successful and leads to a happier, fuller life.

The second book is called Ninja Selling, by Larry Kendall. It’s geared towards real estate agents, however the principles are universal: stop selling to people, and start attracting clients and building relationships. It breaks down organizational methods and daily habits, and it outlines techniques on how to set and achieve goals.

Both should be required reading!

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

I am fortunate that all 3 of my businesses somewhat overlap. I am able to grow my photography and videography client base from word-of-mouth referrals, but also from being a musician and having musician friends that need photography and videography services. I play hundreds of shows a year at many different venues and when a venue needs to hire a DJ, they often ask the musicians that they have built rapport with for recommendations.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.mikekindel.com
• Instagram: @mikekindelmusic, @kindelkreative
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@mekx125/videos

Image Credits
Jessica Nelson Edson Ochoa Ericky Hernandez