We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Sam Reti a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Sam, thanks for joining us today. How did you scale up? What were the strategies, tactics, meaningful moments, twists/turns, obstacles, mistakes along the way? The world needs to hear more realistic, actionable stories about this critical part of the business building journey. Tell us your scaling up story – bring us along so we can understand what it was like making the decisions you had, implementing the strategies/tactics etc.

The journey of scaling Muzie.Live from a single teacher and a handful of students to a thriving community of over 15,000 users worldwide has been both challenging and rewarding. Contrary to the common narrative of overnight success, our growth has been gradual and primarily driven by word of mouth. From the outset, we focused on creating a high-quality and valuable product that our users would be proud to recommend to their colleagues and friends. This approach has been fundamental to our growth strategy and has served us exceptionally well.

One of the key strategies in our scaling process has been our commitment to outstanding customer service. We provide personalized one-on-one training and offer round-the-clock chat support staffed by real people, not bots. This human touch helps us understand and meet our users’ needs precisely, ensuring they have the support they require at any time. This level of service has not only helped us retain customers but also turn them into vocal advocates for our platform.

As we scaled, we encountered several challenges and made our share of mistakes. Each obstacle was a learning opportunity that allowed us to refine our strategies and operations. For instance, early on, we realized the importance of scalability in our technology infrastructure to handle the increasing requirements without compromising user experience. Adjusting our platform to be robust yet flexible was crucial as we grew.

Throughout our growth, the decision-making process involved continuous engagement with our user base to gather feedback and adapt our offerings accordingly. Implementing these strategies and tactics was never straightforward, but by staying committed to our core values and listening to our community, we have been able to expand sustainably and effectively.

This story of gradual progress and strategic decision-making highlights the less glamorous but critical aspects of building a business that often go unnoticed in mainstream narratives. It’s a testament to the hard work and dedication required to turn an idea into a successful business.

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.

I am Sam Reti, a professional guitarist and guitar instructor with over 15 years of experience in music performance. I am the Founder and CEO of Muzie.Live, a platform I developed to cater to online, in-person, and hybrid music lessons. Throughout my career, I have collaborated with more than 2500 music studios and teachers, helping them enhance their teaching methods and workflows through innovative technology. This has significantly boosted their retention rates and student engagement.

Muzie.Live is a family owned company that offers a virtual music studio designed for online, hybrid, and in-person lessons. As a music teacher-driven and family-owned operation, we prioritize high-quality audio and video hosting. Our platform offers a comprehensive suite of tools that not only foster student engagement but also enhance the productivity of teachers. Teachers can deliver high-quality lessons, interact in real-time using our two-way whiteboard, record lessons or clips, organize and share files, and schedule upcoming sessions. Furthermore, Muzie.Live features a dedicated practice room where students can track their practice time, review lesson recordings or assignments, earn rewards, and access various practice tools, all in one integrated space.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

Muzie.Live originally launched on January 10, 2020, with a business model designed as an “Uber for music teachers,” where students could request a lesson, and would instantly be paired with a live music instructor. Initially, everything seemed promising, but as the pandemic rapidly unfolded, the needs of our users began to change dramatically. Teachers and students alike were seeking a more stable and consistent platform that could support ongoing relationships, rather than one-off lessons.

Faced with the unfolding global crisis, it became apparent that our users needed a platform where they could host lessons with their own students—a feature our original model did not fully support. This realization came just a few weeks after our launch, placing us at a critical juncture. Despite having been in business for less than a month, we understood the urgency of adapting to the changing landscape. It was a significant risk to overhaul our product so early in its lifecycle, but the alternative was potentially watching our new venture fail.

Pivoting was undoubtedly challenging, as it required rapid decision-making, restructuring, and rebranding. However, this crucial step was necessary to align our services with the acute needs of our user base during an unprecedented global event. By transitioning Muzie.Live from a simple lesson hosting service to a comprehensive studio management tool, we not only met the immediate needs of our users but also set the foundation for sustainable growth post-pandemic. This pivot was instrumental in getting Muzie.Live to where it is today.

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

My background as a professional musician and educator deeply informs my commitment to music education. I frequently share insights and engage in discussions about the future of the field, which has helped me connect with our community. My approach is hands-on: I actively solicit and value user feedback, which allows me to understand their challenges and adapt Muzie.live’s services to better meet their needs. This responsiveness has not only enhanced our platform but has also solidified the trust and loyalty of our users.

I make it a priority to maintain open lines of communication, regularly participating in webinars, interviews, podcasts and interactive sessions. This keeps me accessible and responsive to our community’s needs. Muzie.live is committed to maintaining high-quality standards in both technology and customer service, ensuring that every aspect of our platform meets the high expectations of our users. This dedication to quality and community engagement has been pivotal in building our reputation within the market.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.muzie.live
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/muzie.live/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Muzie.Live
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/muzie-live
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@muzielive