We were lucky to catch up with Steven Revland recently and have shared our conversation below.
Steven , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?
Growing up a musician….first performing on local television in 1963 as a 9 year old, I felt I was destined to be a performer, not really understanding how difficult that would be until a decade later. After taking 2 years of “wood shop” in high school in 1969 and 1970, I realized I may have a potential long term interest in furniture making as well. Growing up with dyslexia and ADHD, I was a very poor student, and advanced education (college) would never be an option. In 1971, my high school graciously delivered to me a signed diploma, even though I was 4 credits short, boasting a .06 GPA. It was then that I started planning my future as a self employed entrepreneur.
In the early 70’s I gradually developed my skills as a woodworker, and at the same time, continued performing at local pubs and coffee houses. It was during that period, with few options professionally, that I decided to take the risk of opening my first furniture making store, abandoning my childhood dream of being a performing musician. I did release an album in 1974, (see photo) but that put the final bow on my dream.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
Furniture artist and musician Steven Mark Revland was born in Fargo, North Dakota in 1953. Growing up in a very poor middle class family neighborhood, he was relegated to creating hand crafted projects in his parents backyard, like treehouses, forts, snow slides, and pole vaulting pits. He performed as a musician starting at the age of 9, eventually cutting his first record in 1974 at the age of 21. His interest in furniture making was fostered in the late 1960’s, inspired by his high school wood shop class.
In 1974, Revland opened his first custom furniture store…..gradually learning his self taught craft through trial and error, with greater emphasis on the latter. He compares his half century journey to rolling a snowball down a hill, gradually picking up more snow until ending up as a massive sphere as it reached the bottom.
In the early eighties, he spent a month in New York City visiting Art Deco furniture galleries, nurturing his attempt to refine his furniture designing skills, returning to Fargo with a whole new outlook, including his foray into his first series of “signature collection” tables and chairs.
In 1999 Revland was featured on HGTV’s “Modern Masters” series, which re-aired the episode in 2000 and 2001. It was a “be careful what you wish for” moment for Revland, as he was featured crafting his original “signature chair” and his trademark coffee table, “the Enterprise”.
Over the last 40 years, Revland has created 4 different and unique art galleries, eventually settling in on his latest and perhaps last gallery, Dakota Fine Art, a cooperative gallery in downtown Fargo. In the 50 years of honing his craft, Revland wishes he could remember how many pieces he has made, only knowing it is in the neighborhood of 1000 or more, many finding their way to galleries and Museums across the country.
In closing, there could potentially be hundreds of stories to tell in this article, but to read more…..you could order Revland’s autobiography, written in 2022. “simply revland” ….(how to succeed in life despite yourself) can be found online at Amazon or Barnes and Noble.
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?
You can probably imagine…..trying to run a business as an artist in the 70’s and 80’s was a challenge. No internet, web sites, social media, cellphone’s…..you totally relied on public relations, shaking hands, schmoozing, and print advertising. Social media changed everything…..at a much greater level than having a web site. Web sites are a necessary evil, but Facebook and Instagram are interactive……crucial in storytelling and back and forth interaction. I have 30 thousand followers on Instagram, more than I would wish on anyone, and at the age of 70, I utilize social media as my primary source of income. While most of my peers retired 4 years ago, being an artist is a blessing. I get paid handsomely to play in my shop, paying very little attention to my age. Artists never retire, we just gradually and eventually tip over, like a majestic multi-limbed tree.
Percentage of sales: 60% social media, 39% art gallery, 1% web site.
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
Well, as stated in my memoir…..it’s no secret that I am a recovering drug addicted alcoholic. 32 years sober. Again……try to imagine the first 18 years in business as an addict….let alone a woodworker. The reality that I still have all my fingers, working with dangerous machinery all these years, is quite remarkable. I have led a charmed life despite all of the obstacles I have faced, but it’s the last 32 years where I have left my mark. After getting clean….it took a year or two to get my mojo back, but it came back with gusto, and I can’t wait for the next ten years. It’s altogether possible that I might semi-retire at the age of 80 and take up golf. Only time will tell. 😎 
Contact Info:
- Website: www.steverevland.com
- Instagram: @steverevland
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/steve.revland?mibextid=LQQJ4d
- Other: 701-293-3225 [email protected]