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

Alright, Susan thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Taking care of customers isn’t just good business – it is often one of the main reasons folks went into business in the first place. So, we’d love to get a conversation going around how to best help clients feel appreciated – maybe you can share something you’ve done or seen someone do that’s been really effective at helping a customer feel valued?

As an artist in the music field, your fans are your lifeline. For me, the point of making music is to express myself and also connect with other people. Without an audience to hear what I play, the notes just evaporate into the air. I always make a point of talking to each and every person who comes to my show. I like to surprise people. The best thing that I have done to show my appreciation for a fan is to visit him in the hospital and play a show for one.

Susan, 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 violinist. In 2009, I got an electric violin and fx pedals and formed my own band. It’s unusual to have an electric violin be the lead instrument in a rock band and I like it that way! Now, I have toured the world performing as a solo artist and alongside such artists as Joe Jackson, Paul McCartney, Steven Tyler, Diana Ross, Beyonce, Whitney Houston and Metallica to name a few. My Business is writing, recording music and performing. A proud moment for me is when Ryan Martin from Jazzerzine Magazine called me the ‘Jimi Hendrix of the electric violin’.

Have you ever had to pivot?

I come from a strict classical music background. I attended the Juilliard School of Music. I am still very much a working classical musician. I love this part of my life. In 2009, I played for Billy Joel at The Last Play at Shea. It was so exciting with 55,000 screaming people. I was exhilarated and sad. I thought if I fall off this stage, no one will know that I’m missing… then I knew. I needed to be my one artist and not just a back up player. I wanted my own musical voice. This was a huge pivotal moment in my life.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

After putting my first band together, we put out an album and then paid to play as an opening act for Tantric on tour. I poured every dime I had into paying the band, renting hotel rooms, travel and paying per diems etc. It was a thrilling tour and I got a lot of notoriety. However, after the tour was over, I was poor and could not follow up on the new fan base that I achieved. I couldn’t afford new music or promotion. I had to start all over again. The lesson I learned was that you have to plan ahead. Each action you take must have a goal and a follow up step.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/susanaquilamusic/profilecard/?igsh=ZDRqOW1vOWI0MjBr
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/susan.aquila.3?mibextid=wwXIfr&mibextid=wwXIfr
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@susanaquilamusic?si=SlFs7vCCUQaDSvJw

Image Credits

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