We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Thomas Jimenez a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Thomas, appreciate you joining us today. Please tell us about starting your own firm and if you’d do anything different knowing what you know now.
When I was a little kid I always loved music, I used to sing in the car, or in the shower. I used to listen to bands like AC/DC Metallica, and other rock bands of the 80s.
The one genre that really caught my heart was country music though, mainly because I enjoyed the story telling.
So by the time I got to high school that’s all I would listen to.
So in my high school choir I was known as “the country singer” because I would sing, and know a lot of country songs when it came to me getting solos in the class.
After I graduated I realized my days of singing might’ve been over, that is until I started learning guitar, and realized if I performed live music; they wouldn’t have to be.
That’s what motivated me to want to start becoming a better musician.
Thomas, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
I started back in 2018 learning guitar. Learning to play and sing was a big challenge for me. I eventually mastered it, and started performing at open mics around town. It wasn’t until 2021 however, where I started writing my own songs and performing a lot more. I wrote my first song titled “Backroad” with my friend Christian Young back in 2021, we later released the song to digital streaming platforms in 2022. That was when I decided I needed to perform live more often.
I got first paid gig under a group named San Antonio Sound Garden (SASG), I played a one hour set (at the time was the longest show I played) at a small art studio in south town. I sang in front of 10 people, and they paid me $25 for the show. Which at the time, it was more than I was making at my regular day job.
The SASG gigs were great and fun while they lasted, but I wanted to play longer and bigger shows. It wasn’t until I met my wonderful friend Jerry DeLeon, that’s when my career started to take off. Jerry helped me with so much, introduced me to new people and venues, taught me tricks of the trade that help my performances. Most importantly he welcomed me into the country music scene, like I had been part of the family for forever.
I went into the country music scene not knowing anyone, now I know almost everyone who is anyone. It feels so amazing to be apart of something great, like this wonderful music scene.
Now since my SASG days, I’ve played at almost all of my dream venues here in town.
The Rustic, thirsty horse, 151 saloon, and smoke sky bar to name a few.
My goal is to build my following even more, and release a lot more original music. That way the Thomas Jimenez name becomes well known in the San Antonio area.
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
When I used to work my day job at Costco. It got in the way of me performing in the beginning of my career. My schedule was too packed with school, and work that I couldn’t make time to play at a new venue, or play a show that I got offered.
I was always afraid to quit my job, and try music. It was an easy job, with good pay, and that’s what made the decision hard for me.
It wasn’t until one of my old co workers told me that I would end up stuck, and I would probably regret it for the rest of my life, if I didn’t try it.
So I ended up leaving Costco, to chase my music dream.
At first it was a major struggle, and it still is, but nothing is going to make me give up on it.
Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?
Playing a new venues around town is the best way for me. Every time I try out a new venue I always meet new people, and a lot of times it leads to new followers, new people that will listen to my music. Or a few times it’s lead to a few private gigs!
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Image Credits
Photography: Chris Guillen @_3gmedia_ Instagram